'GAZETTEER OF PERSIA. VOLUME II' [‎205v] (415/706)

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LANGARUD
LANGARGD (1)— (Pushchin .)
A river in Gilan, which rises on the northern slopes of the Elburz range
and falls into the Caspian Sea, 30 miles east of the mouth of the Safid Rud.
The river at the town of Langarud is about 30 yards broad, and is crossed
by two bridges, one a very lofty and curious old brick structure, with
two large pointed arches, and the other merely of wood. The mouth of this
river near the sea is almost choked up by a sandbank, which acts as a dam
and always keeps the water in the bed up to a certain level. The water which
flows into the sea and the neighbouring swamps, or is exhausted by eva
poration, is supplied by the stream from the mountains. The river has
the appearance of a broad and almost stagnant ditch, except in the spring,
when the water rises about 5 feet above the winter level. For a mile from
the town the banks are wooded and dotted with cottages ; these gradually
disappear and are succeeded by a flat swampy country, covered with high
reeds and bulrushes. Within a short distance from the sea the river is
divided into two branches, one flowing towards the sandbank at its mouth
and the other turning into an extensive stagnant lake (murdab).
Also the name of a hill which forms a conspicuous landmark for vessels
bound for the Langarud or Chomkhaleh roadstead or the mouth of the Safid
Rud, So called from the mouth of the Langarud being also called Chomkha
leh #
The Langarud roadstead may be considered one of the best anchorages
in the southern shore of the Caspian, where almost all are bad. Its depth
is about 28 feet, and the bottom mud and sand. The roadstead is sheltered
by a sandbank on the north-west, and the Safid Rud bank protects it some
what on the north ; besides this the shore here is comparatively shelving,
so that the strong north winds do not produce the same effect as in other
places on the southern coast, where the shore sinks abruptly and enormous
waves, in water 40 or 50 feet deep, not finding sufficient space, break into
surf and render anchorage dangerous. The Langarud roadstead cannot,
however, be considered a convenient anchorage, as ships are here subject
to severe rolling, due to the swell, which often does not coincide in direc
tion with that of the local winds ; for the sea-wind changes its direction on
the coast, being deflected by the mountains which line the shore.— {Holmes;
Pushchin.)
LANGARUD (2)—
A town in Gilan, on the sides of a river of the same name, close to the
point where it falls into the Caspian 40 miles east of Rasht.
The river is navigable for kerejis between Langarud and Chomkhaleh, but
not between Langarud and Lahijan. There is a Customs House and a
fishery station and a naphtha reservoir at Chomkhaleh. Apart from a few
herdsmen, who spend part of the year there, there are no other inhabi
tants.
Holmes describes it as one of the most picturesque towns he ever saw,
and remarks, “ Were there a drier climate and a less swampy country