Qom province

Qom is a place in the middle of Iran.

The land is very dry. It has hills and flat plains. Because it is so dry, it is hard to grow food.

There are two big salt lakes here. One is called Howz e Soltan. The other is Namak Lake.

Many people visit the city of Qom. They go to see holy sites. It is a very important place for religion.

Qom has many old and special sites to see.

Qom is a province in the middle of Iran.

Its capital is the city of Qom. The land is very dry. It has mountains, hills, and flat plains. Because it is far from the sea, it does not get much rain. This makes it hard to farm in most areas.

There are two large salt lakes in the province. Howz e Soltan Lake is north of the city. Namak Lake is to the east.

Many people visit Qom for religion. It is a major center for Shia Islam. People travel to see the shrine of Ma'soomeh. They also visit the Jamkaran mosque.

Qom has a very long history. Old items show people lived there a long time ago. The province has 195 sites that are special to its culture. These include old caves and libraries. Many people live in the cities there. Most of the people in the province live in urban areas.

Qom Province is a special place in the center of Iran.

It covers a small part of the country, about 0.89 percent of the total area. The province is about 11,237 square kilometers in size. Its capital is the city of Qom, where most people live. The province was actually made from part of Tehran province in 1995. It is also part of a group called Region 1.

The land in Qom has many different shapes. You can find mountains, hills, and flat plains there. The weather is mostly dry because the province is far from the sea. It has a desert or semi-desert climate with very little rain. Because it is so dry, it is hard to farm in most places. This is especially true near the salt lakes.

There are two big salt lakes in the area. Howz e Soltan Lake is 36 kilometers north of Qom. Namak Lake is 80 kilometers to the east. One fifth of Namak Lake is inside the province.

Qom has a history that goes back a very long time. Old items show people lived there in the 5th millennium BCE. Long ago, the city might have been called 'Kom.' Many different groups of people have lived in and ruled the area. The city grew and thrived during the Buyid and Seljuk eras. It also saw hard times during the Mongol and Afghan invasions. Even after these tough times, the city continued to develop and change.

Today, Qom is a very important place for religion. It is a major center for the Shia branch of Islam. Many people travel there for pilgrimages to see holy sites. The shrine of Ma'soomeh is a very famous feature in the capital. Another popular place to visit is the Jamkaran mosque.

The province is also home to many schools and colleges. These include the University of Qom and the Feyzieh Seminary. There are 195 sites that are protected for their history and culture.

Many people live in the cities of Qom Province. In 2016, the population was about 1,292,283 people. Most of these people, over 95 percent, live in urban areas. The city of Qom is where the most people reside. Other cities include Kahak, Qanavat, and Jafariyeh. People have even talked about moving the capital of Iran to Qom. This is because Tehran has a lot of traffic and pollution. Qom remains a very important place for politics and faith.

Qom Province is one of the 31 provinces located in the central part of Iran.

It covers an area of 11,237 square kilometers. This represents 0.89% of the total land area of Iran. The province was officially formed in 1995 from a portion of Tehran province. In 2014, the Iranian government divided its provinces into five specific regions for development and coordination. Qom was designated as part of Region 1 during this administrative change. The capital city of the province is also named Qom.

The physical geography of the region is defined by a dry, arid climate. Because the province is located far inland and near desert regions, it experiences low humidity and very little rainfall. This environment is described as a desert or semi-desert climate. The landscape is varied, containing mountainous areas, foothills, and flat plains. Due to the lack of water, agriculture is not possible in most parts of the province. This difficulty is most notable in areas near the large salt lakes. One such lake is Howz e Soltan, located 36 km north of Qom. Another is Namak Lake, which sits 80 km to the east. About one-fifth of Namak Lake is located within the borders of Qom Province.

Archaeological evidence shows that Qom has been a residential area since the 5th millennium BCE. In ancient times, the city may have been known as 'Kom,' which was the name of its ancient rampart. The history of the region involves many different eras of conquest and rule. During the Arab conquests, forces under Abu Moosa Ashari were sent to the area in 644–645 CE. The city faced destruction during the reign of the Caliph Al-Ma'mun in 825 CE. However, the city thrived again under the Buyid dynasty and later during the Seljuk era. Even after the Mongol invasions, the city saw a revival when Mongol rulers like Sultan Öljeitü Khoda converted to Islam.

The religious significance of Qom grew steadily over several centuries. By 1503, during the Safavid era, Qom became a vital center for Shia Islam theology. It transformed into a major pilgrimage site and a religious pivot for the community. The shrine of Ma'soomeh in the capital city is a prominent landmark. Another significant religious site is the Jamkaran mosque, which is a popular destination for pilgrims.

These sites have helped establish Qom as a focal center for the Shia branch of Islam.

Demographically, the province has seen steady growth through recent decades. In the 2006 National Census, the population was 1,036,714 people living in 262,313 households. By 2011, the population increased to 1,151,672 people. The 2016 census recorded a population of 1,292,283 people across 383,532 households. A very high percentage of these residents, over 95%, live in urban areas. The vast majority of the population resides in the city of Qom itself. Other smaller cities in the province include Kahak, Qanavat, and Jafariyeh.

Qom is also a major center for education and research. The province hosts many institutions, such as the University of Qom and the University of Tehran.

The Feyzieh Seminary, often called 'The Hawzah,' is a significant religious educational institution. There are also many medical and technical schools, including the University of Qom Medical Sciences. Beyond religion, the province holds 195 sites of historical and cultural significance. These include the Mar'ashi Najafi Library, which contains over 500,000 handwritten texts and copies.

Finally, Qom plays a role in the broader political and industrial landscape of Iran. Because Tehran faces issues with traffic, pollution, and earthquake risks, Qom has been discussed as a possible location for the national capital. The province is also politically conservative. In terms of industry, a mountain range near Qom houses Iran's second uranium enrichment facility. This facility contains 3,000 gas centrifuges. This mix of ancient history, religious importance, and modern industry makes Qom a unique part of the country.