Iran at a glance ...

Iran at a glance

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The 34th National and the 2nd International Geosciences Congress,Tehran, Iran 22-24 February 2016:

Overview

Iran is one of the most ancient countries in the world. During centuries, Iran was expanded borders of Indus to NileRiver and china to the Europe, has been culturally influenced many parts of the world and has bonded ancient Asian, European and African civilizations together.

Distinctive geographical location and large, significant and lasting civilization of Iran during centuries have been a benefit for civilized world to achieve a cultural sympathy within itself. That’s why, Iran is considered to be among the 10 key tourism destinations of the world for its magnificence of Islamic and national heritages and thousands of natural attractions and sights. Architecture of the country is significantly diversified. Persepolis, the ceremonial capital of Persian Empire, historical structures of Isfahan, Tchogha Zanbil in Khuzestan, reservoirs and wind towers inside vast desert section of the country and Caravanserais of Silk road are among the preeminent genuine architecture of Iran.

This country is the home of many religions in the world and has variety of religious attractions. For tourists visiting the country, traditions and manners of Iranians and diversity in climates have brought spectacular and attractive sights.

Persepolis the ceremonial capital of Persian Empire

Geography

Iran is the eighteenth largest country in the world after Libya and before Mongolia; its area roughly equals the size of the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Germany combined, about one-sixth the size of the United States or slightly larger, in land mass, than the state of Alaska. Its borders are with Azerbaijan (432 km/268 mi) and Armenia (35 km/22 mi) to the northwest; the Caspian Sea to the north; Turkmenistan (992 km/616 mi) to the northeast; Pakistan (909 km/565 mi) and Afghanistan (936 km/582 mi) to the east; Turkey (499 km/310 mi) and Iraq (1,458 km/906 mi) to the west; and finally the waters of the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman to the south. Iran\'s area is 1,648,000 km² (approximately 636,300 mi²).

Most of Iran is situated on the Iranian Plateau with the exception of the coast of the Caspian Sea and Khuzestan. Iran is one of the world\'s most mountainous countries; its landscape is dominated by rugged mountain ranges that separate various basins or plateaus one another. The populous western part is the most mountainous, with ranges such as the Caucasus, Zagros and Alborz Mountains; the latter contains Iran\'s highest point, Mount Damavand at 5,604 m (18,386 ft), which is not only the country\'s highest peak but also the highest mountain on the Eurasian landmass west of the Hindu Kush. The eastern part consists mostly of desert basins like the saline Dasht-e-Kavir, Iran\'s largest desert, located in the north-central portion of the country, and the Dasht-e-Lut, in the east, as well as some salt lakes. This is because the mountain ranges are too high for rain clouds to reach these regions. Except for some scattered oases, such as Tabas, these deserts are uninhabited.

The only large plains are found along the coast of the Caspian Sea and at the northern end of the Persian Gulf, Iran borders the mouth of the Arvand Rud (or the Shatt-al-Arab) river. Smaller, discontinuous plains are found along the remaining coast of the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Sea of Oman.

 

 

Iran\'s neighboring countries

Road map of Iran

Silk Road

As its name clearly suggests, the main role of the Silk Road was expediting the safe and easy transport of many important goods China to Venice among which silk was the incomparable merchandise of that time. For eighteen centuries (BC 200-AD 1600) the ancient world\'s most principal commercial highway, the "Silk Road" 8000 km in length, enormously contributed to meaningful intercontinental, traditional, and cultural exchanges which also give a fresh impetus to commercial development in the region.

According to Christiansen: "because the ancient Persians exclusively imported huge quantities of silk China they were thus able to sell their silk-orientated products in various European markets, at their own desired prices. The Turks\' efforts to gain permission for the passage of silk across the Iranian territory were all to no avail and a long and persistent conflict between the Byzantine Empire (395-1453 AD) and the Persians, over the transit of Chinese silk, continued throughout the early centuries of the middle ages." Later the Roman and the Chinese attempts at establishing a new silk transit route, without involvement of the Persians, also proved fruitless and even enabled the Persian merchants to control the silk trade particularly throughout Indo-China.

Once the Europeans gained complete dominance over East India and the Mediterranean Sea routes, at the turn of the 15th Century, their respective companies in the orient also turned their immediate attention to these new routes. In addition, a number of crucial events such as rapid decline in silk production within Persian territories, the oscillation of diplomatic ties between the Ottoman Empire (C1300-1918) and the Persians, and the emergence of new rival silk exporters eventually paved the way for the ironic demise of the ancient "Silk Road."

There are plenty of sources, memorials and monuments remaining those days such as reservoirs, subterranean canals, Caravanserais, bridges, mosques, baths, Bazaars, etc. Silk Road has had two important main routes which were crossing inside the country and has had an important role in trades of eastern lands with European nations. One of them had been connecting India to Europe through central and southern cities and ports of Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf and was being used for trades of condiments and spices.

