About Bam

Bam at a Glance

Bam City: An Introduction

Climatic and geographical location:

The Bam city is located in the southeast of Kerman Province, covering an area of about 5170 81 sq. Km., or 2.82 of the province's area. The city neighbors Kerman County to the north, Narmashir to the east, Reygan to the south, and Jiroft to the west. Bam is situated 1,062 meters above sea level.

In terms of altitude, Bam has two different situations:

The mountainous region that extends the central Iranian mountain range and is known as Jebal Barez. Mount Hezar in southwestern Rhine is the region s tallest mountain.

The central plain, which consists of the sand and salt marshes of Lut and its surroundings and its lowest point is at a height of 330m above sea level. It is located between Shur-e Gaz and Fahraj County.

In terms of climate, Bam is divided into two regions:

Desert climate, which covers a large and low desert area with very little rainfall. The day and night temperatures vary a lot. The region has different seasons as well.

Mountainous climate, which includes the Rhine and Dehbekri areas and is regarded as a summer resort for Bam citizens.

Population:

According to the 2016 census, the total population of Bam is 228,241 persons, of whom 150,157 reside in urban areas and 77,265 people live in rural areas. (See: Detailed Results of 2016 Bam City Census)

Historical Background:

The exact history of the city of Bam is unclear, but what is certain is that Bam civilization is deeply rooted in the ancient Iranian history and myths. According to historian Bastani Rad, The city is situated on a hilltop of ancient civilizations, and is surrounded by a number of relics of early cultures. The name of Bam has a brilliant record of the mixture of myth, history, popular narratives and documentary evidence. Some estimate the history of Bam civilization to be approximately 2,500 years, given the historical citadel and archaeological evidence assigned to it. However, recent archaeological excavations at the historic site of Tal-e Atash (Fire Pile) indicate that the Bam civilization dates back to at least 7,200 years, which has sparked a lot of attention among international archaeologists.

Economy:

In general, agriculture and tourism are the main economic pillars of Bam. Moreover, the presence of infrastructures such as being on the International Transit Road, connection to the national railway network and Bam Airport illustrate the importance of the area.

Agriculture:

Bam's black or mazafati dates, which have been popular in the region for a pretty long time, are the city s most popular, yet globally revered, agricultural products. After that, citrus fruit, henna and isatis are other important agricultural products from the city.

New Special Economic Zone of Bam Citadel:

Established in 1997, the New Citadel Special Economic Zone, touted as the Iranian Automotive Industry Hub, aims to create and set the ground for efficient industrial activities, develop new technologies and enhance employment through attracting and directing domestic and foreign investment.

At present, the New Citadel Special Economic Zone is the only specialized economic area specializing in the automotive, parts supply and the related industries in the country. Besides, given the need to provide infrastructure and facilities for life and activities for optimal economic dynamism in the automotive and the related industries, all the logistic facilities for the residence and livelihood of investors, economic activists and their employees, such as hotels, accommodations, residences, sports facilities (including indoor and outdoor pools, horse riding and biking clubs), restaurants, greenery, artificial lakes, etc. have been created in the zone.

Earthquake:

At 5:26 am, Friday, December 26, 2003, an earthquake with moment magnitude of 6.6 shook the city of Bam and its surrounding areas for 12 seconds. This earthquake is remembered as one of the greatest tragedies of contemporary Iranian history. According to the Iranian Statistical Center (2003), the shaking killed 26,271 people and left tens of thousands injured.

Historic, Cultural and Tourism Attractions:

Bam is the only city with a cultural landscape of over 23,000 hectares which was registered in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2003. The city is also revered for being home to the largest World Heritage Site in Iran. Also in 2009, all monuments of historical and cultural significance in the Bam area, whether natural or artificial, tangible or intangible, in accordance with the terms of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, were declared subject to conservation and protection at 5 levels:

Bam natural relief which includes mountains overlooking the city, rivers, plains, groundwater resources and Bam Brovat Fault

Artificial relief of Bam include qanats, gardens, palm farms, and ranches

Historical monuments and archaeological sites which include 72 monuments works within and outside of the urban area

Historic city that in addition to the historical citadel, includes traditional markets, garden houses, garden neighborhoods, mud and straw walls, water streams, old trees and the like

People's spiritual heritage which includes customs, rituals, traditions of the people's lives, regional tribes, how they are obtained, exploited and distributed qanat water, traditional gardening, local games, indigenous occupations.

