Geography and demographics

The city is located at 36.20º latitude and 59.35º east longitude, in the valley of the Kashaf River near Turkmenistan; it is between of Binalood and Hezar-masjed.

Due to its proximity with the mountains, Mashhad has a wonderful weather. It has very cold winters, pleasant springs, mild summers, and beautiful autumns. It is only 1290 km (800 miles) from Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.
Greater Mashhad is composed of four municipalities:
1) City of Mashhad
2) Municipality of Torghabeh.
3) Municipality of Razaviyeh.
4) Municipality of Ahmadabad.
Greater Mashhad also included the municipalities of Chenaran, Fariman and Kalat-e-Naderi, but they were promoted to Shahrestan, a major administrative center of an Iranian province.
Mashhad has a population of almost 2 million whose population consists mainly of people of Iranian descent. There are also over 20 million pilgrims who visit the city every year.