Where is Iran located? Lands of the legendary Persia, or Iran on the world map In which region is Iran.

Basic moments

Iran occupies most of the Iranian Plateau, which is an alternation of high plains, mountain ranges and intermountain basins. Low-lying plains adjoin the shores of the Caspian Sea, the Persian and Oman gulfs. In most of the country the climate is continental, on the Caspian coast - subtropical, on the coast of the Oman and Persian Gulf - tropical, with negligible precipitation and high "greenhouse" air humidity. In the Iranian Highlands, the amount of precipitation does not exceed 100–200 mm per year; in some desert interior regions, precipitation does not occur for several years in a row. Natural conditions allow the cultivation of a variety of crops - rice, tea, date and banana palms, pistachios, citrus fruits. The country's economic development is based on oil and gas resources and the developing mining industry.

Iran, along with Afghanistan, is one of the most multinational states in Southwest Asia. More than 60 peoples, ethnic groups and tribes live here, belonging mainly to the Iranian group of the Indo-European language family (75%) and to the Turkic group of the Altaic language family (over 20%). The main ethnic community - the Persians - makes up the majority of the urban population, and also occupy the main area of ​​​​settlement in the central and southern parts of the country. Gilans, Mazenderans, Talyshs, ethnically close to them, live to the north, Kurds, Lurs, Bakhtiars live to the west, Afghans, Balochs, Tajiks live to the east. The second largest ethnic community - Azerbaijanis - inhabits the northwestern part of the country.

The capital of Iran, Tehran, located on a vast foothill plain, at the foot of the extinct volcano Elburs, is a major transport hub, industrial and cultural center. Of the architectural sights of the capital, the Golestan Palace, the Sepah-Salar Mosque, the buildings of the Mejlis and the Senate deserve attention. Other major cities of the country: Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, Urmia, Abadan, Khorremabad, Kerman, Mashhad.

Geography

Iran is located in southwestern Asia at the crossroads of the Near and Middle East. From the north it is washed by the Caspian Sea, from the south by the Persian and Oman Gulfs. Iran borders on land with seven states: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey; and also shares the Caspian Sea with Russia and Kazakhstan, the Persian Gulf - with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf of Oman - with Oman.

In terms of area (1,648,000 km²), Iran ranks 17th in the world. Five countries like Germany could fit on the territory of Iran. At the same time, the area of ​​Iran is half that of Yakutia. Almost the entire territory of the country, with the exception of lowland Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan in the north and Khuzestan in the southwest, is located at an altitude of at least 900 m above sea level. The Zagros mountain range stretches from northwest to southeast.

Due to the arid climate and mountainous terrain, Iran does not have sufficient water resources. There is only one navigable river in the country - Karun. The largest lake is Urmia, located in the northwest of Iran. However, Iran is rich in minerals, especially hydrocarbons. Iran has the world's third largest oil reserves, the second - natural gas, as well as large reserves of coal, iron ore, manganese and zinc.

Most of the territory of Iran is covered with mountains. The main mountain system, Zagros, stretches for 1500 km from northwest to southeast. A considerable number of Zagros peaks exceed 3,000 meters in height, and in the highest mountain region (Fars) - 4,000 meters. Another large mountain range, Elburz, runs along the Iranian coast of the Caspian Sea. The highest point of Iran is located in Elburs - the extinct volcano Damavend (5610 m above sea level).

The area between Zagros and Elburs is occupied by the Central Plateau, where the average height above sea level is 900 m. The eastern part of the plateau is covered by two large saline deserts: Deshte-Kevir and Deshte-Lut. With the exception of a few oases, this area is uninhabited.

There are only two vast lowlands in Iran: the Khuzestan plain in the southwest, and the Caspian coastal lowland in the north. The first is a continuation of the Mesopotamian plain and goes deep into Iranian territory for 120-160 km, where it is interrupted by the Zagros chain. The height throughout the plain does not exceed 3-5 meters above sea level. The Caspian lowland stretches along the seashore for 640 km, while its width does not exceed 40 km. In some places, the coastline from the foot of Elburz is separated by 2 km. Along most of the coast of the Persian and Gulf of Oman, there are no plains, as such, since the Zagros comes directly to the coastline.

There are no large rivers in Iran, and only one is navigable - Karun. The Karun originates in the Zagros (Chekharmekhal and Bakhtiaria) and flows mainly through the territory of Khuzestan in the south-west of the country. River transport is used mainly in the 180 km section of the downstream between the cities of Ahwaz and Khorramshahr, where the Karun flows into the Arvandrud (Shatt al-Arab). The total length of the river is 950 km. Other significant rivers are Karkhe, Dez and Zayande. There are a large number of small short rivers in the north of Iran, especially in Mazandaran. All of them flow down from the Elburz and flow into the Caspian (Khazar) Sea. The rivers in central Iran are full only during the short period of snowmelt in the mountains, but they dry up most of the year.

One of the few reservoirs that never dry up is the salt lake Urmia in South Azerbaijan. However, the salt content there is so high that it does not allow life to be maintained in the lake. Other lakes: Bakhtagan, Gavkhuni, Neyriz, Parishan, Neor, Save. A group of small salt lakes is located in the east of Iran - in Sistan and Balochistan, near the borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan. There are a few fresh lakes in Elburs, north of Tehran.

Climate

Iran has an arid climate. Along the coast of the Caspian Sea - subtropical. In the north of the country in winter, the temperature often drops below 0°, in July it occasionally reaches 30°. The average annual rainfall is 1700 mm in the humid western regions and 680 mm in the dry eastern regions. In summer the temperature in the deserts can exceed 40°C. In the west of Iran, in the Zagros mountains, the temperature in winter is almost always below 0 °, heavy snowfalls and strong winds are characteristic. The coast of the Persian and Oman Gulfs is located in a zone of hot and humid tropical climate, the temperature ranges from + 16-18 ° C in winter to + 24-30 ° C in summer, with a relatively large amount of precipitation (up to 1000 mm on the slopes of the mountains, up to 600 mm in flat areas).

