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Meshed
The municipality of Meshed is located in Northwest of
Khorasan Province; it is surrounded by Qouchan and Dargaz
cities from North, Republic of Turkmenistan and city of
Sarakhs from East, Fariman and Torbat Heidarieh cities
from South and Neishabour from West.
The municipality has an area of 27487 sq. km and a
population of 2,038,388 (1986 Census). It is made up of
two phenomena, mountain and plain. Its mountains are
"Hezar Masjed" (1000 Mosques) and "Binaloud",
which extend in parallel from Northwest to Southeast.
Plain is fertile and water-full plateau, which originates in
Binaloud and Hezar Masjed alluvium and is extended from
Qouchan to Toroq.
The principal river is called "Kashaf-roud",
which originates from the valleys of the above-mentioned
mountains, flowing from Northwest to Southeast and having
passed adjacent to the cities of Tous and Meshed, extends
to East to meet Hari-roud in Pol-Khatoun border point. Now
(2000), Kashaf-roud is suffering from lack of water
throughout the most of the year, due to moorage and
utilization, but in the past, it was a river flowing with
water, people traveled by its banks and its value even had
place in Iranian Mythology.
The capital of the municipality is "Meshed",
located in Southeast of the plain, with the distance of
892 km from Tehran; its altitude is 985 m, with 204 sq. km
area and 1,540,425 population (1986 Census).
After 1979, because of its increase in population,
expansion and advances, especially because of huge
investment of "Astan Qods Razavi" (Shrine of
Imam Reza's Organization), Meshed became the second city
(after Tehran) of Iran.
Meshed was first a village called "Sanabad"
(until the late of 10th century AD), part of the city of
"Noqan", located in Northwest of present Meshed
and 1500 m from Noqan.
In that time, even until 12th century AD, Noqan was
the largest of 4 regions in Tous; others were Taberan,
Toroqbaz and Radkan. Sanabad, in the vicinity of Noqan,
had pleasant climate; there were built villas for
dignitaries in 11th century AD.
In 911 AD, Sanabad was a small village in suburbs of Noqan,
enclosed by high and strong wall, where some people were
meditating. In late 11th century, one of Masoud Qaznavi's
clerks, called "Abolhassan Araqi" built
caravanserai and cleaned the sewer in Sanabad.
In 1012 AD, when "Beihaqi" traveled to Sanabad,
Sanabad and Noqan had expanded so far that they had became
attached.
In mid-12th century, Noqan and Sanabad, in combination of
a big city were known as "Meshed", became the
center of aggression by "Qoz Clan"; people in
the vicinity were killed and their belongings ransacked.
In 1197, Mongol invaded to Meshed.
Following the barbarous murder of "Miran-Shah"
in Tous (1371 AD), those who escaped un-hurt migrated to
Meshed. Shahrokh Timurid could not return them to Tous, so
he ordered "Amir Seyed Khajeh" to construct a
larger fence around Meshed (1388 AD).
Goharshad Mosque was built in 1401 AD. In 1403 AD,
"Hafiz Abrou" declared Meshed as a credible
place and one of the honored cities of Khorasan.
In the era of "Sultan Hussein Bayqora", the last
Timurid King, his minister "Amie Ali Shir Navai
(1456-1486) regained water of "Golasb Fountain"
(now known as "Gilas") from Tous and transferred
it through a canal, of approximately 42 km length, to
Meshed. Tous desolated and Meshed raised.
In 1584 AD, Meshed was attacked by Uzbek. In Safavid era,
it was the center of great attention. Shah Abbas
(1576-1618 AD) placed his boots on his shoulders and
walked from Isfahan to Meshed, to pilgrim. The highest
point of attention was in "Nader Shah Afshar"
period, where Meshed was chosen as capital. Qajar Kings
also paid great attention to Meshed.
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