Nepedia
Back to Discover
Advanced Reader
🗺️

Sabzevar

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Sabzevar is a significant city located in northeastern Iran.

سبزوار در زمان قاجار
سبزوار در زمان قاجار

It serves as the capital for both the Sabzevar County and the Central District. The city is situated within the Razavi Khorasan province. Geographically, it lies west of the provincial capital, Mashhad. It is positioned approximately 650 km away from Tehran, the national capital. Sabzevar is surrounded by several important neighbors, including Nishapur, Bardaskan, Esfarāyen, and Shahrud.

The climate of Sabzevar is classified as cool semi-arid. This is known by the Köppen classification as BSk. It sits on the edge of both cool arid (BWk) and hot semi-arid (BSh) climates. The weather patterns show distinct seasonal changes. Summers are sweltering and receive almost no rain. Winters are generally cool and feature occasional light showers. Data shows that dust is a common occurrence in the region. The city also experiences periods of haze, smoke, or fog.

Sabzevar possesses an ancient history dating to the 1st millennium BC. One can still see the remains of the Azarbarzin fire-temple. The city played a role in the Sarbedaran movement. This movement led the first part of Iran toward freedom after the Mongol invasion. However, the city faced extreme destruction in the 14th century. The ruler Timur invaded and completely destroyed the city. Contemporary sources state that 90,000 people were murdered during this invasion. Timur reportedly built three pyramids of heads in the modern Sarberiz square.

Sabzevar Panorama 02
Sabzevar Panorama 02

Later history involved shifts in regional control. The Safavids lost Sabzevar Province to the Uzbeks of Transoxiana. The Safavids eventually regained the area around 1600. This victory included the cities of Herat and Farah. In more recent times, the city experienced a flash flood in April 2020. Today, the city is a major commercial center for agriculture. It is a key hub for producing grapes and raisins. The old bazaar is a place where people export fresh and dried fruits.

The population of Sabzevar has grown steadily over time. In 1937, it was the second most populated city in the 9th county. By the 2006 National Census, the population reached 208,172 people. This was spread across 57,024 households. The 2011 census recorded 231,557 people in 70,422 households. By 2016, the population was measured at 243,700 people. This population lived within 74,757 households. Sabzevar is currently ranked as Iran's 34th most populous city.

Education is a central pillar of the city's modern identity. Hakim Sabzevari University is the oldest and most prestigious. It was established in 1973 as Kar University. It was suspended after the 1979 revolution but reestablished in 1987. The university hosts over 9,200 students across 139 programs. The Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences was established in 1975. It includes five hospitals and 2,000 students. The Sabzevar University of New Technology, or SUNT, was founded in 2011. SUNT is the youngest public university in the province. It focuses on teaching new technology to over 1,000 female students.

Transportation networks connect Sabzevar to the rest of the country. The city sits on major roads, including routes 44 and 87. It is also linked to the Turkmenistan-Quchan-Sabzevar transit highway. Sabzevar Airport provides essential domestic and international connections. The airport opened in 2003. It is the second busiest airport in Razavi Khorasan after Mashhad. It currently operates direct flights to Tehran and Kish Island. The city also features notable landmarks like the Mil-e Khosrow Gerd brick tower. The Masjed Jameh mosque is another important site with two tall minarets.

585 words

Where will your curiosity go next?

Keep exploring at your chosen reading level.

🖼️ Images & Media (2)
File:سبزوار در زمان قاجار.jpg
سبزوار در زمان قاجار.jpg
File:Sabzevar Panorama 02.jpg
Sabzevar Panorama 02.jpg
More to explore

🔬 Go deeper

More advanced topics to explore

🪜 Step back

Simpler topics to build understanding

What is Nepedia?

A free, ad-free encyclopedia for children. Every article is written at five reading levels, so the same page works for a five-year-old and a fifteen-year-old — use the level switcher above to see this one change. No account needed to read.