Population

Since the Islamic Revolution, the country has experienced a constant population explosion. The population has doubled since 1979 and reached 70 million in 2006. However, in the 1990s, the birth rate dropped markedly. According to forecasts, by 2050 the population of Iran will reach 90 million. More than a third of the population has not reached the age of 30. The literacy rate is 79%. Urbanization - 67%. The fertility rate is 1.87 (2.15 is necessary for the reproduction of generations). The number of Iranians abroad exceeds 4 million. Most of them emigrated to Australia, North America and Europe after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. In addition, more than a million refugees live in Iran itself - mainly from Afghanistan and Waziristan.

The Iranian Constitution guarantees every citizen, regardless of nationality and religion, social protection: pension, unemployment benefit, disability, medical insurance. Education and medical services are free. The average annual per capita income is $2,700 (2006). About 40% of the population lives below the poverty line.

Iran is a multinational state. Persians make up the majority of the country's population. 70% of the population belong to the Iranian peoples - the ancestors of the Indo-European group of languages, descended from the Aryan tribes who migrated to Iran from Central Asia. The majority of the population, in addition to the official language (Farsi), also speaks at least one of the Iranian languages. Persians and Iranian peoples make up 64% of the population, Azerbaijanis - 21%, Kurds - 9%, Arabs - 2%, Balochs and Turkmens - 2% each. In addition, there are national minorities of Armenians, Assyrians, Georgians and Pashtuns.

Most Iranians are Muslims. 90% of the population are Shiites (state religion). Along with Iraq and Bahrain, Iran is one of the states where Shiites make up more than half of the population. There are two holy cities of Shiites in Iran: Mashhad (mausoleum of Imam Reza) and Qom. Qom is the most important religious center of Islam with many Islamic seminaries and universities.

Sunnis make up about 8% of the population. The other 2% are Baha'is, Mandaeans, Hindus, Yezidis, Zoroastrians, Jews and Christians. The last 3 are officially recognized and protected by the constitution. Seats in the Majlis are reserved for representatives of these religions, while even Sunnis do not have such a privilege. At the same time, the Bahá'ís (the largest religious minority) are being persecuted. The state system of Iran, based on religion, implies the truncation of certain rights and freedoms. In particular, there is gender inequality (although this is not as pronounced as in most other Muslim countries). Homosexuality is a criminal offense and in most cases punishable by death.

Iranian state-owned energy company Pars Special Economic Energy Zone announced in June 2008 that all unmarried and unmarried employees are required to marry by the end of September. Failure to comply with the leadership's decision is punishable by dismissal. Iran's economic problems have led to a demographic crisis - many Iranians are in no hurry to start a family. Civil servants loyal to state policy seek to change the existing order of things. For example, the governor of one of the provinces of Iran announced that only family people will be hired in state institutions.

Economy

Iran is the largest economy in the Middle East, second only to China, Japan, India and South Korea in terms of GDP in Asia.

Iran is an agro-industrial country with a developed oil industry. There are oil refineries and petrochemical enterprises. Extraction of oil, coal, gas, copper, iron, manganese and lead-zinc ores. Mechanical engineering and metalworking, as well as the food and textile industries are widely represented. Handicraft production of carpets and hardware is developed. Among the most important agricultural crops: wheat, barley, rice, legumes, cotton, sugar beets, sugar cane, tobacco, tea, nuts, pistachios. Animal husbandry is based on the breeding of sheep, goats, camels, and cattle. 7.5 million hectares of land are irrigated.

45% of budget revenues come from oil and gas exports, 31% from taxes and fees. In 2007, GDP was $852 billion. GDP growth amounted to 5%, in 2008 growth of 7% is predicted. Inflation is 15.8%.

Main export items: crude oil and refined petroleum products, metal ores, agricultural products. The main import items are products of heavy engineering and the chemical industry, automobiles, iron, steel, minerals, textiles, and paper.

Iran's main trading partners include China, Japan, Germany, Russia, France, Italy and Turkey. Iran is a key member of the Economic Cooperation Organization, which includes the countries of Southwest Asia as well as the Central Asian republics of the former USSR. Iran is actively developing economic ties with the countries of the region and aims to form a free trade area similar to the EU. Free commercial and industrial zones are being developed in Chabahar and on the island of Kish.

culture

Religiosity is a special cultural trait of Iran as it permeates every aspect of life. Islam is the belief in one God and people are obliged to serve him in accordance with the Qur'an. In Arabic, "Islam" means submission, and "Muslim" is one who submits to the will of God. The most visible manifestations of Shiism in Iran are modest dress and visits to mosques. The official language of Iran is Farsi, Persian from the Indo-European group. In addition, several regional languages ​​are spoken here, such as: Azar, Kurdish, Arabic, and Lori (which is spoken by the Lori); and in a variety of languages ​​​​of 26 provinces of Iran: Gilaki, Baluchi, Turkmen, etc. After the adoption of Islam, the Arabic alphabet entered the Persian language. But there is no standard way to transliterate Farsi into English.

