Birjand

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بيرجند Birjand
Coordinates: 32°52′N 59°12′E
Mayor	XXXX
Area
- City	City XXXXkm² Province 75.034 km²
Elevation	1.491 m
Population
- City (est.)	City 183.010 (2005) Province 550.000 (2005)
	The exact number is unknown.
Prefix code: +98 Iran - (0)561 Birjand Governor: Seyyed Solat Mortazavi Crown prince: Marcel Kazemi (resp. Marcel Ohm)
Website: www.birjandcity.com/

Birjand (persian: Storm city) is the capital of South Khorasan province (formerly a subprovince named Birjand or Ghahestan, a part of Khorasan province) in east Iran, known for its saffron, barberry, rug and handmade carpet exports. [1]

Being close to the Afghanistan border, Birjand is located on the "Silk Road" of opium smuggled from Afghanistan on the way to Europe. (also dubbed the "opium crecent")

The first city-wide piped water system in Iran was established in Birjand.

Contents 1 Education 2 Transport 3 Notables from Birjand 4 See also 5 External links

[edit] Education

It is said that Shokatiyeh School in Birjand together with Darolfonoon in Tehran were the first public schools in Iran in the mid 1800s. Ever since Birjand has amassed an abundance of institutions of higher education and become an important location of research and development.

The city contains such higher educational institutions as:

• University of Birjand [2]
• Birjand University of Medical Sciences [3]
• Islamic Azad University of Birjnad [4]

[edit] Transport

The city is served by Birjand Airport.

[edit] Notables from Birjand

• Shah Seyyed Ali Kazemi, prince of Birjand
• Asadollah Alam, Prime Minister

[edit] See also

• Furg citadel

[edit] External links

Birjand city:

• Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organisation General Office
• University of Birjand
• Birjand University of Medical Sciences