South Khorasan province
South Khorasan Province
استان خراسان جنوبی | ||
---|---|---|
Capital Birjand | | |
Counties | 11 | |
Government | ||
• Governor-general | Javad Ghenaat | |
• MPs of Assembly of Experts | Ebrahim Raisi | |
• Representative of the Supreme Leader | Seyyed Ali Reza Ebadi | |
Area | ||
• Total | 151,913 km2 (58,654 sq mi) | |
Population (2016)[1] | ||
• Total | 768,898 | |
• Density | 5.1/km2 (13/sq mi) | |
Time zone | UTC+03:30 (IRST) | |
ISO 3166 code | IR-29 | |
Main language(s) | Persian | |
HDI (2017) | 0.757[2] high · 27th | |
Website | sko.ir |
South Khorasan Province (Persian: استان خراسان جنوبی Ostān-e Xorāsān-e Jonūbī) is one of the 31 provinces of Iran, located in the eastern part of the country. Birjand is the centre and capital of the province. At the time of the National Census of 2006, the province had a population of 600,568 in 159,255 households.[3] The following census in 2011 counted 662,534 people in 183,114 households.[4] In 2014, it was placed in Region 5.[5] At the most recent census in 2016, the population of South Khorasan province had risen to 768,898 in 223,984 households.[1]
This new province, is but the old Quhistan which was included into greater Khorasan in the Iranian administrative planning. However, historically Qohistan forms a separate entity, with a distinct culture, history, environment and ecology.
South Khorasan is one of the three provinces that were created after the division of
History
Greater Khorasan has witnessed the rise and fall of many dynasties and governments in its territory throughout history. Various tribes of the Arabs, Turks, Kurds and Turkemen brought changes to the region time and time again. ,[6] Mongols Ancient geographers of Iran divided Iran ("Iran-Shahr") into eight segments of which the most flourishing and largest was the territory of Greater Khorasan. Esfarayen, among other cities of the province, was one of the focal points for the residence of the Aryan tribes after entering Iran.
The Parthian empire was based near Merv in Khorasan for many years. At Parthians times, Esfarayen was one of the important villages of Nishapur.
During the
Khorasan was divided into four parts during the Muslim conquest of Persia, each section being named after the four largest cities, Nishapur, Merv, Herat, and Balkh.
In the year 651, the army of Islamic Arabs invaded Khorasan. The territory remained in the hands of the
Mahmud of Ghazni retaliated against the invaders several times, and finally the Ghaznavids defeated
In the 14th century, a flag of independence was hoisted by the
In 1507, Khorasan was occupied by Uzbek tribes. After the death of Nader Shah in 1747, parts of it were occupied by the Afghans for a short period.
In these periods, Birjand was a small part of Quhistan which almost encompasses the borders of today South Khorasan. The main cities of Quhistan were Toon (now Ferdows) and Qaen. Birjand grew in recent centuries, especially during the Qajar dynasty and found its important role in this region.