Most Iranian art forms originated before the Arab conquest and reached their peak during the Islamic era, although the art is rarely without religious influence. Persian carpets are an integral part of the culture of Iran and the origin of this art form falls on the fifth century BC. The most melodic music in Iran is the music of national minorities: Turkmens, Azars, Kurds and Lores. Persian poetry originated in the 9th century CE. and slowly developed from epic poems to unrhymed couplets, which form the bulk of Iran's poetic treasury. Persian painting developed during the period of the Seljuk dynasty, but was practically forgotten until the 16th century, and then transformed into calligraphy. In addition, the Persians produced metal products, glass, and wooden products. Great films are being shot in Iran right now. Mohsen Makhmalbaf, the author of the film Gabbeh, is the most criticized and revered Iranian director.

Iranian cuisine is one of the most delicious in the world. The main ingredients are rice, bread, fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs. The meat, usually lamb or mutton, is cut into small pieces and cooked in a small amount of fat, but it rarely dominates the table. But unfortunately, travelers rarely get to try true Iranian cuisine, as in most local restaurants, you will be offered two or three types of kebabs or rice with vegetables. So for true gourmets, it is better to try to visit the locals or visit a restaurant in a high-level hotel. Tea is the national drink of Iran, here it is drunk strong and hot. But everywhere in Iran you can buy all kinds of fruit juices, milkshakes and yogurts. Alcohol in Iran is forbidden by religion, although it is allowed to be drunk for religious purposes, in mosques and by non-Muslims with special permission.

Story

The first people who founded settlements on the Iranian plateau were, apparently, the Elamites. They founded the city of Shush in the southwest. Aryas came here in the second millennium BC, and brought with them their culture and crafts. Persian history dates back to the 6th century BC, when King Cyrus the Great from the Achamenite dynasty began to rule the region. The Akhamenite dynasty founded the first Persian Empire, which was the prototype of modern Iran.

In the 4th century BC. Alexander the Great captured Persia after his victories over Greece, Egypt, Turkey and Iraq. Despite three peace proposals from Darius III, Alexander captured Shush. From here he sent his armies over the mountains to the east and captured Persepolis. After the death of Alexander in 323 BC, his empire was divided into three parts, which were ruled by three dynasties. The Seleusids became the rulers of Persia. But they found it difficult to control the numerous ethnic groups, in particular the nomadic Parthian tribe, who occupied most of Persia and held out until the 3rd century AD. The Sassanites came from the central regions of Persia, which were not under the control of the Parthians. They brought Zoroastrianism with them and began to develop cities and trade, but were eventually forced out by the Arabs who came here in 637 AD.

The Arabs held out here until 1050. They converted the local population to Islam, introduced a new Persian alphabet and introduced Islamic culture. The Arabs were driven out by the Turks, who took Isfahan in 1051. Despite numerous uprisings, the Turks maintained their dominance in the region until the 13th century, when the hordes of Genghis Khan came here. At the end of the 14th century, the power of the Mongols weakened, and the Timurid dynasty reigned in Iran, but it was under pressure from the tribes of Turkmens, Ottoman Turks and European colonists-Portuguese.

Under the rule of the Safavid dynasty (1502-1722), Iran was part of the vast Persian Empire. The great Shah Abbas I and his successors preserved Shiism and restored Isfahan, but this dynasty fell at the beginning of the 18th century, after the invasion of the Afghans. The Afghans were not able to hold power for a long time, and for some time Iran was ruled by successive weak kings. In 1779, Agha Mohammed Khan united the Turkish Gayars, entered Iran and moved the capital to Tehran. Gayar rulers ruled Iran peacefully until 1921 and managed to maintain neutrality during World War I, but could not avoid the partial occupation of Iran by British forces seeking control of the oil.

One of the last Gayar rulers put forward the idea of ​​elections and a legislative assembly (Majlis), but the idea was realized only by the Persian Khan Reza, who became the first prime minister in 1923. Before him was the task of pulling the country out of the abyss of the Middle Ages. Iran (the name was officially adopted in 1934) remained neutral during World War II, but the British and Russians established spheres of influence here to keep Germany out. In 1941 Reza was exiled to South Africa and his son Mohammed Reza followed him. After the war, the Americans insisted on the Russians leaving the region, and the young Muhammad Reza, who received absolute power, began to establish contacts with the West.

Over the next 30 years, they became a confrontation between the power of Reza, who received the title of Shah, and his regime of repression and modernization. The economic situation in the country has gone from bad to worse due to the mismanagement of oil, and the opposition has met these changes with sabotage and mass demonstrations. The Shah's response was desperate armed attempts to suppress the rebellion with the support of the Americans, but in the end, the Shah nevertheless left the country on January 16, 1979. And a few weeks later, the acclaimed leader Ayatollah Khomeini, head of the opposition, returned from exile to cheers from millions. The nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism of the ayatollah led to the creation of the Islamic Republic and the US lost its influence here.

After some time, the ayatollah was proclaimed Imam (leader), and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein made an adventurous attempt to seize Khuzestan, a region of Iran. It was an ill-conceived move that dragged both countries into a war in which hundreds of thousands of people were killed on both sides. Peace negotiations began only in 1988. Western countries and the USSR supported Iraq, choosing the lesser of two evils, but at the same time they supplied Iran with weapons, albeit at inflated prices.

On June 4, 1989, Ayatollah Khomeini died, leaving the question of a successor open. Two months later, Hoyjat-ol-Eslam Rafsanjani became President-elect, and former President Ayatollah Ali Khomeini became the Supreme Spiritual Leader of the country. The United States imposed a trade embargo on Iran, explaining that Iran supports Islamic terrorist groups, destabilizing the situation in the Middle East. After the 1997 election of moderate Iranian President Hojat-ol-Eslam Seyyed Mohammed Khatami, many hoped that relations with most of the world's countries would improve. But Iran's relations with Germany (and most of Europe) deteriorated sharply in 1997 after it was proven that the Iranian government was involved in the murder of Iranian Kurdish émigrés in Germany a few years earlier.

