Kerman province

Kerman province (Persian: استان کرمان, Ostān-e Kermān) is the largest province of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is in the southeast of Iran, with its capital in the city of Kerman. In 2014 it was placed in Region 5.[3] Mentioned in ancient times as the Achaemenid satrapy of Carmania,[4] Kerman province has an area of 183,285 km2 (70,767 sq mi), encompassing nearly 11% of the land area of Iran.[5]

This article is about the province in Southeast Iran. For the province with a similar name, see Kermanshah province. For the city, see Kerman. For the county, see Kerman County.
Kerman province
Persian: استان کرمان
Province
Bam Fortress (2016)
Bam Fortress (2016)
Location of Kerman province within Iran
Location of Kerman province within Iran
Coordinates: 30.2907°N 57.0679°E / 30.2907; 57.0679
CountryIran
RegionRegion 5
CapitalKerman
Counties25
Government
 • Governor-generalMohammad-Mahdi Fadakar
Area
 • Total183,285 km2 (70,767 sq mi)
Elevation
192 m (630 ft)
Population
 (2016)[1]
 • Total3,164,718
 • Density17/km2 (45/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+03:30 (IRST)
Main language(s)Persian
HDI (2017)0.778[2]
high · 20th
Websitewww.gov.kr.ir

At the time of the National Census of 2006, the population of the province was 2,584,834 in 612,996 households.[6] The following census in 2011 counted 2,938,988 people (1,482,339 male and 1,456,649 female) in 785,747 households. Urban areas accounted for 1,684,982 people, whereas 1,242,344 lived in rural vicinities; 6,082 were non-residents.[7] By the time of the 2016 census, the population had increased to 3,164,718 in 932,721 households. The capital city of Kerman, at a population of 537,718, comprises about 29% of the urban population of 1.85 million, being the most developed and largest city of the province.[1]

The population of Kerman province includes the majority Fars and many Iranian ethnicities such as Lor, Kurd, Lak, Afshar-Turk, Jebal-Barezi, Zartoshti, Baluch, Larestani, Bandari, Pishdar and Ghassemlou.

Geography

The altitudes and heights of the province are the continuation of the central mountain ranges of Iran. They extend from the volcanic folds beginning in Azarbaijan and, by branching out in the central plateau of Iran, terminate in Baluchestan. These mountain ranges have brought about vast plains in the province. The Bashagard and Kuhbonan Mountains are the highest in this region and include peaks such as Toghrol, Aljerd, Palvar, Sirach, Abareq and Tahrood. Other ranges that stretch out from Yazd to Kerman and Challeh-ye-Jazmoorian include high peaks like Hazaran 4501 meters above sea level, Kuh-e Shah 4402 meters, Joupar, Bahr Aseman and Khabr mountain in Khabr National Park and others.

Most of the province is largely steppe or sandy desert, although there are some oases where dates, oranges (said to be the best in Iran), and pistachios are cultivated. In antiquity "Carmanian" wine was famed for its quality [Strabo XV.2.14 (cap. 726)]. The province is dependent on qanats (underground water channels) for its irrigation. In the central parts, Mount Hezar is the highest peak, 4501 meters above sea level.

Kerman is prone to natural disasters. A recent flood for example, unearthed the archeological ancient city of Jiroft, in the south of Kerman province. Arg-é Bam on the other hand, the world's largest adobe structure, was destroyed in an earthquake in December 2003. On February 22, 2005, a major earthquake killed hundreds of residents in the town of Zarand and several nearby villages in north Kerman.

History
Bronze flag, Shahdad Kerman, Iran, 3rd millennium BC
See also: Qutlugh-Khanids

According to a text from the 8th century commontly attributed to the Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi, present-day Kerman province was situated in the southern quarter of the Sasanian Empire. The main city of the region from the Sasanian era to the 10th century was Sirjan.[8]

Early Muslim geographers considered the area as part of the hot climatic zone and the mountainous interior as home of predatory people including the Kufečs (or Kofejān). Hamdallah Mustawfi stated that predatory beasts roamed the area which by then had undergone forestation.[8]

In the 13th century it came under the rule of the Qutlugh-Khanids founded by ethnic Khitans, than under the Mongol empire. It was under the Timurid empire in 15th century.

