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, and ...

d as Bābol; formerly known as Barfrouch) is the capital of Babol County, 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

, 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 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

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 Ahura Mazda (; ae, , translit=Ahura Mazdā; ), also known as Oromasdes, Ohrmazd, Ahuramazda, Hoormazd, Hormazd, Hormaz and Hurmuz, is the creator deity in Zoroastrianism. He is the first and most frequently invoked spirit in the ''Yasna''. ...

and the darkness of Ahriman. ''Babol'' was formerly called ''Barforushdeh'' (meaning Market Town) and Barforush afterwards. In 1931, the founder of the

Pahlavi dynasty The Pahlavi dynasty ( fa, دودمان پهلوی) was the last Iranian royal dynasty, ruling for almost 54 years between 1925 and 1979. The dynasty was founded by Reza Shah Pahlavi, a non-aristocratic Mazanderani soldier in modern times, who ...

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.

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 Fereydunkenar ( fa, فريدونكنار, also Romanized as ''Fereydūnkenār'', ''Fereydūn Kenār'', ''Fāridūn Kinār'', and ''Fereidun Kenar''; also known as ''Qaşabeh'') is a city & capital of Fereydunkenar County, Mazandaran Province, I ...

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 know ...

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 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 wa ...

to the South and

Amol Amol ( fa, آمل – ; ; also Romanized as Āmol and Amul) is a city and the administrative center of Amol County, Mazandaran Province, Iran, with a population of around 300,000 people. Amol is located on the Haraz river bank. It is less than ...

to the west. Babol University is famous for its spectacular scenery. The Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...

( Köppen: ''Cfa'',

Trewartha Trewartha and Andrewartha are Cornish family names (and placename, Dexter). There are places called Trewartha in the parishes of Merther, St Agnes, St Neot and Veryan. According to the ''Handbook of Cornish Names'' by G. Pawley White, "Trew ...

: ''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,

, 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 t ...

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 Mohammad Hassan Khan Bridge , also known as ''Pol-e Mohammad Hasan Khan'', lies on the Babol river in Nooshirvan Kola Road of Babol city. It is one of the ancient construction in Mazandaran Province. The bridge was constructed in the year 1146 ...

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 Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar ( fa, آقا محمد خان قاجار, translit=Âqâ Mohammad Xân-e Qâjâr; 14 March 1742 – 17 June 1797), also known by his regnal name of Agha Mohammad Shah (, ), was the founder of the Qajar dynasty of Iran, rul ...

as the main road from Babol to

. 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.

Historical and natural attractions

* 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 oranges, lemons, 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 ''Oryza glaberrima'', commonly known as African rice, is one of the two domesticated rice species. It was first domesticated and grown i ...

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 northe ...

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 perce ...

were processed. The city is served by

Refah Chain Stores Co. Refah Supermarkets is an Iranian supermarket chain based in Tehran. The establishment has currently 730 branches across the nation. Refah is carrying a wide assortment of goods in the lines of Food & Beverages Fresh Produce, Hygienic & Cosmetics ...

Iran Hyper Star Iran Hyper Star is an Iranian subsidiary of French multinational retailer Carrefour in Iran History Iran HyperStar Was Founded By Majid Al Futtaim And Carrefour. Branches Iran Hyperstar Currently has Fifteen branches in Tehran, Shiraz, Is ...

Isfahan City Center Isfahan City Center is a large commercial and entertainment complex in Isfahan, Iran. As of November 2012, it was the second largest shopping mall (after Iran Mall ) in Iran, and one of the largest shopping malls in the world. History The mall ...

Shahrvand Chain Stores Inc. Shahrvand department stores is an Iranian chain based in Tehran. The establishment currently has 35 branches in Tehran. Shahrvand, along with Refah supermarket, and Carrefour-owned Hyperstar Market, create the bulk of the Iranian retail industry ...

Kowsar Market Kowsar () is a medium-range, land-based anti-ship missile made by Iran. It can defeat electronic jamming systems and "cannot be thrown off course", according to Iranian officials. The Kowsar designation apparently (Missile Defense Advocacy Alli ...

,, 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

10 km north,

30 km west and

Qaemshahr 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 ...

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

and Babolsar are both located on the southern coast of the

with connection to other Caspian ports.

Colleges and universities

Babol Noshirvani University of Technology-Main Building

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

Babol Noshirvani University of Technology Babol Noshirvani University of Technology (BNUT), sometimes also referred to as Noshirvani Institute of Technology or NIT, is a public research university and Institute of Technology in Babol, Mazandaran Province in the north of Iran, 20 km ...

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 - 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 Iran Khodro ( fa, ایران‌خودرو, ''Irân Xodro''), branded as IKCO, is an Iranian automaker headquartered in Tehran. IKCO was founded in 1962 as Iran National (, ''Irân Nâsionâl''). The public company manufactures vehicles, includin ...

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 teams ...

team

BEEM Mazandaran BC BEEM Babol Cultural and Sport Club was an Iranian multisport club based in Babol, Iran. The club is owned by BEEM (Blitz-Elektro-Erzeugnisse Manufaktur) a German electrical appliance company based in Rosbach vor der Höhe. The Managing Director ...

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 Amir Pazevari was a Babol Mazandarani Iranian poet with numerous works written in the Mazandarani language.Mohammad Davoudi and Manouchehr Sotoudeh, "correction and Persian translation of Divan-e Amir Pazevari". Resanesh Publishing Group, Tehran, ...

