being on the main road network in the western region of Iran. According to local Jewish traditions, the City of Hamedan is mentioned in the Bible, as the capital of Ancient Persia in the days of King Ahasuerus in the Book of Esther. It was then known as Shushan. The Tombs of Mordecai and Esther are located in modern-day Hamadan. Geography Hamadan province is located in western Iran, in the eastern reaches of the Zagros mountains. It covers about 1.2% of Iran's total land area and shares borders with six other provinces. To the north, the province borders Qazvin and Zanjan provinces, with the Kharaqan mountains forming a natural boundary. The eastern border is with Markazi province. In the south, Mount Garu forms the natural border with Lorestan province. Finally, Hamadan province's western neighbors are Kermanshah and Kordestan provinces. In general, Hamadan province is a mountainous region. The Alvand range, just south of the city of Hamadan, forms the highest point. Its summit reaches 3,580 m above sea level. The lowest point in the province is 1,420 m above sea level, in the valley of the Gamasiab river near Nahavand. Most of the province's rivers originate in the snowmelt on Mount Alvand and then flow north or south. During the summer, when there is practically no rain, all but the largest rivers either dwindle to parched streams or dry up entirely. There are two major plains in the province: one in the northeast and east, stretching from Hamadan north to Avaj in Qazvin province, and the other in the south, between Tuyserkan to Malayer. In the past, much of the current province's area was covered with light oak forests, but deforestation in historical times has reduced the forest cover to just 4,100 hectares, mostly in the valleys of Mount Alvand. The vast majority of the province is currently covered by either farmland (950,000 hectares, or about 48% of its total land area) or pastures (905,000 hectares, or almost 46%). Mountains Besides Mount Alvand, Mount Garu, and the Kharaqan range, Hamadan province contains the following major mountains: Mount Lashgardar, southeast of Malayer; reaches a height of 2,928 m Mount Khangurmaz, in Korzanrud rural district northwest of Tuyserkan; reaches a height of 2,868 m Mount Siahdarreh, northwest of Tuyserkan; reaches a height of 2,818 m Mount Safid Kuh, in Darjazin-e Olya rural district northeast of Hamadan Mount Garma and Mount Sarma, both