Iran is useful information for a geography lesson. Geography of Iran. Provinces of Iran. Iranian view. Flora and fauna

Basic moments

Iran occupies most of the Iranian Plateau, which consists of 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 it is subtropical, on the coast of the Oman and Persian Gulfs it is tropical, with an insignificant amount of precipitation and high “greenhouse” air humidity. On the Iranian Plateau, the amount of precipitation does not exceed 100–200 mm per year; in some desert inland areas there is no precipitation for several years in a row. Natural conditions allow the cultivation of a wide variety of crops - rice, tea, date and banana palms, pistachios, citrus fruits. The basis of the country's economic development are oil and gas resources and the developing mining industry.

Iran, along with Afghanistan, is one of the most multinational states in South-West 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 settlement area in the central and southern parts of the country. To the north live ethnically close Gilyans, Mazenderans, Talysh, to the west - Kurds, Lurs, Bakhtiars, to the east - Afghans, Baluchis, Tajiks. 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 Elborz volcano, is a major transport hub, industrial and cultural center. Among the architectural sights of the capital, the Golestan Palace, the Sepah Salar Mosque, the buildings of the Majlis and the Senate are noteworthy. Other large cities of the country: Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, Urmia, Abadan, Khorramabad, Kerman, Mashhad.

Geography

Iran is located in southwest Asia at the junction 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 by land with seven countries: 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 UAE, and the Gulf of Oman with Oman.

In terms of territory (1,648,000 km²), Iran ranks 17th in the world. Iran would fit five countries the size of Germany. At the same time, the area of ​​Iran is half the size of Yakutia. Almost the entire territory of the country, with the exception of the lowlands of 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 its arid climate and mountainous terrain, Iran does not have sufficient water resources. There is only one navigable river in the country - the Karun. The largest lake is Urmia, located in the north-west of Iran. However, Iran is rich in mineral resources, especially hydrocarbons. Iran has the world's third-largest oil reserves, the second-largest natural gas reserves, and large reserves of coal, iron ore, manganese and zinc.

Most of Iran's territory is covered with mountains. The main mountain system, Zagros, stretches for 1500 km from northwest to southeast. A considerable number of Zagros peaks exceed 3000 m in height, and in the highest mountain region (Fars) - 4000 meters. Another major mountain range, Elburz, runs along the Iranian coast of the Caspian Sea. Elborz is home to the highest point in Iran - the extinct Damavand volcano (5610 m above sea level).

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

Iran has only two vast lowlands: 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 sea coast for 640 km, while its width does not exceed 40 km. In some places, the coastline is separated from the foot of Elborz by 2 km. Along most of the coast of the Persian and Oman Gulfs there are no plains as such, since the Zagros reaches directly to the coastline.

There are no large rivers in Iran, and only one is navigable - the Karun. The Karun originates in the Zagros (Ceharmehal and Bakhtiaria) and flows mainly through the territory of Khuzestan in the southwest of the country. River transport is used mainly on the 180 km downstream section between the cities of Ahwaz and Khorramshahr, where the Karun flows into Arvandrud (Shatt al-Arab). The total length of the river is 950 km. Other significant rivers: Karhe, 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 Elborz and flow into the Caspian (Khazar) Sea. The rivers in central Iran are full only during a short period of snowmelt in the mountains, but for most of the year they dry up.

One of the few bodies of water that never dries up is the salt lake Urmia in Southern Azerbaijan. However, the salt content there is so high that it does not allow supporting life 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 Baluchistan, near the borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan. There are a few fresh lakes in Elborz, 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 precipitation is 1700 mm in the humid western regions and 680 mm in the dry eastern regions. In summer, temperatures in deserts can exceed 40°. In the west of Iran, in the Zagros Mountains, winter temperatures are almost always below 0°, with heavy snowfall and strong winds. 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 relatively large amounts of precipitation (up to 1000 mm on the mountain slopes, up to 600 mm in flat areas).

Population

Since the Islamic Revolution, the country has been experiencing a constant population explosion. Since 1979, the population has doubled and in 2006 reached 70 million people. However, in the 90s, the birth rate decreased noticeably. According to forecasts, Iran's population will reach 90 million by 2050. More than a third of the population is under 30 years of age. The literacy rate is 79%. Urbanization - 67%. The fertility rate is 1.87 (2.15 is required for 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, Iran itself is home to more than a million refugees, mostly from Afghanistan and Waziristan.

The Constitution of Iran guarantees every citizen, regardless of nationality and religion, social protection: pension, unemployment benefits, disability, health insurance. Education and medical services are free. Average annual per capita income is US$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 Aryan tribes that 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%, Baluchis 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% includes Baha'is, Mandaeans, Hindus, Yazidis, Zoroastrians, Jews and Christians. The last 3 are officially recognized and protected by the constitution. Representatives of these religions have reserved seats in the Majlis, while even Sunnis do not have such a privilege. At the same time, Baha'is (the largest religious minority) are persecuted. Iran's political system, based on religion, implies a curtailment of some 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 is punishable by death in most cases.

Iran's state-owned energy company Pars Special Economic Energy Zone announced in June 2008 that all unmarried employees are required to get married by the end of September. Failure to comply with management decisions 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 government policy strive to change the existing order of things. For example, the governor of one of the provinces of Iran announced that only family people would be hired in government agencies.

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 agrarian-industrial country with a developed oil industry. There are oil refining 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 has been developed. Among the most important agricultural crops are: wheat, barley, rice, legumes, cotton, sugar beets, sugar cane, tobacco, tea, nuts, pistachios. Livestock farming 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 was 5%; in 2008 growth of 7% is predicted. Inflation is 15.8%.

Main export items: crude oil and petroleum products, metal ores, agricultural products. Main import items: heavy engineering and chemical industry products, cars, iron, steel, mineral raw materials, textiles, paper.

Iran's main trading partners include China, Japan, Germany, Russia, France, Italy and Türkiye. Iran is a key member of the Economic Cooperation Organization, which includes countries in southwest Asia and 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 trade and industrial zones are being developed in Chabahar and on Kish Island.