The second route was the main road of Silk Road which had been connecting the cities in northern parts of Iran including Rey and Neyshabur to Central Asian cities like Mary, Samarqand, Bukhoroand China.

Human Geography

Population

Population of Iran is estimated to be 68,688,433 (July 2006 est.) people. This population is consisted of mostly youngsters, while almost half of them have less than 20 years old. Over 60 percent of the population lives in urban areas and the remaining are villagers. Age structure of the country is as follows:

0-14 years: 26.1% (male 9,204,785/female 8,731,429), 15-64 years: 69% (male 24,133,919/female 23,245,255), 65 years and over: 4.9% (male 1,653,827/female 1,719,218) (2006 EST.).

Population growth rate: 1.1% (2006 est.), Birth rate: 17 births/1,000 population (2006 est.), Death rate: 5.55 deaths/1,000 population (2006 EST.).

For more than 3500 years, different Aryans tribes, especially Persians, have lived peacefully together under the single name of Iran, something which is seldom in other parts of the world. Persians (51%), Azeri (24%), Gilaki and Mazandarani (8%), Kurd (7%), Arab (3%), Lur (2%), Baloch (2%), Turkmen (2%), other (1%). are Iranian tribes, today living across the country and mostly speak their own languages.

Islamic Republic of Iran’s constitutions have determined Farsi as the official language and hand writing of Iran. Persian and Persian dialects are as follows:

Persian 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%. More than half of Iranian population is speaking Persian (Farsi) language. Currency of Iran is Rial.

Education

There are countless state schools in Iran run by the local education authorities, but in recent years a large number of private free-paying schools have opened. Iran\'s national curriculum includes academic subjects such as mathematics, science and Persian as well as physical education. You have a choice of normal or vocational training. Before entering college and after completion of the high school education there is the pre-college (Pish-daneshgahi) grade. The main event in the lives of higher education applicants is what is called "The Concourse". The enormous number of applicants has always outrun the available number of seats in colleges and universities. The technical colleges in Iran teach the national curriculum, but with a special emphasis on science and mathematics. All the computer science students have always access to computers in the classroom. There are two major types of higher education:

1- Sarassari Universities funded directly by the Ministry of Higher Education (free of charge, subsidized in the state-run universities).

2- AzadUniversity funded directly by the students (with exorbitant tuition fees). Azad Universityhas tried to found a college in deprived and most remote parts of the country.

Anybody above the age of 6 who can read and write a simple text in Persian or any other tongue is considered "literate". In 1996 this number was reported to be about 41.6 million. In other word 79.5% were literate. The total number of students in ordinary schools in that year was 18.5 million. The number of college students was about 1,200,000.

 
Political and official divisions

Iran has 30 provinces, 252 counties, and 680 districts. Provinces, counties and districts are respectively governed by governor generals, governors and governor of districts.

Capital

The capital of Iran has changed many times in the history. Shiraz, Hamadan, Qazvin, Isfahan, etc. have all been capitals. Qajar dynasty chose Tehran as the capital about 300 years ago.

Tehran area is 1500 km². Tehran is situated in the north-central part of Iran, on the slope of theAlborz Mountain. As the national capital it is the most populated city in Iran and the center of cultural, economical, political and social activities. It is about 1200 meters above sea level and enjoys a mild climate. Although the word Tehran can be found even in some books dating back to the 10th century, it was but a village containing numerous gardens in the distant past. Its importance began to increase in the Safavid period (1501-1736). Shah Tehmasp, the king of Iran 1524 to 1576, was fascinated by the climate of Tehran, as a result of which many buildings including caravansaries were founded. He also built many towers around the city. In the reign of Agha Mohammad Khan, the founder of the Qajar dynasty (1776-1925), when Tehran was chosen as the capital of Iran, it enjoyed a boom. The building founded by Naser od-Din, shah of Iran (1848-1896) gave it a high position among the other cities. A ditch was dug around the city to repel attacks on it, twelve gates were built as the approaches to the city, and a large square, now called Toopkhaneh and the buildings around were founded. After the Qajar period, two architectural trends developed: an imitation of Western styles that had little relevance to Tehran\'s climate and an attempt to revive indigenous designs. The latter trend has been reinforced after the Islamic Revolution. The population of Tehran has had a boom in the last decades, as a result of which urban development has not been smooth. In the recent years the municipality of Tehran has taken great measures to increase the number of recreational facilities, including park, stadiums, theaters, etc.

 

Azadi Square in Tehran, capital of Islamic Republic of Iran

Religion, Language, Writing, Currency

 Iran’s official religion is Islam and 98 percent of Iranians are Muslims. Zoroastrian, Jewish and Christian have also been formally accepted in Iranian constitution and their followers have equal rights with Moslems. Each of these religions has an independent member in Iranian parliament.

