Kerman Provincee

Kermān is one of the 30 provinces of Iran. It is in the south-east of the country. Its center is Kerman. The province of Kerman is the second largest in Iran, 181,714 km². The population of the province is about 2 million. The main townships of Kerman province are: Baft, Bardsir, Bam, Jiroft, Rafsanjan, Zarand, Sirjan, Shahr-e-Babak, Kerman, Mahan and Kohnoj.
In the year 1996, 52.9% of Kerman's population lived in urban areas, and 46% in the rural vicinities, the remaining 1.1% accounted as non residents. The city of Kerman (population: 400,000) embraces about 80% of the urban population, being the most developed and largest cities of the province.

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 of Kerman. The Bashagard and Koohbanan 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 peaks like Medvar, Shahr-e-Babak, Kooh Panj, Chehel Tan, Lalezar, Hezarbahr, Aseman 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. The province is dependent on qanats (underground water channels) for its irrigation. In the central parts, Mount Hezar is the highest peak, 4465 meters above sea level.
The climate in the province varies in different regions. The north, northwest, and central areas experience a dry and moderate climate, whereas in the south and southeast, the weather is warm and relatively humid. The city of Kerman and the surrounding regions have a semi-moderate and dry climate, with a maximum and minimum temperature of 39.6° C, and -7° C respectively. The average temperature during the months of March - June has been recorded as 20° - 25° C. These months are the most suitable period for traveling and tourism.

History and culture

Kerman province is considered a paradise for palaeontologists because of an abundance of vertebrate fossils from different geological eras. Fossils include Placodermi, jawed and jawless armoured fish dating back to Devonian era or first geological era (395 to 365 million years ago), dinosaurs dating back to the Jurassic era (195 to 65 million years ago) and mammals from the Third Geological Era (ranging from two to seven million years ago).
The history of human settlements in the territory of Kerman dates back to the 4th millennium BC. This area is considered as one of the ancient regions of Iran and valuable historical vestiges have been discovered here. Jiroft is an example, where a previously unknown settlement dating back to around 2500BC has just been established by archeologists. Kerman has an abundance of historical sites and landmarks, 283 in total, according to Iran's Cultural Heritage Organization. Ancient abandoned citadels such as Arg-é Bam and Rayen castle have been preserved in the desert for two thousand years.
Historical documents refer to Kerman as "Karmania", "Kermania", "Germania" and "Žermanya", which means bravery and combat. Geographers have recorded Kerman's ancient name as "Go'asheer" (Bardesheer).

Kerman today

Kerman is prone to natural disasters. A recent flood for example, unearthed the archeological ancient city of Jiroft, located 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. And on February 22, 2005, a major earthquake killed hundreds of residents in the town of Zarand and several nearby villages in north Kerman (see 2005 Zarand earthquake).
Natural attractions include thermal and mineral springs, recreational areas, verdant spaces, altitudes and peaks, lakes, pools, protected areas and the special desert features for adventure seekers.
Kerman is where a large portion of Iran's auto industry is based. Sirjan, a specially designated economic zone, is considered a passage-way 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.

Kerman Attractions:

KERMAN

The town is situated close to Dasht-e Lut, from which it is separated by a range of mountains. Its name is probably derived from the tribe of Germanioi listed by Herodotus. It is believed it was founded early in the 3rd century A.D. by Ardashir I, the founder of the Sassanid dynasty. It was not famous for its carpets until long after the time of Marco Polo (who mentioned only the skill of local leather workers in 1271). Its well-known pistachio, grown principally in the Rafsanjan-Kerman area, is the most popular nut in Iran.

Ganj Ali khan Complex

This building houses an interesting exhibition of good waxworks of men in various poses and costumes set in a traditional but no longer operational bath-house. The Ganj Ali Khan bath (Hammam) is one of the several ancient monuments and a group of utilitarian buildings in Vakil Bazaar dating back to Safavid period in the 17th century. The bath is being kept as a real Hammam, but its life-size wax figures remind one the memory of everyday scenes of the past. All garments and other objects exhibited belong to the same period.

Shazdeh Garden

This charming garden dates back to 1873. The Shazdeh garden, enjoying a very impressive building, old verdant trees, streams flowing through the garden, and the pools are indeed a worth site to see. The beautifully maintained grounds contain a series of split-level fountains leading to a large palace, once the residence of Abdul Hamid Mirza, one of the last princes of Qajar dynasty. It has a watercourse, an essential element of all traditional Persian gardens, lined with magnificent oriental plane trees (Chinar) with pavilions at each end from where one obtains breathtaking vistas of the gardens with the mountains beyond.

Mausoleum of Shah Ne'matollah-e Vali

Shah Ne'matollah-e Vali (1330-1431) was born in Syria on the contrary of Hafez from Shiraz. He traveled extensively in the Islamic world, met numerous masters, and became acquainted with the important ideas and the philosophical views of his time. During his journey he stayed in Mahan, his fame spread throughout the regions of Iran and India, with pilgrims coming from all over to visit him. His shrine is still an important pilgrimage site. It was built in the 15th century, but had later additions. The superb architecture, the lake and verdant old trees create a scene of great beauty filling the visitors with enchantment. The greenish-blue on top of two Qajar minarets and the mighty Safavid cupola stands out against the unremitting deep blue of the sky and the elephant gray of the surrounding mountains as a token of man's spiritual intrusion into the majesty of nature. The little oratory, however, where Nematollah Vali used to meditate, deserves attention owing to its extraordinary interlaced script work decoration, divided into twelve sectors, all of different colors.