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With an
area of 95815 square kilometers, the Province of
Semnan is located to the east of the province of
Tehran. It includes 4 districts which are: Semnan,
Shahrood, Damghan and Garmsar.
In 1991 the population of the province was about
1457000, which is formed of 61.6% registered to be
urban dwellers, and the remaining 38.4% as villagers.
Although the city of Semnan is the administrating
center of the province, the city of Shahrood is the
largest and the most populated city. available
information shows that the population of the province
is consisted of 105 male against every 100 female.
The province of Semnan is located on the south of the
mountainous chain of Albors, in which the height of
the land decrease southward, and it is connected to
the Kaveer desert from the south. So this province is
consisted of two major geographical areas; the
mountainous to the north, and the fertile outskirts
and plains to the south. The mountainous area contains
mines as well as some beautiful landscapes, while the
outskirts have been suitable to the establishment of
the old cities during the history.
The province of Semnan is significant for its variable
climate. It is very cold on the mountains, temperate
in the outskirts and very hot in the desert. The old
city of Damghan has very cold weather in the Winter
because of the wintry winds which come from the north,
and a temperate summer, for the same reason. It is
cool in the Summer. The climate in the old city of
Semnan is significant for its temperate Winter and hot
Summer. The weather in Shahrood is very cold in the
northern part, temperate in the middle, and very hot
in the south. The weather of the district of Garmsar
is very hot and dry in the Summer, and very cold and
rainy in the Winter. However, Garmsar is located on
the edge of the arid desert zone.
The province of Semnan is well known for being one of
the 16 division of the Ancient Avista. During the long
period of the Achaemenian and the Maads, it was a part
of the Part (or the Partos) state. It enjoyed a
special importance also during the Sasanid period.
During the Islamic period it was a part of the
historical region of Qomis (or Komash). Finally, the
province of Semnan, with more than two thousand years
history, has been witness to many wars, losses and
victories.
The Silk Road crosses through the middle area of the
province, and it left many remainings such as palaces,
huge buildings, castles, Carvansaras (caravan stops),
water storages, towers, and great walls. From the many
remained historical buildings, one can mention the
palaces of Aga Mohammed Khan and Fath-Ali-Shah in
Damghan, as well as the palaces of Shah-Abbas,
Ainol-Rasheed, and the private house (Haramsara) in
Garmsar, as well as the huge building of Nasser-ul-Deen
Shah’s daughter in Damghan. There are also many
castles like Saro Castle, Koshmaghan Castle and
Pachenar Castle in Semnan, as well as Lasgerd Castle
and Benkooh Castle in Garmsar which are well known as
historical and tourist places. There are also many
religious and pilgrimage places and buildings in the
province of Semnan such as the Sultani Mosque, the
Jami’ Mosque in Semnan, as well as the Tarikhaneh
Mosque in Damghan, and the Jami’ Mosque in Bastam.
The province of Semnan is also well known for its many
natural attractive places, and it has been known as
one of the most attractive provinces in Iran. The many
pleasant river-sides, mine and natural water (Cheshmeh),
leisure places, forests and green spaces, as well as
many protected environmental areas, nice highlands and
peaks, caves and many attractive desert spaces, create
the very beautiful nature of the province.
Regarding to the culture and the local traditions, one
can call it the province of varieties. Observing the
local people’s behavior and action practicing their
own national and religious ceremonies, wedding
parties, memorial ceremonies for holy people or the
death of their relatives, although is varying in
different places of the province, it would be very
attractive for any tourist.
In this province, many scholars such as Manuchehri
Damghani, Ebno-Yameen Foroumandi, Foroughi Bastami,
Yaghmaei Jandaqi, Zoqi Bastami, as well as other
scholars and (Arefs) such as Bayazeed Bastami, Shaykh
Abol-Hassan Kharaqani, Shaykh Ala’ol-Dawleh Semnani,
Shaykh Sakkak and Bibi Monadjemeh Semnani had lived,
worked and died there. From the later scholars we can
name many such as Haj Ali Semnani, Faiz Semnani,
Zabeehollah Safa, and Ali Mo’allem.
A significant tradition in Semnan which can be
mentioned is avoiding wearing black clothes in any
memorandum ceremony. The reason may be because the
local people hate the black flags of the Abbasid
invaders.
Historical, cultural, and tourism images of the Semnan
Province cities are as followings:
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