Golestan province

Golestan is one of the 31 provinces of Iran.

It is located in the northeast of the country. The province sits southeast of the Caspian Sea. To the north, it shares a border with Turkmenistan. Incheh Borun is a vital crossing point between these two nations. The province was officially split from Mazandaran Province in 1997. On 22 June 2014, it became part of Region 1. This grouping was made for coordination and development purposes.

The name Golestan has deep linguistic roots. In Iranian languages like Persian, Kurdish, and Mazandarani, the name is a combination of two parts. The prefix "gul-" means flower. The suffix "-stan" means land or region. Therefore, Golestan literally translates to "land of flowers."

The capital city is Gorgan. This city was known as Esterabad until 1937. Historically, the name Gorgan meant "land of wolves." This name is related to the ancient terms Hyrcania and Hyrkanía. Wild wolves can still be found in the province today.

Human history in this region is incredibly old. Evidence shows human settlements date back to 10,000 BC. The ancient city of Jorjan was once located near modern Gonbad-e Kavus. This area was a significant part of Persia. It sat along the famous Silk Road trade route. Under the Achaemenid Empire, it was likely a sub-province of Parthia. The ancient people here were known as the Hyrcanians. The Greek writer Herodotus even mentioned them in his histories.

The geography of Golestan is divided into two distinct sections. The first section consists of wide plains. The second section contains the mountains of the Alborz range. In the eastern Alborz section, the mountains face northeast. The height of these peaks gradually decreases in that direction. Shavar is the highest point in the province at 3,945 meters. Two major rivers flow through the landscape. These are the Gharasu and the Gorganrud rivers.

Many different ethnic groups live in Golestan. According to 2006 estimates, Turkmens made up 34.20% of the population. Mazandaranis accounted for 30.40%. Other groups include Sistanis, Persians, Baluchis, and Qizilbash. Turkmens live in the northern plains known as Turkmen Sahra. They have inhabited this area since the 15th century. Many Mazandaranis live in cities like Gorgan and Ali Abad. They speak the Mazanderani language.

The population of the province has grown steadily. In 2006, the census recorded 1,593,055 people. By 2011, the population rose to 1,777,014. The 2016 census measured the population at 1,868,819 people. Most of these residents live in urban areas. In 2016, over 54% of the population lived in cities. Gorgan is the largest city with 350,676 residents. Gonbad-e Kavus is also a major center with 151,910 people.

Golestan contains unique landmarks and natural wonders. The Gonbad-e Qabus tower is a famous structure here. It is the tallest brick structure of its kind in the world. The province also contains the Golestan National Park. This is the largest national park in Iran. It spans three provinces: Golestan, Mazandaran, and North Khorasan. The park features diverse climates. It is humid near the Caspian Sea and desert-like further south. Experts have raised concerns about building roads through these forests. They worry such roads might threaten the local plants and animals.