Administrative divisions

Kerman province population history
Administrative Divisions2006[6]2011[7]2016[1]
Anar County1—35,29536,897
Anbarabad County113,75185,94282,438
Arzuiyeh County2—41,97938,510
Baft County138,84775,94084,103
Bam County277,835195,603228,241
Bardsir County84,54373,73881,983
Fahraj County3—68,03867,096
Faryab County1—34,41734,000
Gonbaki County4———
Jazmurian County5———
Jiroft County181,300277,748308,858
Kahnuj County102,26986,29095,848
Kerman County654,052722,484738,724
Kuhbanan County24,46521,72121,205
Manujan County63,27064,52865,705
Narmashir County3—58,22954,228
Qaleh Ganj County69,00876,37676,495
Rabor County2—34,39235,362
Rafsanjan County291,417287,921311,214
Ravar County38,53940,29543,198
Rigan County3—66,33588,410
Rudbar-e Jonubi County86,747104,421105,992
Shahr-e Babak County100,19290,495103,975
Sirjan County239,455267,697324,103
Zarand County119,144129,104138,133
Total2,584,8342,938,9883,164,718
1Separated from Rafsanjan County[9][10]
2Separated from Baft County[11]
3Separated from Bam County[12][13]
4Separated from Rigan County[13]
5Separated from Rudbar-e Jonubi County[14]

Cities
See also: List of cities in Kerman province by population

According to the 2016 census, 1,858,587 people (over 58% of the population of Kerman province) live in the following cities: Aminshahr 4,413, Anar 15,532, Anbarabad 18,185, Anduhjerd 4,041, Arzuiyeh 6,868, Baft 34,517, Baghin 10,407, Bahreman 5,265, Balvard 3,534, Bam 127,396, Baravat 22,761, Bardsir 25,152, Bezenjan 4,517, Boluk 5,304, Chatrud 5,860, Darb-e Behesht 10,670, Dashtkar 3,234, Dehaj 5,045, Dow Sari 4,130, Ekhtiarabad 9,840, Fahraj 6,876, Faryab 4,863, Golbaf 9,205, Golzar 5,445, Gonbaki 7,210, Hamashahr 3,311, Hanza 1,452, Hojedk 1,007, Jebalbarez 6,750, Jiroft 130,429, Jowzam 3,436, Jupar 3,607, Kahnuj 52,624, Kazemabad 4,060, Kerman 537,718, Khanuk 2,628, Khatunabad 5,471, Khursand 8,252, Khvajeh Shahr 2,478, Kian Shahr 4,543, Koshkuiyeh 7,644, Kuhbanan 10,761, Lalehzar 4,429, Mahan 19,423, Manujan 15,634, Mardehek 2,870, Mes-e Sarcheshmeh 5,967, Mohammadabad 20,720, Mohiabad 3,930, Najafabad 20,164, Narmashir 5,222, Negar 7,600, Nezamshahr 2,426, Nowdezh 5,562, Qaleh Ganj 13,169, Pariz 8,005, Rabor 13,263, Rafsanjan 161,909, Ravar 22,729, Rayen 10,286, Reyhan Shahr 4,580, Rudbar 14,747, Safayyeh 2,478, Shahdad 5,217, Shahr-e Babak 51,620, Sirjan 199,704, Yazdan Shahr 5,607, Zangiabad 8,568, Zarand 60,370, Zeh-e Kalut 6,835, and Zeydabad 9,112.[1]

Most populous cities

The following sorted table, lists the most populous cities in Kerman.[1]

Rank City County Population
1 Kerman Kerman 537,718
2 Sirjan Sirjan 199,704
3 Rafsanjan Rafsanjan 161,909
4 Jiroft Jiroft 130,429
5 Bam Bam 127,396
6 Zarand Zarand 60,370
7 Kahnuj Kahnuj 52,624
8 Shahr-e Babak Shahr-e Babak 51,620
9 Baft Baft 34,517
10 Bardsir Bardsir 25,152

