Abadan, Iran

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Not to be confused with Ibadan.
"Abadan" redirects here. For other uses, see Abadan (disambiguation).

bdn

city

bdn

Coordinates:

302021N 481815E30.33917N

48.30417ECoordinates:

302021N 481815E30.33917N
48.30417E

Iran

Country
Province

Khuzestan

County

Abadan

Bakhsh

Central

Population (2006)
Total

217,988

Time zone

IRST (UTC+03:30)

Summer (DST)

IRDT (UTC+04:30)

Abadan (Persian: bdn) is a city in and the capital of Abadan County, Khuzestan
Province which is located in central west of Iran. It lies on Abadan Island (68 km or 42 mi
long, 319 km or 212 miles wide, the island is bounded in the west by the Arvand waterway
and to the east by the Bahmanshir outlet of the Karun River (the Shatt al-Arab), 53 kilometres
(33 mi) from the Persian Gulf,[1] near the Iraqi-Iran border.

Contents
[hide]

1 Etymology
2 Population
3 History
4 Abadan neighbourhoods
o 4.1 Recent events
5 Climate
6 Places of interest
7 Main sights
o 7.1 Mosques
o 7.2 Museums
8 Notable people
9 Transportation
10 See also
11 Notes
12 Footnotes
13 References
14 Additional reading
15 External links

Etymology[edit]
The earliest mention of the island of Abadan, if not the port itself is found in works of the
geographer Marcian, who renders the name "Apphadana".[2] Earlier, the classical geographer,
Ptolemy notes "Apphana" as an island off the mouth of the Tigris (which is, where the

modern Island of Abadan is located). An etymology for this name is presented by 'B.
Farahvashi to be derived from the Persian word "ab" (water) and the root "p" (guard,
watch) thus "coastguard station").[3]
In the Islamic times, a pseudo-etymology was produced by the historian Ahmad ibn Yahya
al-Baladhuri (d.892) quoting a folk story that the town was presumably founded by one
"Abbad bin Hosayn" from the Arabian Tribe of Banu Tamim, who established a garrison
there during the governorship of Hajjaj in the Ummayad period.[3]
In the subsequent centuries, the Persian version of the name had begun to come into general
use before it was adopted by official decree in 1935.[3]

Population[edit]
Population
year people
1910 400
1956 220,000[4]
1980 300,000
1986 6
1991 84,774[5]
2001 206,073
2006 217,988[6]
The civilian population of the city dropped close to zero during the eight years of the Iran
Iraq War (198088). The 1986 census recorded only 6 people. In 1991, 84,774 had returned
to live in the city.[5] By 2001, the population had jumped to 206,073, and it was 217,988, in
48,061 families, according to 2006 census.[6] Abadan Refinery is one of the largest in the
world.
Only 9% of managers (of the oil company) were from Khuzestan. The proportion of natives
of Tehran, the Caspian, Azarbaijan and Kurdistan rose from 4% of blue collar workers to
22% of white collar workers to 45% of managers, thus Minority Arabic-speakers were
concentrated on the lower rungs of the work force, managers tended to be brought in from
some distance.[7] There is also a single Armenian church in the centre of the city.

History[edit]
Abadan is thought to have been further developed into a major port city under the Abbasids'
rule. In this time period, it was a commercial source of salt and woven mats.[1] The siltation of
the river delta forced the town further away from water; In the 14th century, however, Ibn
Battutah described Abadan just as a small port in a flat salty plain.[4] Politically, Abadan was
often the subject of dispute between the nearby states; in 1847, Persia acquired it from
Turkey,[5] in which state Abadan has remained since. From the 17th century onward, the
island of Abadan was part of the lands of the Arab Ka'ab (Bani Kaab) tribe. One section of
this tribe, Mohaysen, had its headquarters at Mohammara(present-day Khorramshahr), until
the removal of Shaikh Khaz'al Khan in 1924.[8]

Exploded T-54/55 tank, remains as symbol of IranIraq War (19801988).