Government

Iran is a theocratic Islamic republic governed under the constitution of 1979, as revised in 1989, when presidential powers were expanded and the post of prime minister eliminated. Appointed, rather than elected, offices and bodies hold the real power in the government. The supreme leader, who effectively serves as the chief of state, is appointed for life by an Islamic religious advisory board (the Assembly of Experts). The supreme leader oversees the military and judiciary and appoints members of the Guardian Council and the Expediency Discernment Council. The former, some of whose members are appointed by the judiciary and approved by parliament, works in close conjunction with the government and must approve both candidates for political office and legislation passed by parliament. The latter is a body responsible for resolving disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council over legislation. The president, who is popularly elected for a four-year term, serves as the head of government. The legislative branch consists of the 290-seat Islamic consultative assembly, or parliament, whose members are elected by popular vote for four-year terms.

Transportation

The Iran is particularly expected to play a crucial role in Railways earnings as it links Central Asian States to the Persian Gulf and consequently to Europe. Thus the European nations can now transit their goods in less than 10 days to the Central Asian nations through this reliable and economical railway system, while being able to know of their abouts at any given time via advanced telecommunication facilities. During the recent years, the convenience, comfort, punctuality and dependability of the three railway companies have increasingly been urging passengers to prefer railway to road travel. The railway is also linking Tabriz to Istanbul in Turkey through Sharafkhaneh, making land traveling convenient Europe to Pakistan. Total length of the Iranian railway network is 9,800 km, 5,800 km of which comprise the main route, over 2,000 km industrial, business and subsidiary, 146 km (Tabriz-Julfa) is electricity powered and the remainder are maneuvering lines. In 1375 approximately 9 million passengers and 23 million tons of cargo were transported by railway (against the 9,306,000 passengers flown by air).

Waterways: Iranian waters are patrolled by The Iranian Navy. IRISL is the national Iranian shipping line. the Sea of Oman and the Persian Gulf Iran is linked to international waters through the Strait ofHurmuz. Total length of the Iranian waterways is 850 km (on KarunRiver; additional service onLake Urmia) (2006).

1- The southern Iranian ports include Bandar Abbas, Bandar Imam, Khark, Khoramshar, Abadan, Bandar Bushehr, Mahshahr, Chahbahar, and KishIsland.

2- The northern ports off the Caspian Sea linking Iran to the Republic of Azerbaijan and Central Asia include Bandar Anzali and Noshar.

Airways: Iran has 331 airports: 129 airports with paved runways and 202 airports with unpaved runways. 

Total length of the Iranian roadway is 179,388 km. 120,782 km and 58,606 km (2003) of which comprise the paved and unpaved roads respectively.

  Telecommunication

Iran enjoys advanced telecommunication technology. Total installed phone lines in 2006 were21.981 million. Nowadays, there is a great demand for state-of-the-art technology in this respect inIran.

Telephone system currently is modernized and expanded with the goal of improving the efficiency and increasing the volume of the urban service and bringing telephone service to several thousand villages that are not presently connected.

The addition of new fiber cables and modern switching and exchange systems installed by Iran\'s state-owned telecom company have improved and expanded the main line network greatly; main line availability has more than doubled to 19 million lines since 1995; additionally, mobile service has increased dramatically serving some 8.5 million subscribers in 2005.

Country code is 98; submarine fiber-optic cable to UAE with access to Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG); Trans-Asia-Europe (TAE) fiber-optic line runs Azerbaijan through the northern portion of Iran to Turkmenistan with expansion to Georgia and Azerbaijan; HF radio and microwave radio relay to Turkey, Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Syria, Kuwait, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; satellite earth stations - 9 Intelsat and 4 Inmarsat (2006).

Internet country code is ir. Internet hosts and internet users are 6,111 (2007) and 18 million (2006) respectively.

 Iran\'s Free Zones

The philosophy of establishment of Iran\'s free trade zones, empirical view point, derived the following main objectives:

1.       Acceptance of the export development-strategy instead of import substitution-policy.

2.       The strategy of application of foreign trade and business as a driving force, causing further economic development.

Chah-Bahar Free Trade Zone

"Ideal natural and geographical features and appropriate industrial capacities maximize the prospects of Chah Bahar for becoming one of the world\'s significant free industrial zones."

Located in the vicinity of the city of Chah Bahar and encompassing a 14,000 hectare area, Chah Bahar free trade and industrial zone is both situated in the most south-eastern point of Iran\'s main land and on the coast of Chah Bahar Gulf. Distance wise, this region also constitutes the nearest port along the international water towards the middle - Asian countries. Climatologically, Chah Bahar enjoys the coolest climate and also contains the most scenic coasts along the sea of Oman.
Due to its unique strategic position and potential capacities suitable for transforming into one of the world\'s significant free industrial zones, quite appropriately 10,000 hectares out of Chah Bahar\'s total area is already allocated to industrial sector. More over, as the most secure region along, the coasts of sea of Oman and the Persian Gulf, this strategic zone is also situated in the direction of major shipping lanes and the favorable depth of Oman\'s water within the coasts of Chah Bahar also provides this region with a superior natural feature. For instance, the depth of Oman\'s water in the surrounding areas of Chah Bahar reaches 3398m as the depth along the straits of Hormoz is gradually reduced to 73m.

