| Official Name: | Babol |
| Native Name: | Persian: بابل |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Mapsize: | 150px |
| Pushpin Map: | Iran |
| Coordinates: | 36.5475°N 52.6783°W |
| Coordinates Footnotes: | [1] |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Iran |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Type3: | District |
| Subdivision Name1: | Mazandaran |
| Subdivision Name2: | Babol |
| Subdivision Name3: | Central |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Shahin Kalantari Bengar[2] |
| Area Total Km2: | 32 |
| Elevation M: | -2 up to 50 |
| Elevation Ft: | -6 to 150 |
| Population As Of: | 2016 |
| Population Total: | 250217 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal Code |
| Postal Code: | 48xxx-xxxxx |
| Area Code: | 011 |
| Timezone: | IRST |
| Utc Offset: | +3:30 |
| Blank Name: | Vehicle Plate |
| Blank Info: | IRAN ج72, ج82, ص82 |
| Blank1 Name: | Former Names |
| Blank1 Info: | Barforoush / Mamatir |
Babol (Persian: بابل;) is a city in the Central District of Babol County, Mazandaran province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.[3] Babol is divided into two metropolitan areas (under Iranian law).
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 and the darkness of Ahriman. Babol was formerly called Barforushdeh (meaning Market Town) and Barforush afterwards. In 1931, the founder of the Pahlavi dynasty 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.[4]
Mazandarani people have a background in Tabari ethnicity and speak Mazandarni.[5] 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.[6] [7] [8]
The native people of Sari, Shahi, Babol, Amol, Nowshahr, Chalus, and Tonekabon are Mazandarani people and speak the Mazandarani language.[9]
At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 198,636 in 55,943 households.[10] The following census in 2011 counted 219,467 people in 67,069 households.[11] The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 250,217 people in 81,572 households.[12]
Babol is in the north of Iran, north-east of Tehran, between the northern slopes of the Alborz Mountains and southern coast of the Caspian Sea. 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.[13]
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 and Fereydunkenar to the north, Qaem Shahr and Shirgah District to the east, Savadkuh to the southeast, Firuzkuh to the South and Amol to the west. Babol University is famous for its spectacular scenery.
The Köppen-Geiger climate classification system classifies its climate as Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa, Trewartha: Cs)[14] [15]
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 tangerines. There are many rice farms around the city, and, until about 20 years ago, tea, tobacco, and cotton were processed.
The city is served by Refah Chain Stores Co., Iran Hyper Star, Isfahan City Center, Shahrvand Chain Stores Inc., Kowsar Market,, Ofoq Kourosh chain store.
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 Babolsar 10 km north, Amol 30 km west and Qaemshahr 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 Fereydunkenar and Babolsar are both located on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea with connection to other Caspian ports.
As the largest commercial center, the city of Babol also hosts large number of universities province. Universities include:
Babol is home to the Iranian Basketball Super League team BEEM Mazandaran BC 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.
The ruins of Shah Abbas I's palace are located in the city.Mohammad Hassan Khan bridge 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 as the main road from Babol to Amol. 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.[17]