# Babolsar

Babolsar (Persian: بابلسر) is a city in the Central District of Babolsar County, Mazandaran province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. It is along the Caspian Sea.

## History

The city acquired its current name in 1927. The city's historic name is Mašhad-e Sar or Mashhadsar, meaning "the special way to Mashhad, referring to the only road connecting the northwest of Iran to the northeast, including Mashhad, which passed through Babolsar. By the 18th century, Babolsar had become a busy commercial port. During the reign of Nadir Shah, it was the base for Iran's Caspian fleet. By 1909, the port yielded 12 percent of the total customs revenue of Iran. However, by 1895, ports in Gilan were already competing with Babolsar.
During Reza Shah's reign, Babolsar lost much of its remaining trade to the new port of Bandar-e Shah at the terminus of the trans-Iranian railroad. The cargo handled at Babolsar in the years of 1935 and 1936 was only 25,000 tons. A modern quarter and a hotel were built during this period. The end of World War II brought a new era of vitality to the city as a summer seaside resort for people from Iran, which gave rise to a new phase of rapid expansion. Babolsar's population increased from about 3,500 in 1946 to 11,781 in 1966 and 18,810 in 1976.

## Demographics
### Population

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 47,872 in 13,442 households. The following census in 2011 counted 50,477 people in 15,583 households. The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 59,966 people in 19,576 households.

## Geography
### Location

Babolsar is located on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea.The distance between Babolsar and Tehran (Iran's capital) is about 228 km, and it takes about 3.5 to 4 hours to reach this city. Since the Babol river passes through the city, both the bank of the river and the beach of the sea form tourist attractions in the city. The city is home to the major faculties of the University of Mazandaran.

### Climate

Babolsar has a subtropical Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa, Trewartha: Cs), with hot, steamy, but mostly dry summers and cool winters. Rainfall may occur at any time of the year but is heaviest in autumn and winter.
Climate data for Babolsar (normals 1991-2020, extremes 1961-2023) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 25.8 (78.4) | 29.6 (85.3) | 32.8 (91.0) | 38.5 (101.3) | 42.0 (107.6) | 37.4 (99.3) | 37.0 (98.6) | 39.0 (102.2) | 39.0 (102.2) | 34.0 (93.2) | 30.9 (87.6) | 25.6 (78.1) | 42.0 (107.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 12.6 (54.7) | 12.3 (54.1) | 14.5 (58.1) | 18.5 (65.3) | 23.6 (74.5) | 27.9 (82.2) | 30.0 (86.0) | 30.5 (86.9) | 27.7 (81.9) | 23.4 (74.1) | 18.0 (64.4) | 14.2 (57.6) | 21.1 (70.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 8.5 (47.3) | 8.6 (47.5) | 11.0 (51.8) | 15.0 (59.0) | 20.5 (68.9) | 25.0 (77.0) | 27.0 (80.6) | 27.3 (81.1) | 24.3 (75.7) | 19.5 (67.1) | 13.8 (56.8) | 10.0 (50.0) | 17.5 (63.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 5.4 (41.7) | 5.8 (42.4) | 8.5 (47.3) | 12.3 (54.1) | 17.6 (63.7) | 21.7 (71.1) | 23.4 (74.1) | 23.6 (74.5) | 20.9 (69.6) | 16.0 (60.8) | 10.6 (51.1) | 6.9 (44.4) | 14.4 (57.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −7.0 (19.4) | −4.0 (24.8) | −2.0 (28.4) | 1.0 (33.8) | 6.0 (42.8) | 9.0 (48.2) | 15.0 (59.0) | 16.0 (60.8) | 9.0 (48.2) | 4.0 (39.2) | −2.8 (27.0) | −3.0 (26.6) | −7.0 (19.4) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 104.2 (4.10) | 72.3 (2.85) | 58.4 (2.30) | 33.2 (1.31) | 16.0 (0.63) | 24.5 (0.96) | 31.4 (1.24) | 40.2 (1.58) | 104.1 (4.10) | 140.1 (5.52) | 165.1 (6.50) | 119.8 (4.72) | 909.3 (35.81) |
| Average snowfall cm (inches) | 8.1 (3.2) | 0.3 (0.1) | 0.2 (0.1) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.0) | 8.7 (3.4) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0mm) | 8.5 | 7.5 | 6.8 | 4.6 | 3 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 4.4 | 6.3 | 7.1 | 8.9 | 8.2 | 71.1 |
| Average rainy days | 10.3 | 10.1 | 10.7 | 7.6 | 4.5 | 3 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 6.1 | 7.9 | 9.8 | 10.1 | 89 |
| Average snowy days | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.4 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 83 | 82 | 82 | 80 | 78 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 79 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 80 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | 5.6 (42.1) | 5.6 (42.1) | 7.9 (46.2) | 11.4 (52.5) | 16.3 (61.3) | 20.0 (68.0) | 22.3 (72.1) | 22.8 (73.0) | 20.4 (68.7) | 16.1 (61.0) | 10.9 (51.6) | 7.3 (45.1) | 13.9 (57.0) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 122 | 110 | 135 | 164 | 225 | 258 | 246 | 239 | 189 | 168 | 129 | 110 | 2,095 |
| Source: NOAA NCEI(1961-1990 extremes), (Snow 1981-2010), meteomanz ||||||||||||||
Climate data for Babolsar (1961-1990) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 11.7 (53.1) | 11.5 (52.7) | 13.3 (55.9) | 18.2 (64.8) | 23.5 (74.3) | 27.8 (82.0) | 30.4 (86.7) | 30.1 (86.2) | 27.6 (81.7) | 22.9 (73.2) | 18.4 (65.1) | 14.2 (57.6) | 20.8 (69.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 7.6 (45.7) | 7.9 (46.2) | 10.0 (50.0) | 14.6 (58.3) | 19.7 (67.5) | 23.9 (75.0) | 26.3 (79.3) | 26.0 (78.8) | 23.5 (74.3) | 18.6 (65.5) | 13.9 (57.0) | 9.9 (49.8) | 16.8 (62.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 3.6 (38.5) | 4.3 (39.7) | 6.8 (44.2) | 11.0 (51.8) | 15.9 (60.6) | 20.1 (68.2) | 22.3 (72.1) | 22.0 (71.6) | 19.4 (66.9) | 14.3 (57.7) | 9.5 (49.1) | 5.6 (42.1) | 12.9 (55.2) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 96.1 (3.78) | 67.2 (2.65) | 67.2 (2.65) | 31.9 (1.26) | 19.3 (0.76) | 20.8 (0.82) | 25.1 (0.99) | 61.3 (2.41) | 82.2 (3.24) | 163.2 (6.43) | 119.3 (4.70) | 131.0 (5.16) | 884.6 (34.85) |
| Average rainy days | 10.7 | 9.6 | 11.5 | 8.2 | 6.3 | 4.7 | 4.9 | 7.9 | 7.8 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 10.6 | 100.3 |
| Average snowy days | 1 | 1 | 0.4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0 | 0.3 | 2.8 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 86 | 85 | 85 | 83 | 80 | 77 | 78 | 80 | 82 | 84 | 86 | 87 | 83 |
| Average dew point °C (°F) | 4.7 (40.5) | 5.0 (41.0) | 7.1 (44.8) | 11.2 (52.2) | 15.6 (60.1) | 19.3 (66.7) | 21.7 (71.1) | 22.0 (71.6) | 19.7 (67.5) | 15.3 (59.5) | 10.9 (51.6) | 7.0 (44.6) | 13.3 (55.9) |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 124.7 | 119.4 | 126.5 | 162.0 | 214.2 | 242.4 | 237.9 | 205.0 | 181.5 | 161.4 | 136.9 | 122.4 | 2,034.3 |
| Source: NOAA ||||||||||||||
* ↑ Also romanized as Bābolsar; also known as Bābul Sar; and Mashhadsar and Meshed-i-Sar (مَشهَدسَر), also romanized as Mashhad-i-Sar
* ↑ Rainy days shows parameter 71: Number of days with rain/drizzle