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 obligated 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 clothing and visiting mosques. The official language of Iran is Farsi, a Persian language from the Indo-European group. In addition, several regional languages ​​are spoken here, such as: Azar, Kurdish, Arabic, and Lori (spoken by the Lors); and in many languages ​​of 26 provinces of Iran: Gilaki, Baluchi, Turkmen, etc. After the adoption of Islam, the Arabic alphabet entered the Persian language. But there are no standard ways to transliterate Farsi into English.

Most Iranian art forms originated before the Arab conquest and reached their peak during the Islamic era, although art is rarely without religious influence. Persian carpets are an integral part of Iranian culture and the origin of this art form dates back to the fifth century BC. The most melodic music in Iran is the music of national minorities: Turkmen, Azars, Kurds and Lor. Persian poetry originated in the 9th century AD. and slowly developed from epic poems to unrhymed couplets, which form the bulk of the poetic treasury of Iran. Persian painting developed during 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 made in Iran now. Mohsen Makhmalbaf, the director of 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 the chance to try true Iranian cuisine, since most local restaurants will offer you two or three types of kebabs or rice with vegetables. So for true gourmets, it is better to try to visit local residents 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 yoghurts. Alcohol is prohibited by religion in Iran, although it is permitted 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. The Aryans 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 of the Achamenite dynasty began to rule the region. The Achamenite dynasty founded the first Persian Empire, which was the prototype of modern Iran.

In the 4th century BC. Alexander the Great conquered Persia after his victories over Greece, Egypt, Turkey and Iraq. Despite three peace proposals from Darius III, Alexander captured Shush. From here he marched his armies across the mountains to the east and captured Persepolis. After Alexander's death in 323 BC, his empire was divided into three parts, ruled by three dynasties. The Seleusids became the rulers of Persia. But they had difficulty controlling numerous ethnic groups, particularly the nomadic Parthians, who occupied much of Persia and remained there until the 3rd century AD. The Sassanites came from the central regions of Persia, which were not under Parthian control. They brought Zoroastrianism with them and began to develop cities and trade, but were eventually supplanted by the Arabs, who arrived in 637 AD.

The Arabs stayed 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 arrived. 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 the Turkmen, Ottoman Turks and European Portuguese colonists.

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 in the early 18th century after the Afghan invasion. The Afghans were unable to retain power for long, 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. The Ghayar rulers ruled Iran peacefully until 1921 and managed to remain neutral during World War I, but were unable to avoid the partial occupation of Iran by British forces seeking control of 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. He was faced with 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 there to keep Germany out. In 1941, Reza was exiled to South Africa and his son Muhammad Reza followed him. After the war, the Americans insisted that the Russians leave the region, and the young Mohammad Reza, who received absolute power, began to establish contacts with the West.

The next 30 years saw a confrontation between the power of Reza, who received the title of Shah, and his regime of repression and modernization. The country's economic situation went from bad to worse due to mismanagement of oil, and the opposition 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 left the country on January 16, 1979. And a few weeks later, the recognized leader Ayatollah Khomeini, the head of the opposition, returned from exile and was welcomed by 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 capture Khuzestan, a region of Iran. It was an ill-considered move that plunged both countries into a war in which hundreds of thousands of people on both sides were killed. Peace negotiations began only in 1988. Western countries and the USSR supported Iraq, choosing the lesser of two evils, but at the same time 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, Hoijat-ol-Eslam Rafsanjani became the elected president, and former president Ayatollah Ali Khomeini became the country's Supreme Spiritual Leader. The United States imposed a trade embargo on Iran, explaining that Iran supports Islamic terrorist groups, destabilizing the situation in the Middle East. Following the 1997 election of moderate Iranian President Hojat-ol-Eslam Seyyed Mohammed Khatami, many hoped that relations with most countries in the world would improve. But Iran's relations with Germany (and most of Europe) deteriorated sharply in 1997 after the Iranian government was found to be involved in the murder of Iranian Kurdish emigrants in Germany several years earlier.

Khatami's election 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 about easing government restrictions between the Khatami liberalists and the Khomeini fundamentalists, but so far it has only led to increased censorship and greater discrimination.

An overview of the geography of Iran from the corresponding section of the Iranian publication in Russian “Spring of Freedom”, released by the Press Service of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Moscow. We have supplemented this publication with current data, specifically mentioning them in the notes. Unfortunately, despite active activity in Russian (Iran has several large websites in Russian, Iranian radio broadcasts in Russian, and in recent months it was announced that Iran will soon launch a satellite TV channel in Russian), basic publications on the geography of Iran for Iranian government media releases extremely rarely to Russian-speaking audiences. In this review you can get acquainted with one of them. Also in this review, we presented several separate materials on the geography of Iran, broadcast by the Iranian foreign broadcaster “Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran”. You will also find on these pages materials about the provinces of Iran.

Geographic map of Iran.

Geographic map of Iran. It shows the mountains, deserts, rivers and lakes of Iran, as well as the main cities.

Geography of Iran:

Location and territory

“Having a territory of 1,648,195 sq. km (16th largest country in the world by territory (According to other sources, the 17th country. Note website).

Iran is located in the eastern part of the northern hemisphere, in southwest Asia, and is considered one of the countries of the Middle East.

Geographically, Iran is located between 44 degrees 05 minutes (about 50 km from Maku) and 63 degrees 18 minutes (150 km southeast of Saravan) east longitude and 25 degrees and 03 minutes (85 km from Chabahar) and 39 degrees and 47 minutes (80 km north of Maku) north latitude.

Iran borders the newly independent states of the former USSR (the border partly runs along the Caspian Sea), Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Turkey. The total length of Iranian borders is 8,731 km.

About 90 percent of Iranian territory is located in the western part of the Iranian plateau. Thus, Iran can be considered a mountainous country. Mountains occupy more than half of the country's territory, one quarter of which is desert, and the rest is agricultural land.

The mountainous parts of Iran can be divided into northern, western, southern and central mountain ranges.

Northern mountain range starts from Mount Ararat on the Turkish border and includes the following mountain ranges and peaks:

Alamdar, Sahand, Sabalan, Talesh, Kaflankukh in Azerbaijan;

Alborz mountain range in the north of Tehran province and in the south of Gilan and Mazandaran provinces;

Mountains Aladag, Binalud, Hezar Masjed and Qaradag in Khorasan (this chain ends with the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan).

