Arak

Arak is the capital of Markazi Province, Iran. Originally named Soltan Abad, the modern-day city of Arak was founded in 1808 by Yusef Khan e Gorji. Arak is surrounded by mountains in the south, west, and east, and its average altitude is about 1750m above sea level. It is located 260 km from the city of Tehran, and is in the vicinity of the cities of Qom and Isfahan. Arak has a continental climate that is, in general, relatively cold and dry. The main agricultural products of the city are grain, barley, and fruits including grape, apple, walnut, and almond. Arak also exports hand-knotted carpets which are referred to as Sarouk rugs. Saruq is a small village outside of Arak.