Babol ( fa, بابل, , known as "Orange Blossom City" , also
Romanize
Romanization or romanisation, in linguistics, is the conversion of text from a different writing system to the Roman (Latin) script, or a system for doing so. Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written text, an ...
d as Bābol; formerly known as Barfrouch) is the capital of
Babol County
Babol County ( fa, شهرستان بابل) is located in Mazandaran province, Iran. The capital of the county is Babol. At the 2006 census, the county's population was 464,538, in 125,187 households. Retrieved 3 November 2022 The following cen ...
,
Mazandaran Province,
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
. Babol is divided into two metropolitan areas (under Iranian law). At the 2012 census, its population was 219,467, in 66,944 families.
Babol is located in the north of
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
, north-east of
Tehran
Tehran (; fa, تهران ) is the largest city in Tehran Province and the capital of Iran. With a population of around 9 million in the city and around 16 million in the larger metropolitan area of Greater Tehran, Tehran is the most popul ...
, between the northern slopes of the
Alborz Mountains
The Alborz ( fa, البرز) range, also spelled as Alburz, Elburz or Elborz, is a mountain range in northern Iran that stretches from the border of Azerbaijan along the western and entire southern coast of the Caspian Sea and finally runs no ...
and southern coast of the
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, often described as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. An endorheic basin, it lies between Europe and Asia; east of the Caucasus, west of the broad steppe of Central Asia ...
. The city is one of the most important cities in the north of Iran, known as a regional center for education, trade, industry, and medical services.
Babol is a new name for the site of the ancient city of Mamatir, that then was named as Barforush. The city receives abundant rainfall. It is famous for its orange groves.
History and name
![Bahman Square of Babol](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/63/Bahman_Square_of_Babol.jpg)
Founded by the
Safavids
Safavid Iran or Safavid Persia (), also referred to as the Safavid Empire, '. was one of the greatest Iranian empires after the 7th-century Muslim conquest of Persia, which was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often conside ...
in the 16th century, it was built on the site of the ancient city of ''Mamtir'' (deriving from "Mah Mithra" "great
Mithra
Mithra ( ae, ''Miθra'', peo, 𐎷𐎰𐎼 ''Miça'') commonly known as Mehr, is the Iranian deity of covenant, light, oath, justice and the sun. In addition to being the divinity of contracts, Mithra is also a judicial figure, an all-seein ...
). 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
,
, spouse = Maryam Savadkoohi Tadj ol-Molouk Ayromlu (queen consort) Turan Amirsoleimani Esmat Dowlatshahi
, issue = Princess Hamdamsaltaneh Princess Shams Mohammad Reza Shah Princess Ashraf Prince Ali Reza Prince Gholam Reza P ...
(1878-1944) ordered urban planning efforts to commence in the city and changed its name to Babol, which means city with abundant water supply.
Geography and climate
The city is located approximately 20 kilometers south of the Caspian Sea on the west bank of Babolrud River and receives abundant annual rainfall. Babol borders
Babolsar
Babolsar ( fa, بابلسر, also Romanized as Bābolsar and Bābul Sar; also known as Mashhadsar (Persian: مَشهَدسَر), also Romanized as Mashhad-i-Sar and Meshed-i-Sar) is a city and capital of Babolsar County, Mazandaran Province, Ira ...
and
Fereydunkenar to the north,
Qaem Shahr
Qaem Shahr ( fa, قائمشهر, also Romanized as Qā’em Shahr; formerly known as Shāhi ( fa, شاهی) is a city and capital of Qaem Shahr County, Mazandaran Province, Iran. At the 2016 census, its population was 247,953.
Originally kno ...
and
Shirgah District
North Savadkuh County ( fa, شهرستان سوادکوه شمالی) is located in Mazandaran province, Iran. The capital of the county is Shirgah. At the 2006 census, the county's population as a part of Savadkuh County
Savadkuh County ( ...
to the east,
Savadkuh
Savadkuh County ( fa, شهرستان سوادكوه, ''Ŝahrestāne Sawādkuh''; also Savadkooh and Savadkouh) is located in Mazandaran province, Iran. The capital of the county is Pol Sefid. At the 2006 census, the county's population (includi ...
to the southeast,
Firuzkuh
Firuzkuh ( fa, فيروزكوه, also Romanized as Fīrūzkūh and Fīrūz Kūh; Tabarian: Pirezcow; also known as Qaşabeh-ye Fīrūz Kūh) is a city and capital of Firuzkuh County, Tehran Province, Iran. At the 2016 census, its population w ...
to the South and
Amol to the west. Babol University is famous for its spectacular scenery.
The
Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as
humid subtropical climate (
Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include:
* Bernd Köppen (born 1951), German pianist and composer
* Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan
* Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author and ...
