Founded in the early 19th century, the town lies on both sides of the entrance to Mordāb Lagoon. It was occupied by the Russians in 1920; they declared a Soviet Republic of Gīlān, but that entity collapsed in 1921. The port lies in the channel between two sandy peninsulas; Ghāzīān Peninsula, to the east, has an airfield. The channel is quite irregular in depth. The entrance is protected by two breakwaters, and dredging is necessary. Port installations are mainly on the eastern side. There is a small wharf, an oil depot, and a fishery station. During World War II the port was modernized, and traffic greatly increased as a consequence of the U.S. lend-lease program for the Soviet Union. Pop. (2006) 110,643.