The highest mountain in Iran is Damavand (5671 m).

Mount Damavand -

highest point in Iran

On the collage: Mount Damavand is the highest point in Iran.

On the collage: Mount Damavand is the highest point in Iran. On the left is a plan of the climbing route to Damavand from Tehran. This plan shows that the Caspian Sea is visible behind the mountain range. It is this mountain range that cuts off the Tehran region from the Caspian Sea. Top right in the collage: View of Damavand from Tehran. Bottom right: During the summer months, the snow on the summit melts.

(The name of Mount Damavand is also known in Russian spelling as Damavand, or Damavand. The mountain is part of the Alborz mountain range (The name of another famous mountain in the Caucasus, Elbrus, also comes from the Persian word Alborz. The Persian term Alborz means “high mountain”).

Damavand is covered with snow in winter, and in summer the snow melts. But the snowy appearance of the mountain also gave rise to the origin of its name. Damavand is translated as “frozen, frosty mountain”.

Damavand is a symbol of Iranian resistance against despotism and foreign rule in Persian poetry and literature. According to Zoroastrian texts, the three-headed dragon was chained inside Mount Damavand to remain there until the end of the world. In general, in Iranian mythology the mountain played the role of the Greek Olympus.

“Damavand has a special meaning for Iranians. There are many legends and stories about this mountain. The old legends of Iran speak at length about the peak of Damavand. Writers and poets, especially epic poets like Ferdowsi, dedicated many poems to her. Mount Damavand is celebrated in ancient and modern Persian literature as a symbol of valor and perseverance, and has inspired great poets such as Malek al-Shoara Bahar. Sir Percy Sykes in his book “History of Iran” writes the following about this mountain: “In the south of the Caspian Sea is located the grandiose Damavand volcano, whose height reaches more than 19 thousand feet and which is considered the highest point on the Asian continent, west of the Himalayas.”

The Damavand mountain peak with a height of 5671 m is the most majestic and beautiful peak in Iran. Due to its slender conical shape, it is considered a unique peak. Among other cone-shaped mountain peaks in the world, one can point out Fuji in Japan with a height of 3770 m and Ararat in Armenia with a height of 5000 m. However, they are inferior in height to Damavand.

Judging by assumptions, the Damavand volcano went extinct about 100 thousand years ago. The rocks at the foot of the mountain have a sulfur composition. In memory of this prehistoric volcano, a large pool 30 m deep on the funnel-shaped peak of Damavand, which is usually filled with ice, has been preserved. Note that the air temperature at the top of Damavand in mid-summer is about -4 degrees. There are many routes to conquer the peaks of Damavand,” notes the Iranian station.

The Western Mountains include several mountain ranges collectively known as the Zagros. They start in the northwest of Iran and go in a southeast direction. Among the most important peaks of the Zagros it is worth highlighting such as Sari-Dash, Chekhsl-Cheshme, Panje Ali. Alvand, Bakhtiyari, Pishkukh and Poshtkukh, Oshtorankukh and Zardkukh (yellow mountain), which is the highest peak in this mountain range (4547 m above sea level).

Southern Mountains stretch from Khuzestan province to Sistan and Baluchestan province, ending in the Sulaiman Mountains in Pakistan. Among the mountain ranges belonging to this group are Sepidar, Meymand, Bashagsrd, Bam Posht, etc.

Central and Eastern Mountains include several scattered, dilapidated mountain ranges and peaks that cover much of the east of the country. They are separated from each other by vast deserts. The major mountains in this group are the Taftan volcano in Balochistan, as well as Mount Bozman and Mount Khezar, which is the highest peak in this part of Iran (4465 m above sea level).

Due to climatic restrictions, there are no large rivers in Iran, and due to the fact that the mountains cover the entire perimeter of the country, most of the water flows have an internal direction. There are four main water basins in Iran: the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Sea of ​​Oman and Lake Orumiye.

The most important rivers of the Caspian Sea basin: Kyzyl Ozan, Sefidrud, Shur, Akharchay, Zanjanchay, Shahrud, Karasu, Araks, Chlus, Khoraz, Tajan, Gorgan and Atrek.

The main rivers of the Persian Gulf and Sea of ​​Oman basin: Karun, Jarrahi, Karkhe, Dez, Zohreh, Mond, Hendijan, Dalaki, Seimare, Tiyab, Shur, Arvand-rud, Kol, Mehran, Alvand, Minab, etc. The Karun River is the only navigable river in the country.

The rivers Simins, Zarrine, Adzhichay (Talherud) and Nazluchay flow into Lake Orumiye).

In the interior of Iran, few rivers have a constant flow. Many of them are seasonal and, as a result of the active use of their waters for irrigation, turn into small streams in the summer months. Among the internal rivers of Iran, the following can be distinguished:

Karaj, Jajrud and Hable Rud, which provide drinking and irrigation water to Tehran and its surrounding areas;

Zayande-rud, irrigating valleys and populated areas in Isfahan and near this city;

Bampur and Khalil-orud, which supply water to the Jasmuriyan lowland in Balochistan;

Kalshur, Jovein and Kashafrud in Khorasan (the last of these at the end of its course disappears into the saline deserts of Turkmenistan);

The Kor rivers in Fars and Mashkel provinces in eastern Baluchistan, as well as the Hirmand river, the delta of which is located in the east of the country, support life in the historical and strategically important region of Sistan.

Climate of Iran

The diversity of relief also determined the diversity of climate in Iran. IN In general, we can say that Iran has a continental climate, which covers most of the interior of the country. Air temperatures are subject to significant fluctuations depending on the time of year and the location of each specific area: Iran's interior deserts are among the hottest in the world, but mountains play a very important role in reducing air temperatures. Although the average temperature across the country is 18 degrees Celsius, it should be noted that in mountainous areas the minimum temperature can remain as low as -30 degrees, while in the southern parts of the country the maximum temperature reaches over 50 degrees.

Rainfall in Iran is quite scanty and rare. Especially central areas. The exception is the coast of the Caspian Sea. On the plateau, rain falls mainly as a result of winter cyclones that come here from the Mediterranean Sea.

