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Kerman province

Persian: استان کرمان
Bam Fortress (2016)
Bam Fortress (2016)
Location of Kerman province within Iran
Location of Kerman province within Iran
Country  Iran
Region Region 5
Capital Kerman
Counties 25
Area
 • Total 183,285 km2 (70,767 sq mi)
Elevation
192 m (630 ft)
Population
 (2016)
 • Total 3,164,718
 • Density 17.26665/km2 (44.72042/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+03:30 (IRST)
Main language(s) Persian
HDI (2017) 0.778
high · 20th
Website www.gov.kr.ir

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. Mentioned in ancient times as the Achaemenid satrapy of Carmania, Kerman province has an area of 183,285 km2 (70,767 sq mi), encompassing nearly 11% of the land area of Iran.

At the time of the National Census of 2006, the population of the province was 2,584,834 in 612,996 households. 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. 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.

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, Shadad Kerman, Iran
Bronze flag, Shahdad Kerman, Iran, 3rd millennium BC

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.

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.

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.svg

Kerman province population history
Administrative Divisions 2006 2011 2016
Anar County1 35,295 36,897
Anbarabad County 113,751 85,942 82,438
Arzuiyeh County2 41,979 38,510
Baft County 138,847 75,940 84,103
Bam County 277,835 195,603 228,241
Bardsir County 84,543 73,738 81,983
Fahraj County3 68,038 67,096
Faryab County1 34,417 34,000
Gonbaki County4
Jazmurian County5
Jiroft County 181,300 277,748 308,858
Kahnuj County 102,269 86,290 95,848
Kerman County 654,052 722,484 738,724
Kuhbanan County 24,465 21,721 21,205
Manujan County 63,270 64,528 65,705
Narmashir County3 58,229 54,228
Qaleh Ganj County 69,008 76,376 76,495
Rabor County2 34,392 35,362
Rafsanjan County 291,417 287,921 311,214
Ravar County 38,539 40,295 43,198
Rigan County3 66,335 88,410
Rudbar-e Jonubi County 86,747 104,421 105,992
Shahr-e Babak County 100,192 90,495 103,975
Sirjan County 239,455 267,697 324,103
Zarand County 119,144 129,104 138,133
Total 2,584,834 2,938,988 3,164,718
1Separated from Rafsanjan County
2Separated from Baft County
3Separated from Bam County
4Separated from Rigan County
5Separated from Rudbar-e Jonubi County

Cities

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.

Most populous cities

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

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.

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

Economy

As of 1920, the province was known for the quality of its caraway. 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
Malek Mosque, Kerman, Iran.

The Gol Gohar mine, the largest iron mine in Iran, is located in Kerman province.

Education

Colleges and universities

Kerman province contains the following universities:

  • Jiroft University
  • Kerman University of Medical Sciences
  • Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences
  • Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman
  • Sirjan University of Technology
  • ValiAsr University of Rafsanjan

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Provincia de Kermán para niños

  • Kirman (Sasanian province)
  • Kerman province parliamentary districts [fa] (related to the Islamic Consultative Assembly)
  • List of monuments in Kerman province [fa]
  • Carmania (satrapy)
  • Dalfard
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