or Mazenderan, a province of Persia, bounded on the N. by the Caspian Sea, E. by Khorassan, S. by Irak-Ajemi, and W. by Ghilan, and lying between 36° and 37° N. Lat., and 50° and 54° E. Long. Length about 200 miles from E. to W.; average breadth 50 miles; area 10,000 square miles. The province is bounded on the S. by the high mountains of Elburz, which are covered with wood; but the most part of it consists of a low plain on the shores of the Caspian. Near the sea the country is very marshy; but at a short distance it takes a gradual ascent. None of the rivers are of great size, and all flow northward into the Caspian. The climate is not very healthy; but it is not so insalubrious as that of the adjoining province of Ghilan. The soil is good, and produces rice, cotton, mulberry, and sugar cane; as well as oranges, pomegranates, and other fruits. Cultivation is carried on to a considerable extent; the chief article raised being rice. Its trade, which is principally with Russia, consists in the exportation of rice, silk, and cotton; and the importation of woollen stuffs, corn, tobacco, cutlery, &c. The inhabitants resemble in appearance and costume the other Persians; but they have the reputation of being more warlike and courageous. They are ignorant, proud, and very scrupulous and bigoted in their religious observances. There is also a tribe called Lak or Lek, supposed by some to be Kurds, who have one of their principal seats here. In the time of Timour the courage and determination of the people of this province, who defended themselves in their strongholds and mountain fastnesses, were so great as to give that conqueror considerable trouble in subduing them. Mazanderan is also celebrated as the scene of some of the most famous exploits of Rustam, the Persian hero. The province is traversed by an artificial causeway, extending from W. to E. nearly parallel to the Caspian; which, though built more than 200 years ago by Abbas the Great, Shah of Persia, is in very good preservation at the present day. The principal towns are,—Sari, the capital, Amol, Balfrush, and Farahabad. Pop. 150,000.