History of development. History of development of the Iranian mountains

On the territory of Iran, about 100 deposits of hard coal are known in the Tebes (Kerman) and Elburz coal basins. Intensely dislocated Triassic and Jurassic sediments are carbon-bearing. The productive strata with a thickness of 1.5-4 km (sometimes up to 8 km) contains up to 92 coal seams, of which from 4 to 18 have a working thickness (3.8-10.9 m). Coals are low- and medium-grained, high-ash, requiring enrichment. Phosphorus content up to 0.1%, calorific value 35.2-37.4 MJ/kg (a significant part of the coals is coking).

About 40 iron ore deposits have been identified in Iran; the largest are located in the Bafk and Sirjan regions, the small ones in Elbrus and in the south of the country. The main deposits are Chogart (explored reserves 215 million tons), Chadarmalyu (410 million tons), Zerend (230 million tons), etc. Most of the deposits are skarn and metasomatic, hydrothermal, metamorphogenic, sedimentary and crust-related deposits are also known weathering

The most important deposits of chrome ores are located in the Minab and Sebzevar regions. The largest Shahriar deposit (reserves 2 million tons) consists of 31 ore bodies, the reserves of which range from 1 to 500 thousand tons each. Probable reserves in the Sebzevar region are 1.2 million tons, promising - 10 million tons. The largest deposit is Mir-Makhmud with proven ore reserves of about 100 thousand tons.

Most of the raw materials (since 1979 about 60%) are exported to capitalist (including the EEC countries and Japan), developing and socialist countries. The main export loading terminals are located on the islands of Sirri, Lawan and Khark (1982). Large oil and product pipelines: Tehran - Mashhad; Abadan - Ahvaz; Tehran - Qazvin - Rasht; Abadan - Ahvaz - Ezna - Tehran; Ahvaz - Teng - Fani - Tehran; Maroun - Isfahan; Isfahan - Tehran. The total length of oil and product pipelines is 7.9 thousand km (1982). There are (1982) 6 oil refineries in the country (in the cities of Tehran, Tabriz, Shiraz, Isfahan, Bakhtaran and Mesjed-Soleiman; one of the world's largest oil refineries in Abadan with an annual production capacity of over 30 million tons is out of commission) with a total annual production capacity of 26 million tons, which does not fully meet Iran’s internal needs.

The development of natural gas fields began in Iran in the early 70s. 20th century Production is carried out at the Khangiran, Gorgan, Kengan fields (the Pars and Seraj fields are not being developed). The bulk of gas is produced from gas and oil fields; in terms of associated gas reserves, Iran ranks 2nd among industrialized capitalist and developing countries (up to 150 m3 per 1 ton of oil). Gas is used for injection into oil fields, in chemical and petrochemical production, and also as a fuel and energy raw material (in 1981, out of 16.8 billion m 3 produced, 1.9 billion m 3 was injected into the reservoir, used for various needs 7, 2 billion m3 and 7.7 billion m3 flared). A small amount of liquefied gas from Khark Island (1982) is exported to Japan (1982). To pump gas, the main gas pipeline Bir Boland - Qom - Qazvin - Regit - Astara was built, which has branches in the cities. Shiraz, Isfahan, Kashan and Tehran. In addition, transportation is carried out by a gas pipeline system from the Khangiran field to the cities. Mashhad, Gorgan, Neka, etc. There is also an extensive gas distribution network to supply gas to local consumers. The total length of gas pipelines is 2.1 thousand km, the throughput capacity is 18.2 billion m 3 (1982).