The election of Khatami allowed women and young people to hope that the strictest rules of Islam would be somewhat relaxed. There is now a national dialogue in the country on easing government restrictions between Khatami's liberalists and Khomeini's fundamentalists, but so far it has only led to more censorship and more discrimination.

(Islamic Republic of Iran)

General information

Geographical position. Iran is a state in southwest Asia. In the north it borders with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, in the east with Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the west with Iraq and Turkey. In the north it is washed by the Caspian Sea, in the south by the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.

Square. The territory of Iran occupies 1,648,000 square meters. km.

Main cities, administrative divisions. The capital is Tehran. The largest cities: Tehran (6,830 thousand people), Mashhad (2011 thousand people), Isfahan (1,915 thousand people), Tabriz (994 thousand people), Shiraz (848 thousand people). Administrative-territorial division of the country: 24 ostanas (provinces).

Political system

Iran is an Islamic republic. The spiritual head of state is the ayatollah. The secular head of state is the president. Legislative power is held by the unicameral Assembly of the Islamic Council (Majlis).

Relief. Most of Iran is occupied by the central plateau, about 1,200 m above sea level and almost completely surrounded by mountain ranges.

In the north, parallel to the coast of the Caspian Sea, there are the Elburs Mountains, where the highest point of the country is located - Mount Demavand (5,604 m). Along the western border, the Zagros Mountains stretch southeast to the Persian Gulf. To the east of the plateau lie lower mountains. Plain territories lie along the coastal strip near the Caspian Sea. In the center of the state there are two vast deserts: the sandy-rocky Dasht-i-Lut and the salt Dasht-i-Kavir.

Geological structure and minerals. The bowels of the country contain rich reserves of oil, natural gas, less significant - coal, iron ore, chromium, copper, zinc, lead, manganese, sulfur.

Climate. According to climatic features, Iran can be divided into three regions: the very hot coast of the Persian and Oman Gulfs; temperate but arid climate of the central highlands; cold climate in the area of ​​the Elburz mountains. The average January temperature in Tehran is from -3°С to +7°С, in July - from +22°С to +37°С. In Abadan (on the coast of the Persian Gulf) - from +7°С to +17°С in January and from +28°С to +44°С in July. The average annual rainfall in Tehran is about 250 mm, in Abadan - less than 200 mm.

Inland waters. In winter and spring, small rivers flow into the Dasht-i-Kavir desert. Most Iranian rivers dry up during the dry season. The main non-drying rivers, mostly short, originate in the foothills in the north or south of the country and flow into the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf or the Gulf of Oman. The Karun River is the country's main navigable river. There are few large lakes in Iran, they mostly dry up during the dry period. The largest lake that lies entirely on the territory of Iran is Lake Urmia (Rezaye) in the north of the country.

Soils and vegetation. In the Zagros mountains there are forest areas where oak, walnut, elm, pistachio tree grow. On the slopes of the Elbursk Mountains facing the sea and in the Caspian Valley, the vegetation is very rich: a large amount of ash, elm, elm, oak, birch, and some evergreens. Cacti and thorns grow in desert areas.

Animal world. The fauna is represented quite widely: rabbit, fox, wolf, hyena, jackal, leopard, deer, porcupine, ibex (mountain goat), bear, tiger, badger. Among the birds in the center of the country there are a large number of pheasants and partridges, on the coast of the Persian Gulf - flamingos and pelicans. Beluga, herring, sturgeon live in the Caspian Sea.

Population and language

The population of Iran is about 68.96 million people, the average population density is about 49 people per sq. km. km. Ethnic groups: Persians - 51%, Azerbaijanis - 24%, Gilaks and Mazendarans - 8%, Kurds - 7%, Arabs - 3%, Lurs - 2%, Balochs - 2%), Turkmens - 2%. Languages: Farsi (new Persian) (state), Turkic, Kurdish.

Religion

Shiites - 95% (state religion), Sunnis - 4%, Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Baha'is.

Brief historical outline

In the middle of the first millennium BC. e. Cyrus the Great created the Persian Empire, which lasted until 333 BC. when it was conquered by Alexander the Great. In the next century, Persia regained its independence, and the Persian kingdom lasted until the 7th century. n. e. With the advent of Islam to the territory of Persia, the country was included in the Medina, and later in the Damascus Caliphate. The old Zoroastrian religion of Persia has practically disappeared, completely suppressed by Islam. In the XI century. Iran was captured by the Turks, and later by the Seljuks, the Mongols of Genghis Khan, the army of Tamerlane and the Turkmens, who stayed in Iran longer than others, until 1502. In 1502, Iran regained its independence with the coming to power of the Persian Safavid dynasty, which ruled the country until 1722. Shah Abbas I, who ruled in the second quarter of the 17th century, is considered the most powerful ruler of this dynasty. After his death, the gradual decline of the country began, leading to the conquest of Iran by the Afghan army in 1722. However, a few years later a new dynasty was founded, which led Iran to relative prosperity.

In 1906, a constitutional monarchy was proclaimed in Iran, which lasted until 1979, when Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi was overthrown from the throne. In January of the same year, Ayatollah Khomeini proclaimed Iran an Islamic republic. Khomeini's rule was notable for its brutality and was marked by an international scandal when American diplomats were taken hostage in Tehran in November 1979, as well as by the death sentence for the British writer of Indian origin Salman Rushdie, who wrote the book "The Satanic Verses", offensive to Islam. In 1993, Rafsanjani confirmed the verdict.

