Old Anzali Breakwater (Moj Shekan) (Bandar-e Anzali)

Iran / Gilan / Bandar-e Anzali
 breakwater  Add category

This is an old structure Austrians and Germans constructed in Reza Shah period before the SWW. It serves as a breakwater to keep the harbour from the storms and high waves and people use it's left side as a huge swimming pool during summer and both sides as suitable fishing site throughout the year. The western (left) side water is more bluish in color and is in fact the main water body of the Caspian Sea salty water. The eastern side water is more greenish and is actually the freshwater coming originally from snowpacks of the top of Alborz mountains but is now brings a high density pollution from the human and industrial activities and presents to the Caspian Sea. You can easily identify with the naked eye from over the breakwater the boundary of this greenish fresh(!)water and the bluish Caspian water. Try to find this boundary from this aerial photo...
Locals call it "MojShekan" now (means Wavebreaker) and a little older people call it "MOL" probably from russian language. Russians (Bolshoviks in 1920s) occupied Anzali at least for a few weeks during SWW and when Guilan was temporarily announced as an independent republic by "Mirza Koochak Khaan". (Rumbode Oskouian)
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   37°28'51"N   49°27'34"E

Comments

  • You state the pre SWW breakwater was constructed by the Austrians and Germans - do you have any more information please; particularly whta firms involved and what method of construction was use - particularly crane(s) of what type. Thanks Chris Capewell Crane Historian, London UK
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