The distribution of rain depends on the topography.

It can be said that on the Caspian coast the climate is temperate with heavy rainfall, and in the northwestern elevations a Mediterranean climate prevails with cold, rainy winters and dry, hot summers. The coast of the Persian Gulf is subject to a hot, humid, but rainy climate. The remaining central and eastern regions of Iran have a continental climate.

Lake Orumiye (Urmia) -

Iran's largest inland water basin

As mentioned above in the Iranian publication, four main water basins can be distinguished in Iran: the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf, the Sea of ​​Oman and Lake Orumiye (also called Urmia in Russian). But three of these water mirrors are, so to speak, outer seas. And the purely inland sea of ​​Iran is the not very large Lake Urmia. “The Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran” in one of its relatively recent broadcasts talked about Lake Urmia as follows:

“Urmia National Park in northwestern Iran contains one of the country's largest inland lakes. The lake has an area of ​​about 5,700 square kilometers, length from 130 to 14 km, width from 15 to 50 km. The lake is located at an altitude of 1267 m above sea level. The deepest point of Lake Urmia is about 15 m deep, and the average depth of the lake is 5 m.

Urmia is considered the second largest (after the Dead Sea) salt lake in the world and one of 59 natural natural gas reservoirs. Due to its excellent natural conditions, this lake serves as a permanent and temporary habitat for many rare bird species. The beautiful ecosystem of Lake Urmia has prompted UNESCO to recognize it as a “repository of the biosphere”.

Lake Urmia is considered one of the world's largest salt reserves; it contains up to 8 billion cubic meters of various salts. On the territory of the lake there are more than a hundred large and small islands, the most important of which are the residential islands of Islami, Kabudan, Espir, Ashk and Arezu.

Most of the water in the lake comes from rivers that originate in the adjacent heights and mountains. The main sources of water in the lake are the rivers Adzhi-chay, Sufi-chay, Zarrine-rud, Simine-rud, Shahri-chay, Mahabad-rud and Nazly-chay.

The reason for the increased salinity of the water in the lake is the existence of salt structures and layers in the northern part of the lake and the flow of large amounts of salt along the Adzhi-chay River (Bitter River). The water of the lake has a high density, and although it varies with different seasons, on average it is about 300 grams. per liter

The high density of water prevents it from freezing during the cold season. This feature of the lake is the reason why a huge number of birds flock here in winter. Despite the cold weather, the presence of a large number of migratory birds on the lake gives it inimitable beauty. It is appropriate to note that Lake Urmia in the summer is a particularly excellent place for relaxation and swimming. The high salt content annually attracts many patients with rheumatism, skin diseases and nervous disorders to the shores of the lake. Every summer, supporters of the healing properties of the water and mud contained in the lake take the opportunity to heal a little in Urmia. The beaches near the ports of Sharafkhane and Gelemkhane welcome many nature lovers who come here from all over Iran.

It is also worth noting that the excessive salinity of the water in Lake Urmia does not allow the existence of fish and other marine animals in it. However, research shows that one species of geoplankton called Artemia may still exist in this lake, its food being the green lichen that grows in Urmia.

Artemia is one of the most valuable species of plankton, capable of living in extremely saline environments. It, in turn, provides food for many species of farmed marine animals: shrimp, fish and even birds. Moreover, Artemia living in Lake Urmia is one of the most persistent species of Artemia, has a high calorie content and is known in the world under the name Artemia Urmiana. Artemia became famous as the “yellow gold” of Lake Urmia.”

Seas

The Persian Gulf, which washes the south of Iran, is shallow and has an area of ​​240 thousand square kilometers. Through the Strait of Hormuz it provides access to the open ocean and thus has enormous economic and strategic importance for the country.

There are numerous islands in the Persian Gulf, the most important of which are:

Qeshm (the largest island of Iran with an area of ​​1491 sq. km), (89.7), Lawan (76), Larak (48.7), Hormoz (41.9), Hengam (33.6), Bani Forour (26.2), Hendorabi (21.1), Hark (20.5) and Sirri (17.3).

The Caspian Sea has an area of ​​424,200 square meters. km is the largest lake in the world. It is located in the north of Iran and provides connections not only with the former USSR, but also with European countries. This is the most important source of products for the fishing industry.

Iran has numerous inland lakes, many of which have salt water and can dry up completely during a long drought. Main Iranian lakes: Orumiye, Namak, Jazmuriyan, Bakhtegan, Tashk, Maharlu, Khouz Soltan, Famur (Parishan), Zerivar.

Flora and fauna

180200 sq. km of Iranian territory are occupied by forests. We find the most significant forest areas on the northern slopes of the mountain range running along the coast of the Caspian Sea. These forests are mixed deciduous (oaks, pines, cypresses, etc.). In addition to these forests, isolated oak groves and thickets of wild pistachios are found on the well-moistened slopes of the Zagros.

In the central regions of the country, spring meadows predominate at relative elevations and sparse thickets of bushes in the lowlands. Most inland deserts are completely uninhabited, with no sign of vegetation or life of any kind during the long, hot summers.

Representatives of Iran's fauna include mountain bears, wild sheep and goats, gazelles, wild donkeys, wild boars, wild cats and panthers, and foxes. Pheasants, partridges, hawks and kites are widely represented.

Population of Iran

The population of Iran is 58,110,227 people (according to the 1992 census). By Iran's population ranks fifteenth in the world, the average population density in the country is 35.26 people per square kilometer. Ten years ago, the population density was 20.4 people per square meter. km, indicating the rapid growth of Iran's population. (The population of Iran, as of 2009, was 80,208,000 people (17th place in the world). Population density 42 people/km² Note website).

According to the 1992 census, 33,137,567 people (57.3 percent) lived in cities and the rest in rural areas. There are cities with a population of more than a million, half a million and one hundred thousand people. Tehran, the capital of the country, is home to at least 17.37 percent of the country's population.

The highest level of urbanization in Iran is observed in the Tehran province (87%). The provinces least affected by urbanization are Boyer Rahmad and Kohgiluyeh, where for every 100 people only 30 live in cities.

The literacy rate among persons over 6 years of age is 82.5% in urban areas and 63.1% in rural areas. Among people over 10 years of age, 88.6% are employed and 11.4% are unemployed.

