Ahvaz
Ahvaz (Persian: اهواز; [ʔæhˈvɒːz] )[a] is a city in the Central District of Ahvaz County, Khuzestan province, Iran. It serves as capital of the province, the county, and the district.[4] It is home to Persians, Arabs, Bakhtiaris, Dezfulis, Shushtaris, and others.[5] Languages spoken in the area include Persian, Arabic, Luri and dialects such as Bakhtiari, Dezfuli and Shushtari.[6]
For the administrative division of Khuzestan province, see Ahvaz County.
Ahvaz is home to over 1.2 million people within its metropolitan area, including Sheybani. Census results suggest a steady increase in population. At the time of the National Census of 2006, the city had 969,843 inhabitants in 212,097 households;[7] 1,112,021 people in 288,271 households in 2011;[8] and in 2016 the census counted 1,184,788 people in 331,556 households.[9]
The river Karun flows through the middle of the city. It is one of the two navigable rivers in Iran, alongside the Arvand Rud (Shatt al-Arab).[10] Ahvaz has a long history, dating back to the Achaemenid period. In ancient times, the city was one of the main centers of the Academy of Gondishapur.