South Khorasan province

South Khorasan Province
Persian: استان خراسان جنوبی
Location of South Khorasan Province within Iran
Coordinates: 32°48′N 58°11′E / 32.800°N 58.183°E / 32.800; 58.183
CountryIran
RegionRegion 5
CapitalBirjand
Counties12
Government
  Governor-generalMohammad-Reza Hashemi (Principlist)
Area
  Total
151,913 km2 (58,654 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)
  Total
768,898
  Density5.1/km2 (13/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+03:30 (IRST)
ISO 3166 codeIR-29
Main language(s)Persian
HDI (2017)0.757
high · 27th
Websitesko.ir

South Khorasan province (Persian: استان خراسان جنوبی) is one of the 31 provinces of Iran, located in the eastern part of the country. Its capital is the city of Birjand. In 2014, the province was placed in Region 5. This province is bordered to the north by Razavi Khorasan Province, to the northwest by Semnan Province, to the west by Isfahan and Yazd Provinces, to the south by Kerman Province, and to the southeast by Sistan and Baluchestan Province. The area of this province is 151,913 square kilometers (58,654 square miles), making it the third largest province in Iran after Kerman and Sistan and Baluchestan. According to the 2016 census, its population is 768,898, ranking it as the 28th province in the country in terms of population. This province is the third largest province in Iran.

South Khorasan Province is split into two distinct regions: the "mountainous and elevated" areas in the north and northwest, and the "low and flat" central and southern plains. The tallest mountains in the province include "Kamarak" and "Shah Kuh." It experiences a "dry and desert" climate, which can be further divided into "hot and dry" and "mild and dry" categories. The northern and northwestern parts are more fertile, while the southern and southwestern plains endure a dry and harsh climate. The rivers in this region are seasonal, with no permanent rivers present.