Townships

Amol
The township of Amol is located to the west of the province. To the north and south of which are the alluvial plains, with a considerably warm and humid climate; and the Alborz mountains respectively. Some historians in the past have associated this ancient city with the periods of the Pishdadians and the 'Kianians'. In respect to the relics and coins found in this region, this city can be said to be the capital of this territory during the Sassanid era. The inhabitants of Amol city embraced Islam during the reign of Mahdi, the Abbasi Caliph, after which Islamic structures came into focus here.
But after the Mongol invasion, the region was subject to devastation and it was during this time that Sary was declared as capital. In the beginning of the 7th century A.H., Hessam-edin Ardeshir, shifted the capital from Sary to Amol, and constructed his palace there. But in the year 795 A.H., the cities of Amol and Sary were plundered by Amir Teimoor Gurkani and there after Amol suffered a set-back. The great scholar and religious personality (translator of The Holy Qoran), Mohammad Ebne Jarir Tabari is from Amol city. Today, the new city of Amol stands to the north of the ancient city, and is a thriving vicinity. Amol is situated at a distance of 240 km. from Tehran.


Babol
The township of Babol stretches out in a north-south direction, to the north of which is the township of Babolsar, and the coastal plains. Whereas, to the south is the township of Damavand in Tehran Province. Apart from the northern sector and central sections that are located in the plains, the southern segment in the mountainous region, being cold in the upper areas and humid and temperate in the plains. The original name of the city was Mamtir and in the 10th century A.H. the city of Barforoosh came up in its place and in the year 160 A.H. Maziyar Ebne Qaran constructed the Jame' Mosque.
During the Savafid and Qajar eras the city prospered and thrived specially in the economic field and took an important position during the reign of Fathali Shah. Before the October revolution in Russia, Babol maintained commercial ties with Russia, via the Port of Babolsar, and thereby became one of the important trading centers in Mazandaran Province. Today, it is one of the most beautiful cities of the province and is located 268 km. from Tehran.


Babolsar
The township of Babolsar is located in the coastal plains of Mazandaran, and its center is the city of Babolsar, which lies at a distance of 268 km. from Tehran. Babolsar, a city with more than a century of history, stands at the mouth of the Babol River and was called Meshadsar in the old times during which this portal city played an important role regarding trade and commerce between Iran and Russia. Later on, Babolsar lost its importance, only to be favored once again during the reign of Pahlavi I. This city though small is beautiful, and is famous for its recreational areas and relaxing atmosphere.


Behshahr
The township of Behshahr is to the east of the province and to the north of which is the Caspian Sea. This region experiences a temperate and humid climate with the city of Behshahr as its center, located 326 km. from Tehran. This city nestles in the northern skirts of the Alborz Mountains. This territory was formerly known as Kharguran, and was erected under the orders of Shah Abbas; thence known as Ashraf-ol-Belad. Shah Abbas was responsible for bringing a large number of Georgians to this territory in order to create a settlement.
Thereby in this city, various tribes or clans such as, the Georgians, Talesh, Lankaran and Taat live. This region today besides the natural landscape has historical relics too.


Chaloos
This township is within the limits of the Caspian Sea to the north and to Tehran in the south, with suitable geographical conditions. Its main city is Chaloos, which is situated in the form of a crossroad and accounts for one of the ancient cities of the province and located in the central coastal plains of the Caspian Sea. In the ancient times this city was called Saloos or Shahloos. Near this city were two other smaller cities by the names of Kabeereh and Kacheh. An historian writes that the ancient geographical scholars state that Chaloos was a part of Tabarestan.
Mohammad Ebne Ovais, one of the commanders of the Arab caliphates, appointed his son Ahmad as ruler of Chaloos. During the invasion of Amir Teimoor, the city was turned to rubble and for centuries remained a tiny village. At the beginning of 14th century A.H., with government support it gradually developed, turning into a city. Today it is a beautiful city with a wide range of facilities for tourists.


Mahmood Abad
Mahmood Abad in past, was one of the ports of Amol and held an important position concerning transport and trade between Iran and Russia. But with the development of ports such as, Noshahr and Anzali, Mahmood Abad lost its importance, and today is one of the cities on the fringes of the Caspian Sea that engulfs suitable recreational areas and offers service facilities to visitors.


Neka
This township is located to the southeast of Sary and in the fringes of the Caspian Sea, and close to the city of Behshahr. The said city is also considered as an industrial locality in the northern territory. Not much is known about this area in geographical or historical accounts of the past, that is till the Qajar dynasty. But in the geographical records of the early Islamic period, the name Mirdan a city near the current city of Neka has been mentioned. Deh Khoda has mentioned the River Neka in his encyclopedia. It seems that Neka was a vicinity or 'block' comprising of various rural settlements.
The present Neka has sprung up from the village of 'Naranj', alongside a bridge on Neka River within the past 70 years. Due to the railway line running across this area, and suitable network of communications, together with the establishment of the wood industry, oil reservoirs and an electric power plant, the area is one of the important developing centers of the province. Furthermore, Neka has a beautiful coastline and is near the Peninsula of Miankaleh.


