Babol
Babol
Persian: بابل | |
|---|---|
City | |
| Coordinates: 36°32′51″N 52°40′42″E / 36.54750°N 52.67833°E | |
| Country | Iran |
| Province | Mazandaran |
| County | Babol |
| District | Central |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Shahin Kalantari Bengar |
| Area | |
• Total | 45 km2 (17 sq mi) |
| Elevation | −2 up to 50 m (−6 to 150 ft) |
| Population (2016) | |
• Total | 250,217 |
| • Density | 5,600/km2 (14,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+3:30 (IRST) |
| Postal Code | 48xxx-xxxxx |
| Area code | 011 |
| Vehicle Plate | IRAN ج72 , ج82 , ص82 |
| Former Names | Barforoush / Mamatir |
| Website | www |
Babol (ⓘ; Mazandarani: بابِل), famously known as the City of Orange Blossoms and the Global City of Wetlands, is the capital city of Babol County. This city, which was the center of Mazandaran during the Zand dynasty era, now serves as the telecom hub of Region 1 in Iran and Mazandaran Province. The city is divided into two urban districts. The people of Babol belong to the Tabari ethnic group, with roots in the Tapur tribe, and speak the Mazandarani language.
As of the 2016 census, the population of the city of Babol was 250,217, and the population of Babol County was 531,930.
Babol is a significant city in northern Iran due to its commercial, political, cultural, healthcare, agricultural, and academic importance. It has a rich history and was formerly known as "Barforush" due to the trade and passage of merchants in the city. Babol hosts 20 universities and higher education institutions, including Noshirvani University of Technology—one of Iran's top universities as ranked by the international Times Higher Education rankings. Additionally, Babol is the first northern city in Iran to establish a national medical university.
The city is located between the Caspian Sea and the Alborz mountain range, 178 kilometers northeast of Tehran (the capital of Iran).