Gorgan city with the old name “Astarabad” is one of the cities in the northeast of Iran, which is located in Golestan province. The name of the city of Varkana is mentioned in the Biston inscription and its Latin form is Hyrcania. Verg and Vharg in Avestan mean wolf and Varkan or Vhergan means “land of wolves”. Hyrkania, Varkana and Barkana are other forms of the name “Gorgan”.

The ethnic groups living in this city include the natives of Gorgan, Mazani, Katoli, Sistani, Turkmen, Shahroudi, Azeris, and some Khorasanians and migrating Baluchis.

Among its most important historical and tourist monuments, we can mention Naharkhoran Forest, Al-Nagdereh Forest Park, Hezar Pich Hill, Khale Khandan Hill, the old texture of Gorgan, and Nalbandan Bazaar. Local dishes include sack stew, mung bean stew, squash, spinach cutlets, and chickpeas.

Souvenirs of this city include date bread, Halva Omaj, Padrazi bread, gingerbread, Sargharbili bread and etc.