Bandar-Abbas

Bandar Abbas بندر عباس
—  City  —
Nickname(s): The Crab Port
Bandar Abbas
Coordinates:
Country	Iran
Province	Hormozgān
Settled	prior to 600 B.C.
Elevation	9 m (30 ft)
Population (2005)
- Total	352,173
Time zone	IRST (UTC+3:30)
Postal code	79177
Area code(s)	0761

Bandar-Abbas (Persian: بندرعباس) or Bandar-e ‘Abbās (in Persian: بندر عباس; formerly known as Gombroon to English traders and Gamrun to Dutch merchants) is a port city and capital of Hormozgān Province on the southern coast of Iran (Persia), on the Persian Gulf. The city occupies a strategic position on the narrow Straits of Hormuz, and it is the location of the main base of the Iranian Navy. Bandar Abbas is the capital and also largest city of the province Hormozgān.It had an estimated population of 352,173 in 2005.^[1]

History and etymology

The harbour of Bandar Abbas in 1704.

Bandar Abbas has always been a port, and as such its various names have all addressed this function. The most common name over time (Gameroon) has traditionally been said to derive from Persian gümrük, customhouse (from Late Greek kommerkion, from Latin commercium, "commerce"), but is now speculated to be from Persian kamrūn, shrimp (which in Portuguese is camarão, similar to the former Portuguese name).^[2]

Ancient history

The earliest record of Bandar Abbas is during the reign of Darius the Great (between 586 and 522 B.C.). Darius's commander, Silacus, embarked from Bandar Abbas to India and the Red Sea

During Alexander's conquest of the Persian Empire, Bandar Abbas was known under the name of Hormirzad.

Descendants of Gameronians

In the year 630 CE, Maharaja Derbar Raja of Gemeron was defeated in battle and escaped to Ceylon, and he was later blown off course by a storm to the remote shores of Kuala Sungai Qilah, Kedah (now Malaysia). The inhabitants of Kedah found him to be a valiant and intelligent person, and they made him the king of Kedah. In the year 634 CE, a new kingdom was formed in Kedah consisting of Persian royalty and native Malay of Hindu faith, the capital was Langkasuka. (see Kedah Sultanate and Early history of Kedah)

Early modern period

Close-up of a Dutch trading post in Bandar Abbas in 1704.

By the 1500s, Bandar Abbas was known as Gamrūn to the Persians. In 1565, a European navigator called it Bamdel Gombruc (that is, Bandar Gümrük, or "Customhouse Port"), citing this as the Persian and Turkish name.Bandar Abbas was conquered by the portuguese in 1514,and was an important to protect their commerce in the in the gulf and India.^[3][4].They named the city Comorão,due to the presence of lobsters and crabs on its shores.

In 1622,and with the help of a british fleet, Comorão was taken by ‘Abbās the Great after a naval battle with the Portuguese and renamed Bandar-e ‘Abbās, or "Port of ‘Abbās". Backed by the British navy, ‘Abbās developed Bandar-e ‘Abbās (known to the English-speaking world as Gombraun) into a major port.

By 1622, the Portuguese and English names had been officially combined to form Combrù or Combu, although the inhabitants still called it Bandar-e ‘Abbās. Sir Thomas Herbert said the official English name was Gumbrown, but pronounced "gŏmrōōn". He wrote in 1630 that "some (but I commend them not) write it Gamrou, others Gomrow, and othersome Cummeroon."

By the 1670s, the city was known as 'Gameroon

From 1740 onward, control of the town was sold to various Arab rulers, and from c. 1780 it was controlled by Muscat (now a governorate of Oman). In 1868, during Oman's decline, the town reverted to Persian rule.

Modern history

In the 1980s, the name "Gameron" was changed in favor of "Bandar Abbas", following similar movements with Iranian names (see Iran naming convention).

Bandar Abbas serves as a major shipping point for mostly imports, and has a long history of trade with India, particularly the port of Surat. Thousands of tourists visit the city and nearby islands including Qeshm and Hormuz every year.

Bandar Abbas was a small fishing port of about 17,000 people in 1955, prior to initial plans to develop it as a major harbor. By 2001, it had grown into a major city. It has a population of 360,280 (2001 estimate).

Geography

Bandar Abbas skyline in 2007

Bandar Abbas is situated on flat ground with an average altitude of 9 m (30 ft) above sea level. The nearest elevated areas are Mt. Geno, 17 km (11 mi) to the north, and Mt. Pooladi, 16 km (10 mi) to the northwest of the city. The closest river to Bandar Abbas is the River Shoor, which is rooted from Mt. Geno and pours into the Persian Gulf, 10 km (6 mi) east of the city.

