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Khorasan (also spelled Khurasan and Khorassan) (خراسان in Persian) is the largest province of Iran in area, located in eastern and northeastern Iran. The name Khorasan is Persian and is made up of parts which mean "where the sun arrives from". The name was given to the eastern province of Persia during the Sassanid empire.
Currently Mashhad is the center of the province. Important cities include Birjand, Bojnourd, Esfarayen, Gonabad, Kashmar, Neyshabour, Sabzevar, Sarakhs, Tabas, and Tous.
The older Persian province of Khorasan (also known as the Greater Khorasan) included parts which are today in Iran, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Four of the main historical cities of Persia are located in the older Khorasan: Nishapur (now in Iran), Merv (now in Turkmenistan), and Herat and Balkh (both now in Afghanistan). In its long history, Khorasan knew many conquerors and empires: Persians, Greeks, Arabs, Seljuk Turks, Safavid Turks and others.
Khorasan is also known for its famous rugs as well as its saffron which is produced in the southern cities of the province.
The major ethnic groups in this region are the Persians, Khorasani Turks, Turkmens, Kurds and Arabs. There is also a sizeable Afghan community in the province due to the influx of refugees coming from Afghanistan in recent years.
Khorasan is to be divided to three provinces by September 29, 2004. The provinces approved by the parliament (on May 18, 2004) and the Council of Guardians (on May 29, 2004) are:
- North Khorasan, center: Bojnourd, other counties: Shirvan, Jajarm, Maneh and Samlaghan, Esfarayen
- South Khorasan, center: Birjand, other counties: Nahbandan, Sarbisheh
- Razavi Khorasan, center: Mashhad, other counties: Ghouchan, Dargaz, Chenaran, Sarakhs, Fariman, Torbat-e Jam, Taybad, Ferdows, Ghayen, Khaf and Rashtkhar, Kashmar, Bardaskan, Neyshabour, Sabzevar, Gonabad, Kalat and Khalil Abad
External link
es:Khorasán
eo:Ĥorasano
fa:استان خراسان
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