Existence of necessary infrastructure such as suitable roads for the rapid transit of cargos Chah Bahar to middle-Asia, appropriate port facilities capable of annually loading and unloading over 6.5 million tons of cargos, cheaper labor force or man power, accessible and reasonably - priced electric power (electricity) and other fossil fuels together distinguish Chah Bahar vis-a-vis other neighboring areas as an outstanding and important trade and industrial zone. Consequently, construction of massive road transportation system, connection of Chah Bahar with Iran\'s national rail ways and thus with that of middle-Asia, construction of international airport in the available possibilities, establishment of further port facilities, rapid establishment of domestic and foreign banking systems as well as local and international insurance agencies in this free industrial zone not only mark a great significance for the Chah Bahar free trade and industrial zone organization, but also constitute a top priority for the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Qeshm Free Area (QFA)

Qeshm island, lying the length of the strait of Hormoz, enjoys an exceptional location between the Persian Gulf and the Indian Ocean such that vessels bound for all states which rivers pass through them (Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates and Oman) are obliged to pass within proximity of its southern shores and all east and west bound air-traffic to pass through its air space. The island, by all definitions, is the gateway to the Persian Gulf. Qeshm thus stands watch over the channel through which the bulk of the world\'s oil and gas has always and shall, for the next 100 years, be transported.

QFA offers the security and the environment generally sought by the international business community. Such environment takes the form of incentives consisting of availability of natural gas at very competitive prices, a wide range of tax concessions and beneficial financial and currency arrangement. The Free Area\'s laws formally contemplate provision of a tax holiday by the authority and unrestricted circulation and convertibility of any amount of foreign currency and capital. The regulations also formally prohibit all forms of confiscation and expropriation of property rights and provide for the establishment of a mutually agreed court or an independent forum possessing the characteristics expected of an international arbitration tribunal to consider financial and trade disputes arising between the FREE AREA\'S licensees.

Largely neglected to date, QeshmIsland remains in a state of chronic under development. However, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has decided to optimize the important inherent comparative advantages of the island in order to allow it to contribute towards the economic reconstruction of the country which is the government\'s main objective for the 1990s.

The authority\'s economic, financial and infrastructural plans will be implemented with a view to bringing about the orderly overall development of the FREE AREA and the realization of its comparative advantages (strategic geographic location as a major center for industrial, financial and commercial activities, serving the Persian Gulf and eastern hemisphere markets, abundant energy resources, access to a large labor pool, advantageous fiscal and economic environment, etc.). At the same time, banking and insurance are to be developed to provide the necessary financial services to businesses established in the free area.

 Sirjan Special Trade Zone

Sirjan is situated in a region, which is considered as a passage-way for transferring imported commercial goods the south (through the Persian Gulf). In the southern region Shahid (martyr) Rajaie port, the greatest commercial port of the Persian Gulf with over 30m tons capacity, provides various services to Sirjan. Sirjan all kinds of products can easily be transported to different parts of the country.
Sirjan is also situated in a direction both imports and exports to and the central Asian countries, Caucasia and Russia take place through martyr Rajaie port. Products are transported and to the eastern part of Iran, Europe and the Persian Gulf through this zone.

Because of Sirjan\'s geographical and climatological situation and its proximity to main production centers of agricultural patch products, such as over 100,000 tons of pistachios in Rafasanjan, 100,000 tons of dates in Bam and over 300,000 hectares of citrus gardens such as orange, grape fruit, growth of over 500,000 tons of products and variety of harvest of patch products such as tomatoes, various kinds of vegetables, cucumbers, water melons, etc. It is also enroute to transit products the Fars province situated in a 300 km area, provides the means for securing a great number of agricultural products as raw materials in different seasons. The industrial raw materials are also mostly secured great mines including: Sarcheshmeh copper mine of Rafasanjan, Gol-e-Gohar Iron ore mine of Sirjan, chromite of Esfandaqeh, Zarand coal mine, Sirjan Dolomite, Shahr-e-Babak Silica, and Sirjan marble mine.
The existence of great industries namely martyr Bahonar lateral copper industries, Kerman Rubber, Rafasanjan cable, etc. have provided suitable means for development of lateral industries which have mostly export aspects and consequently reinforce the export-oriented significance of the QFA.


