, settlement_type = City , nickname = , motto = , image_seal= , image_skyline = , imagesize = 300 , image_caption = , dot_x = , dot_y = , pushpin_map = Iran , pushpin_label_position = , pushpin_map_caption = , pushpin_mapsize = , pushpin_relief = 1 , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Iran , subdivision_type1 = Province , subdivision_name1 = South Khorasan , subdivision_type2 = County , subdivision_name2 = Ferdows , subdivision_type3 = District , subdivision_name3 =

Central Central is an adjective usually referring to being in the center of some place or (mathematical) object. Central may also refer to: Directions and generalised locations * Central Africa, a region in the centre of Africa continent, also known as ...

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Mashhad Mashhad ( fa, مشهد, Mašhad ), also spelled Mashad, is the List of Iranian cities by population, second-most-populous city in Iran, located in the relatively remote north-east of the country about from Tehran. It serves as the capital of R ...

and 200 km northwest of

Birjand Birjand ( fa, بیرجند , also Romanized as Bīrjand and Birdjand) is the capital of the Iranian province of South Khorasan. The city is known for its saffron, barberry, jujube, and handmade carpet exports. Birjand had a population of 187,0 ...

. Ferdows is on the main axis connecting Yazd,

Kerman Kerman ( fa, كرمان, Kermân ; also romanization of Persian, romanized as Kermun and Karmana), known in ancient times as the satrapy of Carmania, is the capital city of Kerman Province, Iran. At the 2011 census, its population was 821,394, in ...

Isfahan Isfahan ( fa, اصفهان, Esfahân ), from its Achaemenid empire, ancient designation ''Aspadana'' and, later, ''Spahan'' in Sassanian Empire, middle Persian, rendered in English as ''Ispahan'', is a major city in the Greater Isfahan Regio ...

, Bushehr, Hormozgan and Fars provinces to Mashhad. Ferdows city is 1293 meters above sea level.

History

Founded by the Medes, Ferdows is currently a city. It was a large and famous city in ancient days. There is an unproven theory that the town's name in ancient days was "Taban" (or shining; تابان in Persian). In Islamic times it became known as Toon or Tūn, a name retained until 1929, when it was changed to Ferdows. The first people to inhabit Ferdows were traditionally a group of Sagartians. Toon was a famous and thriving city both before and during the Islamic era, until the raid of the Mongols. It was one of the most prominent cities of

Ghohestan Quhistan ( fa, قهستان) or Kohistan (, "mountainous land") was a region of medieval Persia, essentially the southern part of Khurasan. Its boundaries appear to have been south of Khorasan to north, Yazd to West, Sistan to South, Afghanistan t ...

, along with Qaen; Nasir Khusraw mentioned Toon as a large city in the 11th century. Toon was plundered and destroyed by the Mongols in 1239. After the Mongol invasion, Toon eventually recovered and became one of the major cities of

again.

Marco Polo Marco Polo (, , ; 8 January 1324) was a Venetian merchant, explorer and writer who travelled through Asia along the Silk Road between 1271 and 1295. His travels are recorded in ''The Travels of Marco Polo'' (also known as ''Book of the Marv ...

mentioned the south Khorasan region as ''Toonoqaen'', apparently in reference to the two largest cities, Toon and Qaen. In early 1751 the town was captured by

Ahmad Shah Durrani Ahmad Shāh Durrānī ( ps, احمد شاه دراني; prs, احمد شاه درانی), also known as Ahmad Shāh Abdālī (), was the founder of the Durrani Empire and is regarded as the founder of the modern Afghanistan. In July 1747, Ahm ...

during his invasion of

Khorasan Khorasan may refer to: * Greater Khorasan, a historical region which lies mostly in modern-day northern/northwestern Afghanistan, northeastern Iran, southern Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan * Khorasan Province, a pre-2004 province of Ira ...

under Shahrokh Shah. Ferdows was still a famous and prosperous city in

at the beginning of the 20th century and the Municipality of Ferdows, originally formed in 1925 (under the name of Toon), was one of the first Municipalities of Khorasan province. But the city was devastated in a huge earthquake in 1968 and significantly declined thereafter. After Khorasan province was divided into three provinces, Ferdows County was initially a part of Razavi Khorasan province, but was incorporated within the borders of South Khorasan province in March 2007.

