Bam, Iran
Bam, Iran
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2207054

Bam, Iran

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2207054

Bam, Iran

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Bam, Iran

Bam (Persian: بم) is a city in the Central District of Bam County, Kerman province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. The modern city surrounds the ancient citadel which has a history dating back to around 2,000 years ago. The citadel is a popular tourist attraction and a world heritage site. Before the 2003 earthquake, the official population count of the city was roughly 43,000.

The ancient citadel of Arg-e Bam has a history dating back to the Parthian Empire (248 BC–224 AD), but most buildings were built during the Safavid dynasty.

There are various opinions about the date and reasons for the foundation of the citadel. Economically and commercially, Bam occupied a very important place in the region and was famous for its textiles and clothes. Ibn Hawqal (943–977), an Arab traveller and geographer, wrote of Bam in his book Surat-ul-'Ard (The Earth-figure):

The city was largely abandoned due to an Afghan invasion led by Mahmud Hotak in 1722. Subsequently, after the city had gradually been re-settled, it was abandoned a second time due to an attack by invaders from Shiraz. It was also used for a time as an army barracks.

The modern city of Bam has gradually developed as an agricultural and industrial centre, and until the 2003 earthquake was experiencing rapid growth. In particular, the city is known for its dates and citrus fruit, irrigated by a substantial network of qanats.

One of the most important agricultural products is Bam Mozafati date, which is famous in Iran and other countries. Mozafati Bam dates with a delicate and rich taste, with a sweet melt and an amazing taste are harvested every year in Darbam in the mountainous region of Iran. No preservatives or chemical additives are added to it. It is a fresh, natural, raw and quality product.

The city also benefited from tourism, with an increasing number of people visiting the ancient citadel.

The 2003 Bam earthquake struck Bam and the surrounding Kerman province of south-eastern Iran at 01:56 UTC (5:26 AM Iran Standard Time) on 26 December 2003. The most widely accepted estimate for the magnitude of the earthquake is 6.6 on the moment magnitude scale (Mw); estimated by the United States Geological Survey. The earthquake was particularly destructive, with the death toll amounting to 26,271 people and injuring an additional 30,000. The effects of the earthquake were exacerbated by the fact that the city chiefly consisted of mud brick buildings, many of which did not comply with earthquake regulations set in Iran in 1989, and that most of the inhabitants were indoors and asleep at the time the main tremor struck.

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