Ethnic groups

Modern Iranians are generally regarded as descendants of the Aryans who settled on the plateau in the second millennium BC.

Over the course of Iran's long history, many other ethnic groups entered the Iranian plateau and settled there. Thus, 45.6 percent of the population are Persians, 16.8% are Turks, 9.1 - 1.2 are Arabs. The remaining 26.3% are from other ethnic groups. It should be noted that non-Aryan ethnic groups live mainly in the north-west and in the border western regions of the country.

(According to 2008, Persians make up 51% of the population, Azerbaijanis and related Turkic-speaking peoples - 20%-35%, Kurds - 7%, Arabs -3%; Iranian-speaking peoples - Talysh, Gilyans, Mazandarans, Lurs and Bakhtiyars - 10 %, Persian-speaking Baluchis and Turkmen - 2% each. In addition, there are national minorities (1%) of Armenians, Circassians and Georgians.

Information on the topic:

Fars Province - Beginning of Iran

From the name of this province, foreigners began to call the entire country Persia. The Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran reported about this province in a broadcast dated 02/08/2011:

“Fars province, one of the most ancient regions in Iran...

The province of Fars, with a history almost equivalent to the entire history of Iran, is constantly considered one of the main centers of the formation and prosperity of Iranian and world civilizations...

Relief patterns of four thousand years of history, imprinted from the time of the Elamites (an ancient dynasty that ruled even before the Achaemenids, considered the ancestors of Persia (today Iran) Note site) on the slopes of the mountains of the province of Fars, the giant ruins of Persopolis and Pasargades, preserved from the times of the Achaemenids, (VI century BC AD) (including the tombs of the famous kings Cyrus and Darius. Note site) together with the monuments of the Sassanid era (one of the subsequent dynasties, it preached Zoroastrianism - the worship of fire. Note site), scattered throughout the cities of the province of Fars, represent signs development and prosperity of ancient Persian culture in this part of Iranian land. In addition, Fars is rich in its cultural history. Fars was the birthplace of such outstanding Iranians as Mulla Sadra, Hafiz, Saadi, Sibuya, etc., authors of immortal scientific, philosophical, religious and literary works.

Regarding the history of Fars, it is said that around 1100 BC. some tribe of the Aryan (ancient Iranian) race, having overcome a long distance and various natural barriers, penetrated from the north to the Iranian Plateau. This tribe, which bore the name “Persians,” settled in the temperate zone in the south of modern Iran, giving it its own name. Thus, one of the oldest centers of Iranian culture was formed, which was repeatedly elected as the capital of Iranian states.

The Persian tribe, which we know as the "Achaemenids", in 559-330. BC. ruled in Fars and gradually expanded its sphere of influence to other areas of the civilized world. During this period, Fars, as the center of the state, combined most of the modern crafts. The land of "Persia" (in Greco-Roman pronunciation) was one of the oldest cultural centers in Iran. Proof of this are the historical ruins of Persepolis (Takhti-Jamshid) and Pasargadae (Tomb of Cyrus).

After the spread of the Islamic religion in Iran, Fars became the center of rule of such dynasties as the Atabeks of Fars (543-684 AH), the Inju, Muzaffarid and Zendid dynasties. During the reign of the Zendids, this area received special development and socio-cultural prosperity, which we will talk about in the following programs when studying the historical monuments of Fars.

Fars province with an area of ​​133 thousand square kilometers is considered one of the southern provinces of Iran, which is administratively divided into 29 districts...

The center of Fars province is the city of Shiraz, which, due to its enormous cultural and historical significance, is one of the most popular cities in the world.

Fars Province is generally a mountainous region, and the existing heights in this province are a continuation of the Zagros mountain range, extending from the northwest to the south of the country. Fars province, due to its proximity to the Persian Gulf in the south and proximity to desert areas in the northeast, has a unique climatic diversity.

In total, Fars province has three distinct climate zones. The northern and northwestern parts are mountainous areas with cold winters and temperate summers, while the central parts have relatively rainy, moderate winters and dry, hot summers. In the south and southeast of the province the weather is moderate in winter, but in summer it is extremely hot.

The water resources of Fars Province are divided into groundwater and flowing water. Due to its climatic diversity, Fars province has an abundance of rivers, springs, waterfalls and lakes. The Kor River, one of the most important rivers in Fars Province, originates in the northern mountains and flows into Lake Bakhtegan. The Firuzabad, Qara Amaj and Fahliyan rivers also originate in the mountainous heights of the province and ultimately flow into the Persian Gulf. There are numerous lakes in Fars province. Three lakes, Bakhtegan, Maharlu and Parishan (or Famur) are larger in size than all other lakes in the province.

The presence of numerous waterfalls, natural springs and river banks at the heights contributes to the creation of tourist centers and hunting grounds in this province, which we will talk about in future programs.

Due to the presence of abundant water resources and fertile lands, Fars Province is considered one of the main centers of agriculture in Iran. Wheat, barley and corn form an important part of the province's grain production. Rice and citrus fruits in Fars province are also of good quality. In Fars province, along with agriculture, cattle breeding is also widely developed, partially meeting the country's need for meat and dairy products.

The population of Fars province, according to the latest census, is about 5.4 million people. The majority of the population of Fars speaks Persian, but due to the diversity of nationalities, other languages ​​and dialects such as Turkic, Lur and Arabic are widely spoken in this province. The presence of different religious minorities: Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, etc. in Fars is one of the distinctive cultural features of this province.

It is pertinent to know that Fars province is considered one of the main centers of nomadic tribes in Iran. The Qashqai, Hamsa, Mamasani and Alwar Kohkiluya tribes lead a nomadic life in this area, each of which is divided into numerous clans. The nomadic tribes of Fars have created a rich culture throughout history. Their life partially preserves the clan-tribal culture, which is considered one of the tourist attractions of this part of Iranian land.

Fars Province is also famous for the production of handicrafts such as carpets, rugs, mats and gebbes.

In the cities of Fars, mosaic work and inlay work, wood carving, etc. became widespread. In the field of metal industry and related arts, Fars province has a long track record. Silver carving, engraving and embossing on silver stand out here.

