Bam (Iran)
Bam (Persian بم ) is a city in the province of Kerman in southeastern Iran with about 77,000 inhabitants ( 2013).
Geography
Bam is located in the central plateau eastern Iran, which consists mainly of steppe and desert sand. In the oases around the city thrive date palms and citrus fruits, their irrigation is done by qanats.
History
The of the Sassanids - if not earlier - Founded in an oasis 642 was occupied by the Arabs. Around 650 the Hazrat -e- Rasul Mosque was built in the 10th century, the citadel Arg- é Bam. Since the 7th century already Bam was an important center of textile production and trade. As a fortified border post, the town was frequently attacked by Afghans, Baluchis and Sistani. In the 18th century, the city was captured briefly by the Afghans ( 1719 and 1721) and Lotf Ali Khan, the last Shah of Persia from the Zanddynastie, lost the old Bam in his last battle. Middle of the 19th century walled city was abandoned and founded two kilometers away today Bam. The historic city of plastered mud brick was used until the early 20th century as a military camp. In essence, the buildings Bams date from the time of the Safavids (16th - 18th century ).
Earthquake
December 26, 2003 at 1:56 UTC ( 5:26 local time ), the Citadel and much of the city of Bam, devastated by an earthquake. His strength was 6.6 on the moment magnitude scale. 70 percent of the modern city of Bam was destroyed. Officially, 30,000 people died in the earthquake, according to independent studies, there were over 43,000 dead and 30,000 injured.
On 21 July 2004, the city of Bam was again shaken by an earthquake measuring Raumwellenmagnitude mb = 4.2. This earthquake also prefabricated houses that had been built for survivors of the earthquake of 26 December 2003, again destroyed.
For reconstruction, the international community Bam Said to 1.1 billion U.S. dollars.
Findings
At the evaluation of images for earthquake disaster were at that time undiscovered qanats (fresh water channels ) and wall foundations, the 2500 date back to the time BC was discovered.
World Heritage
The citadel was in 2004 declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and set simultaneously on the Red List of World Heritage in Danger. Thus, the reconstruction of totally destroyed by the earthquake fortification is to ensure and support.