Herat, Historic city in western Afghanistan.
Herat is a large city in western Afghanistan, located in Herat District within a fertile valley along the Harirud at 920 meters (3,018 feet) elevation. The city functions as the economic hub of the region, with several industries and an international airport that enables foreign trade.
The foundation dates back to around 520 BCE during the Achaemenid period, when Persian rulers controlled the region. Alexander the Great established Alexandria in Ariea at this location in 330 BCE, using the strategic position on the trade route between Iran and Central Asia.
The name likely derives from an Old Persian word for water, reflecting the river's importance to the settlement. Weavers and workshops in the bazaar still produce carpets and silk fabrics using centuries-old patterns, which visitors can admire in the narrow lanes.
Visitors find hotels of different categories, restaurants serving regional cuisine, and shops selling handicrafts throughout the urban area. The best time to visit falls between spring and autumn, when temperatures are more comfortable and saffron blooms in the surrounding fields.
The city produces nine tenths of Afghan saffron, creating considerable agricultural income and reducing dependence on other crops. Saffron fields turn violet in autumn when the flowers are harvested, and processing often still takes place by hand in small operations.
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