The flora of Fars province consists of forest trees and industrial and medicinal plants. The most important tree species there are: mountain almond, willow, oak and some other industrial and pharmaceutical plants, among which are licorice, oxwort, cathira, asafoetida and astragalus. Due to its inherent climatic diversity, Fars Province is home to a variety of animals. These include mammals, birds, aquatic and sea animals. There are protected animal habitats in Fars province.”

Religion and language

According to the latest population census (1986), 98.8 percent of Iran's population is Muslim. Among them, 91% are Shiites, and the rest belong to the Hanafis, Shafi'is, Malekites, Hanbalis, Zaydis and other Muslim sects.

Religious minorities in Iran make up 1.2% of the population and are distributed as follows: Christians - 0.7%, Jews -0.3%, Zoroastrians - 0.1%, followers of other religions -0.1%.

Persian (Farsi) is the official language of Iran. In Iran it is used (for Persian Note. In addition, in various parts of the country they speak Azerbaijani, Arabic, etc.

Administrative division of the country

According to the Administrative Division Law of 1992, Iran consists of 24 (as of 1994) provinces (stop), 277 urban regions (shahrestan) and 604 districts (bakhsh). Each province is divided into several regions, which in turn consist of districts, and the districts are divided into several rural counties. Counties consist of several villages.

The province is ruled by the governor-general (ostandar), the urban region by the governor (farmandar), the district by the district governor (bakhshdar), the rural district by the head of the district (dehdar) and each village by the headman (kadhoda). (In 2004, Khorasan was divided into 3 separate stops, and Tehran in 2010 into 2 separate stops. In total, according to data for 2011, Iran is divided into 31 stops. Note website).

Agriculture

Major crops grown in Iran include wheat, barley, fruits, vegetables, pistachios, cotton, rice, tobacco, corn, dates, olives, tea, jute, citrus fruits, sugar cane and sugar beets.

The main agricultural products in 1990 were the following crops: wheat (5,775,428 tons), barley (2,589,812 tons), rice (1,227,325 tons), sugar beets (3,536,000 tons), sugar cane (1,448,000 tons), cotton (394,000 tons ) and tobacco (16,000 tons).

Livestock The main occupation of the nomadic and semi-nomadic population of Iran is cattle breeding.

In addition, each agricultural village keeps herds that graze on less fertile lands and special pastures. Cattle breeding is mainly developed in Khorasan, Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, Lurestan and Fars. In recent times, nomadic pastoralism has largely given way to mechanized livestock and poultry complexes located around cities. In 1991, there were 40,665,000 sheep, 21,759,000 goats and 6,368,000 cattle in the country.

Iran has large fisheries resources in the Caspian Sea in the north and in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea in the south. Iranian fishermen constantly fish in these areas. Many types of fish, in particular salmon and sturgeon, which produces the famous caviar, are caught in the Caspian Sea, and shrimp are caught in southern waters.

One of the most important centers of the fishing industry is the city of Bandar Abbas on the Persian Gulf coast, where several canneries are located. In 1990, Iran received about 270 tons of caviar, at least 9,246 tons of shrimp and lobsters, and 320,887 tons of various types of fish. The Iranian oil industry dates back to the very beginning of the 20th century. For many years, Iranian oil was exploited by foreigners, but now this huge industry, including oil refineries, is managed and maintained by Iranian personnel. Oil refineries are located in many Iranian cities, and petrochemical complexes are concentrated in Shiraz, Bandar-e Imam Khomeini and Kharq Island. (Iran has 10% of the world's proven oil reserves and ranks second in the world in natural gas reserves (15%). Most of the oil and gas provinces are located in the provinces of Khuzestan and Bushehr, as well as on the shelves of the Persian Gulf and in Khorasan. Despite it is Iran that imports petroleum products due to the lack of oil refining capacity in the country.

Iran has some of the largest gas reserves in the world With oil reserves gradually depleting, Iran may rely on its gas reserves in the future.

Iran's total electricity production in 1990. 54,896 million kW, including 6,083 million kW at hydroelectric power stations, 38,836 at thermal power plants, 8,723 at gas stations and 1,254 million kW at diesel stations. (Iran's energy sector allows the annual production of 33,000 megawatts of electricity (2004). 75% of this amount comes from natural gas, 18% from oil, 7% from hydroelectric power plants. Wind, geothermal and solar power plants began operating in the country. At the same time, Iran is experiencing a shortage of electricity. Electricity imports exceed exports by 500 million kilowatt hours.

In 1990, there were 967 active mines in Iran. The main minerals mined in Iran include coal, copper, iron, tin, zinc, chromite, salt, manganese, building materials, decorative stones, dolomite, gypsum, talc, sulfates, etc.

The main processing industry operating on local minerals is metallurgy, developed mainly in the province of Isfahan. This industry is still at the development stage; after all work is completed, Iran will become one of the most important industrial countries in the world. Other industrial facilities include automobile factories, pipe factories... in addition, throughout the country there are numerous textile, tobacco, clothing, canning, sugar, glass, paper, wood processing, cement factories and factories, as well as factories for the production of building materials , mosaics, matches.

Among the main Iranian folk crafts one can highlight carpet weaving and the production of rugs, enamels, metal work, wood work, ceramics, etc.

(As of 2011, about 45% of Iran's budget revenues come from oil and gas exports. Iran's main exports in the 2000s: crude oil and petroleum products, metal ores, fruits and nuts, carpets. Iran's main imports : heavy engineering and chemical industry products, cars, iron, steel, minerals, food, consumer goods, textiles, paper.

With the exception of the southern part of the Karun River and Lake Orumiye, there are no navigable rivers or lakes in Iran. Therefore, the main part of transportation is carried out through various types of land transport, incl. expressways.

In 1939, the Trans-Iranian Railway, 1,392 km long, was built exclusively with local capital.

It connected the port of Bandar-e Torkaman, located on the Caspian Sea, and Bandar-e Imam Khomeini on the coast of the Persian Gulf. This important highway runs from the south to the north of the country, passing through cities such as Ahvaz, Dezful, Arak, Qom, Tehran, Garmsar, Firuzkuh, Gayem Shahr and Behshahr... (A number of other lines have now been built).