Language

The main languages of Kerman province are Persian and Garmsiri. Smaller languages include Achomi, Turkic dialects and a Median-type dialect spoken by the Jewish and Zoroastrian communities.[15]

The Persian varieties can be considered one single Kermani accent and they are sufficiently close to Standard Persian which they share intelligibility with.[15]

Economy

As of 1920, the province was known for the quality of its caraway.[16] Today, Kerman is where a large portion of Iran's auto industry is based. Sirjan, a specially designated economic zone, is considered a passageway for transfer of imported commercial goods from the south (through the Persian Gulf). Arg e Jadid, is another specially designated economic zone of Iran, located in Kerman province. Furthermore, Kerman province is famous for its abundance of pistachio fields both in the city itself and surrounding ones such as Rafsanjan, Ravar and Nooq.

Malek Mosque, Kerman, Iran.

The Gol Gohar mine, the largest iron mine in Iran,[17] is located in Kerman province.[18]: 105 

Education

Colleges and universities

Kerman province contains the following universities:

See also

References
  1. "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1395 (2016)". AMAR (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. p. 08. Archived from the original (Excel) on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  2. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  3. "همشهری آنلاین-استان‌های کشور به ۵ منطقه تقسیم شدند (Provinces were divided into 5 regions)". Hamshahri Online (in Persian). 22 June 2014. Archived from the original on 23 June 2014.
  4. "CARMANIA". iranicaonline.org.
  5. http://www.sci.org.ir/content/userfiles/_sci_en/sci_en/sel/year85/f1/CS_01_4.HTM%5B%5D
  6. "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006)". AMAR (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. p. 08. Archived from the original (Excel) on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  7. "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1390 (2011)" (Excel). Iran Data Portal (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. p. 08. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  8. Bosworth, C. E. (2013). "KERMAN v. HISTORY FROM THE ISLAMIC CONQUEST TO THE COMING OF THE MONGOLS". Iranica Online.
  9. Davoudi, Parviz (17 June 2009). "Anar County was added to the country". Tabnak (in Persian). Ministry of Interior, Council of Ministers. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  10. Rahimi, Mohammad Reza (8 February 2011). "Faryab County was added to the map of country divisions". Islamic Republic News Agency (in Persian). Ministry of Interior, Board of Ministers. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  11. Rahimi, Mohamad Reza (9 April 2011). "Arzuiyeh County was added to the map of country divisions, with some changes in the geography of the country". DOLAT (in Persian). Ministry of Interior, Council of Ministers. Archived from the original on 27 August 2018. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  12. Rahimi, Mohammadreza (21 September 2013). "Letter of approval regarding country divisions in Kerman province". Qavanin (in Persian). Ministry of Interior, Council of Ministers. Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  13. Mokhbar, Mohammad (27 May 2023). "Approval letter regarding the country divisions of Kerman province". DOTIC (in Persian). Ministry of Interior, Council of Ministers. Archived from the original on 27 June 2023. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  14. Mokhbar, Mohammad (24 December 1401). "Letter of approval regarding the country divisions of Kerman province". Qavanin (in Persian). Ministry of Interior, Council of Ministers. Archived from the original on 7 July 2023. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  15. Borjian, Habib (2017). "KERMAN xvi. LANGUAGES". Iranica Online. Retrieved 16 December 2021.
  16. Sykes, Percy (1921). A History of Persia. London: Macmillan and Company. p. 75.
  17. Assari, Amin (2019). "Defining hydrogeology of the Gohar-Zamin open pit mine, Iran: a case study in a hard-rock aquifer". Hydrogeology Journal. 27: 1479–95. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  18. Bagherian, A.; Shahriar, K. (2003). "Slope Stability at Gol-E-Gohar Iron Mine" (PDF). 18"' International Mining Congress and Exhibition of Turkey: 105–12. Retrieved 23 February 2023.

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