Darab
Persian: داراب
City
Darab is located in Iran
Darab
Darab
Coordinates: 28°45′19″N 54°33′12″E / 28.75528°N 54.55333°E / 28.75528; 54.55333[1]
CountryIran
ProvinceFars
CountyDarab
DistrictCentral
Population
 (2016)[2]
 • Total70,232
Time zoneUTC+3:30 (IRST)

Darab (Persian: داراب, romanized: Dārāb)[3] — formerly Darabkert, or Darábgerd ("city of Darius")— is a city in the Central District of Darab County, Fars province, Iran, serving as both capital of the district and of the county.[4]

At the 2006 National Census, its population was 54,513 in 13,279 households.[5] The following census in 2011 counted 61,672 people in 16,930 households.[6] The latest census in 2016 showed a population of 70,232 people in 21,308 households.[2]

Historical background

Darab is one of the oldest cities in Iran, and is mentioned in the Persian epic Shahname by Ferdowsi. Legend ascribes the foundation of the city to Darius I, hence its earlier name Daráb-gerd (Darius-town).[7]

In the neighborhood there are various remains, including the Kalah i Daráb (citadel of Darius), which consists of a series of earthworks arranged in a circle around an isolated rock. Another monument in the vicinity is a giant bas-relief, carved on the vertical face of a rock, representing the victory of the Sasanian king Shapur I over the Roman emperor Valerian in 260 A.D.[7]

According to Hamza al-Isfahani, the city was triangular in design, and the circular defensive wall, which has been uncovered, was built in the 8th century by a governor of Fars under Hajjaj ibn Yusuf. The circle is irregular, and about 1,900 m in diameter.[8]

During most of the Middle Ages, the city remained the capital of a large district. The city's products included textiles, jasmine oil, various mineral salts, and mumiya, a mineral exudate.[8]

Climate

Climate data for Darab
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 16.1
(61.0) 		19.1
(66.4) 		23.0
(73.4) 		28.8
(83.8) 		35.8
(96.4) 		40.2
(104.4) 		41.7
(107.1) 		40.7
(105.3) 		37.3
(99.1) 		31.9
(89.4) 		24.5
(76.1) 		19.0
(66.2) 		29.8
(85.7)
Daily mean °C (°F) 9.9
(49.8) 		12.7
(54.9) 		16.0
(60.8) 		21.0
(69.8) 		27.1
(80.8) 		31.4
(88.5) 		34.0
(93.2) 		33.0
(91.4) 		28.6
(83.5) 		23.1
(73.6) 		16.4
(61.5) 		12.1
(53.8) 		22.1
(71.8)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 3.9
(39.0) 		6.4
(43.5) 		9.0
(48.2) 		13.2
(55.8) 		18.4
(65.1) 		22.6
(72.7) 		26.3
(79.3) 		25.3
(77.5) 		19.9
(67.8) 		14.3
(57.7) 		8.3
(46.9) 		5.2
(41.4) 		14.4
(57.9)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 75.0
(2.95) 		45.5
(1.79) 		52.6
(2.07) 		16.8
(0.66) 		0.4
(0.02) 		1.9
(0.07) 		2.2
(0.09) 		2.9
(0.11) 		0.4
(0.02) 		1.0
(0.04) 		6.4
(0.25) 		52.3
(2.06) 		257.4
(10.13)
Average relative humidity (%) 61 56 51 39 25 21 24 25 27 30 42 54 38
Mean monthly sunshine hours 225.1 223.6 261.7 283.2 352.0 346.9 337.0 337.9 318.7 312.1 259.2 236.3 3,493.7
Source: Climate-Data.org[9]

Agricultural products

Major city products are wheat, citrus, cotton, maize and palm.

Higher education

The city has five universities: Islamic Azad University, Darab Branch; Payame Noor University, Darab center; agriculture and national resources school of Darab; Paramedical school of Darab; and a branch of the Technical and Vocational University.[10]

In literature

In the notes to his long mystical poem The Kasidah (1880), Sir Richard Francis Burton describes his alter ego "Haji Abdu El-Yezdi" as being a native of Darab.

References

  1. ^ OpenStreetMap contributors (16 September 2023). "Darab, Darab County" (Map). OpenStreetMap. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1395 (2016)". AMAR (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. p. 07. Archived from the original (Excel) on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  3. ^ Darab can be found at GEOnet Names Server, at this link, by opening the Advanced Search box, entering "-3059243" in the "Unique Feature Id" form, and clicking on "Search Database".
  4. ^ Habibi, Hassan (21 June 1369). "Approval of the organization and chain of citizenship of the elements and units of the national divisions of Fars province, centered in Shiraz". Lamtakam (in Persian). Ministry of Interior, Council of Ministers. Archived from the original on 7 December 2023. Retrieved 7 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1385 (2006)". AMAR (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. p. 07. Archived from the original (Excel) on 20 September 2011. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Census of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 1390 (2011)". Syracuse University (in Persian). The Statistical Center of Iran. p. 07. Archived from the original (Excel) on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  7. ^ a b  One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Daráb". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 7 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 826.
  8. ^ a b Huff, Dietrich. "DĀRĀB (2)". Encyclopaedia Iranica. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Climate: Darab". Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  10. ^ "Islamic Azad university of Darab". Retrieved 8 April 2020.
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