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Virtually levelled in a devastating earthquake, the historic heart of Bam was one of the wonders of Iran's cultural heritage, boasting a 2,000-year-old citadel that was the largest mud-brick structure in the world.

Built entirely of mud bricks, clay, straw and the trunks of palm trees, the city's old quarter dates back to pre-Islamic times, although most of the monuments were from Iran's modern heyday under the Safavid rulers of the 16th and 17th centuries.

Then, the city occupied six square kilometres, was surrounded by a rampart with 38 towers, and had a population of between 9,000 and 13,000.

Located in a vast plain between the Barez and Kabudi mountain ranges, Bam prospered because of pilgrims visiting its Zoroastrian fire temple and as a commercial and trading centre on the famous Silk Road between the Far East and Europe.

The five-storey citadel, constructed entirely from unbaked bricks, had undergone frequent repairs over the years but traced its origins back to the Parthian era around the time of Christ.

The city's grand mosque dates from the 10th century.

An oasis in the arid Dasht-e Kavir region known as the Emerald of the Desert, Bam boasts extensive underground water reserves, which have allowed the planting of rich palm groves and citrus gardens.

The city is renowned of its oranges, tangerines and sweet lemons, as well as dates.

Bam declined in importance following an Afghan invasion 1722. The city was used as a barracks for the army until 1932 and then completely abandoned.

Intensive restoration work began in 1953 and had continued until today. The city has been declared a world heritage site by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

In the past, Bam was a major draw for the few foreign tourists visiting the Islamic republic.

But in recent years several overseas holiday makers have been kidnapped by the drug-traffickers who have plagued Iran's eastern borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan, turning the country into a major transit point for opium and cannabis destined for Europe and the Gulf.

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