Brief economic essay

Iran is an agro-industrial country with a developed oil industry. Extraction of oil, gas, coal, chromites, lead-zinc, copper, manganese and iron ores. Oil refineries, petrochemical enterprises. Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. Mechanical engineering and metalworking. Food flavoring, textile industry. Handicraft production (carpets, hardware). The main food crops are cereals (wheat, barley), rice, legumes; industrial cotton, sugar beet, sugar cane, tobacco, tea. Fruit growing, melon growing, viticulture, planting walnut and pistachio trees. Extensive animal husbandry (sheep, goats, cattle, camels). Sericulture. Sea fishing. Export: oil and oil products (95-99% of the value), carpets, caviar. (

The monetary unit is the Iranian rial.

A Brief Outline of Culture

Art and architecture. Tehran. the Bastan Museum with exhibits of archeology from ancient Persian cities; imam mosque; shrine of Aka; Apiyabad - burial place of Ayatollah Khomeini; the Shakhiyad tower, 45 m high, built in 1971; the Negarestan Museum with a collection of Iranian art from the period of the Persian Empire; Ethnographical museum; Carpet Museum; National Art Museum. Shiraz. Mosque Masjid-i-Jama (IX century); the tombs of the Persian poets Hafiz and Saadi; the Kom Museum and the Pars Museum. Urmia (the birthplace of the prophet Zoroaster). Jama Mosque; Mosque of the Three Domes. Tabriz. Blue Mosque (XIII century); Citadel (XIV century). Hamadan. Esther's tomb and Avicenna's tomb. Isfahan. Royal Mosque Masjid-i-Shah (XVII century); mosque Masjid-i-Sheikh-Lutfulla; royal garden with a throne room on 40 columns; the school of dervishes Shah Hussain, founded in 1710 by Nishair. Tomb of Omar Khayyam. Mashhad (the holy city of Shiite Muslims). Tomb of Ali-ar-Rida and tomb of Caliph Haroun al-Rashid.

Literature. Omar Khayyam (c. 1048-after 1122) - poet, author of the world-famous philosophical quatrains - rubai; Saadi (between 1203 and 1210-1292) - writer and thinker (poem "Bustan", collection of parables "Gulistan").

On the territory of Iran, which is sometimes also called Persia, once upon a time one of the most ancient civilizations in the world was formed. This country has amazing nature, beautiful mountains, ancient cities, balneological, ski and beach resorts. Iranians are very hospitable people and always welcome tourists who respect their religion.

Geography of Iran

Iran is located in Southwest Asia. In the north and northeast, Iran borders with Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Armenia, in the west with Iraq, in the northwest with Turkey, and in the east with Pakistan and Afghanistan. In the north, the shores of Iran are washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea, and in the south of the country there is the Arabian Sea (Persian and Oman Gulfs), which is part of the Indian Ocean. The total area of ​​this country is 1,648,000 sq. km, including the islands, and the total length of the state border is 5,619 km.

In the west of Iran is the Elburz mountain system, as well as the Caucasus Mountains. In general, most of the territory of Iran is occupied by mountains. The highest peak in the country is Damavend Peak, whose height reaches 5,604 meters. However, in the east of Iran there are deserts (for example, Deshte-Kevir), and in the north there are large plains.

Capital

The capital of Iran is Tehran, which is now home to more than 8.8 million people. Archaeologists say that the settlement of people on the site of modern Tehran already existed 7 thousand years ago.

Official language

The official language in Iran is Persian, belonging to the Iranian group of the Indo-European language family.

Religion

About 98% of Iran's population is Muslim (89% are Shiite Muslims and 9% are Sunni Muslims).

State structure of Iran

According to the current Constitution of 2004, Iran is an Islamic republic. Its head is the President, elected by popular vote for a term of 4 years. The President appoints the members of the Council of Ministers by decree and supervises their activities.

However, in Iran, the real power does not belong to the President, but to the "Supreme Leader", who is elected by the Council of Experts, consisting of 86 people (they are elected by the people).

A special role in Iran belongs to the Council of Guardians of the Constitution (12 people). Members of this Council should check whether the laws adopted in Iran comply with the Constitution.

The right of legislative initiative in Iran has a unicameral parliament - the Majlis. It consists of 190 deputies elected by direct universal suffrage for 4 years.

Climate and weather

The climate in Iran is changeable. In the north, along the coast of the Caspian Sea, the climate is subtropical. In the northwest, winters are cold (there is often a lot of snow), spring and autumn are warm, and summers are dry and hot. As for the south of the country, there are warm winters and hot summers. In July, in the south of Iran, the average air temperature is + 38C. In general, in general, in Iran, the average annual air temperature is +16.7C. The average annual rainfall is 213 mm.

Average air temperature in Iran:

January - +3.5С
- February - +6С
- March - +11С
- April - +16С
- May - +28C
- June - +27C
- July - +30C
- August - +28.5С
- September - +25C
- October - +18С
- November - +10C
- December - +5.5C

Sea in Iran

In the north, Iran is washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea. In the south of the country is the Arabian Sea (Persian and Oman Gulfs), which is part of the Indian Ocean. The length of the coast of the Caspian Sea in Iran is 740 kilometers, and the coast along the Persian and Oman gulfs stretches for 2,440 kilometers.

Iran consists of several islands. The most famous of them is, perhaps, the island of Kish in the Strait of Hormuz, which is now a popular place for a beach holiday.

Rivers and lakes

There are not many rivers in Iran, which determines its geographical location. Moreover, only one of them is navigable - Karun, flowing in the north-west of the country.

In the north-west of Iran, there is also the most famous Iranian lake - Urmia, whose salty waters are similar in chemical composition to the water of the Dead Sea. Due to its waters, Lake Urmia is a very popular balneological resort in Iran.

History of Iran

According to archaeological finds, people on the southern coast of the Caspian Sea (i.e. in the territory of modern Iran) lived already in 10,000 BC. Scientists believe that this region managed to avoid all the "charms" of the Ice Age.

