Birjand (Persian: بیرجند;[3] [biːɾˈdʒæːnd] )[a] is a city in the Central District of Birjand County, South Khorasan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.[5] The city is known for its saffron, barberry, jujube, and handmade carpet exports.[6]
Birjand
Persian: بیرجند | |
|---|---|
City | |
    Birjand castle, Dande Barre, Shokatiyeh School, Veteran's Square | |
| Nicknames: City of Pines, City of Culture | |
  Birjand | |
| Coordinates: 32°52′41″N 59°12′58″E / 32.87806°N 59.21611°E[1] | |
| Country | Iran |
| Province | South Khorasan |
| County | Birjand |
| District | Central |
| First mention | 13th century |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Mehdi Behtarin |
| Elevation | 1,491 m (4,892 ft) |
| Population (2016)[2] | |
| • Total | 203,636 |
| • Density | 3,697/km2 (9,580/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3:30 (IRST) |
| Area code | (+98) 56 |
| Climate | BSk |
| Website | www.birjand.ir/ |
| Prefix code: +98 Iran – (0)56 Birjand | |
History
edit
The first citation of the city in the historical literature belongs to the famous book Mojem Alboldan, by Yaqut Homavi (13th century) which introduces the Birjand as the most beautiful town in the Qohestan. Before this, Birjand had been probably not as big and important as a municipality but rather as a rural community. However, the Birjand geographical area had its historical and political importance long before the emergence of the city of Birjand. Many citations of the region are available in the original literature like Ehya -ol- Molook of the once important localities in the area. Apart from literature, the oldest evidence on the history of the region is the ancient Lakh-Mazar inscription in the Kooch village some 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Birjand. Numerous fine drawings and inscriptions are carved on an igneous rock surface. The inscriptions include pictograms as well as Arsacid Pahlavi, Sasanian Pahlavi, Arabic and Persian scripts.[7]
In 1931, Birjand Municipality was opened under the name of Birjand Municipality next to the tomb of Hakim Nazari and started its activities with 12 employees. The first mayor of Birjand was Mr. Afshar, who served as mayor for six years.[8]
Demographics
editPopulation
editAt the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 157,848 in 41,341 households.[9] The following census in 2011 counted 178,020 people in 48,130 households.[10] The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 203,636 people in 57,745 households.[2]
Climate
editBirjand has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSk) with hot summers and cool winters and a significant difference between day and night temperatures. Precipitation falls mostly in winter and spring.
| Climate data for Birjand (1955-2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 25.0 (77.0) |
27.0 (80.6) |
32.0 (89.6) |
36.0 (96.8) |
40.6 (105.1) |
43.0 (109.4) |
44.0 (111.2) |
44.1 (111.4) |
40.0 (104.0) |
36.0 (96.8) |
30.1 (86.2) |
27.0 (80.6) |
44.1 (111.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 11.0 (51.8) |
13.5 (56.3) |
18.7 (65.7) |
24.8 (76.6) |
30.5 (86.9) |
35.0 (95.0) |
35.8 (96.4) |
34.5 (94.1) |
31.8 (89.2) |
26.6 (79.9) |
19.6 (67.3) |
13.6 (56.5) |
24.6 (76.3) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.3 (39.7) |
6.7 (44.1) |
11.6 (52.9) |
17.2 (63.0) |
22.2 (72.0) |
26.4 (79.5) |
27.8 (82.0) |
25.8 (78.4) |
22.0 (71.6) |
16.9 (62.4) |
10.9 (51.6) |
6.2 (43.2) |
16.5 (61.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −2.3 (27.9) |
-0 (32) |
4.5 (40.1) |
9.7 (49.5) |
13.8 (56.8) |
17.9 (64.2) |
19.8 (67.6) |
17.1 (62.8) |
12.3 (54.1) |
7.2 (45.0) |
2.2 (36.0) |
−1.1 (30.0) |
8.4 (47.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −21.5 (−6.7) |
−17.6 (0.3) |
−12 (10) |
−4.5 (23.9) |
0.0 (32.0) |
7.0 (44.6) |
10.2 (50.4) |
6.0 (42.8) |
1.0 (33.8) |
−5.6 (21.9) |
−11 (12) |
−15.8 (3.6) |
−21.5 (−6.7) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 31.3 (1.23) |
32.4 (1.28) |
35.1 (1.38) |
31.6 (1.24) |
7.1 (0.28) |
0.3 (0.01) |
0.1 (0.00) |
0.2 (0.01) |
0.0 (0.0) |
2.6 (0.10) |
8.4 (0.33) |
19.7 (0.78) |
168.8 (6.64) |
| Average rainy days | 7.9 | 8.3 | 9.2 | 8.0 | 3.6 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 1.6 | 3.3 | 6.3 | 49.8 |
| Average snowy days | 2.6 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 6 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 57 | 55 | 46 | 38 | 27 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 28 | 39 | 52 | 36 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 196.3 | 188.3 | 211.4 | 231.8 | 303.4 | 334.8 | 347.2 | 349.3 | 298.2 | 286.0 | 229.6 | 195.8 | 3,172.1 |
| Source 1: NOAA (1961–1990)(precipitation, humidity, sunshine hours) [11] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: [1] (records, temperature normals) | |||||||||||||
Transportation
editAirport
editIn 1933, due to the political and military situation of Birjand city and the east of the country, Birjand airport was established on a 150-hectare land in the north of the city.[12][13]
Customs
editIn 1938, in order to facilitate the transportation, export and import of goods to the subcontinent of India and Afghanistan, the Birjand Customs Office was established and started its activities with two customs units, Dareh and Gezik.[14]
Health
editImam Reza Hospital
editIn 1948, Imam Reza Hospital was established in one of the lands and endowments belonging to the Alam family, known as Bagh-e Anari. In addition to accepting patients in Birjand city, this hospital also accepted other patients in southern cities of Khorasan province.[15]
Education
editIt is said that the Shokatiyeh School in Birjand together with Darolfonoon in Tehran were the first modern public schools of higher education in Iran in the mid-19th century. Ever since then, Birjand has amassed an abundance of institutions of higher education and become an important location for research and development.