Kish Free Zone

  

Climate

Iran\'s climate is mostly arid or semiarid, to subtropical along the Caspian coast. On the northern edge of the country (the Caspian coastal plain) temperatures nearly fall below freezing and remain humid for the rest of the year. Summer temperatures rarely exceed 29 °C (84 °F). Annual precipitation is 680 mm (27 in) in the eastern part of the plain and more than 1,700 mm (67 in) in the western part. To the west, settlements in the Zagros Mountains basin experience lower temperatures, severe winters, sub-freezing average daily temperatures and heavy snowfall. The eastern and central basins are arid, with less than 200 mm (eight in) of rain and have occasional desert. Average summer temperatures exceed 38 °C (100 °F). The coastal plains of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman in southern Iran have mild winters, and very humid and hot summers. The annual precipitation ranges 135 to 355 mm (five to fourteen inches).

 

Climate map of Iran

Rainfall rate map of Iran

 

 

Topography of Iran

Iran is a mountainous country. Over one half of its area is made up of mountains and heights; some one-fourth of its territories are desert regions and the remaining one fourth is comprised of farmlands.

Iran consists of rugged, mountainous rims surrounding high interior basins. The main mountain chain is the Zagros Mountains, a series of parallel ridges interspersed with plains that bisect the country northwest to southeast. Many peaks in the Zagros exceed 3,000 meters above sea level, and in the south-central region of the country there are at least five peaks that are over 4,000 meters. The Zagros continues into southeastern Iran and the average elevation of the peaks declines to under 1,500 meters. Rimming the Caspian Sea littoral is another chain of mountains, the narrow but highAlborz Mountains. Volcanic Mount Damavand (5671 m), located in the center of the Alborz, is not only the country\'s highest peak but also the highest mountain on the Eurasian landmass west of the Hindu Kush.

 

Alborz Mountain

The center of Iran consists of several closed basins that collectively are referred to as the Central Plateau. The average elevation of this plateau is about 900 meters, but several of the mountains that tower over the plateau exceed 3,000 meters. The eastern part of the plateau is covered by two salt deserts, the Dasht-e-Kavir (GreatSaltDesert) and the Dasht-e-Lut. Except for some scattered oases, these deserts are uninhabited.

 

 

 Dasht-e-Lut

 

  Iran has only two expanses of lowlands: the Khuzestan Plain in the southwest and the Caspian Seacoastal plain in the north. The former is a roughly triangular-shaped extension of the Mesopotamiaplain and averages about 160 kilometers in width. It extends for about 120 kilometers inland, barely rising a few meters above sea level, and then meets abruptly with the first foothills of the Zagros. Much of the Khuzestan plain is covered with marshes. The Caspian plain is both longer and narrower. It extends for some 640 kilometers along the Caspian shore, but its widest point is less than 50 kilometers, while at some places less than 2 kilometers separate the shore the Alborz foothills. The Persian Gulf coast south of Khuzestan and the Gulf of Oman coast have no real plains because the Zagros in these areas come right down to the shore.

There are no major rivers in the country. Of the small rivers and streams, the only one that is navigable is the Karun (830 Kilometers long), which shallow-draft boats can negotiateKhorramshahr to Ahvaz, a distance of about 180 kilometers. Other major rivers include the Kharkeh, which is 700 kilometers long; and the Zayandeh Rud, which is 400 kilometers long. Several other permanent rivers and streams also drain into the Persian Gulf, while a number of small rivers that originate in the northwestern Zagros or Alborz drain into the Caspian Sea. On the Central Plateau, numerous rivers, most of which have dry beds for the greater part of the year, form snow melting in the mountains during the spring and flow through permanent channels, draining eventually into salt lakes that also tend to dry up during the summer months. There is a permanent salt lake, Lake Urmia in the northwest, whose brine content is too high to support fish or most other forms of aquatic life. There are also several connected salt lakes along the Iran-Afghanistan border in the province of Sistan & Baluchestan.

 

Topographic map of Iran

 

 

 Water resources

1- Caspian Sea watershed 

The major rivers running into the Caspian Sea in Iranian shorelines flow the northern Alborz attitudes like: Aras, Sefid Rud, Chalus, Haraz, Sehezar, Babol, Talar, Tajan, Gorgan, Atrak, Qarasu and Neka.

Aras runs as long as 950km inside Iran before getting to the

 

 

Caspian Sea

 

 

. It also irrigates many areas like Moghan Plain at the NW of Iran.

 

Sefid Rud is said to be 600-780km long it originates, KurdistanMountains. Gilan plain is a fertile area thanks to Sefid Rud. Fish is farmed in this river.

 

 

  

Chalus River is another important river at the north of Iran for fish farming.

 

   

Haraz is a 150km long river irrigating a large plain in Mazandaran province before getting to theCaspian Sea. Trout is the major fish there.

 

 

  

Sehezar irrigates Tonekabon plain.

  

 

 

Babol is a very suitable river for fish to spawn and breed.

 

 

   

Talar is 150km long and irrigates a plain called Shirgah at Mazandaran province.