: ''Cfa'',
Trewartha: ''Cf'')
Population
In 2012 population census of the city, the population was 219,467 people (79,837 households) and a population of 495,472 people in the located in the city.
Mazandarani people have a background in Tabari ethnicity and speak Mazandarni. 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.
The native people of
Sari
A sari (sometimes also saree or shari)The name of the garment in various regional languages include:
* as, শাৰী, xārī, translit-std=ISO
* bn, শাড়ি, śāṛi, translit-std=ISO
* gu, સાડી, sāḍī, translit-std ...
, Shahi, babol,
Amol, Nowshahr, Chalus, and
Tonekabon
Tonekabon ( fa, تنكابن, also Romanized as Tonekābon; formerly known as Shahsavar (Persian: شَهسَوار), also Romanized as Shahsavār and Shahsawār) is a city and capital of Tonekabon County, Mazandaran Province, northern Iran.
At ...
are Mazandarani people and speak the Mazandarani language.
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
Filband ( fa, فيل بند, also Romanized as Fīlband) is a village in bandpey district, Babol County, Mazandaran Province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in We ...
, a village near the northern Iranian city of Babol, is famous for its skies which are full of interconnected cumulus clouds, especially in springtime.
Historical and natural attractions
![Baghferdous](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Baghferdous.jpg)
*
Mohammad Hassan Khan bridge
* Babol Royal Palace
*
Babol Museum
* Emamzadeh Ghasem
* Kazem Beik Mosque
* Watchtower
*
Babol Jameh Mosque
* Mohaddesin Mosque
* Tekyeh Moghri Kola
* Sultan Mohammad Taher Tomb Tower
* Darvish Fakhr Al-Din Tomb
* Post Building
* Head University of Medical Sciences
* Ibn Shahr Ashub Tomb
* Sarast Tower
* Darvish Alam-bazi Tower
* Hasirforoshan Mosque
* Azroud Thermal Spring
* Babolroud
* Babolkenar Forest Park
* Historic homes Qajansb
* Aghajan Nasab House
* Osia House
* Najafi Mansion
* Sheikh Mousa Yaylak and Waterfall
* Kimoun Waterfall
* Shiadeh Dam
* Saghanefar Kija Tekyeh
* Porang High School
* Shiadeh Saghanefar
* Abuol Hasan Kola Saghanefar
* Mulana Mosque
* Tirkan Waterfall
* Haft Waterfall
* Filband Village
* Bandpey Village
* Pir Alam Tekyeh
* Moftakher ul-Mamalek Caravanserai
* Sadr Hawza
* Chahar Suq Mosque
* Lafoor Jungle
* Bagh-e Ferdows
* Noshirvani Park
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
orange
Orange most often refers to:
*Orange (fruit), the fruit of the tree species '' Citrus'' × ''sinensis''
** Orange blossom, its fragrant flower
*Orange (colour), from the color of an orange, occurs between red and yellow in the visible spectrum
* ...
s,
lemon
The lemon (''Citrus limon'') is a species of small evergreen trees in the flowering plant family Rutaceae, native to Asia, primarily Northeast India (Assam), Northern Myanmar or China.
The tree's ellipsoidal yellow fruit is used for culin ...
s, and
tangerine
The tangerine is a type of citrus fruit that is orange in color. Its scientific name varies. It has been treated as a separate species under the name ''Citrus tangerina'' or ''Citrus'' × ''tangerina'', or treated as a variety of ''Citrus retic ...
s. There are many
rice
Rice is the seed of the grass species '' Oryza sativa'' (Asian rice) or less commonly ''Oryza glaberrima'' (African rice). The name wild rice is usually used for species of the genera '' Zizania'' and '' Porteresia'', both wild and domesticat ...
farms around the city, and, until about 20 years ago,
tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by pouring hot or boiling water over cured or fresh leaves of ''Camellia sinensis'', an evergreen shrub native to East Asia which probably originated in the borderlands of southwestern China and north ...
,
tobacco
Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the genus '' Nicotiana'' of the family Solanaceae, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of these plants. More than 70 species of tobacco are known, but the ...
, and
cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants of the genus '' Gossypium'' in the mallow family Malvaceae. The fiber is almost pure cellulose, and can contain minor pe ...
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
Babolsar ( fa, بابلسر, also Romanized as Bābolsar and Bābul Sar; also known as Mashhadsar (Persian: مَشهَدسَر), also Romanized as Mashhad-i-Sar and Meshed-i-Sar) is a city and capital of Babolsar County, Mazandaran Province, Ira ...
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
The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, often described as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. An endorheic basin, it lies between Europe and Asia; east of the Caucasus, west of the broad steppe of Central Asia ...
with connection to other Caspian ports.
Colleges and universities
![Babol Noshirvani University of Technology-Main Building](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Babol_Noshirvani_University_of_Technology-Main_Building.jpg)
As the largest commercial center, the city of Babol also hosts large number of universities province.