Coal mining in Iran reached industrial scale in the 70s. 20th century The impetus for its development was the need to create a fuel base for the Isfahan Metallurgical Plant. The maximum production level was reached in 1974 - 1.2 million tons, in the early 80s. — 0.9 million tons (in terms of commercial value). Development is controlled mainly by state-owned companies subordinate to National Iranian Steel Corp., as well as Iran Mining and Metal Smelting Co. In the Tebes coal basin, the main development area is Kerman (the volume of coking coal in 1980 was over 500 thousand tons). The largest Kerman deposit includes the Pabdane and Babnizu mines (production capacity of 133 and 87.5 thousand tons of coking coal, respectively, 1981). Prospects for further expansion of production are associated with the transition to underlying horizons and the involvement in the development of new areas of the field. In the Elborz basin, development is carried out in the Agusbinsky (Sengrud mine), Alashtinsky (Karmozd mine), and Shahrud district (Tazare deposit - Kalariz and Mamedou mines). In addition, in Iran there are a large number of small and poorly studied deposits that are exploited by private companies. The country operates Shahrud, Rigabad, Zerenda, Karmozdekaya and other enrichment plants, and uses heavy-medium separators and flotation plants. Hard coal is consumed on the domestic market. Part of the high-quality coking coal is imported from Germany (51 thousand tons in 1979). Prospects for the development of mineral extraction are associated with exploration of the northern part of the Tebes coal basin (Perverde, Masnan, Kadir, Kuchek-Ali deposits).

Copper ore mining. Industrial mining of copper ore began in the 60s. 20th century The maximum level was reached in 1978 - 20 thousand tons. Development is carried out mainly by the state company "National Iranian Copper Industries Co." and its subsidiaries, as well as the organization Bonyade Mostazafin (Foundation of the Oppressed). The main production areas are located in the northern part of Iranian Azerbaijan (Sengan and Mezree fields), southwest of Kerman (Serchesme and Chahar Gonbad) and in the eastern part of the Dashte-Lut desert (Kale Zere). The most important enterprise for the production of copper-molybdenum ore (design production capacity of 40 thousand tons of ore per day) is the mining and metallurgical complex at the Serchesme deposit, which includes an enrichment plant and a copper smelter (design production capacity of 145 thousand tons of copper per year). Operated by the state company "Sar-Cheshmehb Copper Mining Co." The method of field development is open-pit. The main mining transport equipment is excavators, wheel loaders, dump trucks (load capacity 120 tons). The production capacity of the concentration plant is 600 tons of copper concentrate per day containing 34% Mo, and 10 tons of concentrate with 54% Mo: the copper smelting shop is 70 thousand tons per year (1982). The Kale-Zere field is being developed by the Society Maaden Louto with the participation of Japanese companies. In 1980, 225 thousand tons of ore were mined here; The processing plant operating at the deposit produced 14 thousand tons of concentrate (design capacity 50 thousand tons of concentrate per year). In addition, there are enterprises at the Sengan, Mezree, and Chahar-Gonbad fields. Part of the produced concentrates is processed into rough and refined copper (maximum output in 1977-78 - 7 thousand tons); the bulk is exported to Japan. Once the Sercheshm complex reaches its design capacity, copper ore processing will be carried out in Iran.

The extraction of lead-zinc ores began in the country in the 20th century, and the export of lead-zinc concentrates began in the late 40s. Since the beginning of the 60s, due to the attraction of foreign capital, ore production has gradually increased. The development is controlled mainly by the state-owned Iran Mining and Metal Smelting and the Bonyade Mostazafin organization. The main developed fields are located north of the Kerman - Yazd line (Kushk, Dere-Zendzhir, Mehdi-Abad, Tare fields), west of the city of Isfahan (Hosseinabad, Lekan, Engire - Tiran) and south of the city of Miane (Enguran). The underground mining method predominates. The largest enterprise for the extraction of lead-zinc ores (production capacity of about 200 thousand tons of ore per year) has been operating since 1956 at the Enguran deposit. Combined mining; ore enters the processing plant. The Kushk deposit has been developed underground since 1957; there is an enrichment plant with a capacity of about 150 thousand tons of ore per year. At small enterprises, mining and enrichment are carried out manually. A project for the construction of a lead and zinc smelter has been developed in Iran. The main part of lead-zinc ores and concentrates is exported.

The extraction of ornamental stones, mainly turquoise, is carried out at the Nishapur deposit. Its level is constantly falling due to depletion of reserves. About 300 tons of turquoise were mined in 1972, and 35 tons in 1978. The bulk of turquoise is exported in raw and processed forms. In 1979, exports in value terms amounted to 1.3 million dollars (including 600 thousand dollars to Switzerland and 580 thousand dollars to Switzerland).