Tajan is 120km long that passes by Sari, the capital of Mazandaran province, and gives life to its banks all the way down to the sea.

 

 

Gorgan is approximately 300km long irrigating Gorgan plain before getting to its watershed.

 

 

 

Atrak is 500km long and does not always reach HoseinQolyBay in Mazandaran province, because it sometimes does not get adequate water other rivers.

 

 

 

 

Qarasu is 80km long and originates the east of Gorgan.

 

 

  

 

Neka is approximately 100 km long originating Savad Kuh in Gorgan.
 

     2- Persian Gulf & OmanSea Watersheds 

The Zagros serves as the main originating headspring of the rivers running into the Persian Gulf & Oman sea watersheds. Among all these rivers, the major ones are: Arvand Rud, Gamasb, Karun, Jarahi, Zohreh, Dalaki, Mend, Shur, Minab, Mehran and Naband.

 

 

Arvand Rud is formed as a result of two rivers joining in Iraq called Euphrates and Tigris. It is 500m to 1000m wide and brings larger amount of water to the Persian Gulf than any other rivers.

Gamasb flows HamedanMountains, joins another river and is called Seymareh in Lurastan. Finally its name is changed into Karkheh in Khoozestan before emptying into the Persian Gulf.

 

   

 

Karun is 850km long and irrigates many areas in the west of Iran. It is navigable and the best time of the year for navigation in it is December to June.

 

   

 

Zayandeh Rud splits Karun and runs toward central Iran.

Dez joins Karun too.

Zal and Marun join and form Jarahi, which finally empties into Karun.

 

Zohreh flows Kohkyluyeh at the north of Khuzestan province.

 

 

Dalaki originates Arzhan plain in Fars province and runs into the Persian Gulf near Bandar-e-Abbas.

 

 

Mend flows the NW of Shiraz and runs into the Persian Gulf near Bandar-e-Abbas.

 

 

Shur empties into the Persian Gulf after running into marshy and sandy lands at the strait ofHormoz.

 

 

  

Rudan and Jaghin form a river called Minab that empties into the Persian Gulf at the north of thestrait of Hormoz.

 

   

Mehran and Naband flow LarestanMountains at the south of Fars province and empty into thePersian Gulf near Bandar-e-Khamir. 

     2- Central & Lateral Watersheds

"Urmia" is the watershed for the following rivers: Zarineh Rud (240km long), Talkheh Rud (160km long), Simineh Rud, Safi Rud and other minor rivers.

·       Masileh at the east of Qom is the watershed for the following rivers:   Jaj rud, Karaj, Shur and Masileh.  

·        Hoz-e-Soltan & Hoz-e-Mareh, at NW of Masileh, are the watersheds for the following rivers: Masileh, Shur and Hableh Rud.  

·        Gav Khoony Marshland Watershed, Gav khoony marshland, at SE of Esfehan, is a 700km long watershed filled with the water coming Zayandeh Rud.

 

   

 

 3- Central Fars watersheds

There are three watersheds in this region: 

 Neyriz (filled with the water coming Kor river), Maharlu (filled with the water coming Qarabaq river) and Parishan (filled with the water coming two springhead: Famur and Pol-e-Abgineh). 

     4- Hamun-e-Jazmurian watershed 

Halil Rud and Bampur are the two rivers emptying into this lake. The lake itself is situated at SE of Iran.  

    5- Kavir-e-Lut watershed 

This desert is a watershed within which there are some rivers emptying into it and some subsiding and disappearing into the ground. The rivers are: 

Shur (permanent river), Shur Gaz, Tah Rud, Rud posht, Nesa, Rigan, Derakhtangan (permanent river), Siraj, Andujerd, Joftan, Kahnoaj, Keshit, Pashooyeh, Nakhl Ab, Ab Khazan, and Chah Nely.

6- Dasht-e-Kavir watershed 

Most of the rivers emptying into this desert, which is also served as a watershed, are seasonal and subside into the ground before emptying into the pit. They are:  

Kalimoor (500km long), Kal Shur (250km long), Hableh Rud, Damghan and Mojin 

    7- Sistan watershed 

Only 40% of this large watershed is in Iran and the rest is in Afghanistan. It consists of several fresh water lakes that are a series of pits with no specific borders. The most well known lakes in this region are Hamun-e-Sistan, Hamun-e-Sabery and Hamun-e-poozak. When adequate rain falls, they get the main portion of water a river called Hirmand originating Afghanistan. It passes through 1200km of mountains and lower lands. Other minor rivers in the area are Farah Rud, Har Rud and Khash Afghanistan and Bandan and Shur Iran emptying into Hirmand. 

  

     8- Namakzar Watershed  

It is a pit at the north of Hamun-e-Sistan. Namakzar is a small lake getting water all the rivers running its western side.

9- Mashakal Watershed  

Situated at the north of Hamun-e-Sistan, it gets water these rivers: Mashakal, Simish and Rootak. 