## Tourist attractions

The city is popular because of its many hotels and villas as well as the Darya Kenar Town, located 5 kilometers outside Babolsar, were many Iranians vacation.
* Babolsar Suspended Car Bridge (Illuminated metal bridge)
* Babolsar Seaside
* Babol Roud
* University of Mazandaran Building
* Khazar Shahr
* Narjes School
* Imamzadeh Ibrahim
* Azizak Lagoon
* Miroud
* Babolsar Boating Pier
* Babolsar Cable Bridge
* Zoo Garden Shapoor Dashad
* Kar Fun
* Clock tower
* Sea Buses Stop
* Bowling and Billiard Games
* Mizban Hotel (5 & 4 Stars) and (Coastal)
Babolsar coastal boulevard
Along this 4-kilometer boulevard, a place for public sports, jogging or running has given this green boulevard in the west of Babul Rud a special vitality and there are 10 beach parking lots, a beach hotel at the end of the boulevard and a delicious street in the 4th parking lot and many attractions.
Sea buses
One of the most important tourist attractions of Babolsar is the presence of sea bus stops next to Babolrud. These sea buses take tourists from Babolrud to the sea side and explore the sea for less than an hour.
Pedestrian cable-stayed bridge
This bridge is 92 meters long, 5 meters wide, has two pylons with a height of 18 meters. One of the most unique tourist attractions that takes place from mid-autumn to late winter in Babulrud is the presence of a multitude of seagulls that create beautiful landscapes with their gathering and movement. Generous people on the cable bridge also crystalize the visual beauty by giving bread crumbs and food that is accompanied by the rotation of seagulls.
Important shopping centers in Babolsar
Two traditional markets (bazar) in the city center on Shahid Rajaee street- Palm line shopping center facing Khazarshahr - Persia shopping center - Tetis (Saleh) shopping center - Negin shopping center - Semi-finished Europe shopping center - Bozorgmehr shopping Center- Iran Katan store - Family clothing store- Babol carpet store and there are many stores in the west of Babolsar city on Pasdaran Street and from Moalem Square to near Fereydunkenar city and other cases.
Significant number of towers
The presence of a significant number of towers in the city of Babolsar has given this city a modern face, Although environmental standards must be observed.

## Education
### Universities

University of Mazandaran (UMZ), currently the largest state higher education center in the province of Mazandaran, had formerly consisted of a number of tertiary education centers. In 1979 the centers were officially merged to form what is now known as University of Mazandaran. In recent years, UMZ has made significant progress, expanding itself with vision both qualitatively and quantitatively. It presently includes 12 faculties on its campus: Faculty of Mathematical Sciences, Faculty of Theology and Islamic Sciences, Faculty of Marine and Oceanic Sciences, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Architecture, Faculty of Law and Political Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Faculty of Chemistry, Faculty of Technology and Engineering, and Faculty of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism.
UMZ has now about 12,000 students who are currently studying at undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate levels and over 400 faculty members teaching and researching at different faculties of the university.

## Sister city

* Gaeta