The extraction of non-metallic building materials is carried out mainly by small private enterprises and state-owned companies. Production amounted to in the late 70s. (thousand tons): gypsum 8000, (processed) 450, 1500, travertine (processed) 350-400.

Mining and Geological Service. Personnel training. The activities of mining enterprises in Iran are controlled by the Ministry of Heavy Industry and regulated by the Law on Mines of 1957, geological exploration by the Geological Department of the ministry. Research is carried out by industry companies, as well as at the Institute of Geophysics at the University of Tehran (publishes works). Personnel training is carried out mainly at the Abadan Institute of Technology, the Institute of Standards, the University of Tehran, and training centers of industry companies.

In the southwest of the Iranian Plateau lies the Zagros, a mountain range that separates the highlands from the plains of Mesopotamia. Parts of the Zagros ranges are also located in Iraq.

As in the old days, it is not possible to cross the Zagros everywhere: if in the northwest and southeast there are quite a lot of roads, then the central section is the highest and most inaccessible; there is only one Shiraz pass, along which the Isfahan-Bushehr highway is laid, crossing the richest and most flourishing part of the southern half of Zagros - the Shiraz Basin.

In turn, the central Zagros is divided into eastern and western. In the east there are valleys located high in the mountains, short and dry. In the west there are long narrow river valleys, where the main population of Zagros lives.

The Zagros is part of the Mediterranean fold belt. These mountains are young, they began to grow about 15 million years ago (±10 million years depending on the site), approximately when the Alpine folding was formed: the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Carpathians, the Balkans and the Elborz. The formation of the Zagros itself was caused by the collision of two tectonic plates - the Arabian and Eurasian. As with the entire Mediterranean belt, the Zagros orogeny is still ongoing and the mountains are growing.

The mountains are composed mainly of Mesozoic and Cenozoic limestones and shales. Large salt domes come to the surface in the central part and in the southeast - where outcrops of the pre-Mesozoic basement occur.

Due to the presence of limestones and watercourses, karst landforms are everywhere - numerous caves and sinkholes.

At the western foot of the central part of the mountains are most of Iran's oil fields - some of the largest in the world.

The Zagros Mountains stretch for more than one and a half thousand kilometers - from northwest to southeast. From the city of Bokan in the province of Western Azerbaijan, presumably about 3 thousand years ago this city was called Isertu and was the capital of the ancient state of Manna - until 843 BC. e., when the Assyrian king Shalmaneser III invaded the country and destroyed the city, which subsequently took a long time to recover. And to the port city of Bandar Abbas, which controls the most important city, and was named so in 1615 in honor of the Persian Shah Abbas I the Great (1571-1629) from the Safavid dynasty.

The predominant landscape is mountain deserts, the mountain slopes are covered with steppe and semi-desert vegetation. In the intermountain basins there are salt marshes, a few small lakes - the centers of oases in which date palms, citrus fruits and grapes grow. The western part of the Zagros is the most humid: forests and woodlands of oak, elm, maple and acacia appear in the middle zone. Above are alpine meadows and low-growing shrub vegetation.

Typical wild animals of Zagros are gazelle, mountain goat and ram. There are many species of birds, including flamingos.

The parallel ridges of the Zagros are separated by longitudinal and transverse narrow canyon-like gorges - in Persian they are called tengs.

It is in the Zagros and its foothills that one can find wild analogues of wheat and barley, later domesticated by nomads who switched to a sedentary lifestyle.

In the eastern part of the Zagros the climate is drier than on the western slopes, hotter and drier, with large temperature differences throughout the year and day. In these places are the sources of the deepest (and only navigable in the country) river Karun. It flows through Bakhtiaria and Khuzestan and flows into the Shatt al-Arab River (Persian Ervendrud), formed at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates. The largest Iranian hydroelectric power stations, Karun-3 and Abbaspur, were built on Karun.

The Karun River begins west of the city of Isfahan, at an altitude of about 4 km, on the slopes of the highest peak of the Zagros Mountains - Mount Zerdkuh. Its name translated from Persian means Yellow Mountain. At the top there are several small glaciers, their uniqueness is that they are salty, and some are also black.

