Geographic context
The southern Khorasan region is the easternmost of the Iranian regions bordering Afghanistan in the east. The capital of the region is the city of Birjand and its major population centers are: Qayenat, Sar Bishe and Nahbandan.
Climate
The climate of the southern Khorasan region is dry-desert, but in relation to the share of the different zones can be divided into: hot-dry, and dry-temperate.
The warm-dry climate is present in the plains, in the central areas, in the west and south-west of the region, while the dry-temperate climate can be found in the high areas of the north and north-west and around the city of Birjand.
History and culture
The southern Khorasan region is a limited part of the Great Khorasan of the past which in the past centuries was called 'Qahestan'. According to some inscriptions dating back to the Achaemenid period and the accounts of the Greek historians, 'Qahestan' was the seat of the Sagart, one of the Aryan tribes of the time. The Greek historian Herodotus states: "They are part of the Eastern tribes and their seat is the fourteenth satrapy of the Achaemenids." Even Marco Polo, in his 'The Million', recalls this area with the name 'Tunokayen'. Most scholars believe that the term 'Qahestan' is the arabization of 'Kohestan' ('mountainous area'), due to the peculiar geographical context of the region that appears mountainous.
Among the other tourist places of this region we can mention the following: The Cave of Varzaq, The Cave of Rostam, The Ethnological Museum, The Archaeological Museum, The Museum of the Martyrs and The Museum of National Personalities.
Souvenirs and handicrafts
The handicraft products of this region are: carpets, fabrics, ceramics, straw baskets, jajim, kilim, felt and felt hats, zilu, copper and iron objects, jewels of traditional jewelery and tanned leather in the traditional way. Even different types of traditional embroidery on various fabrics and knitted by hand are part of the refined creations of local craftsmanship. The climatic conditions of the southern area of Khorasan are particularly favorable for the cultivation of saffron, so much so that the 95% of the national production and the 60% of the world production come from this region. In addition to saffron, also barberry, Bokhara plums, jujube, hawthorn berries, mountain almonds, walnuts, Kashk-e Siyah, Kashk-e Zard, Kashk-e Zire-i, Qara Qorut, peaches and dried apricots are among the souvenirs of the Birjand area.
Local cuisine
The dishes of the local cuisine of this region are: different types of Eshkane, Khuresh-e Qavarme, Qorme, Khuresh-e Sabzi, Kuku Kama, Eggplant Kashk, Qateq Mash, meat broth, various kinds of soups, Gandom Shir, Qateq of lentils, different types of traditional bread, Kachi, Bane, Gavrasi, Saberi and roasted dates.