Ruins of a building in Abadan. Abadan had suffered serious damages during IranIraq War
(198088), including Saddam's deadly chemical weapons.
It was not until the 20th century that rich oil fields were discovered in the area. On 16 July
1909, after secret negotiation with the British consul, Percy Cox, assisted by Arnold Wilson,
Sheik Khaz'al agreed to a rental agreement for the island including Abadan.[9][10][11][nb 1] The
Sheik continued to administer the island until 1924.[12] The Anglo-Persian Oil Company built
their first pipeline terminus oil refinery in Abadan, starting in 1909 and completing it in 1912,
with oil flowing by August 1912 (see Abadan Refinery).[13][14] Refinery throughput numbers
rose from 33,000 tons in 1912-1913 to 4,338,000 tons in 1931.[12] By 1938, it was the largest
in the world.

During World War II, Abadan was a major logistics centre for Lend-Lease aircraft being sent
to the Soviet Union by the United States.[15][16]
In 1951, Iran nationalized all oil properties and refining ground to a stop on the island.
Rioting broke out in Abadan, after the government had decided to nationalize the oil
facilities, and three British workers were killed.[17] It was not until 1954, that a settlement was
reached, which allowed a consortium of international oil companies to manage the production
and refining on the island.[18] This continued until 1973, when the NIOC took over all
facilities.[13] After total nationalization, Iran focused on supplying oil domestically and built a
pipeline from Abadan to Tehran.[13]
Whereas Abadan was not a major cultural or religious centre, it did play an important role in
the Islamic Revolution. On 19 August 1978 the anniversary of the US backed coup d'tat
which overthrew the nationalist and popular Iranian prime minister, Dr. Mohammed
Mossadegh the Cinema Rex, a movie theatre in Abadan, Iran, was set ablaze. The Cinema
Rex Fire caused 430 deaths,[19][nb 2] but more importantly, it was another event that kept the
Islamic Revolution moving ahead. At the time there was much confusion and misinformation
about the incident; however the public blamed the local police chief and also the Shah and
SAVAK.[20][21][22][23] The reformist Sobhe Emrooz newspaper in one of its editorials revealed
that the Cinema Rex was burned down by the radical Islamists. The newspaper was shut
down immediately after.[citation needed] Over time, the true culprits, radical Islamists, were
apprehended and the logic behind this act was revealed, as they were trying both to foment
the general public to distrust the government even more, and also as they perceived cinema as
a link to the Americans.[21][24] This fire was one of four during a short period in August, with
other fires in Mashhad, Rizaiya, and Shiraz.[19]
In September 1980, Abadan was almost overrun during a surprise attack on Khuzestan by
Iraq, marking the beginning of the IranIraq War. For 12 months Abadan was besieged, but
never captured, by Iraqi forces, and in September 1981, the Iranians broke the siege of
Abadan.[25] Much of the city, including the oil refinery which was the world's largest refinery
with capacity of 628,000 barrels per day, was badly damaged or destroyed by the siege and
by bombing.[26] Previous to the war, the city's civilian population was about 300,000, but
before it was over, almost the entire populace had sought refuge elsewhere in Iran.
After the war, the biggest concern was the rebuilding of Abadan's oil refinery, as it was
operating at 10% of capacity due to damage.[27] In 1993, the refinery began limited operation
and the port reopened. By 1997, the refinery reached the same rate of production as before
the war. Recently, Abadan has been the site of major labour activity as workers at the oil
refineries in the city have staged walkouts and strikes to protest non-payment of wages and
the political situation in the country.[28]

Abadan neighbourhoods[edit]
Abadan famous neighbourhoods such as Ahmedabad, Amir, worker dormitory, Layout, go,
Bovardeh (North and South), (Caroon). province sector, "Arusyeh", sector L, Hezaryha, the
Dutch noted. bahar(Spring) sector, Jerusalem sector, Parliament sector, Golestan quarter
Zolfaqari neighborhood, Koi mellat(Nation) sector, February sector, valye asr sector, tank
farms, Jamshydabad, Ghanavati service, bereym, fayeh and 700, also farhangian sector who
build housing in its vicinity has been developed

Recent events[edit]
To honour the 100th anniversary of the refining of oil in Abadan, city officials are planning
an oil museum.[29] The Abadan oil refinery was featured on the reverse side of Iran's 100-rial
banknotes printed in 1965 and from 1971 to 1973.

