Babol is a city of the
Iranian province of
Mazandaran, North East of
Tehran. It is the region's chief commercial center and was once the major trading center of North Iran. Processed food and textiles are produced, and fruits,
rice,
tea, tobacco, and cotton are raised nearby. Founded in the
16th century, it was built on the site of the ancient city of
Mamter. Ruins of a palace of
Abbas I are there. Located in the
Caspian Sea littoral, the city receives abundant rainfall.
Babol was formerly called
Barfruš.
