Bushehr province Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Bushehr Province استان بوشهر
Province
Location of Bushehr province within Iran

Country	Iran
Region	Region 2
Capital	Bushehr
Counties	10
Area
• Total	22,743 km² (8,781 sq mi)
Population (2016)
• Total	1,163,400
• Density	51.154/km² (132.489/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+03:30 (IRST)
Main language(s)	Persian, Luri, Arabic and Turkic
HDI (2017)	0.812 very high · 9th

Bushehr Province (Persian: استان بوشهر, romanized: Ostān-e Būshehr) is one of the 31 provinces in Iran. It is located in the southern part of the country. This province has a long coastline along the Persian Gulf. The main city and capital of the province is Bushehr.

In 2016, about 1,163,400 people lived in Bushehr Province. This province was made part of Region 2 in 2014. This was done to help with coordination and development across Iran.

Exploring Bushehr's Divisions
People and Languages of Bushehr
A Look at Bushehr's Past
- The 2013 Bushehr Earthquake
Bushehr Today: Important Features
Learning in Bushehr
Sports in Bushehr
Fun Places to Visit in Bushehr
Bushehr's Writers and Poets
Images for kids
See also

Exploring Bushehr's Divisions

Bushehr Province is divided into smaller areas called counties. These counties help manage the different parts of the province. The capital city, Bushehr, is in Bushehr County.

Some of the main counties include:

Bushehr County
Dashtestan County
Dashti County
Kangan County
Tangestan County

Many people in Bushehr Province live in cities. In 2016, over 71% of the population lived in cities. The largest city is Bushehr, with over 223,500 people. Other important cities include Borazjan, Bandar Ganaveh, and Bandar Kangan.

People and Languages of Bushehr

Most people in Bushehr Province speak Persian. This is their main language. A smaller group of people speak Arabic. There are also a few people who speak Turkic languages.

Almost everyone in Bushehr is a Shia Muslim. A small number of people are Sunnis.

A Look at Bushehr's Past

The history of Bushehr goes back a very long time. Ancient Greeks knew this area as Mezambria. But even before that, a French team found that Bushehr's origins date back to the Elamite Empire. There was a city called Lyan here, which had a temple built to protect against attacks from the sea. You can still see its remains today.

The famous traveler Marco Polo also wrote about this region. He mentioned it as part of the Persian province of Shabankareh.

European explorers and traders arrived in the 16th century. The Portuguese took over Bushehr in 1506. They stayed until Shah Abbas Safavi drove them out.

By 1734, Bushehr became important again. This was because of Nader Shah of the Afsharid dynasty. He wanted Bushehr to be the main base for his navy in the Persian Gulf. He even changed its name to Bandar e Naderiyeh, meaning "Nader's Port."

Later, the Dutch and then the British became important in Bushehr. By the time of the Qajar era, Bushehr was Iran's main port city in the Persian Gulf. Many countries, like Britain, Russia, and France, had offices there.

The 2013 Bushehr Earthquake

On April 9, 2013, a strong earthquake hit the town of Shonbeh. It measured 6.1 on the Richter scale. Sadly, at least 37 people lost their lives.

Bushehr Today: Important Features

Today, the port city of Bushehr is Iran's second most important naval port. It is a busy and active place. Bushehr is also known for a few other key things:

Kharg Island

Kharg Island became very important during the Iran-Iraq war. Iran's main oil exporting ports were damaged. So, Kharg Island took over the big job of exporting Iran's oil. Even though it was attacked, it played a crucial role.

Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant

Bushehr is home to Iran's first Nuclear Power Plant. It is called the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant. It was designed by a German company and built with help from the Russians. This plant helps produce electricity for the country.

Assalouyeh Industrial Zone

The industrial area of Assalouyeh is a very busy place. It is located about 270 kilometers south of the capital city. Many engineers and technicians from different countries work here. This zone is important because it is near the South Pars Gas field. This is the world's largest natural gas field! Iran has invested a lot of money to develop this area.

Learning in Bushehr

Bushehr Province has several places for higher education. These include:

Persian Gulf University
Bushehr University of Medical Sciences
Islamic Azad University of Bushehr

Sports in Bushehr

Football (soccer) is the most popular sport in Bushehr. The province has two famous football teams:

Shahin-e Boushehr
Pars Jonoubi Jam

Shahin is one of the oldest soccer teams in Iran, started in 1942. It is very popular in the Iranian football league.

Bushehr is also home to Sajjad Gharibi, a famous Iranian bodybuilder. He is known around the world for his amazing size and muscles. People sometimes call him the "Iranian Hulk" because of his strong build.

Fun Places to Visit in Bushehr

Bushehr has many interesting places to see, even though it is still developing its tourism. The city of Bushehr has hotels, an airport, and modern facilities for visitors. The Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran lists many historical and cultural sites in the province.

Some of these attractions include:

The beautiful Persian Gulf Beach in Bushehr.
Deje Borazjan, an old castle.
Poseidon's Temple, an ancient site.
The ancient cemetery (Gurestan Bastani).
The Old Church of Kharg Island.
The House of Raies Ali Delvari, a historical house.
The ancient site of Ray-Shahr.
The Castle of Khormuj.

Bushehr's Writers and Poets

Bushehr has been the home of several famous poets and writers.

Faiez Dashti (1830-1919) was a well-known poet from the area.
Manouchehr Atashi is another famous poet.
Sadeq Chubak, Najaf Daryabandari, and Moniro Ravanipour are important writers from Bushehr.