    

9- Qaraqom watershed

It is situated at the NE of Iran inside Turkmenistan territory getting water the following rivers:  

Harir Rud (Coming Afghanistan, irrigating Sarakhs Oasis and running to Qaraqom sand land) and other rivers joining it (like Kashsf Rud, Jam and Bakhazar) originate Iran. 

Therefore, although plenty of the rivers were introduced here, water has always been a vital issue. Many of the rivers of Iran contain salty water. Many of them are seasonal. This makes fresh drinkable water even more valuable.

   Sea and Gulfs of Iran

 

 Persian Gulf

With an area of 232,850km, Persian Gulf is situated at the south of Iran. It is almost 900km long the Strait of Hormoz to Arvand Rud, the border river between Iran and Iraq.

The countries all around the Persian Gulf, except for Iran at its north and east, are Iraq, Kuwait,Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

The Persian Gulf is one of the warmest bodies of water in the entire Middle East. During summer, the temperature of the water in this gulf amounts to 65 c.

Storms rarely happen there. During winter, the salt rate gets to 48/1000 that is relatively high. Rocky or coral areas suitable for pearls lie at the bottom of the Persian Gulf. At the continental shelf and deep in the Persian Gulf, there have been deposited huge quantities of oil and gas.

There are several Iranian Islands in the Persian Gulf. The most famous of them all are: Hormoz, Khark, Qeshm, Kish, Tonb-e- Kuchak, Tonb-e-Bozorg and Abumusa.

 

 

 Persian Gulf

 

 Oman Sea

Oman Sea, situated at the south of Iran, connects the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean. With an approximate area of 903,000 km, the OmanSea is surrounded by Iran and Pakistan at the north, Deccan peninsula at the east and Arabia peninsula at the west. Iran has got small ports at its shorelines with the OmanSea like Chabahar, Gavater and Jask.

Since antiquity, the Strait of Hormoz and the OmanSea have always been strategic waterways. Today, tens of gigantic oil tankers carry oil everyday the countries in the region through this route to different parts of the world.

 

 Caspian Sea

With an area of approximately 371,000km, Caspian Sea in the largest body of inland water all over the world that is situated at the north of Iran.

Its neighboring countries are Iran at the South, Turkmenistan at the SE, Kazakhstan at the NE and north, Russia at the NW and Azerbaijan at the SW.

 

  

  The Iranian shorelines are approximately 992km the East to the West. The average level  of the Caspian Sea is 28m below sea level. There are geographic areas born at the Iranian shorelines because of the changes in the level of the sea, like MiankalehPeninsula,AshuradehIslandHosseinQollyBay,.GorganBay and Anzaly Bay. 

 

 

Satellite image of the Caspian Sea

 

The Lakes of Iran

There are permanent and temporary lakes in Iran depending on the amount of water in them in different seasons.

  
 Urmia Lake   Located at the NW of Iran; Urmia Lake has got an approximate area of 60,000km. There are slimy ground created at around the deltas of this permanent lake attracting many people each summer because of its ooze and related therapeutic qualities. The salt rate of this lake is very high (3/5 of the Dead Sea) and has got minerals. So, no fish or animal could live there.

   

Zaribar Lake   Located at the West of Iran; ZaribarLake is a permanent lake with various kinds of fish in it and lots of birds living around it. Water evaporation has helped the environs of the lake grow green.

  Qom Lake   Occupying an approximate area of 2,400km, QomLake is a seasonal lake located at the south of Tehran. The area and shape of the lake are varied due to the water running into it salty rivers and rainfall.

  Neyriz Lake   It is a seasonal shallow lake in Fars province located at the NW of a town called Neyriz. It is connected, at its north, to another temporary lake called TashkLake. Both of them contain very salty water.

  

Hamun Lake   when it is filled with water, HamunLake has got an area of approximately 3,200km at SE of Iran, Sistan and Baluchestan province. The only river emptying into this seasonal lake is called Hirmand.

  

Maharlu Lake   this seasonal lake is situated near Shiraz, at its SE. Salt is exploited in a factory at its shore to be used in industries, as the water is very much salty.

  

Parishan Lake This fresh water lake called Parishan is located at the SW of Shiraz in Karun Plain. Fish is farmed there as well.

  Shur Gel Lake   this temporary lake is located at the north of Arak, Markazy province. time to time, it gets dried or filled depending on the variable amount of annual rainfall.