Previously, Iran was called Persia, however, now this name is also still used.

The first mention of the Iranians refers to 844 BC. (in Assyrian texts). In the 6th century, Cyrus the Great founded the Persian Empire, which was destroyed in 330 BC. Alexander the Great.

In the following centuries, Persia was invaded by the Parthians, Arabs, Mongols, and Seljuk Turks. In the middle of the 7th century, after Persia was conquered by the Arabs, Islam began to spread among the Iranians, displacing their ancient religion, Zoroastrianism.

Since 1502, representatives of the Safavid dynasty became the Shahs of Iran. In this era, the Iranian Shah Ismail I makes the Shia trend in Islam the state religion.

In the XVIII-XIX centuries, Iran fell into the sphere of interests of Great Britain and Russia. In the early 1900s, oil intensified the rivalry between Britain and Russia for influence in Iran.

In 1921, an army officer, Reza Khan, established a military dictatorship in Iran, and in 1925 he appropriated the title "Shah" to himself.

In 1979, a revolution took place in Iran, as a result of which the Shah was overthrown, and Iran became an Islamic republic. The founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran is Ayatollah Khomeini.

culture

Iran is a very conservative Muslim country. Perhaps that is why the Iranians have retained many of their customs and traditions. Most Iranian customs and holidays are religious in nature.

In March, Iranians celebrate Novruz, which is dedicated to the beginning of the New Year (the Iranians have their own calendar). Before the onset of the New Year, Iranians always arrange a general cleaning in their homes, and also buy sweets and dried fruits for themselves, their relatives and friends.

Iranian cuisine

Iranian cuisine is very diverse. Each province of Iran has its own culinary traditions and delicious dishes. The main food products are rice, meat (including chicken meat), fish, vegetables, nuts, spices. However, Greek, Arabic, Turkish, and even Russian culinary traditions had a noticeable influence on Iranian cuisine.

Ash-e Jow - a thick soup made from barley beans, lentils and vegetables;
- Fesenjan - chicken with pomegranates in nut sauce;
- Kalam polo - pilaf with the aroma of cinnamon and saffron;
- Khoresht ghaimeh - stew with peas;
- Khoresht-e Aloo - lamb stew with prunes;
- Kookoo - omelette with spices;
- Kufteh - spicy cutlets;
- Reshteh Polo - "green" pilaf (it is green because of the herbs added to it).

Alcoholic drinks are prohibited in Iran (instead of alcohol, Iranians smoke hookah). But the traditional Iranian soft drinks include yogurt, coffee and tea.

Sights of Iran

To get acquainted with the sights of Iran, this country needs to be visited several times. Perhaps, in terms of the number (and their beauty) of sights, Iran is second only to such countries as Italy, Greece and Bulgaria. The top ten Iranian attractions, in our opinion, may include the following:

1. Tomb of the Persian king Cyrus II in Pasargadae
2. Sad Abad Museum in Tehran
3. Friday Mosque in Isfakan
4. Meybod fortress
5. Imam Mosque in Isfakan
6. Tomb of poet Hafez in Shiraz
7. Ancient ziggurat Choga Zembil
8. Zoroastrian shrine in Yazd
9. The ruins of the Assassin fortress of Alamut

Cities and resorts

The largest Iranian cities are Karaj, Tabriz, Mashhad, Shiraz, Isfahan, Ahvaz, and, of course, Tehran.

It would seem that there should be many beach resorts in Iran, because. the country has access to the Caspian and Arabian seas, however, this is not yet the case. This is influenced, in part, by the political situation in which Iran finds itself.

However, in recent years, beach resorts have begun to develop in Iran. So, on the island of Kish (Shahid-Zakeri, Laft, Bahman), located 17 km from the coast of Iran in the Strait of Hormuz, many high-class hotels have been built in recent years, and excellent conditions for diving have been created. You can swim and sunbathe on Kish Island in winter. By the way, on the island of Kish, men are forbidden to wear ties, because. they "are part of the Western way of life".

There are many mineral springs in Iran (most of them are in the north-west of the country). The most famous balneological Iranian resort is Temriz. In the vicinity of Termiz there is Lake Urmia, the water of which is close in composition to the water of the Dead Sea.

We have already said that there are a lot of mountains in Iran (especially in the west of the country). Therefore, it is not surprising that several ski resorts are now operating in Iran - Dizin, Toshal and Ab Ali. The skiing season is from November to April. By the way, the Ab Ali ski resort was built back in 1953.

Of course, the infrastructure of Iranian ski resorts is not very developed. But these resorts have mineral springs, which slightly compensate for the shortcomings of the infrastructure.

Souvenirs/Shopping

Tourists from Iran bring carpets, bags, scarves, blankets, towels, dishes, ceramics, baskets, jewelry, various sweets, hookahs as souvenirs.

Office Hours

Iran is a Middle Eastern state, most recently (until 1935) known as Persia. The oldest cities of the Earth are located on the territory of the country

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Iran is a Middle Eastern state, most recently (until 1935) known as Persia. On the territory of the country there are the most ancient cities of the Earth, religious shrines of Zoroastrianism and Islam, numerous natural attractions. The country has huge oil reserves and is one of the key players in the global raw material markets.

Location, composition and cities

The Islamic Republic of Iran is located in the western part of Asia, washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Persian Gulf.

Administratively, Iran consists of 31 stops, which, in turn, are divided into smaller administrative-territorial units - Shahrestans and Bakhshis.

Largest cities: Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan, Kerej and Tabriz (population over 1 million).

The capital of Iran is the city of Tehran.

Borders and area

The country has land borders with countries such as Iraq, Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Iran covers an area of ​​1,648,000 square kilometers.