(17th century) - poet *

Muhammad Ashrafi Grand Ayatollah Mulla Muhammad Ashrafi (Persian: آیت الله العظمی ملا محمد اشرفی) (19 Nov 1804 – 24 Jan 1898) was a leading Iranian Shia Marja' in Mazandaran; Iran from roughly 1839 to his death in 1898.Hodjati, Mary ...

(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 Esmat Bagherpour Baboli ( fa, عصمت باقرپور بابلی ; 26 February 1925 – 1 September 2004), better known as Delkash ( fa, دلکش ), was an Iranian diva singer and occasional actress with a rare and unique voice. Biography Delka ...

(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 Mu ...

(born 1978) - singer * Sheikh Mohammad Haeri Mazandarani (1960) - religious * Zeinolabedin Haeri Mazandarani (1919–1996) - religious *

Shahrokh Meskoob Shahrokh Maskoub ( fa, شاهرخ مسکوب) (January 11, 1924 in Babol, Iran – April 12, 2005 in Paris, France), was an Iranian writer, translator, social critic, literary historian, and university professor. Meskoob is considered a preeminent ...

(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 Tal'at Bassari ( fa, طلعت بصاري, 1923 – 18 September 2020), was an Iranian Bahai poet, feminist, academic, and writer. Biography Born in the city of Babol along the Caspian Sea, Bassari received a PhD in Persian language and literatu ...

(born 1925) - feminist writer * Mokarrameh Ghanbari (1928–2005) - painter *

Ahmad Ghahreman Ahmad Ghahreman (احمد قهرمان, in Persian) (born 1928, Babol - died November 7, 2008 Tehran) was an Iranian botanist and a professor at Tehran University The University of Tehran (Tehran University or UT, fa, دانشگاه تهران) ...

(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 and ...

(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 in ...

(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 (born 1962) - politician *

Masoud Hedayatifard Masoud Hedayatifard ( fa, مسعود هدایتی‌فرد), born in Babol, ( Mazandaran, Northern province), Iran, is a specialist in fishery science and industries. Since 1997, he is a faculty member of the Islamic Azad University. Hedayatif ...

(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 c ...

(born 1976) - writer and journalist * Sohrab Entezari (born 1977) - football player *

Ali Asghar Mazandarani Grand Ayatollah Ali Asghar Mazandarani (1826–1911) was an Iranian cleric originally from Amirkola. He was a spiritual guide for many Shia Muslims. Life Mazandarani was educated in formal Islamic studies at Mirza Habibolah Rashti, Mola Esma ...

(1826–1911) - cleric * Farhad Rachidi (born 1962) - scientist * Karim Motamedi (born 1929) - minister *

Hassan Ghashghavi , image = Hassan Ghashghavi 2016.jpg , image_size = , image_upright = , smallimage = , alt = Hassan Ghashghavi 2016 , caption = Hassan Ghashghavi 2016 , office5 = Represe ...

(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 Leyli Rashidi ( fa, لیلی رشیدی; born 2 February 1973) is an Iranian actress. As the daughter of Iranian actor and film director Davoud Rashidi, she started acting from early ages of childhood. She received a Canadian Screen Award nomina ...

(born 1973) - actress * Maryam Kavyani (born 1970) - actress *

Maziar Mazyar (Middle Persian: ''Māh-Izād''; Mazandarani/ fa, مازیار, Māzyār) was an Iranian prince from the Qarinvand dynasty, who was the ruler (''ispahbadh'') of the mountainous region of Tabaristan from 825/6 to 839. For his resistance to ...

(1952–1997) - singer *

Morteza Pouraliganji Morteza Pouraliganji ( fa, مرتضی پورعلی‌گنجی; born 19 April 1992) is an Iranian professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Defender (association football)#Centre-back, centre-back for Persian Gulf Pro League cl ...

(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 (1985–2015) - football player *

Bashir Babajanzadeh Bashir Babajanzadeh Darzi ( fa, بشير باباجان‌زاده درزى; born 9 or 20 August 1989) is a heavyweight Greco-Roman wrestler from Iran. He won bronze medals at the 2011 World Championships and 2014 Asian Games, and reached the qua ...

(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 m ...

(born 1985)- actress *

Sousan Hajipour Sousan Hajipour Goli ( fa, سوسن حاجی‌پور گلی‌, born 28 September 1990 in Babol) is an Iranian taekwondo practitioner. She competed in the 67 kg event at the 2012 Summer Olympics and was eliminated by Carmen Marton Carmen M ...

(born 1990) - taekwondo practitioner * Noshad Alamian (born 1991) - table tennis player * Nima Alamian (born 1992) - table tennis player *

Mojtaba Mirzajanpour Mojtaba Mirzajanpour Muziraji ( fa, مجتبی میرزاجانپور موزیرجی, born 7 October 1991) is an Iranian volleyball player, a member of the Iran national team and Iranian Volleyball Super League club Shahrdari Varamin. He comp ...

(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 Mohammad Hossein Mahdavian ( fa, محمدحسین مهدویان; born 12 May 1981) is an Iranian film director and screenwriter. He's best known for his films ''Standing in the Dust'' (2016), '' Midday Adventures'' (2017), ''Lottery'' (2018), '' ...

(born 1981) - film director * Parviz Bahram (1933–2019) - dubber

References

External links

Babol Noshirvani University of Technology

* Ofoq kourosh {{Authority control Cities in Mazandaran Province