Air transport began in Iran in 1926...

Maritime transport in Iran is carried out through the Persian Gulf and the Sea of ​​Oman in the south and the Caspian Sea in the north.

The Iranian ports of Bandar-e Imam Khomeini, Khorramshahr, Abadan, Mahrshahr, Kharq, Bushehr, Bandar Abbas (Shahid Bohonar-Rajaei) and Chabahar (Shahid Beshekhti) contribute to the establishment of the country's maritime connections...

In the Caspian Sea, this role is assigned to the ports of Anzali and Nowshahr. (Section on the geography of Iran from a book published by the Press Service of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Moscow in 1994..

On the territory of Iran, which is sometimes also called Persia, one of the most ancient civilizations in the world once 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 South-West Asia. Iran borders Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Armenia in the north and northeast, Iraq in the west, Turkey in the northwest, and Pakistan and Afghanistan in the east. 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 square meters. km, including the islands, and the total length of the state border is 5,619 km.

In the west of Iran there is the Elborz mountain system, as well as the Caucasus Mountains. In general, most of Iran's territory is occupied by mountains. The highest peak in the country is Damavand Peak, whose height reaches 5,604 meters. However, in the east of Iran there are deserts (for example, Dasht-e Kavir), 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 claim that human settlement on the site of modern Tehran existed already 7 thousand years ago.

Official language

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

Religion

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

Government of Iran

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

However, in Iran, real power lies not with the President, but with the “Supreme Leader”, who is elected by an 86-member Council of Experts (elected by the people).

A special role in Iran belongs to the Council of Guardians of the Constitution (12 people). Members of this Council must 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, winters there are warm and summers are hot. In July in the south of Iran the average air temperature is +38C. In general, the average annual air temperature in Iran is +16.7C. The average annual precipitation is 213 mm.

Average air temperature in Iran:

January - +3.5C
- February - +6C
- March - +11C
- April - +16C
- May - +28C
- June - +27C
- July - +30C
- August - +28.5C
- September - +25C
- October - +18C
- 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 there is the Arabian Sea (Persian and Oman Gulfs), which is part of the Indian Ocean. The length of the Caspian Sea coast in Iran is 740 kilometers, and the coastline along the Persian and Oman Gulfs stretches for 2,440 kilometers.

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

Rivers and lakes

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

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

History of Iran

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

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

The first mention of Iranians dates back 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 subsequent 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 have become Shahs of Iran. During this era, Shah Ismail I of Iran made the Shia branch of Islam the state religion.

In the 18th-19th centuries, Iran fell into the sphere of interests of Great Britain and Russia. In the early 1900s, rivalry over oil intensified between Britain and Russia, both of which were vying for influence in Iran.

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

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 this is why Iranians have preserved many of their customs and traditions. Most Iranian customs and holidays are religious in nature.

In March, Iranians celebrate Nowruz, which is dedicated to the beginning of the New Year (Iranians have their own calendar). Before the New Year, Iranians always do a thorough cleaning of 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 very tasty dishes. The main food products are rice, meat (including chicken), fish, vegetables, nuts, and spices. However, Iranian cuisine has been significantly influenced by Greek, Arab, Turkish, and even Russian culinary traditions.

Ash-e Jow – 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 – stewed lamb with prunes;
- Kookoo – spiced omelette;
- Kufteh – spicy cutlets;
- Reshteh Polo – “green” pilaf (it is green because of the herbs added to it).

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

Sights of Iran

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

1. Tomb of the Persian king Cyrus II in Pasargadae
2. Abad Garden Museum in Tehran
3. Golestan Palace in Tehran
4. Friday Mosque in Isfakan
5. Meybod Fortress
6. Imam Mosque in Isfakan
7. Tomb of the poet Hafez in Shiraz
8. Ancient Ziggurat Choga Zembil
9. Zoroastrian sanctuary in Yazd
10. Ruins of the Assassin fortress Alamut

Cities and resorts

The largest Iranian cities are Keredj, 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. Thus, 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, as well as excellent conditions for diving. You can swim and sunbathe on Kish Island in winter. By the way, on Kish Island men are prohibited from wearing 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 Iranian balneological resort is Temriz. In the vicinity of Termiz there is Lake Urmia, the water of which is similar 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. 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, a variety of sweets, and hookahs as souvenirs.

Office hours

- a state in southwest Asia. It borders with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan in the north, 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 Aryan 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 ostans (provinces).

Form of government: Theocratic parliamentary republic.

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

Population composition: 51% are Persians, 24% are Azerbaijanis, 8% are Gilaks and Mazandarans, 7% are Kurds, 3% are Arabs, 2% are Lurs, 2% are Balokhi, 2% are 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% are Sunni Muslims, and the remaining 2% are Zoroastrians, Christians, Jews and Baha'is.

Internet domain: .ir

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Country dialing code: +98

Country barcode: 626

Climate

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

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

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

In the northern (Elborz) 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 Celsius. 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 Mountains in Tehran in winter, during the daytime the temperature is 7..9 degrees, at night 0..-2 degrees, 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 the summer, daytime air temperatures reach +36. .+38 degrees, at night - 20..22 degrees Celsius.

In the central regions of Iran on the desert Iranian plateau in winter, during the daytime the air temperature reaches +14..+16 degrees, and at night - 2..4 degrees Celsius. In the 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 night temperatures - 10..12 degrees Celsius. In the 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 from November to April, and the monthly precipitation rate 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 1,700 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 the east of the country, annual precipitation ranges from 100 to 300 mm. On the coasts of the Persian and Oman Gulfs, about 600 mm of precipitation falls per year.

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, and in the northeast with Turkmenistan.

Iran is washed from the north 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, whose maximum elevations reach 4000 m. The coast of the Caspian Sea in the north of the country is bordered by the Elborz Mountains. The highest point in Iran is located here - the extinct Damavand volcano (5610 m). Between the Zagros and Alborz mountains lies the vast Iranian plateau with average altitudes of about 1200 m.

