The Karun, the largest river in Iran by volume,[6] flows through the center of the city. It is one of two navigable rivers in Iran, alongside the Arvand Rud.[7]
Ahvaz has earned the reputation of being the City of Bridges due to its numerous big bridges built on the Karun to facilitate better communication between the east and west parts of the city,[8] although since the beginning of the 20th century, this city has always been known as the Oil Capital of Iran, along with other cities of Khuzestan province.[9]
The original inhabitants of the Khuzestan province, the Huzi, are the source of the name "Ahvaz".[10]
History
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Ancient history
Later the name was changed to Hormazd-Ardašēr (Persian: Script error: No such module "Lang".Hormozd ardeshir) and it became abbreviated to Daravashir later, but as a matter of fact, it's not quite clear if this change was by the King Ardashir I,[11] in 230 (cf. Encyclopædia Iranica, al-Muqaddasi, et al.) or by his grandson Hormizd I (according to the Middle Persian Šahrestānīhā ī Ērānšahr (shahrestān hā-ye Irānshahr).
The city had two sections; the nobles of the city lived in one part while the other was inhabited by merchants.[12]
Modern history
In the 19th century, "Ahvaz was no more than a small borough inhabited mainly by Sabeans (1,500 to 2,000 inhabitants according to Ainsworth in 1835; 700 according to Curzon in 1890)."[13]
In the 1880s, during the Qajar era, the Karun River was dredged and re-opened to commerce. A newly built railway crossed the Karun at Ahvaz. The city again became a commercial crossroads, linking river and rail traffic. The construction of the Suez Canal further stimulated trade. A port city was built near the old village of Ahvaz, and named Bandar-e-Naseri in honor of Naser ed-Din Shah Qajar.
Oil was found near Ahvaz in the early 20th century, and the city once again grew and prospered as a result of this newfound wealth. From 1897 to 1925, the city of Ahvaz was in the hands of heshmatoddoleh Ghajar, who acted as governor and Sarhang Reza Gholi Khane Arghoon commander of Ghajari's army based in Khuzestan. Sheikh Khaz'al was recognized by Mozaffar ad-Din Shah Qajar as hereditary ruler of Mohammerah, Sardar Asad Bakhtiari as the most powerful leader of Khuzestan's Bakhtiaries.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". He had power and authority over most regions of Khuzestan, such as Dezful, Shushtar, Izeh, even Ahvaz and Amir mojahede bakhtiari in Ramhormoz and Behbahan. At this time, the newly founded Ahvaz was named Nâseri in honour of its founder Nasser ed-Din Shah Qajar. Afterwards, during the Pahlavi era, it resumed its old name, Ahvaz. The government of the Khūzestān Province was transferred there from Shûshtar in 1926. The Trans-Iranian Railway reached Ahvaz in 1929 and by World War II, Ahvaz had become the principal built-up area of the interior of Khūzestān. Professional segregation remained well marked between various groups in that period still feebly integrated: Persians, sub-groupings of Persians and Arabs. Natives of the Isfahan region held an important place in retail trade, owners of cafes and hotels and as craftsmen.[14]
During World War II, in July 1942, a camp for Polish refugees was established in Ahvaz (see also Iran–Poland relations).[15] Some 4,000 Poles were housed there as of May 1943.[15]
Iraq attempted to annex Khūzestān and Ahvaz in 1980, resulting in the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988). Ahvaz was close to the front lines and suffered badly during the war.
Iraq had pressed its claims to Khūzestān. Iraq had hoped to exacerbate ethnic tensions and win over popular support for the invaders. Most accounts say that the Iranian Arab inhabitants resisted the Iraqis rather than welcome them as liberators. However, some Iranian Arabs claim that as a minority they face discrimination from the central government; they agitate for the right to preserve their cultural and linguistic distinction and more provincial autonomy. See Politics of Khūzestān.
In 1989, the Foolad Ahvaz steel facility was built close to the town. This company is best known for its company-sponsored football club, Foolad F.C., which was the champion of Iran's Premier Football League in 2005.