 

 

The Major Islands

Qeshme 1,491 Sq km
Kish 89.7 Sq km
Lavan 76 Sq km
Lark 48.7 Sq km
Hurmuz 41.9 Sq km
Hengam 33.6 Sq km
Ashk 26.3 Sq km (in OroomiehLake)
Khark 20 Sq km
Sirri 17.3 Sq km Tomb-e-Bozorg
Tomb-e-Kuchik
Abu-Mussa

The Caspian Sea being the largest lake is less than 425,000 sq km (as the Persian Gulf is about 240,000 Sq km). While linking Iran to Europe through Russia it is also considered the smallest sea in the world. The Iranian salty lakes include Urmia, 4,868 sq km, Namak, Hamoon, Jazmoriyan, Bakhtegan, Tashak and Maharloo lakes. Forests, 19% of which are adjacent to the Caspian Sea, cover some 180,000 sq km of the territory. Climate: One will experience diversity of climate in Iran. In the north it is quite different that of south. The mountains old the humid Mediterranean winds back, depriving the central parts humidity. Thus the inner skirts of the mountain ranges are dry. The average temperature during the year near the Caspian is about 18 degrees Celsius. We have hot summers inside valleys in the West, as in high mountains the winter is cold. In the South it is humid and hot in the summer with max 54 degrees Celsius, but the winters are beautiful. As you travel south the weather gets warmer with very hot summers.

In the central deserts, in the East and the southeast the climate is desert climate, i.e. bitter cold winters and very hot summers; wide discrepancy of temperature between day and night.

 
Vegetation

Iran has different vegetative covers. Considering differences in climate systems and existing plants species, vegetation of Iran is categorized as follow:

 

 Terrestrial and semi-terrestrial regions

Due to low amount of rainfall and high evaporation and wind, the vegetation in these areas are poor and only plants with higher resistance to warm and dry conditions can survive.

 

Mountainous region

This region does not have full and crowded vegetation. Most of the region is covered with steppe, while small and normal size trees are visible. In vast sections of the region, in free spaces between steppes, meadows have grown.

 

Caspian region

High rate of rainfalls, mature soil and mild temperature have produced crowded, semi-crowded jungles and large and permanent meadows.

 

Economy

Iran\'s economy is a mixture of central planning, state ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service ventures. Its economic infrastructure has been improving steadily over the past two decades but continues to be affected by inflation and unemployment. In the early twenty-first century the service sector contributed the largest percentage of the GDP, followed by industry (mining and manufacturing) and agriculture. About 45 percent of the government\'s budget came oil and natural gas revenues, and 31 percent came taxes and fees. Government spending contributed to an average annual inflation rate of 14 percent in the period 2000–2004. In 2006 the GDP was estimated at $193.5 billion ($599.2 billion at PPP), or $2,440 per capita ($8,700 at PPP). Because of these figures and the country’s diversified but small industrial base, the United Nations classifies Iran\'s economy as semi-developed.

The services sector has seen the greatest long-term growth in terms of its share of GDP, but the sector remains volatile. State investment has boosted agriculture with the liberalization of production and the improvement of packaging and marketing helping to develop new export markets. Thanks to the construction of many dams throughout the country in recent years, large-scale irrigation schemes, and the wider production of export-based agricultural items like dates, flowers, and pistachios, produced the fastest economic growth of any sector in Iran over much of the 1990s. Although successive years of severe drought in 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2001 have held back output growth substantially, agriculture remains one of the largest employers, accounting for 22% of all jobs according to the 1991 census.

Iran\'s major commercial partners are China, Germany, South Korea, France, Japan, Russia andItaly. Since the late 1990s, Iran has increased its economic cooperation with other developing countries, including Syria, India, Cuba, Venezuela, and South Africa. Iran is also expanding its trade ties with Turkey and Pakistan and shares with its partners the common goal of creating a single economic market in West and Central Asia, much like the European Union called ECO. Iran also expects to attract billions of dollars of foreign investment by creating a more favorable investment climate, such as reduced restrictions and duties on imports, and free-trade zones in Chabahar, Qeshm and Kish Island.
The current administration continues to follow the market reform plans of the previous one and indicated that it will diversify Iran\'s oil-reliant economy. It is attempting to do this by investing revenues in areas like automobile manufacturing, aerospace industries, consumer electronics, petrochemicals and nuclear technology. Iran has also developed a biotechnology, nanotechnology, and pharmaceuticals industry. The strong oil market since 1996 helped ease financial pressures onIran and allowed for Tehran\'s timely debt service payments. Iranian budget deficits have been a chronic problem, in part due to large-scale state subsidies, totaling more than $40 billion per year that include foodstuffs and especially gasoline.

 

Resources

 Iran is one of the leading producers of petroleum and has the second largest natural gas reserves in the world. In addition to crude oil and gas, the country produces petrochemicals, textiles, vegetable oil and other food products, carpets, cement, building materials and fertilizers. The principal agricultural crops are wheat, rice, barley, nuts, cotton, sugar beets, and fruits. Wool is also an important product in the Iranian economy.

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur

Arable land: 10%

Permanent crops: 1%

Permanent pastures: 27%

Forests and woodlands: 13%

Other: 49% (1998 est.)

Irrigated land: 94,000 km² (1993 EST.)

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