Climate[edit]
The climate in Abadan is arid (Kppen climate classification BWh) and similar to Baghdad's,
but slightly hotter due to Abadan's lower latitude. Summers are dry and extremely hot, with
temperatures above 45 C (113 F) almost daily and temperatures above 50 C (122 F) can
be almost common. Abadan is notably one of the few hottest populated places on earth and
experiences many sand and dust storms. Winters are mildly wet and spring-like, though
subject to cold spells. Winter temperatures are around 1620 C (6168 F). The world's
highest unconfirmed temperature was a temperature flare up during a heat burst in June 1967,
with a temperature of 87 C (189 F).[30] Reliable measurements in the city range from 5 to
52 C (23 to 126 F).[31][better source needed]
[hide]Climate data for Abadan (1951-2010)
Month
Record
high C
(F)

Jan

Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec Year

39.2
48.4 52.0 53.0 53.0 49.4 43.2
53
29.0 34.0
42.8
37.0 29.8
(102.
(119. (125. (127. (127. (120. (109.
(127.
(84.2) (93.2)
(109)
(98.6) (85.6)
6)
1)
6)
4)
4)
9)
8)
4)

39.2 43.8 45.4 45.4 42.5

Average
18.1 20.9 25.9 32.2
36.1 26.8 19.9 33.0
(102. (110. (113. (113. (108.
high C
(64.6) (69.6) (78.6) (90)
(97) (80.2) (67.8) (91.4)
6)
8)
7)
7)
5)
(F)
Daily
12.7 15.0 19.4 25.2 31.2 35.2 36.7 36.3 33.0 27.5 20.0 14.3 25.5
mean C
(54.9) (59) (66.9) (77.4) (88.2) (95.4) (98.1) (97.3) (91.4) (81.5) (68) (57.7) (77.9)
(F)
Average
7.3
9.1 13.0 18.1 23.3 26.5 28.0 27.3 23.4 18.9 13.2 8.7 18.1
low C
(45.1) (48.4) (55.4) (64.6) (73.9) (79.7) (82.4) (81.1) (74.1) (66) (55.8) (47.7) (64.6)
(F)
Record
low C
(F)

4.0 4.0 1.0 7.0 12.0 17.0 17.0 19.4 14.0 7.0 1.6 1.0 4.0
(24.8) (24.8) (30.2) (44.6) (53.6) (62.6) (62.6) (66.9) (57.2) (44.6) (29.1) (30.2) (24.8)

Average
35.5 20.0 19.2 14.4 3.2
0.1
precipitati
(1.39 (0.78 (0.75 (0.56 (0.12 (0.00
on mm
8)
7)
6)
7)
6)
4)
(inches)

0.0
(0)

0.0
(0)

Average
4.7
rainy days

3.4

3.3

2.2

0.9

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.6

2.6

4.6

22.3

Average
relative
humidity
(%)

61

51

44

33

26

28

31

34

45

58

69

45

70

0.1
3.9 20.5 36.4 153.3
(0.00 (0.15 (0.80 (1.43 (6.03
4)
4)
7)
3)
5)

Mean
2,908.
monthly
180.6 195.0 222.3 221.6 262.9 292.1 305.1 290.4 290.4 263.4 202.4 182.5
7
sunshine
hours
Source: Iran Meteorological Organization (records),[32] (temperatures),[33] (precipitation),[34] (humidity),[35]
(days with precipitation),[36] (sunshine)[37]

Places of interest[edit]
The Abadan Institute of Technology was established in Abadan in 1939.[12] The school
specialized in engineering and petroleum chemistry, and was designed to train staff for the
refinery in town. The school's name has since changed several times, but since 1989 has been
considered a branch campus of the Petroleum University of Technology, centred in Tehran.
There is an international airport in Abadan. It is represented by the IATA airport code ABD.

Main sights[edit]
See also: Tourism in Iran

Mosques[edit]
Rangoonis Mosque

Museums[edit]

Abadan Museum
Historical and Handwritten Documents Museum

Notable people[edit]
Sports

Karim Bavi (b.1964) retired Iranian footballer.

Abdolreza Barzegari (b.1958) retired Iranian footballer.
Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh (b.1966) retired Iranian footballer.
Parviz Mazloumi (b.1954) retired Iranian footballer.
Gholam Hossein Mazloumi (1950-2014) retired Iranian footballer.
Hassan Nazari (b.1956) retired Iranian footballer.
Patrik Baboumian (b. 1979), strongman
Bahman Golbarnezhad (1968-2016), Iranian Paralympic cyclist

Artists

Farzin (1952-1999) Persian pop singer.