Climate

Bandar Abbas has a hot and humid climate. Maximum temperature in summers can reach up to 49 °C (120 °F) while in winters the minimum temperature drops to about 5 °C (40 °F). The annual rainfall is around 251 mm (10 in) and the relative humidity is 66%.

Transportation

Bandar Abbas International Airport has capacity and facilities for landing large transport airplanes.

Roads

Bandar Abbas is accessible via the following highways:

• Bandar Abbas-Sirjan, 300 km (186 mi) to the northeast.
• Bandar Abbas-Kerman, 484 km (301 mi) to the northeast.
• Bandar Abbas-Shiraz, 650 km (404 mi) to the north.
• Bandar Abbas-Zahedan, 722 km (449 mi) to the east.

Language

Original Bandaris (residents of Bandar Abbas) speak Bandari (بندری), a dialect of Persian. Bandari has loanwords from various European languages (e.g. tawāl, "towel") and Arabic (e.g. atā [اتا], "to come").

Products

Night market in Bandar Abbas

• Date, citrus, tobacco and factory goods (e.g. canned tuna fish).

Exports

• Transit goods, dates, citrus, tobacco, fishery; Bandar Abbas was formerly famous for its export of Iranian pottery, known as "gombroon".

Education

University

Bandar Abbas.

• Bandar Abbas University of Medical Sciences
• University of Hormozgan
• Islamic Azad University of Bandar Abbas

See also

• 2005 Iran earthquake
• Bandar Abbas International Airport
• Kookherd
• Bastak
• Bushehr
• History of Iran
• Iran Air Flight 655
• Zār

References

References

• . الكوخردى ، محمد ، بن يوسف، (كُوخِرد حَاضِرَة اِسلامِيةَ عَلي ضِفافِ نَهر مِهران) الطبعة الثالثة ،دبى: سنة 199۷ للميلاد Mohammed Kookherdi (1997) Kookherd, an Islamic civil at Mehran river, third edition: Dubai
• . کامله،القاسمی، بنت شیخ عبدالله، (تاریخ لنجة) مکتبة دبي للتوزیع، الامارات: الطبعة الثانية عام ۱۹۹۳ للمیلاد
• . الوحیدی الخنجی، حسین بن علی بن احمد، «تاریخ لنجه» ، الطبعة الثانية دبی: دار الأمة للنشر والتوزیع، ۱۹۸۸ للمیلاد
• . اطلس گیتاشناسی استان‌های ایران [Atlas Gitashenasi Ostanhai Iran] (Gitashenasi Province Atlas of Iran)

External links

• Bandar Abbas on Iran Chamber Society (www.iranchamber.com)
• Bandar Abbas Port
• www.hums.ac.ir/english/province/hormozgan english/bandar_abbas.htm

Hormozgan Province Capital Bandar-Abbas Counties and Cities Abumusa County Abu Musa Bandar-Abbas County Bandar-Abbas · Fin Bandar-Lengeh County Bandar Lengeh · Kish city  · Bandar Charak  · Bandar Kang Bastak County Bastak · Jenah · Kohej Hajiabad County Hajiabad · Fareghan Jask County Jask Khamir County Bandar-khamir · Ravidar Minab County Minab · Senderk · Seerik · Hashtbandi Parsian County Parsian Qeshm County Qeshm · Dargahan · Soza · Hormuz Rudan County Dehbarez · Ziyaratali Sights Fort of Our Lady of the Conception in Hormoz island · Hara forests of Qeshm · Caravanserai of Bastak · Kolah Farangi building, Bandar-Abbas · Hindus Temple,Bandar-Abbas · Geno natural biosphere reserve,Bandar-Abbas · Water museum, Bandar-Abbas · Dugonbadan, Bastak · Hormozgan caravanseras · Thursday's market, Minab · Buz dam,Kokhord of Bastak · Cibeh castle, Kokhord of Bastak · Bazzar of Bastak · Tappeh maru, Rudan · Kish Island · Portuguese castle, Qeshm Island · Lashtan castle, Bandar Lengeh · Geledari traditional Bath (museum), Bandar-Abbas · Traditional ship building, Bandar Kang · Soro neighborhood, Bandar-Abbas · Greek Ship, Kish Island · Dariush Grand Hotel See also Greater and Lesser Tunbs · Hendurabi · Hengam Island · Hormuz Island · Larak Island · Lavan Island · Shidvar Island · Sirri Island · Strait of Hormuz