Zahedan

Zahedan is a major city located in the Sistan and Baluchestan province of Iran.

It serves as the administrative capital for the province, the county, and the district. The city is situated in a borderland region near both Pakistan and Afghanistan. This area is primarily inhabited by the Baloch people. Zahedan is a vital economic and transportation hub for this part of the world. It connects various regional networks through its roads, rails, and air travel.

The city's climate is classified as hot and arid.

This means the environment is very dry with very little precipitation. Most of the rain that does fall arrives during the winter months. Summers are notably intense and hot. There are approximately 84.7 afternoons every year where the maximum temperature rises above 40 degrees Celsius. In fact, seven of those days see temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius. Winters bring pleasant afternoons, but the mornings can be quite chilly. The city also experiences haze on about 81.3 days per year.

Zahedan has a unique history and an interesting name. The original name of the city was Duzzap. In Persian, this means "Water Stolen." This name was given because of the abrupt floods that would rush into the valley. The name was changed to Zahedan in 1929. This change occurred during a visit by Reza Shah. The word Zahedan translates to "hermits" in Persian. While the city was mentioned in records as early as August 1849, it truly began to grow during the early 20th century.

Transportation is a defining feature of the city's development.

During World War I, the city became the westernmost terminal for the Zahedan railway station. This rail line once reached as far as Quetta in what was then British Baluchistan. Today, the city hosts a unique "break of gauge" at its station. This happens because the Iranian railway uses standard gauge tracks. However, the Pakistan Railway uses a different system called broad gauge. The Quetta–Taftan Railway Line connects these two different systems. Highway 95 also links the city to Tehran and Mashhad in the north, and the port of Bandar Chabahar in the south. Highway 84 connects the city to Kerman in the west and Quetta in the east.

The population of Zahedan has seen massive growth over the last century. In 1956, the population was only 17,500 people. By 1976, that number had increased more than fivefold to 93,000. A major shift occurred after 1980 due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Large numbers of refugees fleeing the conflict helped triple the population. By 1986, the city had more than 281,000 residents. Recent census data shows continued growth. The 2016 census measured the population at 587,730 people living in 146,717 households.

As an economic center, Zahedan supports many small and medium-scale industries. The city produces a wide variety of goods. These include cotton textiles and hand-knotted rugs. Other products include ceramics, processed foods, and livestock feed. The local economy also relies on processed hides, milled rice, brick, and reed mats.

There are also ongoing plans to improve regional trade. In 2016, an agreement was signed to build a new railway between Chabahar and Zahedan. This is part of the North–South Transport Corridor. This project involves significant international investment from India and Iran.

Education and religion are also important parts of life in the city.

Zahedan is home to several major institutions. These include the University of Sistan and Baluchestan and the Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. The Islamic Azad University of Zahedan also serves the region. For religious studies, the city hosts Darululoom Zahedan, which is the largest Sunni seminary.

The city also features various other Sunni religious schools. For recreation, the Zahedan Stadium provides a space for sports.

Built in 2008, the stadium has a seating capacity of 15,000 people.