Location on the map

Timezone

Population

75,078,000 people.

Language

The official language is Persian (Farsi).

Finance

The official currency is the rial.

Medical care and insurance

The highest level of medical care is observed in Tehran. Emergency and primary care is free, all further treatment is very expensive. It is recommended to be vaccinated against cholera, polio, yellow fever, diphtheria, tuberculosis, hepatitis A and B and tetanus. Before visiting the country, be sure to purchase international health insurance.

Mains voltage

230 volts. Frequency 50 Hz.

International dialing code

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a country in southwestern Asia. It borders with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan in the north, with Afghanistan and Pakistan in the east and Iraq and Turkey in the west. In the north it is washed by the Caspian Sea, and in the south - by the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.

The name of the country comes from the ethnonym of the Arii tribe - "noble".

Official name: Islamic Republic of Iran

Capital:

The area of ​​the land: 1.648 million sq. km

Total population: 71 million people

Administrative division: 24 stops (provinces).

Form of government: Theocratic parliamentary republic.

Head of State: President (secular head of state), elected for a term of 4 years. The head of the country (spiritual head of state) is the ayatollah.

Composition of the population: 51% - Persians, 24% - Azerbaijanis, 8% - Gilaks and Mazendarans, 7% - Kurds, 3% - Arabs, 2% - Lurs, 2% - Balochs, 2% - Turkmens.

Official language: Farsi (Persian). Turkic dialects, Kurdish, Turkish, Arabic, etc. are also used. English and French are used in business circles.

Religion: 90% are Shia Muslims, 8% of believers are Sunni Muslims, and the remaining 2% are Zoroastrians, Christians, Jews and Baha'is.

Internet domain: .ir

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Phone country code: +98

Country barcode: 626

Climate

Iran has a tropical desert type of climate. Only in the northern part of the country on the plains along the coast of the Caspian Sea is dominated by a subtropical continental climate type.

On the coast of the Caspian Sea in winter in the daytime, the air warms up to +12..+14 degrees, and at night it cools down to +4..+6 degrees. During the summer time during the day the air temperature reaches +30..+32 degrees, at night - 22..24 degrees of heat.

In the mountainous regions of Iran, the climate depends on the altitude of the area.

In the northern (Elburs) and northwestern (Iranian Azerbaijan and northern Zagros) parts of the country at altitudes from 1500 to 2000 m in January, night temperatures can reach -10 degrees, daytime temperatures - 2..4 degrees of heat. During the summer months in these regions, the air cools down to +15..+17 degrees at night, and warms up to +33..+35 degrees during the day. At the southern foothills of the Zagros in Tehran, 7..9 degrees of heat is observed during the daytime in winter, 0..-2 degrees at night, and in summer the corresponding figures are +37 and +24 degrees.

In the southern part of the Zagros Mountains and in the mountainous regions of the eastern part of the country, in winter during the daytime, the air warms up to +10..+12 degrees, and at night it cools down to 0..-2 degrees, in summer during the day the air temperature reaches +36. .+38 degrees, at night - 20..22 degrees of heat.

In the central regions of Iran on the deserted Iranian plateau in winter in the daytime, the air temperature reaches +14..+16 degrees, and at night - 2..4 degrees of heat. In summer, during the day, the air here can warm up to +40 degrees and above, and at night it cools down to +27 degrees.

On the coasts of the Persian and Oman Gulfs, winters are mild and summers are hot and humid. In winter, daytime air temperatures reach +20..+22 degrees, and at night - 10..12 degrees of heat. In summer, during the day on the coasts, the air warms up to +40 degrees, and at night it cools down to +30 degrees.

Precipitation in Iran falls mainly in the period from November to April, and the monthly norm of precipitation in the summer period (June-September) most often does not exceed 10 mm. In the mountainous regions of the western and northern parts of the country on the windward western slopes and on the coast of the Caspian Sea, up to 1700 mm of precipitation falls annually. The leeward eastern slopes of the mountains receive about 400 mm of precipitation per year. In the central arid regions of Iran and in the east of the country, the annual rainfall ranges from 100 to 300 mm. On the coasts of the Persian and Oman Gulfs, about 600 mm of precipitation falls annually.

Geography

Iran is located in the southwestern part of Asia. The area of ​​the country is 1648 thousand square meters. km. In the northwest, the state borders with Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey, in the west - with Iraq, in the east - with Afghanistan and Pakistan, in the northeast - with Turkmenistan.

From the north, Iran is washed by the Caspian Sea, from the south - by the Persian and Oman gulfs. Iran is a mountainous country. Its western part is occupied by the Zagros Mountains, the maximum heights of which reach 4000 m. The coast of the Caspian Sea in the north of the country is bordered by the Elburs Mountains. Here is the highest point of Iran - the extinct volcano Damavend (5610 m). Between the Zagros and Elburs mountains, there is a vast Iranian plateau with an average height of about 1200 m.

In the eastern part of the plateau are the deserts of Deshte-Kevir and Deshte-Lut. From the northeast, the Iranian Plateau is bounded by the East Iranian Mountains, and from the south by the Makran Mountains. The plains stretch in the north of the country along the coast of the Caspian Sea, in the southwest - along the coast of the Persian Gulf and in the southeast - along the coast of the Gulf of Oman.

