ḤABLARUD

 

ḤABLARUD, river in Damāvand and Garmsār districts (qq.v) of Semnān province in northern Persia. It originates from the peaks of the mountains Sāʾo, Šāh-Moḥammad and Homā, which are located approximately 30 km to the North East of Firuzkuh (q.v.). It flows in a southwestern direction overall, covering a total length of 240 km (at an average gradient of 0.9%) during its course towards the river Golu.

The first stage of this river irrigates a number of local villages including Gur-e Sefid, after which it is known at this point. When it reaches Amiriya to the West, it changes direction towards the southwest, flowing parallel to the Qāʾem-šahr (formerly Šāhi) to Firuzkuh rail-track. Upon reaching the town of Firuzkuh it assumes the name of this town at the point where it merges with the river Sāvāši. It then flows through the long valley between the mountain ranges of Poldar, Navās, Kohnadar and Pošta to the east and Siāhbona and Kabuda to the west, irrigating the villages of Jalilābād and Mahābād. After the river Nimrud merges with it, the river enters the Ḥablarud subdistrict (dehestān), from which its own name originates. Continuing to flow in a southwestern direction parallel to the rail-track it irrigates many villages and the waters of Darda to the south of Farahā-bād, as well as a number of small seasonal rivers, merge with it. Ḥablarud then flows around the Maqṣudābād mountain, and, after merging with the river Šāhbolāḡi, it changes direction towards the south. It is joined by Kabutardarra and Darrašur before reaching its alluvial fan and the fertile plain of Garmsār at a place called Sarāb-Rud. It is before reaching the alluvial fan that it passes through Bonkuh, the site of the old hydrological station where the average annual discharge of Ḥablarud was measured and calculated as 277 m3.

In Garmsār, Ḥablarud branches off into numerous irrigation canals that distribute its waters among dozens of villages in this highly prosperous agricultural area. Whatever remains of its water is finally emptied into the river Golu some 40 km to the southeast of Garmsār.

 

Bibliography:

ʿAbbās Jaʿfari, Gitā-šenāsi II: Rudhā wa rud-nāma-ye Irān, Tehran, 1997, pp. 199-201.

Masʿud Kayhān, Joḡrāfia, Tehran, 1931, I, pp. 87-88.

(M. H. Ganji)

Originally Published: December 15, 2002

Last Updated: February 24, 2012

This article is available in print.
Vol. XI, Fasc. 4, pp. 434-435