Universities include:
*
Babol Noshirvani University of Technology The university is an influential center for academic research in Iran, due to which it has been consistently ranked among the top schools in the country. BNUT is currently ranked 1st among all Iranian universities according to Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings. THE has also ranked BNUT between 351st and 400th among world universities, 55th among the world's young universities, as well as 43rd among Asian universities.
*
Babol University of Medical Sciences
* Mazandaran University of Science and Technology
* Educators University - Education Center Martyr Rajai Babol
* PNU - Babol Center
* PNU - Bandpey Unit
*
Islamic Azad University
The Islamic Azad University (IAU; fa, دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی, ''Dāneshgāh-e Āzād-e Eslāmi'') is a private university system headquartered in Tehran, Iran. It is one of the largest comprehensive systems of universities, colleg ...
- Babol Unit
* University of Applied Science - Babol Unit
* Babol Vocational College of Imam Sadiq
* Mazandaran Institute of Technology
* Rahedanesh Institute of Higher Education
* Tabari Institute of Higher Education
* Aryan Institute of Science and Technology
* Institute of Applied Science of Art and Culture - Unit 4 Of Babol
* Institute of Applied Science Technology Jahad Daneshgahi
* Institute of Applied Science -Unit Of Western Bandpey
* Vocational College of Sama - Babol Unit
* Vocational College of AzZahra - Babol Unit
Health centers and hotels
*Negin Hotel
*Reza Hotel
*Marjan Hotel
*Ayatollah Rouhani Hospital
*Babol Clinic
*Shahid Beheshti Hospital
*Fatemeh Al-Zahra Hospital
*Yahya Nejad Hospital
*17 Shahrivar Hospital
*Mehregan Hospital
Industry
Major corporations
*
Iran Khodro Mazandaran
* Babol Machine Mfg. & Ind
* MSco
* Khazar Khodro Babol.Co
Sports
Babol is home to the
Iranian Basketball Super League
The Iranian Basketball Super League (IBSL) is a professional men's basketball league in Iran. It was founded in 1998. The current champions is Shahrdari Gorgan. The league follows the promotion and relegation system in which the worst two tea ...
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.
Notable people
*
Amir Pazevari (17th century) - poet
*
Muhammad Ashrafi (1804-1898) - Shia
Marja'
Marji ( ar, مرجع, transliteration: ''marjiʿ''; plural: ''marājiʿ''), literally meaning "source to follow" or "religious reference", is a title given to the highest level of Twelver Shia authority, a Grand Ayatollah with the authority giv ...
*
Mohammad-Ali Barfrushi (1820–1849) -
Babi leader
*
Hossein Fallah Noshirvani (1902–1972) - philanthropist
*
Delkash (1924–2004) - singer
*
Afshin
Afshin ( fa, افشین / ''Afšīn'') is a common Persian given name, which is a modern Persian word derived from Avestan. Afshin was used by the Sogdians. Historically, it was the princely title of the rulers of Osrushana at the time of the ...
(born 1978) - singer
*
Sheikh Mohammad Haeri Mazandarani (1960) - religious
* Zeinolabedin Haeri Mazandarani (1919–1996) - religious
*
Shahrokh Meskoob (1924–2005) - writer
*
Davoud Rashidi
Davoud Rashidi ( fa, داوود رشیدی; July 16, 1933 – August 26, 2016) was an Iranian actor. His daughter, Leili Rashidi, is also an actress.
Career
His first film was ''Escape from the Trap'' (1971, Jalal Moghadam) after years of stage ...
(1933–2016) - actor
*
Tal'at Basari (born 1925) - feminist writer
*
Mokarrameh Ghanbari
Mokarrameh Ghanbari ( fa, مکرمه قنبری; born in 1928 – died October 24, 2005) was an Iranian self-taught painter who won several international art awards. She started painting at the age of 61 in 1991.
Biography
Mokarrameh was born i ...
(1928–2005) - painter
*
Ahmad Ghahreman (1928–2008) - botanist
*
Emam-Ali Habibi
Emam-Ali Habibi Goudarzi ( fa, امامعلی حبیبی گودرزی, born 27 May 1931) is a retired Iranian freestyle wrestler. He won gold medals at the 1958 Asian Games; 1959, 1961 and 1962 world championships; and 1956 Olympics, placing fou ...
(born 1931) - wrestler
*
Hamid Reza Chitgar
Hamid Reza Chitgar (7 July 1949 – 19 May 1987, also known as ''Hamid Bahmani'') was an exiled Iranian communist politician who lived in France after the Iranian Revolution and was assassinated in Austria by the Iranian government.
Early life an ...
(1949–1987) - politician
*
Bijan Mortazavi
Bijan Mortazavi ( fa, بیژن مرتضوی, born November 16, 1957) is an Iranian virtuoso violinist, musician, composer, songwriter, arranger and singer.