The longest river in Iran is Karun (890 km). It originates in the Zagros Mountains and flows into the Persian Gulf. Also in the Zagros, such large rivers as the Karkhe, Dez and Zayande originate. In the north of the country, small rapids flow, which originate in Elburz and flow into the Caspian Sea. In the central part of Iran, rivers appear only when snow melts in the mountains, and in the rest of the year their channels dry up. In the northwestern part of Iran, the largest lake in the country is located - the salt lake Urmia with an area of ​​​​4868 square meters. km.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

In the arid conditions of Iran, the distribution of vegetation cover depends on the degree of moisture in the territory and human economic activity, especially agriculture and grazing. The northern most humid slopes of the Elburz up to a height of 2500 m are covered with dense broad-leaved forests with a predominance of oak, hornbeam, maple, beech, ironwood, elm, plane tree, ash, walnut, and plum. On the coast of the Caspian Sea, in places there are impenetrable subtropical forests intertwined with lianas.

The northern and central regions of the Zagros, formerly occupied by oak forests, are now largely destroyed during intensive indiscriminate logging and due to excessive grazing of sheep and goats. They were replaced by sparse shrubs with a significant participation of oak, the role of which gradually decreases as you move south, where there is less rainfall, xerophilic light forests of pistachio, cherry plum, almond, as well as steppe and semi-desert vegetation.

In other mountainous areas, woody vegetation occurs locally in the most humid places along rivers and in intermountain valleys. In the river valleys in the south-west of the country, tugai and marsh vegetation is widespread. On the coast of the Persian Gulf, mangroves are found in places.

Steppe and desert vegetation is characteristic of many low mountains. The steppes are dominated by perennial and annual grasses, wormwood, and astragalus. Often the steppes are interspersed with patches of shrubs. The deserts are dominated by saxaul, camel thorn, comb, saltwort, and aristida.

Extensive areas of the internal plateaus of Iran, due to lack of moisture and soil salinization, are practically devoid of vegetation. Areas of quicksand are also barren.

Animal world

The fauna of Iran is rich. In order to preserve its species diversity, about 30 reserves have been created. Ungulates are widespread. Among them, the goitered gazelle, ibex, Iranian fallow deer, mountain sheep urial, bearded goat, mouflon, kulan, common gazelle, and wild boar stand out. In the mountains there are brown and white-breasted bears.

Such predators as leopard, reed cat, manul, jackal, wolf, striped hyena, caracal are characteristic, there are cheetah, common mongoose.

There are numerous rodents and birds (grouse, partridge, bustard-beauty, Caspian snowcock, tupach, gray francolin, partridge, long-legged buzzard, white stork, gray crane, little bustard, etc.). Many birds nest and winter in Iran. The avifauna of the coasts of the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf is especially rich (flamingos, pelicans, sandpipers, geese, ducks, marbled teal, etc.).

The fauna of reptiles is rich. In the floodplain Serbaz in Balochistan is found marsh crocodile. Green sea turtles are found in the coastal waters of the Persian Gulf. The waters of the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf abound with valuable species of commercial fish.

sights

Iran is one of the centers of civilization on the planet, the birthplace of one of the largest empires in the world and one of the most distinctive countries in Asia. A vast country that stretches from the warm sea to the snowy mountain peaks, Iran has a unique set of truly interesting monuments that can be considered the property of all civilization. The richest historical relics are hidden in the depths of the country: ancient ruins, dilapidated cities, statues and archaeological excavations of ancient dynasties are found here at every step.

Travelers will find here ancient cities, many of which still feel quite comfortable in our time, unique examples of art and architecture, waterless deserts with precious oases and green forests of mountainous regions, an amazing history, only official sources of which date back about 5 thousand years, and original peoples with their unique culture.

Examples of thousands of years of coexistence of various religious communities and one of the most closed societies on earth, a colossal cultural heritage, carefully guarded, despite any vicissitudes of history, and centuries-old traditions of arts and crafts. All these contrasts make Iran a pipe dream for many travelers.

Banks and currency

The official currency of Iran is the Iranian rial. In circulation there are denominations of 50000, 20000, 10000, 5000, 2000, 1000, 500, 200 and 100 rials, as well as coins of 500, 250, 100 and 50 rials.

In the country, very often prices are indicated in one more unit - toman. 1 toman is equal to 10 rials. This is done in order not to waste time on large sums, because 1 US dollar is approximately equal to 10,000 Iranian rials. In this regard, it is always worth clarifying in which units the price is indicated: in rials or tomans. Moreover, in order not to say unnecessary words, sellers tend to say that this or that product costs, for example, 2 tomans, implying that it costs 2000 tomans. Therefore, sellers should be asked to name the exact amount.

Banks are open from 08.00 to 15.00-16.00 from Saturday to Wednesday, some branches are open from 08.00 to 20.00. Days off - Thursday and Friday, although large banks are open on Thursday from 8.00 to 13.00.

In tourist areas, US dollars, pounds sterling and euros are accepted for payment, in other parts of the country their circulation is formally illegal, although this rule is widely ignored.

Currency can be changed at the Tehran airport, in some hotels or banks, at exchange offices (very few) on the streets and markets, and only at the official rate. It is possible to make an exchange with numerous private money changers in the market, which usually offer a more favorable rate, but officially this is considered illegal, although in practice it is not prosecuted. Recently, the difference between the official exchange rate and what is offered on the black market has been reduced to a minimum. In this regard, it hardly makes sense to turn to private money changers.

Credit cards and traveler's checks are accepted for payment only in large banks and hotels in the capital and on the island of Kish. It is almost impossible to use them in other areas. Also, owners of non-cash payment instruments issued by US and European banks often face great difficulties.

In connection with the trade boycott of Iran and the difficulties with using plastic cards of the world's leading systems, you can use a special "tourist card" of Parsian Bank, which can be paid in several tens of thousands of stores, shopping and tourist centers, and when leaving the country, convert the balance into any currency . However, it is unlikely that the tourist will have time to deal with the design of such a card.

Useful information for tourists

As a result of the unstable situation, there are practically no foreign tourists in the state.