Snow-capped mountain peaks are located in the Shalo-i-Mongasht conservation area. Those who imagined Iran as a land of sand and heat will be greatly impressed by a road trip through the many kilometers of snow-covered winter valleys of the Zagros.

The main river of Central Iran, Zayanderud, also originates on the slopes of the Zerdkukh peak. Generally speaking, almost all of Iran’s never-drying rivers are concentrated in the Zagros Mountains.

In ancient times, the Kassite and Gutian tribes lived in the Zagros region, and later the Assyrians, Elamites and Mitannians.

Today, in the provinces where the Zagros is located, mainly the two largest nomadic tribes of Iran live - the Bakhtiari and the Qashqai, who have largely preserved their traditional way of life. Twice a year - in autumn and spring - the nomadic Bakhtiari travel hundreds of kilometers across the Zagros in search of suitable pasture for huge herds of goats and sheep. Presumably, it was the ancient Bakhtiari who were the first people to domesticate wild goats.

The Bakhtiars inhabited the lands of present-day Iran even before the Arab conquests and call their direct ancestor Faridun (Traetaonu), the legendary hero of the national Persian epic “Shahnameh”. Bakhtiari women have much greater rights and freedom than most Iranian women.

The Qashqai people are confident that they appeared in Iran along with the army of Genghis Khan. The Kurdish population of Zagros considers the mountains sacred and even during Muslim holidays they do not forget the ancient custom: young people make a large fire and jump over it.

The settled inhabitants of Zagros are mainly engaged in work in the countless rice paddies in the valleys.

The UNESCO World Heritage List includes several sites of global historical and cultural significance located in the Zagros Mountains region.

In the south - and Pasargadae. In the center is the Behistun Inscription - cuneiform text on the Behistun rock, the Jami Mosque and Meydan Imam Square in Isfahan.

general information

Location : Western Asia, west and southwest of Iran, northeast of Iraq.
Administrative affiliation : Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Ilam, Hamadan, Lurestan, Isfahan, Khuzestan, Cheharmehal and Bakhtiaria, Kohgiluyeh and Boyerahmed, Fars, Bushehr, Hormozgan - provinces of Iran and Iraqi Kurdistan (Iraq).
Cities: Isfahan - 1,945,765 people, - 1,460,665 people, Kermanshah - 851,405 people. (2011).
Languages: Farsi, Bakhtiari dialect, Qashqai dialect, Kurdish, Laki.
Ethnic composition : Persians, Bakhtiars, Qashqais, Kurds, Lurs.
Religion: Islam (mainly Shiism, in the west and southwest - Sunnism); religious minorities - Christianity, Yazidism.
Currency unit : Iranian rial.
Rivers: Karun, Zayanderud, Marun.
Lake: Kuhgol.

Numbers

Square: 533,512 km 2 (Iran - 83%, Iraq - 17%).
Length: from northwest to southeast about 1600 km.
Width: 200-300 km.
Highest point : 4548 m, Mount Zerdkukh.
Other peaks: 4469 m, Ezar; 4409 m, Dena; 4374 m, Lalezar; 4290 m, Putak; 4135 m, Dzhupar.

Climate and weather

Mountain and highland tropical zone, in the north - subtropical.
Dry, with a wide range of daily temperatures.
Dry hot summers, relatively cold winters.
Average January temperature : (1500/2000/2500 m): +6/-1.5/-4°С.
Average temperature in July : +30/+24.5/+19°С.
Average annual precipitation : 300-500 mm.
Average annual relative humidity : from 10% in the highlands, to 60% on the southern slopes.

Economy

Minerals : oil and natural gas (mainly at the foot), polymetallic ores, chromium, lead, bauxite, rock salt.

Agriculture : oasis crop farming (tobacco, cotton, date palm, citrus fruits, grapes), livestock farming (pastoral farming - sheep, goats).

Services sector: tourist, transport, resort (Chelgerd ski resort), shopping.

