[su_photo_panel background=”#e4e4e4″ border=”2px solid #cccccc” shadow=”3px 3px 6px #e1dede” radius=”4″ text_align=”left” photo=”https://www.irancultura.it/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Khorasan-settentrionale-Map.jpg” target=”self”]Northern Khorasan region | ♦ Capital: Bojnurd | ♦ Surface: 28 434 km² | ♦ Inhabitants: 791 930[/su_photo_panel]
Geographic context
The northern Khorasan region is located in the north-east of the country and is geographically surrounded by two mountain ranges: Kope Dagh to the north and the continuation of the Elborz Mountains, called Ala Dagh, to the south. Overall it is a mountainous region with fertile plains between the mountains that determine favorable conditions for agriculture and pastoralism. The capital of the region is the city of Bojnourd and the major population centers are: Shirvan and Esfarayen.
Climate
The northern Khorasan region has a notable climatic variety, but it can be considered primarily as a cold-mountainous area.
History and Culture
From the epipalaolithic period onwards, the northern Khorasan region was considerably inhabited. Later, this region was part of the Great Media and then became one of the satrapies of the Achaemenid Empire. During the Sasanidi era it was one of the most strategic areas for the defense of the Iranian plateau from the invasion of the nomadic peoples of the East. However, it was with the Parties, established in the city of Nesa, that this region reached the height of its prosperity.
As this territory had a favorable geographical and naturalistic context, and an abundant subsoil of raw materials, the northern Khorasan region of the past had a thriving culture and is historically considered one of the oldest areas of Iran. .
Among the other tourist places of this region we can mention the following: the Sanctuary of Emamzade Mohammad ebn-e Baqer ebn-e Musa ebn-e Jafar and the Bojnourd Wildlife Museum.
Souvenirs and handicrafts
The handicraft works of the northern Khorasan region are: the Kurdish tablecloth, local clothes, rugs, kilims, handmade leather shoes, turtuish pillows and rugs, jajim, felt fabrics and hats, hand-embroidered leather jackets, blankets and traditional bed linens, handmade Esfarayen towels, Jajarm wool hats and Turkic horse ornaments. Other souvenirs of this region include traditional candies, Shekar Panir, Qara Qurut, Kashk-e Razeqi, Razeqi grapes, spring apples of Shirvan, raisins and various types of dried fruit.
Local cuisine
Local Ane bread, Fatir Qatlame, barberry or Zarak soup and Balake soup are traditional dishes from the northern Khorasan region.