South Khorasan province (Persian:استان خراسان جنوبی)[a] is one of the 31provinces of Iran, located in the eastern part of the country. Its capital is the city ofBirjand.[4] In 2014, the province was placed inRegion 5.[5] This province is bordered to the north byRazavi Khorasan Province, to the northwest bySemnan Province, to the west byIsfahan andYazd Provinces, to the south byKerman Province, and to the southeast bySistan and Baluchestan Province. The area of this province is 151,913 square kilometers (58,654 square miles), making it the third largest province in Iran after Kerman and Sistan and Baluchestan. According to the 2016 census, South Khorasan's population is 768,898, making it the fourth least populous province in the country. With only about 5 inhabitants per square kilometre or 13 inhabitants per square mile, it is the most sparsely populated province in Iran.
South Khorasan Province is split into two distinct regions: the "mountainous and elevated" areas in the north and northwest, and the "low and flat" central and southern plains. The tallest mountains in the province include "Kamarak" and "Shah Kuh." It experiences a "dry and desert" climate, which can be further divided into "hot and dry" and "mild and dry" categories. The northern and northwestern parts are more fertile, while the southern and southwestern plains endure a dry and harsh climate. The rivers in this region are seasonal, with no permanent rivers present.
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 Turkmen brought changes to the region time and time again.,[6] MongolsAncient geographers of Iran divided Iran ("Iran-Shahr") into eight segments of which the most flourishing and largest was the territory ofGreater Khorasan.Esfarayen, among other cities of the province, was one of the focal points for the residence of the Aryan tribes after entering Iran.
TheParthian empire was based nearMerv in Khorasan for many years. At Parthians times,Esfarayen was one of the important villages ofNishapur.
During theSassanid dynasty, the province was governed by aSpahbod (Lieutenant General) called "Padgoosban" and four margraves, each commander of one of the four parts of the province.
Khorasan was divided into four parts during theMuslim conquest of Persia, each section being named after the four largest cities, Nishapur,Merv,Herat, andBalkh.
In the year 651, the army of Islamic Arabs invaded Khorasan. The territory remained in the hands of theAbbasid clan until 820, followed by the rule of the Iranian Taherid clan in the year 896 and theSamanid dynasty in 900.
Mahmud of Ghazni retaliated against the invaders several times, and finally the Ghaznavids defeatedSultan Sanjar. But there was more to come, as in 1157 Khorasan was conquered bythe Khwarazmids and because of simultaneous attacks by the Mongols, Khorasan was annexed to the territories of the MongolIlkhanate.
In the 14th century, a flag of independence was hoisted by theSarbedaran movement inSabzevar, and in 1468, Khorasan came into the hands ofTamerlane and the city ofHerat was declared as the capital.
In 1507, Khorasan was occupied byUzbek tribes. After the death ofNader Shah in 1747, parts of it were occupied by the Afghans for a short period.
In these periods, Birjand was a small part ofQuhistan which almost encompasses the borders of today South Khorasan. The main cities of Quhistan were Toon (nowFerdows) andQaen. Birjand grew in recent centuries, especially during theQajar dynasty and found its important role in this region.
This region was a place of refuge for some movements like theIsmaili, and was the target of Arab refugees who escaped from the tyranny of theAbbasid caliphate. Zoroastrian vestiges also exist in the area.
In 1824, Herat became independent for several years when the Afghan Empire was split between the Durranis andBarakzais. The Persianssieged the city in 1837, but the British assisted the Afghans in repelling them. In 1856, the Persians launched another invasion, and briefly managed to recapture the city; it led directly to theAnglo-Persian War. In 1857 hostilities between the Persians and the British ended after theTreaty of Paris was signed, and the Persian troops withdrew from Herat.[7] Afghanistan reconquered Herat in 1863 underDost Muhammad Khan, two weeks before his death.[8]
This new province is but the oldQuhistan which was included intogreater 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 ofKhorasan in 2004. While at the beginning, the newly created "South Khorasan" included onlyBirjand County and some new counties detached from that county (i.e.Nehbandan,Darmian andSarbisheh), in subsequent years, all northern and western cities and territories of the old Quhistan (such asQaen,Ferdows andTabas) have been annexed into South Khorasan, which as of 2016 consists of 11 counties.
Khorasan was the largest province of Iran until it was divided into three provinces on September 29, 2004. The provinces approved by theparliament of Iran (on May 18, 2004) and theCouncil of Guardians (on May 29, 2004) wereRazavi Khorasan,North Khorasan, and South Khorasan.
At the time of the 2006 National Census, the province's population was 600,568 in 159,255 households.[9] The following census in 2011 counted 662,534 people in 183,114 households.[10] The 2016 census measured the population of the province as 768,898 in 223,984 households. It is the least densely populated province.[2]
The population history and structural changes of South Khorasan province's administrative divisions over three consecutive censuses are shown in the following table.
The major ethnic group in this region are thePersians.[16] South Khorasan is known for its famous rugs as well as itssaffron,barberry which is produced in almost all parts of the province.
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:
^Avery, Peter; Hambly, Gavin; Melville, Charles, eds. (1991).The Cambridge History of Iran (Vol. 7): From Nadir Shah to the Islamic Republic. Cambridge University Press. pp. 183,394–395.ISBN978-0521200950.
^"Boshruyeh District was upgraded to a county".farsnews.ir (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Cabinet of Ministers. 12 November 2008 [Approved 13 March 1386]. Proposal 16340/42/4/1. Archived fromthe original on 10 November 2023. Retrieved10 November 2023 – via Fars Media Corporation.