Attractions

Natural

Fresh and salt glaciers on top of Zerdkukh

Tang-e Meyran Pass (Gateway of Persia)

Salt lakes Teshk and Urmia

Shalo-i-Mongasht and Arasbaran reserves

Waterfalls Margun, Atashgakh, Kuhrang and Shivand

Bakhtegan National Park

Ercan Nature Reserve

Stalactite caves Gar-Nul and Gar-Mes

Volcano Sahand

Historical

Shanidar Cave (Iraqi Kurdistan, remains of Neanderthals, 50-70 thousand years ago)

Early Neolithic site of Jarmo (9 thousand years ago)

Ancient cities of Choga-Zanbil (XIII century BC), Persepolis (518 BC), Pasargadae (546 BC)

Behistun inscription (VI century BC)

Cultural and historical landscape of Ized-Khast (from the 3rd century)

Isfahan city

Zoroastrian Temple Ateshgah (III-VII centuries)

Ali Minaret (XI century)

Swinging minarets of Manar Jonban (XIV century)

Meydan Imam Square (XVI century)

Chehel Sotun (Palace of Forty Columns, 1647)

Khaju Bridge (1650)

Vank Cathedral (1655)

Hasht Behesht Palace (Eight Gardens of Eden, 1669)

Hamadan city

A salt glacier is formed when an ancient salt dome breaks through to the surface in the mountains. It feeds the glacier, which is saturated with salt. A necessary condition for the appearance of such a glacier: the salt dome must be very large so that
don't melt. The salt domes of Zagros are made of ordinary rock salt. The black color of some glaciers is due to the fact that there are oil deposits underneath them.

During excavations in the Zagros Mountains, near the villages of Haji Firuz and Godin, archaeologists discovered traces of the world's oldest wine in one of the clay vessels. It is believed that it was made during the era of the Sumerian city-state of Uruk - 5 thousand years ago.

Shah Abbas I, after whom the city at the southern tip of the Zagros is named, was the first to recognize the new Romanov dynasty in Russia in 1613, when Mikhail Fedorovich Romanov was elected king. As a sign of friendship, the Shah gave the Tsar a loan of 7 thousand rubles (a huge amount at that time). And in 1625 he sent him as a gift, among other things, a luxurious robe and a throne.

The meaning of the name of Mount Zardkukh - Yellow Mountain - is interpreted differently by different peoples living around this mountain.
In some folklore, the mountain is likened to a golden stallion. Others point to yellowish rocks at the base of the mountain. Still others compose poems about the yellow flowers that cover the slopes of Zardkukh in the spring.

The cuneiform text on the Behistun Rock, known as the Behistun Inscription, is carved in three languages ​​- Old Persian, Elamite and Akkadian - by order of King Darius I and tells how the king defeated the Mede rebels. The inscription made it possible to begin deciphering the cuneiform writing of the peoples of the Ancient East. The inscription was deciphered by the British archaeologist, linguist and diplomat Henry Rawlinson (1810-1895), while putting his life in mortal danger. The reason is that, by order of King Darius I, the lower part of the rock under the inscription was hewn down and made impregnable so that no one could destroy the inscription. Sir Rawlinson 1837-1844 climbed the Behistun rock dozens of times, copying the inscription fragment by fragment.

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 Suleiman 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 in nature 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 Turkic Turkmen - 2% each. In addition, there are national minorities (1%) of Armenians, Circassians, Assyrians and Georgians. Note website).

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 was called "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.

Industry

Iran is one of the largest oil producers in the world. 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. Note website).

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. Imports of electricity exceed exports by 500 million kilowatt-hours. Note website)

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 : products of heavy engineering and chemical industry, cars, iron, steel, mineral raw materials, food, consumer goods, textiles, paper. Note website).

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..

Geographical position

Iran is one of the largest countries in South-West Asia. Its total area is 1.648 million square meters. km. Iran borders on Turkey in the northwest, Afghanistan and Pakistan in the east, Iraq in the west, and Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan in the north. In the north, the country's territory is washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea, in the south - by the Persian and Oman Gulfs.

