Kerman

Kerman city is located on a high margin of Kavir-e lut (Lut Desert) in the central south of Iran, is the Capital of Kerman Providence. Kerman is considered to be one of the oldest cities and its name is derived from the Germaniol race listed by Herodotus, and its construction is attributed to Ardashir I of Sassanid Dynasty (Ardashir-e Babakan) in 3rd century CE. Kerman was ruled by Turkmans, Arabs and Mongols after the 7th Century CE and was expanded rapidly during the Safavid Dynasty. Carpets and rugs were exported to England and Germany during this period. As it also is a major hand woven carpet production center of the country, and hundreds of small workshops scattered through the city. Kerman has had a long turbulent history. It was only during the rule of the Qajar Dynasty that security was restored in this city under the Central Government. Kerman has a small Zoroastrian minority. Most of the ancient Kerman was destroyed in a 1794 earthquake. Kerman was pillaged by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar when Lotf 'Ali Khan of the Zand dynasty took refuge there. It was rebuilt under Fath 'Ali Shah, the founder of the Qajar dynasty (ruled 1797-1834). The distance between this city and Tehran is 1064 km and is on Tehran, Bandar Abbas and Zahedan route. Kerman airport is counted as one of the main airports which has daily & weekly flights to Tehran, Ahwaz, Yazd, Esfahan, Bandar Abbas, Mashhad and Shiraz. Also the Trans Iranian Railway passes through this city. Kerman city has a moderate and the average annual rainfall is 135 mm. Because it is located close to the Kavir-e lut, Kerman has hot summers and in the spring it often has violent sand storms. Otherwise, its climate is relatively cool. Kerman exports a large percentage of the world's pistachios. Gum tragacanth is also gathered. Animal products are chiefly wool and “kork”, a kind of soft wool used in Kerman shawls. The province is rich in minerals such as copper, coal, chromium, lead, zinc, uranium, and aluminum, but difficulty of access has restricted mining on a large scale. Springs of crude oil have been found in the Kerman region.