Hormozgan Map, Iran

Hormozgan Province is one of the most important regions of Iran which is located along the southern coast, the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. Bandsar Abbas and its surrounding coastal province, the home of international maritime trade, and distinctive Persian/Arab/African/Balochi culture, represents the entrance to the world and international relations via the sea. The name of the province was inspired by the Strait of Hormuz which is one of the most important chokepoints of ocean traffic in the world through which almost one-fifth of the world oil flows.

History

The history of Hormozgan dates back to the era of antiquity and its archaeological remains indicate that human settlements existed to the Achaemenid period, in the 6 th century BC. Greek historian and navigator Nearchus who accompanied the expedition of Alexander the Great had documented his journey through this area and leaves behind possibly the first written descriptions of the area. Nevertheless, the documented chronicle of the principal port of Hormozgan actually commences with the period of Sassanid Empire of Ardashir I, when the area became a significant maritime centre.

Hormozgan thrived as an important station in the maritime Silk Road during the Sassanid reign, 224-651 AD. Specifically, it is said that the province flourished between 241 BC to 211 BC, but it actually achieved success as a commercial center with the deployment of the Islamic era. Its ports were strategic and thus it served different powers as a coveted prize in history. The renowned Venetian traveler Marco Polo also came twice to the port of Bandar Abbas, in 1272 and 1293, for an account of the busy trade and the exotic merchandise of the region.

This was a turbulent history in Hormozgan as the Portuguese forces tried to take control over the Hormuz Island, which possessed the lucrative spice trade routes, and established a powerful fort in the Island. The Portuguese presence lasted almost one hundred years and turned the island into a large trading post. This profession took a dramatic turn in 1622 when Shah Abbas I the Great, the mighty ruler of the Safavid regime allied with the English East India Company and drove the Portuguese out. To remember this triumph the chief port was renamed not Gambroon, but Bandar Abbas, or Port of Abbas, which it still bears.

The 18 th and 19 th centuries were characterized by emergence of new issues as the region was involved in the geopolitical troubles between Persia and the Arab powers that existed in the Gulf. In another twist, the Iranian government surrendered Bandar Abbas and the adjacent region to Sultan of Muscat in Oman in the year 1793, and it was under the Sultan until 1868, when the territories were returned to Persia. The region became influenced by the South Persia Rifles, a military unit in World War I that was an organisation of British Major Percy Sykes to overcome the Russian influence in the southern part of Iran.

During the recent times, Hormozgan was subjected to major administrative reforms. It was a part of a larger province with all the ports and islands of the Persian Gulf, until the mid-1970s. It is out of the strategic relevance of the Strait of Hormuz that the Iranian government created Hormozgan as a separate province in 1976, which made it an integral administrative and economic zone, which is crucial to the national interests of Iran.

Culture

The cultural landscape of Hormozgan consists of a mixture of centuries of maritime commerce and the meeting of different ethnicities in the region. The population of the province is the richest Iranian, Arab, Balochi, and descendants of African population, which came to the land centuries ago due to the slave trade, but still, managed to create their own unique cultural identity. This ethnic mix has resulted in a rich cultural landscape of mixing of traditions of Africa, Arabia, Persia and the Indian subcontinent.

Hormozgan is characterized by music and dance. The traditional music of the region has a heavy African and Arabic influence, which can be traced back to the historical slave trade, where the African captives found respite in the islands of Hormozgan and with time, incorporated their artistic culture to the local culture. During celebrations and festivals, the Bandari dance, which is full of vigorous movements and beat-drumming, is still in use. The local musical instruments such as the unique drums and wind instruments bring out unique sound of the province that is a mix of Persian tunes combined in African beats.

The communities living near the sea in the province have very unique festivals, which commemorate the connection with the sea. Nowruz Sayyad, the Nowruz of the Fishermen is the start of the fishing season. It is a day when fishermen stop their activities to show their gratitude to nature and the sea which is the source of their livelihood. This custom shows how strongly the people of Hormozgan are attached to the world of the sea that they live in.

