Bandar Abbas, Commercial port in southern Iran.
This port city sits on the shore of the Strait of Hormuz, where the Persian Gulf meets the Arabian Sea. The urban area runs along the coastline at roughly 9 meters (30 feet) above sea level.
Shah Abbas I founded the port in 1623 after expelling the Portuguese from the region. The new facility replaced the older settlement of Gameron and grew into a major trading hub on the Gulf.
Residents speak Bandari, a Persian dialect that differs noticeably from standard Persian. Many families still earn their living from fishing and sail out in traditional boats handed down through generations.
Several forms of transport connect the city with Tehran and other inland centers. The port handles a large share of Iranian import activity, which means the harbor district sees plenty of commercial traffic.
Large natural gas deposits lie beneath the seabed near Hengam Island. The surrounding area also produces chromium, salt, and sulfur that get shipped from the port.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
