29.09944444, 58.34361111
Bam (Persian: بم) is a city in the Central District of Bam County, Kerman province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district.At the 2006 National Census, its population was 73,823 in 19,572 households. The following census in 2011 counted 107,131 people in 29,433 households. The census in 2016 showed a population of 127,396 people in 39,043 households.The modern Iranian city of Bam surrounds the Bam citadel. Before the 2003 earthquake, the official population count of the city was roughly 43,000. There are various opinions about the date and reasons for the foundation of the citadel. Economically and commercially, Bam occupied a very important place in the region and was famous for its textiles and clothes. Ibn Hawqal (943–977), an Arab traveller and geographer, wrote of Bam in his book Surat-ul-'Ard (The Earth-figure):
Over there they weave excellent, beautiful and long-lasting cotton cloths which are sent to places all over the world. There, they also make excellent clothes, each of which costs around 30 dinars; these are sold in Khorasan, Iraq and Egypt.