Hamid Farrokhnezhad (b. 1969) actor.
Nasser Taghvai (b. 1941) film director.

Amir Naderi (b. 1946) film director.

Ghazal Omid actor.
Aramazd Stepanian (b. 1951), actor, producer, director and playwright
Noreen Motamed (b. 1967) painter.

Academics

Abie Nathan (19272008), Israeli humanitarian and peace activist

Hamid Rashidi (b.1961) Lawyer.
Gholam hossein Davani (b.1953) Accountant.

Business

Cyma Zarghami (b. 1962/62), television executive

Transportation[edit]
The city is served by Abadan Airport with flights on various commercial airlines.

See also[edit]

Abadan Crisis
Abadan crisis timeline
Battle of Abadan
Tidal irrigation at Abadan island, Iran
Bechari House

Notes[edit]
1. Jump up ^ The agreement gave 1,500 per year and 16,500 in gold sovereigns to the
Sheik.[11]
2. Jump up ^ Sources give different amounts for the number of people killed, with 400+,[20]
"about 370 people",[21] and "almost 400 people."[22]

Footnotes[edit]
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

^ Jump up to: a b Hoiberg 2010, p. 6

Jump up ^ Hoeschel et al. 1600, p. 48
^ Jump up to: a b c Elwell-Sutton & de Planhol 1982, p. 52
^ Jump up to: a b Hoiberg 2010, p. 7
^ Jump up to: a b c Lagass 2000, p. 2
^ Jump up to: a b Vadahti 2006[citation not found]
Jump up ^ Elwell-Sutton & de Planhol 1982, pp. 5556
Jump up ^ Elwell-Sutton & de Planhol 1982, p. 53
Jump up ^ Ferrier 1991, pp. 641642
Jump up ^ Greaves 1991, pp. 418419
^ Jump up to: a b Abrahamian 2008, p. 56
^ Jump up to: a b c Ferrier 1991, pp. 647648
^ Jump up to: a b c MacPherson 1989, p. 164
Jump up ^ Issawi 1991, pp. 606607
Jump up ^ United States Air Force 1987

16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.

33.

34.
35.
36.
37.

Jump up ^ Ferrier 1991, p. 651

Jump up ^ Wilber 1984, p. 141
Jump up ^ Melamid 1997, p. 6
^ Jump up to: a b Chelkowski 1991, p. 800
^ Jump up to: a b Abrahamian 2008, p. 159
^ Jump up to: a b c Axworthy 2013, pp. 108109
^ Jump up to: a b Daniel 2001, pp. 167168
Jump up ^ Satrapi 2003, pp. 1415
Jump up ^ Keddie 2003, p. 231
Jump up ^ Daniel 2001, p. 208
Jump up ^ MacPherson 1989, p. 154
Jump up ^ Axworthy 2013, p. 309
Jump up ^ Mather 2009
Jump up ^ Anon 2005
Jump up ^ Burt 2004, p. 36
Jump up ^ Herrera 2014
Jump up ^
"Highest record temperature in Abadan by Month 19512010". Iran Meteorological
Organization. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
"Lowest record temperature in Abadan by Month 19512010". Iran Meteorological
Organization. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
Jump up ^
"Average Maximum temperature in Abadan by Month 19512010". Iran Meteorological
Organization. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
"Average Mean Daily temperature in Abadan by Month 19512010". Iran Meteorological
Organization. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
"Average Minimum temperature in Abadan by Month 19512010". Iran Meteorological
Organization. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
Jump up ^ "Monthly Total Precipitation in Abadan by Month 19512010". Iran Meteorological
Organization. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
Jump up ^ "Average relative humidity in Abadan by Month 19512010". Iran Meteorological
Organization. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
Jump up ^ "No. Of days with precipitation equal to or greater than 1 mm in Abadan by Month 1951
2010". Iran Meteorological Organization. Retrieved April 8, 2015.
Jump up ^ "Monthly total sunshine hours in ABADAN by Month 19512010". Iran Meteorological
Organization. Retrieved April 8, 2015.

