Geography | |
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Coordinates | 36°54′21″N 53°58′52″E / 36.90583°N 53.98111°E |
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Ashūradeh ( Persian: آشوراده), or Ashur Ada, besides Esmaeilsay and Akaz islands, is one of the islands off the Iranian coast on the Caspian Sea ( Gorgan Bay). [1] Ashuradeh's surface area is 800 hectares (2,000 acres). It is located on the eastern end of the Miankaleh peninsula in the county of Behshahr of Māzandarān Province of Iran, 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) from Bandar Torkaman and 23 kilometers (14 mi) from Gorgan. [2]
The island can be reached via Bandar Torkaman. Over 40% of Iran's caviar is produced near Ashūradeh Island. [3]
Ashuradeh was inhabited by 300 families, but the village is now deserted. The island was occupied by Russian forces in 1837, despite protests from Persia. [4] Following the occupation, the Russian Army maintained a military post on the island for a few decades until 1921. [5]