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Natural
regions
One of the
world's most mountainous countries, Iran contains two major ranges
of mountains, the Alborz with the highest peak in Asia west of the
Himalayas, Damavand (5671 m above sea level) and the Zagros that
cuts across the country for more than 1,600 km extending from north
west to the south east of the country. The peaks exceeding 2,300 m
in these two ranges capture a considerable amount of moisture coming
either from the Caspian Sea southward or the Mediterranean eastward.
There are also some other local ranges.
Within these mountainous rims lies a series of basins known
collectively as the central plateau. They include Dasht-e-Kavir, a
huge salt-encrusted desert in north central Iran and Kavir-e-Lut, a
sand-and-pebble desert in the southeast.
There are several fertile oases in
these regions that are living examples of ancient Iranians?
determination to survive and bestow life to the arid
areas.
There are
numerous rivers in Iran, but nearly all of them are relatively
short, shallow streams unsuitable for navigation. The country?s only
navigable river, the Karun, flows through the city of Ahvaz in the
southwest and empties to the Persian Gulf. Most rivers originate
from the mountains and drain into the interior
basins.
Although around 1/3 of Iran?s total territory is arable, only
%10.4 is under cultivation. An additional %6 of the total land is
used for pasture. Forested areas have declined slightly in recent
decades and account for %4.5 of the total
territory.
Natural
Resources
Iran's
extensive petroleum and natural gas deposits are located primarily
in the southwestern province of Khuzestan and in the Persian Gulf. Iran also has one of the
world's largest reserves of copper the deposits of which are located
throughout the country, but the major lode lies in central Iran
between the cities of Yazd and Kerman. This region also serves as a
center for the mining of bauxite, lead, zinc, iron ore and coal.
Other coalmines operate throughout the Alborz Mountains. Iron ore mines also exist near
Zanjan, near Mashad and on Hormoz Island in the Strait of Hormoz. Iran also has valuable
deposits of aluminum, chromites, manganese, gold, silver, tin and
tungsten. There are also various gemstones like lapis lazuli,
turquoise, amber and agate.
Plants
& Animals
More than
10,000 plant species have been identified in Iran. The natural
vegetation in most of the country has been devastated and used for
cultivating crops or feeding cattle. Natural forests at the Alborz
consist of various trees like beech, oak, deciduous trees and
conifers. There are wooded areas in some regions of higher elevation
in the Zagros Mountains consisting primarily of oak. Wild fruit
trees grow in both the Alborz and Zagros mountains. They include
almond, pear, pomegranate, and walnut. In the more arid central part
of the country, wild pistachio and other resistant trees grow in
areas that have not been disturbed by human activities. Tamarisk and
other salt-tolerant bushes grow along the margins of the
Dasht-e-Kavir.
A wide
variety of native mammals, reptiles, birds, and insects live in
Iran. Many species of mammals-including wolves, foxes, bears,
mountain goats, red mountain sheep, rabbits, and gerbils continue to
thrive. Some species of birds inhabit Iran and a large number of the
species are migratory birds that spend part of the year in other
countries.
Climates
The totally
different up and down altitudes of Iran are the major reasons for
the several various climates. The Caspian coastal plain on the
northern edge of the country with an average elevation of about the
sea level remains humid all year round. Winter temperatures rarely
fall below freezing point and maximum summer temperatures rarely
exceed 29? C. Annual precipitation averages 650 mm in the eastern
part of the plain (Mazandaran Province) and more than 1,900 mm in
the western part (Gilan Province).
At higher
elevations to the west, the inhabited areas in the Zagros Mountains
experience lower temperatures with average daily temperatures below
freezing point in winter. They also experience warm summers with
average temperature of 25? C in the northwest and 33? C in the
central and southern Zagros. The average annual precipitation,
including snowfall, is more than 280 mm at higher elevations.
The central
plateau region also experiences regional variations. The arid basins
of central and eastern Iran generally receive less than 200 mm of
precipitation per year.
The southern
coastal plains of Iran have mild winters with average January
temperatures ranging from 7? C to 18? C in Khuzestan Province, but the average temperatures in
Bandar-e-Abbas on the Strait of Hormoz are even higher. Summers are very hot
and humid with temperatures exceeding 48? C during July in the
interior areas. The Annual precipitation ranges in this region are
from 145 mm to 355 mm.
Large
Cities
The country?s capital
and largest city, Tehran, serves as the main administrative,
financial, industrial, commercial, educational and publishing
center. Iran's other major cities include Shiraz, Esfehan, Tabriz,
Mashad and Ahvaz.
Shiraz is a
manufacturing center in the south near the ruins of the most
glorious ancient Persian monument called Persepolis.
Esfehan is a
manufacturing center with several masterpieces of Islamic
architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Tabriz is the
principal industrial and commercial center of the northwest.
Mashad is a
manufacturing and commercial center in the northeast and the site of
the country's most important religious shrine where the body of the
eighth Imam of Shiites has been buried.
And Ahvaz is the major
commercial and manufacturing center in the southwest of
Iran.
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