In the eastern part of the plateau are the deserts of Dashte-Kevir and Dashte-Lut. From the northeast, the Iranian plateau is limited 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 large rivers such as Karhe, Dez and Zayande originate. In the north of the country there are small rapids rivers that originate in Elburz and flow into the Caspian Sea. In the central part of Iran, rivers appear only when the snow melts in the mountains, and during the rest of the year their beds dry up. In the northwestern part of Iran there is the country's largest lake - the Urmia salt lake 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 farming and grazing. The northern most humid slopes of Elborz up to an altitude 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, impenetrable subtropical forests intertwined with vines are found in places.

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

In other mountainous regions, woody vegetation occurs locally in the most humid places along rivers and in intermountain valleys. Tugai and swamp vegetation is widespread along the river valleys in the southwest of the country. 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. Steppes are often interspersed with areas of bushland. The deserts are dominated by saxaul, camel thorn, comb grass, saltwort, and aristida.

Vast areas of the interior plateaus of Iran are practically devoid of vegetation cover due to lack of moisture and soil salinity. Areas of quicksand are also barren.

Animal world

Iran's fauna is rich. In order to preserve its species diversity, about 30 reserves have been created. Ungulates are widespread. Among them, the most notable are the gazelle, ibex, Iranian fallow deer, urial mountain sheep, bearded goat, mouflon, kulan, common gazelle, and wild boar. Brown and white-breasted bears are found in the mountains.

Typical predators are leopard, jungle cat, manul, jackal, wolf, striped hyena, caracal, cheetah and common mongoose.

There are numerous rodents and birds (grouse, partridge, houbara bustard, Caspian snowcock, tupach, gray francolin, chukar, 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, waders, geese, ducks, marbled teal, etc.).

The fauna of reptiles is rich. In the floodplain of the river Serbaz in Balochistan is home to the 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.

Attractions

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 original countries in Asia. A vast country stretching from the warm sea to the snowy mountain peaks, Iran has a unique set of truly interesting monuments that can be considered the heritage of the entire 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 turn.

Travelers will find here ancient cities, many of which 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 go back about 5 thousand years, and original peoples with their unique culture.

Examples of thousands of years of coexistence of the most diverse religious communities and one of the most closed societies on earth, a colossal cultural heritage, carefully preserved, despite any vicissitudes of history, and centuries-old traditions of decorative and applied arts. 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 banknotes in denominations of 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500, 200 and 100 rials, as well as coins of 500, 250, 100 and 50 rials.

In the country, prices are very often indicated in another unit - toman. 1 toman is equal to 10 rials. This is done in order not to waste time counting large sums, because 1 US dollar is approximately equal to 10,000 Iranian rials. In this regard, it is always worth checking in what 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, you should ask sellers to give 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. Closed days are 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 use is technically illegal, although this rule is widely ignored.

Currency can be changed at Tehran airport, in some hotels or banks, in exchange offices (very few) on the streets and markets, and only at the official rate. You can also make an exchange with numerous private money changers on the market, who 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 contact private money changers.

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

Due to the trade boycott of Iran and the difficulties with using plastic cards from the world's leading systems, you can use a special “tourist card” from Parsian Bank, which can be used to pay in several tens of thousands of shops, shopping and tourist centers, and when leaving the country, convert the balance into any currency . However, it is unlikely that a tourist will have time to process such a card.

Useful information for tourists

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

Useful information for tourists about Iran, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of Iran, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions of Iran.

Geography of Iran

The Islamic Republic of Iran is a state in southwest Asia. In the north-west it borders with Azerbaijan, Armenia and Turkey, in the west - with Iraq, in the north - with Turkmenistan, in the east - with Afghanistan and Pakistan. Iran is washed from the north by the Caspian Sea, from the south by the Persian Gulf.

Most of the country's territory is occupied by the vast internal Iranian Plateau with an average height of 1200 m. It is formed by large plateaus, mountain ranges and intermountain basins. In the west rise the Zagros Mountains, in the east - the strongly dissected East Iranian Mountains, in the north - the powerful arcs of Elborz, in the south - Makran. Narrow strips of coastal lowlands stretch along the coasts of the Caspian Sea, the Persian and Oman Gulfs.

State

State structure

Iran is an Islamic republic. The head of state is the Supreme Leader. He determines the general policy of the country and is the supreme commander of Iran's armed forces. The second most important official in Iran is the president. The President is the guarantor of the constitution and the head of the executive branch. The legislative power is represented by a unicameral parliament - the Mejlis.

Language

Official language: Farsi (Persian)

In addition to Farsi, Turkic dialects, Kurdish, Turkish, Arabic, etc. are also used. English and French are used in business circles.

Religion

Shia Islam is professed by 89% of the population (Shiism is the state religion of the country), Sunni Muslims make up 10% of the total number of believers (there are also adherents of other Islamic sects), some of the population professes Zoroastrianism (0.1%), Judaism (0.3 %) and Christianity (0.7%).

Currency

International name: IRR

10 rials corresponds to one toman. There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 10 thousand, 5 thousand, 2 thousand, thousand, 500, 200 and 100 rials, as well as coins in 250, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 rials. The presence of fogs greatly confuses tourists, so it makes sense to immediately clarify whether we are talking about rials or fogs.

In tourist areas, US dollars, pounds sterling and euros are accepted for payment; in other parts of the country, their use is technically illegal.

Currency can be changed at Tehran airport, in some hotels or banks, at exchange offices on the streets and markets, and only at the official rate. You can also exchange with numerous private money changers on the market, who usually offer a better rate, but this is officially considered illegal.

Credit cards and traveler's checks are accepted for payment only in large banks and hotels in the capital.

Popular attractions

Tourism in Iran

Popular hotels

Iranian cuisine

The main ingredients of Iranian cuisine are fresh vegetables, rice, fruits and herbs. The most commonly used meats are lamb and beef. Most often, the meat is ground or finely chopped. Sometimes meat is used only to add flavor to the dish. The most popular drink is tea. Fruit juices, kefir and milkshakes are also often used. Kefir is also used as a base for some national dishes.

Tips

Tipping is not required, but in case of good service, you can leave up to 5% to the staff as gratitude (salaries in the country are extremely low, so even small tips will be greeted with gratitude).

Visa

Office hours

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. Closed days are Thursday and Friday, although large banks are open on Thursday from 8.00 to 13.00.