Babol Explained

Official Name:Babol
Native Name:fa|بابل
Settlement Type:City
Mapsize:150px
Pushpin Map:Iran
Coordinates:36.5475°N 52.6783°W
Coordinates Footnotes:[1] [2]
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Iran
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Type3:District
Subdivision Name1:Mazandaran
Subdivision Name2:Babol
Subdivision Name3:Central
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Marziyeh Alijan-Nejad[3]
Area Total Km2:45
Elevation M:-2 - 50
Elevation Ft:-6 - 150
Population As Of:2016
Population Total:250217
Population Density Km2:auto
Postal Code Type:Postal Code
Postal Code:48xxx-xxxxx
Area Code:011
Timezone:IRST
Utc Offset:+3:30
Blank Name:Vehicle Plate
Blank Info:IRAN ج72, ج82, ص82
Blank1 Name:Former Names
Blank1 Info:Barforoush / Mamatir

Babol (fa|بابل;) is a city in the Central District of Babol County, Mazandaran province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.[4] Babol is divided into two metropolitan areas (under Iranian law).

History and etymology

Founded by the Safavids in the 16th century, it was built on the site of the ancient city of Mamtir (deriving from "Mah Mithra" "great Mithra). Mithra or 'The Mediator' was believed to be the savior of creation from the threat of darkness and the one who stands between the light of Ahura Mazda and the darkness of Ahriman. Babol was formerly called Barforushdeh (meaning Market Town) and Barforush afterwards. In 1931, the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty Reza Shah (1878-1944) ordered urban planning efforts to commence in the city and changed its name to Babol, which means city with abundant water supply.[5]

Demographics

Language and ethnicity

Mazandarani people have a background in Tabari ethnicity and speak Mazandarni.[6] Their origin goes back to the Tapuri people, who were forced to migrate to the south coast of the Caspian Sea during the Achaemenid dynasty.[7] [8] [9]

The native people of Sari, Shahi, Babol, Amol, Nowshahr, Chalus, and Tonekabon are Mazandarani people and speak the Mazandarani language.[10]

Population

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 198,636 in 55,943 households.[11] The following census in 2011 counted 219,467 people in 67,069 households.[12] The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 250,217 people in 81,572 households.[13]

Babol is one of the most important cities in the north of Iran, known as a regional center for education, trade, industry, and medical services. It is famous for its orange groves.[14]

Geography

Location

Babol is in the north of Iran, north-east of Tehran, between the northern slopes of the Alborz Mountains and southern coast of the Caspian Sea.The city is located approximately 20 kilometers south of the Caspian Sea on the west bank of Babolrud River. Babol borders Babolsar and Fereydunkenar to the north, Qaem Shahr and Shirgah District to the east, Savadkuh to the southeast, Firuzkuh to the South and Amol to the west. Babol University is famous for its spectacular scenery.

Climate

the city receives abundant annual rainfall.The Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa, Trewartha: Cs)[15] [16]

Economy

Commerce and trading are the backbone of the city's economy since it is the largest commercial center for Mazandaran province, partially due to its location at the center of the province and also the large population of villages around the city, making Babol county the most populated county in the province.Babol produces food and textiles — as well as other processed goods, including oranges, lemons, and tangerines. There are many rice farms around the city, and, until about 20 years ago, tea, tobacco, and cotton were processed.

The city is served by Refah Chain Stores Co., Iran Hyper Star, Isfahan City Center, Shahrvand Chain Stores Inc., Kowsar Market, Ofoq Kourosh chain store.

Transportation

Almost all of the city transportation is by car, buses and other road vehicles. Thus, Babol is highly dependent on the regional highway network which connects the city to Babolsar 10 km north, Amol 30 km west and Qaemshahr 15 km east. These are all new wide highways.

Babol has access to an airport 55 km away and to a train station 15 km away.

The ports of Fereydunkenar and Babolsar are both located on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea with connection to other Caspian ports.

Colleges and universities

As the largest commercial center, the city of Babol also hosts large number of universities province. Universities include:

Health centers and hotels

Industry

Major corporations

Sports

Babol is home to the Iranian Basketball Super League team BEEM Mazandaran BC which plays in the city's Shahid Sojoodi Arena.BEEM also had a popular volleyball team in the Iranian Super League in 2008–2009.Now Babol have a 2 Team in wrestling, Bime Razi and Arash Zin.They have a popular football club, Khooneh Be Khooneh. Khooneh Be Khooneh play in the 1st division (after Premier League) in the Iranian system football. Babol was the host of Freestyle Wrestling Club World Cup in December 2018.

Landmarks

The ruins of Shah Abbas I's palace are located in the city.Mohammad Hassan Khan bridge is also one of the most ancient buildings of Mazandaran. It was built by the king Mohammad Hassan Khan Qajar, the ancestor of Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar as the main road from Babol to Amol. Now it is known as the old road of Babol to Amol. Babol also contains Babol Noshirvani Park, the largest park including a playground located in the northern part of Iran, located in the vicinity of Caspian Sea.Babol is home to many important and intact forests and jungles, such as, Shiadeh, in south-east Babol.

