Bandar Abbas

Bandar Abbas is a major port city located in Iran. It serves as the capital for the Hormozgan province, the county, and the district. The city sits on the southern coast of the country along the Persian Gulf.

It occupies a highly strategic position near the narrow Strait of Hormuz. This location is directly across from the Musandam Governorate in Oman. Because of its importance, it serves as the main headquarters and base for the Iranian Navy.

The name of the city has changed many times throughout history. Most names have reflected its role as a center for maritime activity. One common name was Gameroon. Some believe this comes from the word for "customhouse." Others suggest it comes from the Persian word for "shrimp."

The current name, Bandar Abbas, means "Port of Abbas." This honors Shah Abbas the Great, who took control of the city in 1614. During the Portuguese period, they called the city Comorão. They chose this name because of the lobsters and crabs found on the shores.

The history of the area reaches back to the Achaemenid Empire. The earliest records date to the reign of Darius the Great between 522 and 486 BC. During Alexander III of Macedon's conquests, the city was known as Hormirzad. In the 16th century, the Portuguese conquered the area in 1514. They used it to protect their trade in the Persian Gulf and India. Later, the Dutch East India Company gained control of the local spice and silk trade. They remained in complete control of these trades from 1654 until 1765.

Between 1794 and 1868, the city was under a lease agreement with the Sultanate of Oman and Zanzibar. The Omanis controlled a coastal stretch of about 100 miles. They also controlled the islands of Hormuz and Qeshm. The Persians eventually recovered the city in 1854. However, British pressure led to a renewed lease in 1856. This agreement clarified that the territory belonged to the province of Fars. The Persian flag continued to fly over the city. The lease was finally cancelled by the Persian government in 1868.

The geography of Bandar Abbas is defined by its flat terrain. The average altitude is at sea level. To the north, the landscape rises toward Mt. Geno and Mt. Pooladi. The River Shoor rises on Mt. Geno and sometimes flows into the Persian Gulf.

The climate is a hot desert type. Summers can be extremely hot and humid. The average relative humidity is 65 percent. In the summer, the city sees some of the highest average dew points in the world. This high humidity is caused by warm waters flowing from the Persian Gulf.

Bandar Abbas has experienced massive population growth in recent decades. In 1955, it was a small fishing port with about 17,000 residents. By 2001, it had transformed into a major city. The 2016 census measured the population at 526,648 people living in 152,682 households.

The city is now a diverse home for almost all Iranian ethnic groups. Many people move there from provinces like Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, and Baluchistan. They come to find new business and employment opportunities. This migration has helped the city's economy develop rapidly.

The economy relies on shipping, mining, and manufacturing. The city is a major shipping point for imports. It also exports dates, citrus, tobacco, and canned tuna. At the Gchine mine, about 20 tonnes of yellowcake uranium are extracted each year.

In the past, the city was famous for exporting Iranian pottery. This porcelain was known in England as "Goombroon ware." Today, the city is connected to the rest of Iran by many highways and a major railway. The North-South railway corridor has linked the port to Tehran since 1993.