is a small village outside Arak, and its name is used in order to prevent confusion with rug from the modern-day country of Iraq. Main sites Parks and gardens Nezam Lashgar Garden (Garden of Esmaeili) City Park Amir Kabir Park Jangali Park Kelale Mountain Park Arak Zoo Madar Park Museums Soltan Abad Museum Four Seasons Bathroom Museum of Artifacts (Hassan Pour Museum) Museum of Famous Figures (The Hall of Fame of Arak) Grand Museum of Arak Sports complexes Amir Kabir Entertainment and Sports Complex Tufan Entertainment and Sports Complex Shahin Horse Riding Complex Universities Arak University Arak University of Medical Sciences Arak University of Technology Azad University of Arak Payam-e-Noor University of Arak Kharazmi University of Arak Other The old bazaar of Arak Doab Bridge (built over the Shara River) Mostowfi Mansion Gerdoo Valley (known for its walnut trees and ranges) Notable people Statesmen and politicians: Sharaf Khan Bidlisi (1543-ca. 1600), Kurdish historian and prince of Bitlis, was born in Karahrūd, Arak. Ghaem Magham Farahani (1779–1835), a former Prime Minister of Iran, was born in Farahan District, Arak. Amir Kabir (1807–1852), a former Prime Minister of Iran, was born in Hezaveh District, Arak. Mohammad Mosaddegh (1882–1967), a former Prime Minister of Iran, was born in Tehran. His father was from Ashtiyan, northeastern Arak. Morteza-Qoli Bayat (1890–1958), a former Prime Minister of Iran (1944–1945). Ata'ollah Mohajerani (1954–), one of the ministers of the cabinet of Mohammad Khatami. Literary, painting, and photography figures: Sonia Balassanian (born 1942), Iranian-born Armenian painter, curator, sculptor Parvin E'tesami (1907–1941), Iranian poet, was born in Tabriz. Her father was from Ashtiyan, northeastern Arak. Behjat Sadr (1924–2009), an eminent Iranian painter. Jahangir Razmi (1947–), the 1980 Pulitzer Prize winner (photographer). Kader Abdolah (1954–), an Iranian-Dutch poet laureate. Sportsmen: Mansour Bahrami (1956–), an Iranian tennis player. Mehdi Mahdavikia (1977–), a famous Iranian football player. Scientists: Mohammad Gharib (1909–1975), an Iranian physician, clinician. Wahid Shams Kolahi (1965–), an electrical engineer. Singers: Ebrahim Hamedi (Ebi) (1949–), an Iranian singer; his father was from Arak. Cinema and television artists: Yervand Manaryan (1924–2020), an Iranian-Armenian actor. Reza Badiyi (1930–2011), director of episodes of many popular American television series, including Hawaii Five-O, Mission: Impossible, The Incredible Hulk, The Six Million Dollar Man, Falcon Crest, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (the episode Out of Mind, Out of Sight), Nikita, etc. Pouri Banayi, (1940–), a famous Iranian actress before the 1979 Revolution (1965–1979). Golchehreh Sajadiye (1954–), an