Demographics

Population

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 23,405 in 6,538 households. The following census in 2011 counted 25,968 people in 7,316 households. The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 28,695 people in 8,749 households.

Geography

Location

Ferdows is on the Plateau of Iran, between a desert region (mainly to the south and west) and a mountainous region (especially to the north and east). Most of villages around Ferdows are situated in the mountainous region to the north and northeast. The nearest town, Eslamieh, lies just 3 km northeast. The city lies on the main route from

, Yazd, Bandar Abbas and other southern cities to

and hosts more than 6 million pilgrims annually on their way to Mashhad. It is also a nexus of several roads converging from different areas of Iran.

Climate

The climate is mild in the spring, hot in the summer, cool and rainy in autumn, and cold in the winter. Being located near deserts, the temperature difference between day and night, and also between summer and winter, is relatively high. The majority of precipitation occurs from mid-autumn to mid-spring. The hottest month is July (mean minimum temperature 21.8 °C, mean maximum temperature 36.6 °C) and the coldest is January (mean minimum temperature -1 °C, mean maximum temperature 10.3 °C)

Agriculture

Ferdows is famous for its high quality Saffron and pomegranate.

Main sights

Major visitor attractions of Ferdows are: * Ferdows Hot Mineral Spring: one of the most important attractions of Ferdows for Iranian and International tourists * Ferdows Religious School (belonged to

Safavid dynasty The Safavid dynasty (; fa, دودمان صفوی, Dudmâne Safavi, ) was one of Iran's most significant ruling dynasties reigning from 1501 to 1736. Their rule is often considered the beginning of modern Iranian history, as well as one of th ...

) *

Ferdows Congregation Mosque The Jāmeh Mosque of Ferdows ( fa, مسجد جامع تون/فردوس – ''Masjid-e-Jāmeh Toon/Ferdows'') is the grand, congregational mosque (Jāmeh) of Ferdows, South Khorasan Province, Iran. The mosque is located towards the southwest of ci ...

(Jame' Mosque of Ferdows) (belonged to Seljuk dynasty) * Ferdows Hole-in-the-Rock, a natural geological formation * Polond Desert, a beautiful desert located 40 kilometers West of Ferdows * Ferdows Museum

Emad Nezam Tourism Complex

It is located in the city of Ferdows, launched by remarkable and notable entrepreneur in Iran, Dr. Mohammad Reza Amirhassankhani. He believes in the district of Ferdows with beautiful sightseeing and tourist destinations, investing his money there since years ago. The large Complex includes a variety of subsectors: * Emad Nezam Traditional Hotel * Emad Nezam Scientific, cultural and recreational collection affiliated with Mofid educational complex * Emad Nezam Sports Club * Emad Nezam Football Academy * Mofid Educational Complex * Polond Desert Tourism Camp

Education and culture

Education and culture Ferdows currently has several higher education centers: * Islamic Azad University, Ferdows * Ferdows and Qaen Medical Schools * Ferdows Institute of Higher Education * Ferdows Faculty of Engineering

Notable people

* Badiozzaman Forouzanfar *

Mohammad Jafar Yahaghi Mohammad-Jafar Yahaghi ( fa, محمدجعفر یاحقی}; also Romanizedd as Mohammad-Ja’far Yāhaghghi; born 1947 in Ferdows, South Khorasan, Iran) is a celebrated Iran, Persian writer, literary critic, editor and translator and distinguished pr ...

Mulla Alaul Maulk Tuni Mulla Alaul Maulk Tuni ( fa, ملا علاءالملک تونی) was an Iranian architect. He was born in Ferdows (named "''Toon''" historically) in the 17th century. He cooperated with Ali Mardan Khan in the construction of the Shalimar Gardens i ...

* Alireza Danesh Sokhanvar

Notes

References

External links

Toun Under ICHHTO Protection
{{Ferdows County, state=collapsed Ferdows Cities in South Khorasan province Populated places in Ferdows County