Arg-e Bam (Bam Citadel)::

Among the many historical monuments in Bam, Arg-e Bam (Bam Citadel) is the most prominent. The complex is the largest clay and mud structure in the world and covers an area of 200,000 sq.m and was inhabited by people until around 200 years ago. The Citadel was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.

This historical monument, touted as one of the most important tourist centers of southeastern Iran, is recognized as one of the outstanding symbols of Iranian history and culture in the world. Bam Citadel , which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Danger because of the earthquake, has been removed from the list thanks to subsequent reconstruction efforts.

Qal'eh Dokhtar:

Although the citadel is the main monument of Bam, there are numerous other monuments outside the castle, the most important of which is Qal'eh Dokhtar. Many believe that the ancient castle, or the Kouhak Bam, is older than the citadel. They also say that the castle could be considered as one of the temples of Anahita or the guardian angel of water.

Tal-e Atashi (Fire Pile):

It is located in the Darestan village, nearly 30 km off Bam, and is 4 meters high. The area of the pile exceeds 40,000 square meters. Archaeological findings have revealed most of the pre-pottery Neolithic culture, including architectural structures in the main context, stone tools and stone sculptures, figurines, mud objects and stone containers.

Bidaran Historic Hills:

The hills are located 10 kilometers north of Bam, and according to some researchers belong to the second to fourth millennia B.C.

Qanats (aqueducts):

Qanat is one of the ancient and indigenous technologies of Iran. It is a maturely engineered technique used by Iranians in the pre-Achaemenian period. The aqueduct, which is a water supply system specifically for the arid and desert regions of Iran, is an underground duct that connects vertical wells to the ground at various intervals. In the aqueduct system, water is recovered from the depths of the earth only by using the laws of physics and gravity. In Bam County, which is a dry land adjacent to the Lut Desert, this technology has long been used to access potable water for drinking and irrigation. The use of the aqueduct is so intertwined with the life and culture of the people of the city that they still use it to irrigate their gardens and palm trees. In 2016, eleven Iranian aqueducts were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List, including Akbarabad and Qasemabad qanats in Bam.

Dehbekri:

It is one of the resorts for Bam people with great climate. Surrounded by mountains, it is a summer paradise in the desert. Unlike the center of Bam, this area is cold and had vegetation and cold-temperature fruits.

Bam, a Garden City: Bam is a garden city and the only garden city in Iran that has been registered globally. Being a garden city means that Bam is built amidst a mass of gardens and palm trees, leading to creation of many beautiful landscapes and locations.

Morghak, Derijan and Aduri:

These are other tourist attractions and resorts in Bam.

Historic Bam Trees:

Dehbagh 1000-year-old , 3-year-old plantain, the 400-year-old plantain in Gonabad, the 300-year-old palm of Bam, 300-year-old cedar of Dehshar, and the 200-year-old eucalyptus are but a number of old trees in Bam that are of particular interest to tourists.

Other tourist attractions of Bam include: hot springs, mosques and religious monuments, Baghdasht, Baghchamak, etc.

Universities, seminaries and higher education centers of Bam:

Bam is a university city. The city s universities and academic centers include:

Ghaemiyyah Seminary

Fatima Al-Zahra Sisters' Seminary

Safiran Hedayat Seminary

Bam National University

Bam University of Medical Sciences

Payam Noor University of Bam

Islamic Azad University of Bam

Kerman-Bam International University of Medical Sciences

Ali ibn Abi Talib Technical School of Bam

Bam University of Applied Science and Technology

Bam University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences

Bam Geological Hazard Center

Khusheh Khorma College

New Citadel Applied Sciences Center

Technical and Vocational Center No. 7