References[edit]

Abrahamian, Ervand (2008). A History of Modern Iran. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge

University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-52891-7.
Anon (22 October 2005). "Southern Iran Craves for an Oil Museum". Petro Energy
Information Network. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
Axworthy, Michael (2013). Revolutionary Iran: A History of the Islamic Republic.
Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-932226-8.
Burt, Christopher C. (2004). Extreme Weather: A Guide & Record Book. New York,
NY: W. W. Norton & Company. ISBN 978-0-393-32658-1.
Chelkowski, Peter (1991). "21: Popular Entertainment, Media and Social Change in
Twentieth-century Iran". In Avery, Peter; Hambly, Gavin; Melville, Charles. The
Cambridge History of Iran. 7: From Nadir Shah to the Islamic Republic. Cambridge,
UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-20095-4.
Daniel, Elton L. (2001). The History of Iran. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press.
ISBN 0-313-30731-8. ISSN 1096-2905. LCCN 00-033132.
Elwell-Sutton, L. P.; de Planhol, X. (1982). "bdn". In Yarshater, Ehsan.
Encyclopdia Iranica. I: b-Abd-al-Hamd. Routledge & Kegan Paul. pp. 5157.

ISBN 978-0710090904. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 6

August 2014.
Ferrier, Ronald (1991). "18: The Iranian Oil Industry". In Avery, Peter; Hambly,
Gavin; Melville, Charles. The Cambridge History of Iran. 7: From Nadir Shah to the
Islamic Republic. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-200954.
Greaves, Rose (1991). "11: Iranian Relations with Britain and British India, 17981921". In Avery, Peter; Hambly, Gavin; Melville, Charles. The Cambridge History of
Iran. 7: From Nadir Shah to the Islamic Republic. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge
University Press. ISBN 0-521-20095-4.
Herrera, M. (2014). "Extreme Temperatures From Around the World". mherrera.org.
Archived from the original on 6 August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.[better source needed]
Hoeschel, David; Heracleensis, Marcianus; von Karyanda, Skylax; Messenius,
Dicaearchus; Characenus, Isidorus (1600). Geographica Marciani Heracleotae,
Scylacis caryandensis, artemidoriephesii, dicaearchi messenii, isidori characeni.
Augsburg.
Hoiberg, Dale H., ed. (2010). "bdn". Encyclopdia Britannica. 1: A-ak Bayes
(15th ed.). Chicago, IL: Encyclopdia Britannica, Inc. pp. 67. ISBN 0-85229-961-3.
LCCN 2002113989.
Issawi, Charles (1991). "16: European Economic Penetration, 1872-1921". In Avery,
Peter; Hambly, Gavin; Melville, Charles. The Cambridge History of Iran. 7: From
Nadir Shah to the Islamic Republic. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
ISBN 0-521-20095-4.
Keddie, Nikki R. (2003). Modern Iran: Roots and Results of Revolution (Revised ed.).
New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. ISBN 0-300-09856-1.
Lagass, Paul, ed. (2000). "Abadan". The Columbia Encyclopedia (6th ed.). New
York, NY: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-7876-5015-3. LCCN 00-027927.
MacPherson, Angus (1989). "3: The Economy". In Metz, Helen Chapin. Iran: A
Country Study. Area Handbook Series (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Government
Printing Office.
Mather, Yassamine (19 November 2009). "Workers organise against regime".
Communist Party of Great Britain. Weekly Worker. Archived from the original on 6
August 2014. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
Melamid, Alexander (1997). "Abadan". In Johnston, Bernard. Collier's Encyclopedia.
I: A to Ameland (1st ed.). New York, NY: P. F. Collier.
NOAA (2013). "Abadan Climate Normals 1961-1990". National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 6 August 2014.
Satrapi, Marjane (2003). Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood. New York, NY:
Pantheon Books. ISBN 0-375-71457-X.
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Wilber, Donald N. (1984) [1948]. Iran: Past and Present: From Monarchy to Islamic
Republic (9th ed.). Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. ISBN 0-691-00025-5.

Additional reading[edit]

Axworthy, Michael (2008). A History of Iran: Empire of the Mind. New York, NY:
Basic Books. ISBN 978-0-465-00888-9.