In 2005 the city witnessed a series of bomb explosions. Many government sources relate these events to developments in Iraq, accusing foreign governments of organizing and funding Arab separatist groups. The Arab Struggle Movement for the Liberation of Ahvaz claimed credit for several of the bombings, including four bombs on 12 June 2005, that killed 8 people.[16] Gunmen killed at least 29 people in an attack on a crowd watching a military parade on 22 September 2018.[17]
People
It is common to encounter people from various ethnic groups while strolling through Ahvaz's streets and markets.[18]
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Persian serves as the official language and is widely spoken across Ahvaz.[18] Many Ahvazis are bilingual, speaking both Persian and one of the following languages/Dialects. The Arabic spoken in Ahvaz is a variety of Khuzestani Arabic.[19][20][21] Another part of Ahvazis speak Bakhtiari dialect.[22][23][24]Modern Mandaic (or Mandae) language is also spoken among the Mandaeans of Ahvaz. It is a descendant of the Classical Mandaic language that has been partially influenced by Khuzestani Persian.
The Black Bridge, also known as the Victory Bridge, was the first modern bridge over the Karun River. The bridge was built during World War II and used to supply the Allies in the Soviet Union and had a major impact on Allied victory.[25]
White Bridge is an arch bridge completed on 21 September 1936 and inaugurated on 6 November 1936. The bridge remains a symbol of the city still today.
The other 7 bridges are third bridge, Naderi bridge, Fifth bridge, Sixth bridge, Seventh bridge (also named Dialogue among civilizations bridge), Cable bridge, and Ninth bridge.
Geography
Location and roads
Ahvaz is located 100 km north-east of Abadan and is accessible via following routes in addition of a single runway airport:
Ahvaz, being the largest city in the province, consists of two distinctive districts: the newer part of Ahvaz which is the administrative and industrial center, which is built on the right bank of the Karun river while residential areas are found in the old section of the city, on the left bank.
Ahvaz has a subtropicalhot desert climate (Köppen climate classification: BWh) with long, extremely hot summers and cool, short winters. Summer temperatures are regularly at least Template:Convert, sometimes exceeding Template:Convert,[26] with many sandstorms and duststorms common during the summer period. However, in winters, the minimum temperature can fall to around Template:Convert. Winters in Ahvaz have no snow. The average annual rainfall is around 230 mm. On 29 June 2017 the temperature reached Template:Convert.[27] Furthermore, the dew point peaked at Template:Convert which is unusually humid for the usual dry heat. Despite the fact that it has never snowed in Ahvaz, frost has been recorded in every winter month, as well as in early spring and late autumn, and it has fallen down to Template:Convert before.
Template:Weather box
File:Ahvaz-Atisha-2584.pngImage of a flare stack in Ahvaz, due to inefficient combustion, emits tons of black colored soot into the atmosphere, causing problems like climate change and cancer around the country.[28]
Pollution
In 2011, the World Health Organization ranked Ahvaz as the world's most air-polluted city.[29] The reason Ahvaz is so polluted is because of its oil industry. The pollution can be very dangerous, causing different types of diseases, and can be harmful to plants.[30]
Ahvaz is accessible via freeways from Isfahan and Shiraz, and roadways to Tehran.
A metro urban railway system is being built by the Ahvaz urban railway. The system is planned to have a total of four lines. Line 1 will be a 23 km underground line with 24 stations.[32]
Sport
Traditionally, Khuzestan province has been a major soccer hub in Iran. The city has two existing sport complexes: Takhti Stadium and the newly constructed Ghadir Stadium. There are several other smaller complexes for martial arts, swimming pools and gymnasiums. Also, a new privately owned stadium is currently under construction by Foolad F.C. in Ahvaz.
Foolad have won the league on two occasions, the 2013–2014 season and the 2004–2005 season. Esteghlal Ahvaz finished runners–up in the league in the 2006–2007 season. In 2016, Esteghlal Khuzestan won the league for the first time.
Manuchehr Shahrokhi, Professor of Finance, California State University; Editor, Global Finance Journal; Executive Director, Global Finance Association-Conference