The craftsmanship is still alive in Hormozgan where the artisans still continue to perform skills that are carried on with the generations that have been coming. Traditional clothes and textiles are decorated with golabatoon embroidery using complex patterns of gold and silver thread. The women in the area use the Bandari chador, a well embroidered headscarf, with zari work and bright colors, accompanied with bright patterned trousers with unique tight cuffs. Sartoris Arabian traditions are reflected in such attire as men traditionally wear the dishdasha, which is a long robe with an agal headband.

Language

Hormozgan language is a good example of the multicultural nature of the province where several languages and dialects can be found in various parts of the province. The official and lingua franca is Persian, but the people mainly use the Bandari dialect, a unique form of Persian introduced by identifiable vocabulary and phonetics of Arabic, Balochi and other languages with the centuries of maritime commerce and cultural exchange.

Standard Persian in Tehran or other cities of central Iran is quite different, which is why Bandari dialect is pronounced differently. It has borrowed many Arabic words, especially those dealing with seafaring, fishing and commerce. The melodic intonation of the dialect, as well as the grammatical peculiarities, indicate the effect of the people of different nationalities who have resided on the shores of Hormozgan. This language diversity makes the inhabitants of Hormozgan have a unique cultural identity and it can be said to be different compared to the Iranians of the other provinces.

Geography

The Hormozgan Province is strategically located in south of Iran, with its borders to the north and northeast, Fars and Bushehr provinces and south and east respectively, and Sistan and Baluchestan Province. The province has a long coastline that extends both to the Persian gulf and the Gulf of Oman covering about 900 kilometres of mainland coastline. Incorporating the coastline of its 14 islands, the total coastal length is over 1,500 kilometres, which is why this province of Iran is the most maritime one.

The topography of this province offers a dramatic change in the mountain to the sea. The Hormozgan region has large parts that are dominated by the southern extreme of the Zagros Mountain range, which forms an intimidating background to the coast plains. These mountains are slowly sloping down the foothills, until they approach the narrow coastal lowlands. Salt domes also appear to be poking up of the terrain along the location of Bandar Abbas and some of them are of approximately 1,200 metres in height. These geological features with rich deposits of mineral deposits such as salt, iron ore, copper and sulphur are a source of mineral wealth to the province.

Hormozgan has a problem with hydrography in agriculture and settlement. The principal rivers are the Minab and the Kui, rather small with deep-cut valleys which restrict their possibilities of irrigation. The agricultural development has been limited by this geographical factor in the past although the three major dams that have been constructed have enhanced water security. Most of the water requirements in Bandar Abbas come through the Esteghlal Dam (or Minab Dam), and the others come through the Jegin Dam and the Shemil Dam.

The islands of Hormozgan form part of the most amazing geographical features of this territory. The largest island in the province of Iran and the entire Iran is Qeshm which is located in the Strait of Hormuz and covers about 1,491 square kilometres. The island boasts of spectacular geological structures such as the Valley of Stars, Namakdan Salt Cave as well as vast Hara mangrove forests. The Island of Kish is smaller, but well-developed, being a significant free trade area with the modern infrastructure and tourist amenities. The surreal rainbow-coloured mountains found on Hormuz Island are a must-see to visitors due to the mineral deposits that make the mountains.

Hormozgan climate is a typical example of extreme heat and humidity that was typical to the coastal areas of Persian Gulf. The summers are very hot and the temperatures often go beyond 40 degrees Celsius and sometimes even 52 degrees Celsius. The heat is more than oppressive due to high humidity of up to 100 percent. Winters are relaxing making the season not colder than 10 degrees Celsius and they attract tourists of colder areas in Iran. The province has a warm and dry semi-desert climate and receives very little rainfall, which is usually received in short winter months.

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