Golestân gained provincial status and were declared the twenty-eighth province of Irân after the 1996 parliamentary elections.
The province of  Golestân , is among the fertile regions of the country, with vast potentialities in terms of waters resources, soil and agricultural products.
Situated on the south eastern  the Caspian Sea (the largest land locked body of water in the world), Golestân province covers an area of  20891 sq kms. This province is bounded on the north west by the Caspian Sea , on the east by Xorâsân province,on the west by Mâzanderân  province, on the south by Semnân    province and on the north by Turkmenistan.
The high Elborz Mountains, sealing off the narrow Caspian strip, trap humidity and create a mild humid region with luxuriant forests and swamps. Golestân Province is one of the the most humid regions in Iran.

The rivers are numerous, most of them originate in the Elborz  mountains.Gorgân Rud and Atrak, are among the largest riverers in Golestân province,originate  in the eastern Elborz mountain range, flowing into the "Dašte Gorgân & Gonbad" Steppe Block  and then to the Caspian Sea. The " Dašte Gorgân & Gonbad " Steppe Block is quite flat and open, broken up by hills and river valleys. Other important rivers are the Siáh âb ( Qaresu ), Mâdar âb and Sepid band.

• Province: Golestân
• Province Area : 20891 sq.km
• Population : 1426288 (persons)
• Number of Shahrestans (sub-provinces): 6
• Centers of these sub-provinces are: Ali Âbâd & Kordkuy,   Bandare  Gaz , Bandar  (- Torkaman), Gorgân, Minu Daš t and Gonbade Kâvus 
• Number of Baxšes (counties) : 15
• Number of Dehestâns (rural agglomerations) : 42
• Number of inhabited villages : 958
• Literacy rate (percent) : 76.9
• Center of the province : Gorgân
• Population of Gorgân : 210910 (persons)