Filband, a village near the northern Iranian city of Babol, is famous for its skies which are full of interconnected cumulus clouds, especially in springtime.[18]

Historical and natural attractions

Notable people

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. ((OpenStreetMap contributors)) . منطقه ۱ [District 1], Babol, بخش مرکزی [Central District], Babol County, Mazandaran Province, 47149-48145, Iran]. . 20 October 2024. 20 October 2024. fa.
  2. GMWH+X8W Babol, Mazandaran Province, Iran . 27 December 2025.
  3. Web site: Irna News . irna.ir . 1 March 2024 . fa . 8 September 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230908185657/https://www.irna.ir/news/84730223 . dead .
  4. Web site: Hassan . Habibi . Hassan Habibi . Persian: rtl=yes|تاریخ تصویب (Approval date) 1369/06/21 (Iranian Jalali calendar) . 12 September 1990 . fa:تصویب سازمان و سلسله تابعیت عناصر و واحدهای تقسیمات کوری استان مازندران به مرکزیت شهر ساری . ‌Approval of the organization and chain of citizenship of the elements and units of the divisions of Mazandaran province, centered in Sari city . https://lamtakam.com/law/council_of_ministers/113042 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240114003543/https://lamtakam.com/law/council_of_ministers/113042 . 14 January 2024 . 5 December 2025 . Persian: rtl=yes|لام تا کام [Lam ta Kam] . Persian: rtl=yes|‌وزارت کشور [Ministry of the Interior] . Persian: rtl=yes|کمیسیون سیاسی دفاعی هیأت دولت [Political Defense Commission of the Government Board] . fa . Persian: rtl=yes|شناسه [ID] 6BCA9E6B-F7AD-441C-8A24-47D38564A5F5. Persian: rtl=yes|شماره دوره [Course number] 69, Persian: rtl=yes|شماره جلد [Volume number] 3..
  5. Web site: شهرداری بابل. Babol Municipality. fa.
  6. Web site: Glottolog 4.8 - Mazanderani. glottolog.org. 1 March 2024.
  7. 4030997 . Māzandarān: Language and People . Iran & the Caucasus . Borjian . Habib . 8. 2 . 2004 . . 291 . 10.1163/1573384043076045.
  8. Web site: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography, illustrated by numerous engravings on wood. William Smith, LLD. London. Walton and Maberly, Upper Gower Street and Ivy Lane, Paternoster Row; John Murray, Albemarle Street. 1854., TAPU´RI. 2021-02-04. www.perseus.tufts.edu.
  9. Book: Potts, Daniel . Nomadism in Iran: From Antiquity to the Modern Era . 2021-12-15 . Oxford University Press . 9780199330799 . 2014 . 110 . en.
  10. Windfuhr, G. L. 1989. New Iranian languages: Overview. In Rüdiger Schmitt, ed., Compendium linguarum Iranicarum. Wiesbaden: L. Reichert. pp. 490.
  11. Web site: fa:سرشماري عمومي نفوس و مسكن 1385 : استان مازندران . General Population and Housing Census 2006: Mazandaran Province . fa . Persian: rtl=yes|مرکز آمار ایران [Statistical Centre of Iran] . http://www.amar.org.ir/DesktopModules/FTPManager/upload/upload2360/newjkh/newjkh/02.xls . https://web.archive.org/web/20110920090640/http://www.amar.org.ir/DesktopModules/FTPManager/upload/upload2360/newjkh/newjkh/02.xls . 20 September 2011 . Excel . 25 September 2022.
  12. Web site: fa:سرشماري عمومي نفوس و مسكن 1390 : استان مازندران . General Population and Housing Census 2011: Mazandaran Province . fa . Iran Data Portal—Syracuse University . https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/Mazandaran.xls . https://web.archive.org/web/20230119182058/https://irandataportal.syr.edu/wp-content/uploads/Mazandaran.xls . 19 January 2023 . Persian: rtl=yes|مرکز آمار ایران [Statistical Centre of Iran] . Excel . 19 December 2022.
  13. Web site: fa:سرشماري عمومي نفوس و مسكن 1395 : استان مازندران . General Population and Housing Census 2016: Mazandaran Province . fa . Persian: rtl=yes|مرکز آمار ایران [Statistical Centre of Iran] . https://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/census/1395/results/abadi/CN95_HouseholdPopulationVillage_02.xlsx . https://web.archive.org/web/20211007110909/https://www.amar.org.ir/Portals/0/census/1395/results/abadi/CN95_HouseholdPopulationVillage_02.xlsx . 7 October 2021 . Excel . 19 December 2022.
  14. Iranian Students' News Agency - ISNA |http://mazandaran.isna.ir/Default.aspx?NSID=5&SSLID=46&NID=18028
  15. Web site: Climate: Babol - Climate graph, Temperature graph, Climate table. Climate-Data.org. 9 September 2013.
  16. Web site: Babol: Climate Summary . Weatherbase . CantyMedia . 16 February 2024.
  17. Web site: 2021-11-11 . Babol Noshirvani University of Technology . 2022-09-22 . Times Higher Education (THE) . en.
  18. Web site: Iran's Beauties in Photos: Scenic Village of Filband. IFPNews.com. 23 April 2018.

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