Universities
editIn 1975, following Dr. Mohammad Hassan Ganji, the Birjand Institute of Higher Education was established in the Assadollah Alam Endowment Collection. This university started with the admission of 120 students in the fields of mathematics, physics and chemistry and is now officially known as Birjand University.[16][17]
The city contains such universities and academic institutions as:
- University of Birjand[18]
- Birjand University of Technology[19]
- Birjand University of Medical Sciences[20]
- Payame Noor University[21]
- Islamic Azad University of Birjand[22]
- 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
Notable people
edit- Abd al-Ali al-Birjandi, 16th century astronomer
- Hakim Nezari Quhestani
- Ibn Hessam Khusfi
- Amir Shokat Ul-Molk Alam, Amir of Qaen County and Governor of Quhestan at the end of Qajar dynasty
- Amir Ali Khan Sheibany, PhD, founder and first CEO of Zob Ahan Esfahan (Esfahan Steel Company)
- Seyyed Mohammad Tadayyon
- Asadollah Alam, prime minister of Iran during Pahlavi dynasty
- Seyyed Gholam Reza Saeidi, writer
- Mohamad Haghgou, composer
- Sima Bina, Iranian folk music singer
- Ahmad Kamyabi Mask, writer and renowned theater scholar
- Mohammad Hassan Ganji, geographer
- Mohammad Ismail Rezvani, historian
- Mohammad Reza Hafeznia
- Gholam Hossein Shokouei
- Kazem Motamadnejad
- Shah Seyyed Ali Kazemi, Last tribal leader in Moud and Birjand at the beginning of Pahlavi dynasty
- Mohammad Hossain Ayati
- Mohammad Ibrahim Ayati
- Seyyed Hassan Tahami
- Ardalan Shoja Kaveh, actor
See also
edit
Media related to Birjand at Wikimedia Commons
Notes
editReferences
edit- ^ OpenStreetMap contributors (9 November 2024). "Birjand, Birjand County" (Map). OpenStreetMap (in Persian). Retrieved 9 November 2024.
- ^ a b Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1395 (2016): South Khorasan Province. amar.org.ir (Report) (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. Archived from the original (Excel) on 17 October 2020. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
- ^ Naghizadeh, Mohammad Sadegh; Naseri, Mohsen; Fereyduni, Mohammad; Ziaee, Masoud; Tane, Abdolghader; Safari, Hamidreza; Mahavar, Neda; Mahdavi, Roya; Anani Sarab, Gholamreza (1 April 2018). "Single Nucleotide Polymorphism of the Interferon-γ Gene (IFN-γ +874 T/A) and the Prognosis of Hepatitis B Infection". Journal of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. 6 (2): 43–47. doi:10.29252/jommid.6.2.3.43. ISSN 2345-5349.
- ^ Birjand can be found at GEOnet Names Server, at this link, by opening the Advanced Search box, entering "-3056455" in the "Unique Feature Id" form, and clicking on "Search Database".
- ^ Habibi, Hassan (c. 2015) [Approved 21 June 1369]. Approval of the organization and chain of citizenship of the elements and units of the divisions of Khorasan province, centered in Mashhad. rc.majlis.ir (Report) (in Persian). Ministry of the Interior, Defense Political Commission of the Government Council. Proposal 3223.1.5.53; Approval Letter 3808-907; Notification 84902/T125K. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 6 January 2024 – via Islamic Parliament Research Center.
- ^ "Cities in Iran: 2005 Population Estimates". Mongabay.com.
- ^ Research articles collection (archaeology, ancient inscriptions): Lakh-Mazar, Birjand. Rajab Ali Labbaf Khaniki, Rassul Bashash Kanzaq. 25. Iranian Cultural Heritage Organization. Summer 1994.
- ^ "New Page 1". 21 November 2008. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2022.
- ^ Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006): South Khorasan Province. amar.org.ir (Report) (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. Archived from the original (Excel) on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
- ^ Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1390 (2011): South Khorasan Province. irandataportal.syr.edu (Report) (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. Archived from the original (Excel) on 20 January 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2022 – via Iran Data Portal, Syracuse University.
- ^ "Birjand Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 29 December 2012.
- ^ Flightradar24. "Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map". Flightradar24. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "فرودگاهها". 2 March 2008. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ "برخى از گياهان داروئى شهرستان بيرجند و خواص درمانى آنها". 21 November 2008. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ "New Page 1". 21 November 2008. Archived from the original on 21 November 2008. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
- ^ "University of Birjand". University of Birjand. Retrieved 31 January 2022.
- ^ "Birjand University at a glance". Birjand AC. Archived from the original on 10 April 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
- ^ "دانشگاه بیرجند - نگین آموزش عالی شرق کشور".
- ^ "دانشگاه صنعتی بیرجند | تنها دانشگاه صنعتی شرق کشور".
- ^ "دانشگاه علوم پزشکی بیرجند". Archived from the original on 10 August 2007. Retrieved 6 February 2005.
- ^ "سامانه خدمت دانشگاه پیام نور استان خراسان جنوبی". www.skpnu.ac.ir. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
- ^ "Islamic Azad University of Birjand (MMD)". Archived from the original on 24 August 2006. Retrieved 28 July 2006.
External links
edit