Biography Musical education
Born in the city of Babol, Iran. Mortazavi studied music ...
(born 1957) - singer and musician
*
Towhidi Tabari
Towhidi Tabari ( fa, توحیدی طبری, Mazandarani: توحیدی طبری Tawhidi Tabari ; born 15 June 1964) is an Iranian artist.
He is a member of the Society of Iranian Calligraphists, International Association of Art, La Maison des ...
(born 1964) - artist
* Zeinolabedin Rahnama (1893–1989) - writer
*
Reza Salehi Amiri
Reza Salehi Amiri ( fa, رضا صالحی امیری) is an Iranian politician, who was the President of National Olympic Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran, from 2018 to 2022. He was a deputy to Mayor of Tehran and was also Minister of C ...
(born 1962) - politician
*
Masoud Hedayatifard (born 1971) - scholar in fishery science
*
Masih Alinejad
Masih Alinejad ( fa, مسیح علینژاد, born Masoumeh Alinejad-Ghomikolayi ( fa, معصومه علینژاد قمی کُلایی), September 11, 1976) is an Iranian-American journalist, author, and women's rights activist. Alinejad cu ...
(born 1976) - writer and journalist
*
Sohrab Entezari
Sohrab Entezari ( fa, سهراب انتظاری; born April 21, 1977) is a retired Iranian footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are assoc ...
(born 1977) - football player
*
Ali Asghar Mazandarani (1826–1911) - cleric
*
Farhad Rachidi (born 1962) - scientist
* Karim Motamedi (born 1929) - minister
*
Hassan Ghashghavi (born 1957) - ambassador
* Hassan Anousheh (born 1945) - writer
*
Arya Aramnejad
Arya Aramnejad is an Iranian singer from Babol, Iran. He became known for his song "Ali Barkhiz" where he denounces the Islamic regime's crimes during the 2009 Ashura protests. After this, he was jailed and tortured. He was then released and con ...
(born 1983) - singer
*
Leyli Rashidi (born 1973) - actress
*
Maryam Kavyani
Maryam Kavyani ( fa, مریم کاویانی; born June 22, 1970) is an Iranian actress.
Biography
Maryam Kavyani was born in Ahvaz to Baboli parents. She lives at present in Tehran. Ms Kavyani has a postgraduate degree in nursing and before e ...
(born 1970) - actress
*
Maziar (1952–1997) - singer
*
Morteza Pouraliganji (born 1992) - football player
*
Mehdi Kheiri
Mehdi Mir Kheiri (born February 11, 1983, is an Iranian footballer
A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, ...
(born 1983) - football player
*
Hadi Norouzi
Hadi Norouzi ( fa, هادی نوروزی, 22 June 1985 – 1 October 2015) was an Iranian football striker who last played for Persepolis in the Persian Gulf Pro League. (1985–2015) - football player
*
Bashir Babajanzadeh (born 1989) - wrestler
*
Parinaz Izadyar
Parinaz Izadyar ( fa, پریناز ایزدیار, born August 30, 1985) is an Iranian actress. She has received various accolades, including a Crystal Simorgh and two Hafez Awards.
Career
Parinaz Izadyar studied graphic design and made her ...
(born 1985)- actress
*
Sousan Hajipour (born 1990) - taekwondo practitioner
*
Noshad Alamian
Noshad Alamiyan Darounkolaei ( fa, نوشاد عالمیان درونكلایی, born 21 November 1991 in Babol) is an Iranian table tennis player.
Noshad Alamiyan made a breakthrough at 2008 ITTF World Junior Championships held in Madrid, Spai ...
(born 1991) - table tennis player
*
Nima Alamian
Nima Alamian (born 24 December 1992 in Babol[«مصاحبه ...](_blank)
(born 1992) - table tennis player
*
Mojtaba Mirzajanpour (born 1991) volleyball player
*
Alireza Firouzja
Alireza Firouzja ( fa, علیرضا فیروزجا, ; born 18 June 2003) is an Iranian and French chess grandmaster. Firouzja is the youngest ever 2800- rated player, beating the previous record set by Magnus Carlsen by more than five months ...
(born 2003) - chess player
*
Mohammad Hossein Mahdavian (born 1981) - film director
* Parviz Bahram (1933–2019) - dubber
See also
*
Babolsar
Babolsar ( fa, بابلسر, also Romanized as Bābolsar and Bābul Sar; also known as Mashhadsar (Persian: مَشهَدسَر), also Romanized as Mashhad-i-Sar and Meshed-i-Sar) is a city and capital of Babolsar County, Mazandaran Province, Ira ...
*
Babolrud
References
External links
Babol Noshirvani University of Technology*
Ofoq kourosh
{{Authority control
Cities in Mazandaran Province