Damavand is a city in the Central District of Damavand County, Tehran province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.

Demographics

Population

At the time of the 2006 National Census, the city's population was 36,433 in 10,279 households. The following census in 2011 counted 37,315 people in 11,455 households. The 2016 census measured the population of the city as 48,380 people in 15,267 households.

Overview

Damavand is an ancient and historic city. The name Damavand appears in Sassanid texts (as Dunbawand), and Parthian remains have been found there. The city fell to Arab Muslim invaders in 651 CE. It is close to Iran's tallest peak Mount Damavand, which Ferdowsi mentions abundantly in the Shahnameh. The city has relatively cool weather year-round.

Climate

Damavand has a humid continental climate with hot summers, very cold snowy winters and cool rainy springs and autumns (Köppen: Dsa). The average annual temperature is 9.6°C in Damavand.

Economy

Damavand is an agricultural city and due to its streams, rivers, springs and temperate climate, it has numerous gardens and fields. An important part of the city's economy is provided by the export of tree products. Apples, pears, cherries, apricots, walnuts, apricots, tomatoes, wheat, potatoes, beans and cucumbers are some of the products of this city, some of which, like apples and pears, are famous and distinguished in terms of type. In recent years, beekeeping has become one of the sources of income for the people of this city and Damavand honey competes with the best honey in Iran in terms of quality and constitutes a significant part of the city's exports. New style livestock has been developed in Damavand for several years and the obtained products are exported to Tehran in addition to meeting the needs of the region.

Transportation

Damavand can be reached by road from Firuzkuh via Gilavand and from Haraz road, via Mosha.

Historical attractions

Damavand contains 37 historical tombs (Imamzadeh), 27 castle ruins, 23 traditional houses of architectural significance, 18 traditional bath houses, 6 caves, 5 historical bridges, 3 historical mosques, and 3 caravanserais. The main landmarks are the Friday Mosque (15th century) and the Sheikh Shebli Mausoleum and Tower, dating to the Seljuq era.