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The Middle East is a historical and political region of Afro-Eurasia with no clear boundaries. The term "Middle East" was popularized around 1900 in the United Kingdom ; it has a loose definition traditionally encompassing countries or regions in Western Asia and parts of North Africa . |
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| Mashhad is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shiah world. It is located 850 kilometers (500 miles) east of Tehran, at the center of the Razavi Khorasan Province. Its population is 2,387,734 people (2006).
Now Mashhad is notably known as the resting place of the Imam Reza (Ali ibn Musa al-Rida). A shrine was later built there to commemorate the Imam, which in turn gave rise to increasing demographical development.
The city is located at 36.20º latitude and 59.35º east longitude, in the valley of the Kashaf River near Turkmenistan, between the two mountain ranges of Binalood and Hezar-masjed. The city benefits from the proximity of the mountains, having very cold winters, pleasant springs, mild summers, and beautiful autumns. It is only about 250 km (156 miles) from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Greater Mashhad or Metropolitan Mashhad is composed of four municipalities 1)City of Mashhad which is further divided into 11 administration districts 2)Municipality of Torghabeh 3)Municipality of Razaviyeh and 4) Municipality of Ahmadabad. In the past, Greater Mashhad also included Chenaran, Fariman and Kalat-e-Naderi. However these three regions have been promoted to Shahrestan a major administrative center of an Iranian province.
Mashhad has a population of almost 3 million whose population consists mainly of people of Iranian descent. There are also over 20 million pilgrims who visit the city every year.
Apart from Imam Reza shrine there is a number of beautiful large parks, the tombs of historical celebrities in nearby Tus and Neyshabour, the tomb of Nadir Shah and Kooh Sangi park and mellat park that have modern attractions for children such as the biggest ferris wheel or fanfar in Iran and Koohestan park e shadi complex that includes a zoo, where many wild animals are kept and which attracts many visitors to Mashhad. It is also home to the Mashhad Airbase (formerly Imam Reza airbase), jointly a military installation housing Mirage aircraft, and a civilian international airport.
Some points of interest lie outside the city: the tomb of Khajeh Morad, along the road to Tehran; the tomb of Khajeh Rabi' located 6 kilometers north of the city where there are some inscriptions by the renowned Safavid calligrapher Reza Abbasi; and the tomb of Khajeh Abasalt, a distance of 20 kilometers from Mashhad along the road to Neishabur. (The three were all disciples of Imam Reza).
Among the other sights are the tomb of the great poet Ferdowsi in Tus, 24 kilometers distance, and the summer resorts at Torghabeh, Torogh, Akhlamad, Zoshk, and Shandiz.
The Shah Public Bath, built during the Safavid era in 1648, is an outstanding example of the architecture of that period. It was recently restored, and is to be turned into a museum.
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