Noor
The township of Noor is located in the center of the province, to the north of which is the Caspian Sea, and to its south the Province of Tehran. The city of Noor is located in the coastal plains with a humid and temperate climate, and at a distance of 243 km. from Tehran. In the past, Noor was reputedly known as Suldeh and is one of the ancient cities of western Mazandaran. The same has been named due to a sparkling Noor river in this vicinity and because of its strategic position held its own. The presence of castles and other fortifications reveal this fact.


Noshahr
The township of Noshahr is located within the limits of the Caspian Sea to its north, and the Alborz Mountains in the south. The southern region experiences a mountainous climate, whereas the northern sector in the plains, has a temperate and humid climate. Formerly, Noshahr was known as Khajak and because of its prominent coastal position and port facilitation, drew attention. With the passage of time, it came to be known as Habib Abad. In the year 1939 it was named Noshahr.
At present it enjoys good port facilities and is considered as one of the active ports in the Caspian Sea region. After the dissolution of U.S.S.R, Noshahr has maintained ties with various republics in the vicinity of the Caspian Sea and plays an important part in this realm. Noshahr is located 195 km. from Tehran.


Qaem Shahr
The township of Qaem Shahr is located to the west of Sary and to its northern limits is the Caspian Sea. Qaem Shahr is situated in a lush green plain and in past was known as Ali Abad. Ali Abad was a village having a mausoleum which drew pilgrims to this area. This vicinity also has a palace from the times of Shah Abbas. But with the passage of time, other villages amalgamating to the village of Ali Abad, and gradually grew into a city. In the year 1935 it was called Shahi, and since then has become an industrial city. It is said that this city is related to the Espahbodan period.


Ramsar
Ramsar is located to the extreme west of the province, to the north of which lies the Caspian Sea, and to the west and south are the provinces of Gilan and Qazvin respectively. Ramsar is one of the old cities of the province, and according to historical records dates to approximately a thousand years back. A reputed and large family dwelled here and a major portion of them were 'Saadat' (or descendants of the Prophet Mohammad A.S). Prior to 1931 Ramsar was a rural area by the name of Sakhtsar.
Today this historical city has expanded and thereby turned into an excellent recreational area in northern Iran, enhanced with natural beauty, a place to enjoy for foreign visitors.


Sary
Sary is the largest township of the province and is located in the center of the province and has a moderate and humid climate. The city of Sary is the capital city of Mazandaran Province, and is located 277 km. from Tehran. The city was primarily constructed in the pre-Islamic period and is related to Toos-Ebne-Nowdar. The large mosque of Sary was the first structure to be erected in the year 140 A.H. by the Moslems. In the year 298 A.H. the city was set to flames by tribes that thronged to it from the vicinity of the Caspian. In the beginning of the 4th century A.H., floods caused severe damage to this area. During the reign of Kharazmshah and the Mongol invasion, Sary was witness to further destruction. In the reign of Shah Abbas Safavid, important edifices were built in Sary.
During the Zandiyeh conquests in Tabarestan, the capital was shifted to Barforoosh (Babol). In the years 1200-1211 A.H. that is during the rule of Aqa Mohammad Khan Qajar, the capital city was once more transferred from Barforoosh to Sary, and once again promoted its importance. Today this beautiful city with the construction of private and government buildings, along with a railway line passing alongside the city, together with a good network of roads is a prospering vicinity.


Savad Kooh
The township of Savad Kooh has emerged from the setting and the expansion of the rural areas in the valley and mountainous region, with a habitat, full of natural vegetation with a moderate climate. Today this vicinity is one of the main centers of tourism.


Tonekabon
The township of Tonekabon exists along the Caspian Sea in the north and has common borders with the Province of Qazvin from south. In its northern regions it has a moderate and humid climate and in the southern portions cold weather prevails. The main city is Tonekabon, which is 257 km. from Tehran. The territory of Tonekabon was originally part of Gilan.
Numerous evidences discovered in various parts of the region, indicate that it was a flourishing city in past. The ancient Tonekabon came under the realm of the Royan territory, also called Rostamdar. The Padusbanan held the power of this vicinity till the reign of Shah Abbas Safavid I. There after till the year 1209 A.H. which was the beginning of the reign of Aqa Mohammad Khan Qajar, this city was known as Faiz. After downfall of this dynasty, the city was called Shahsavar, and thence after the Islamic Revolution was reverted to Tonekabon once more. It is a thriving city worth visiting.