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Bushehr

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Bushehr is a major port city located in Iran. It serves as the capital for the Bushehr province, the Bushehr county, and the Central District. The city sits along the coast of the Persian Gulf. This location makes it a vital hub for maritime activity in the region.

BUSHIRE
BUSHIRE

The map shows the city's position relative to the surrounding landscape.

Historians are not entirely certain about the origins of the name Bushehr. One popular theory suggests it comes from the phrase Abū Šahr, which means "father of the city." Another possibility is that it is an abbreviation for Bokht-Ardashir. However, there is no conclusive evidence to prove either theory. Some early references to the area might actually describe Reishahr. Reishahr is a harbor located 10 km to the south. Archaeological evidence suggests Reishahr was a much older settlement. It may even be the same place as the ancient Greek town of Mesambria.

Bushehr transformed from a minor fishing village into a significant naval center in 1734. This change happened when the Iranian military commander Nader Shah chose it as a base. He wanted to create a fleet for the Persian Gulf. To build a massive warship, he transported heavy wood from Mazandaran forests. These forests were 1,000 km away from Bushehr. The shell of this ship was so impressive that European travelers noticed it for 50 years. Although Nader Shah was murdered in 1747, the city remained a prominent port for at least 150 more years.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, international companies used Bushehr for trade. The Dutch East India Company operated a trading post there between 1737 and 1753. In 1763, Sheikh Nasr Al-Madhkur granted the British East India Company rights to build a base. The British Royal Navy also used the city as a base in the late 18th century. By the 19th century, Bushehr had become a major commercial port. It even replaced Bandar Abbas as Iran's most important commercial port. This shift happened because the political center moved to Shiraz under the Zand ruler, Karim Khan Zand.

Living in Bushehr presents certain environmental challenges. The city has a hot semi-arid climate. While it has a precipitation pattern similar to a Mediterranean climate, it is much hotter and drier. The summer heat and humidity can be very intense. Even though houses have windcatchers to help with airflow, the water in local wells is salty. The geography also posed difficulties for sailors. In the 19th century, the path to the shoreline and the bay was very shallow. European ships had to dock about four kilometers offshore. Passengers and cargo had to be moved to the land using small boats.

Bushehr has seen steady population growth over recent decades. In the 2006 census, the city had 161,674 people living in 25,158 households. By 2011, the population rose to 195,222 people in 52,204 households. The 2016 census recorded 223,504 people across 63,820 households. This growth shows the city's continuing importance as a populated center in Iran.

The area near Bushehr is also significant for energy production. A nuclear power plant is located just 12 km from the city. The project began in 1975 through a contract with a German firm, Siemens AG. The contract was worth between $4 billion and $6 billion. Construction stopped in 1979 following the Iranian Revolution. At that time, one reactor was 50% complete and the other was 85% complete. The company withdrew after Iran failed to pay $450 million in overdue fees. Later, Iraqi airstrikes damaged the reactors between 1984 and 1988. In 1995, Russia signed a new contract worth between $700 million and $1.2 billion to supply a light water reactor. This plant finally began adding electricity to the national grid in September 2011.

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