This region was a place of refuge for some movements like the
In 1824, Herat became independent for several years when the Afghan Empire was split between the Durranis and
Khorasan was the largest province of Iran until it was divided into three provinces on September 29, 2004. The provinces approved by the
Administrative divisions
Administrative Divisions | 2006[3] | 2011[4] | 2016[1] |
---|---|---|---|
Birjand County | 221,756 | 259,506 | 261,324 |
Boshruyeh County1 | — | 24,683 | 26,064 |
Darmian County | 51,793 | 55,080 | 53,714 |
Ferdows County | 61,346 | 41,626 | 45,523 |
Khusf County2 | — | — | 27,600 |
Nehbandan County | 56,089 | 57,258 | 51,449 |
Qaen County | 137,357 | 152,401 | 116,181 |
Sarayan County | 34,636 | 32,493 | 33,312 |
Sarbisheh County | 37,591 | 39,487 | 40,959 |
Tabas County3 | — | — | 72,617 |
Zirkuh County4 | — | — | 40,155 |
Total | 600,568 | 662,534 | 768,898 |
1Separated from Ferdows County 2Separated from Birjand County 3Separated from Yazd province 4Separated from Qaen County |
Cities
According to the 2016 census, 448,147 people (over 58% of the population of South Khorasan province) live in the following cities: Arianshahr 3,729, Asadiyeh 5,460, Ayask 5,143, Birjand 203,636, Boshruyeh 16,426, Deyhuk 2,959, Eresk 2,955, Esfeden 3,598, Eshqabad 3,965, Eslamiyeh 7,108, Ferdows 28,695, Gazik 2,294, Hajjiabad 6,168, Khusf 5,716, Mohammadshahr 3,590, Mud 3,477, Nehbandan 18,304, Nimbeluk 4,762, Qaen 42,323, Qohestan 2,322, Sarayan 13,795, Sarbisheh 8,715, Seh Qaleh 4,436, Shusef 3,181, Tabas 39,676, Tabas-e Masina 4,596, and Zohan 1,118.[1]
Most populous cities
The following sorted table lists the most populous cities in South Khorasan province.[1]
Rank | City | County | Population |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Birjand | Birjand | 203,636 |
2 | Qaen | Qaen | 42,323 |
3 | Tabas | Tabas | 39,676 |
4 | Ferdows | Ferdows | 28,695 |
5 | Nehbandan | Nehbandan | 18,304 |
6 | Boshruyeh | Boshruyeh | 16,426 |
7 | Sarayan | Sarayan | 13,795 |
8 | Sarbisheh | Sarbisheh | 8,715 |
9 | Eslamiyeh | Ferdows | 7,108 |
10 | Hajjiabad | Zirkuh | 6,168 |
South Khorasan today
The major ethnic group in this region are the
Historic and natural attractions
South Khorasan has many historic and natural attractions, but besides these, South Khorasan encompasses various religious buildings and places of pilgrimage as well.
The Cultural Heritage of Iran lists 1179 sites of historical and cultural significance in all three provinces of Khorasan.
Some of the popular attractions of South Khorasan are:
- Birjand castle
- Deragon Cave
- Furg Citadel
- Ferdows Religious School
- Ferdows Hole-in-the-Rock
- Ferdows Hot Spring
- Ghal'eh Paeen-Shahr
- Jameh Mosque of Ferdows
- Kurit Dam
- Kushk Complex
- Qanats of Baladeh Ferdows
- Nehbandan Citadel
- Polond Desert
Higher Education
- University of Birjand
- Birjand University of Medical Sciences
- Islamic Azad University of Birjand
- Islamic Azad University of Ferdows
- Birjand University of Technology[10]
- Payame Noor University[11]
- University of Applied Science and Technology (south khorasan branch)
- Academy of Tarbiat-e Moalem
- Academy of Amuzesh-e Aly
- Academy of Amuzesh-e Modiriat Dolaty
Gallery
See also
- Khorasan
- Razavi Khorasan
- North Khorasan
References
- ^ a b c d e "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1395 (2016)". AMAR (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. p. 29. Archived from the original (Excel) on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
- ^ a b "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006)". AMAR (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. p. 29. Archived from the original (Excel) on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
- ^ a b "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1390 (2011)" (Excel). Iran Data Portal (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. p. 29. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- ^ "همشهری آنلاین-استانهای کشور به ۵ منطقه تقسیم شدند (Provinces were divided into 5 regions)". Hamshahri Online (in Persian). 22 June 2014 [1 Tir 1393, Jalaali]. Archived from the original on 23 June 2014.
- ^ "Kurds in Khorasan". CSKK. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
- ISBN 978-0521200950.
- ISBN 006-050508-7.
- ^ "Ethnologue report for Southern Pashto: Iran (1993)". SIL International. Ethnologue: Languages of the World. Retrieved 5 May 2012.
- ^ "Home". birjandut.ac.ir.
- ^ "Home". skpnu.ac.ir.