The topography of Iran is predominantly elevated and mountainous. The Elborz Mountains stretch along the northern borders of the country. The highest point is the Damavand volcano. Its height is 5604 meters. Kopetdag, Sabalan, Bogrovdag and Talysh also lie here. The Kotur mountain range stretches in the west of Iran, and the Zagros mountain ranges in the southwest. The central regions are occupied by an elevated plain (Iranian Plateau), in the east there are vast deserts: Dasht-e-Kevir (Great Salt Desert, the area of ​​which exceeds 200 thousand sq. km) and Dasht-e-Lut (more than 166 thousand sq. km). They are surrounded by the mountains of the Iranian Plateau. The lowest point in Iran is located 28 meters below sea level.

There are few large rivers in the country. The main ones are Karun and Sefivrud, the length of which does not exceed 600 km. Most of the rivers have internal flow.

The largest lake in Iran is Lake Urmia (salt).

The reserves of surface and groundwater depend on the amount of precipitation. They are mainly concentrated in the northern Zagros, Elborz and Iranian Azerbaijan mountains.

The capital is the city of Tehran.

There is little precipitation - up to 1000 mm on the mountain slopes, up to 600 mm on the flat areas of the country. Most of the country is arid. In summer, rain usually does not fall for 2-3 months, and in some years - even for 7 months.

The annual rainfall in Tehran is 250 mm. They fall mainly during the cold season, which lasts from November to March.

In the north of the country and in the highlands in the south, precipitation mainly falls in the form of snow in winter. In Elburz and Zagros above 1200 m above sea level. snow lies for 4-5 months of the year, and in some places it remains until June.

Snow is important in the economic life of Iran. Its slow melting makes it possible to replenish water supplies needed for irrigation.

The best time to visit the country is considered to be from mid-April to early June, as well as from late September to early November.

The Gulf Coast is great for holidays all year round.

Visas, entry rules, customs rules

To enter the country, Russian citizens need to obtain a visa. This can be done at the consular section of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, located in Moscow, as well as at the Consulates General of Iran in Kazan and Astrakhan. The visa is also issued upon arrival at the international airports of Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz, Bushehr, Isfahan, Tabriz and Fr. Quiche. The visa fee is 60 euros.

Visa processing takes from 7 to 10 days if there is an invitation from the Iranian host country. Sometimes it takes a month. A tourist visa gives the right to stay in the country for 2 weeks.

Before departure, you need to apply for a visa permit on the website of the Iranian Foreign Ministry. It is filled out in English online.

Women traveling unaccompanied by men must have proof of their hotel reservation with them.

Entry into the country is prohibited to citizens of Israel and those who have visas and stamps from this country in their passports. Women in provocative clothing or if their hair is not covered with a headscarf may not be allowed into Iran. Tourists should also not behave noisily or provocatively during passport control.

All foreigners must register within 8 days of arrival. This is done at the police office at the place of residence.

Import and export of local currency is permitted in an amount not exceeding 500 thousand rials. For larger amounts, permission from the Central Bank of Iran must be obtained. The import and export of foreign currency is not limited, but a declaration is required.

You can import small quantities of cigarettes and perfumes for personal use, gifts and souvenirs into the country duty-free if their amount does not exceed $80.

Printed materials containing erotic photographs of women and men cannot be imported into Iran. Moreover, this applies even to simple photographs of women in swimsuits or without a hijab.

The import into the country of any types of alcoholic beverages, old books and magazines, drugs and weapons, video products with erotic and propaganda content, and printed materials in Hebrew is also prohibited. It is also prohibited to import berries, fruits, tubers and plant seedlings, seeds, soils, any types of wild animals and birds, leather and feather products.

Those who violate the ban on the import of drugs are unconditionally sentenced to death.

You can export personal items and Persian handicrafts from the country, but no more than one large carpet or two small rugs. The export of any antiques (more than 50 years old) from Iran is prohibited.

Population, political status

The country's population is 69.1 million people. The largest city is Tehran (population - 7.1 million people).

More than 60 nationalities, ethnic groups and tribes live in Iran. The most numerous of them are: Persians (51%), Azerbaijanis (24%), Gilaks and other representatives of Turkic tribes (8%), Kurds (7%), Arabs (3%), Lurs (2%), Turkmens (2 %), Balochis and Armenians.

The country is also home to hundreds of thousands of refugees from Afghanistan and Iraq.

The official language is Persian (Farsi). Turkic dialects, Kurdish, Turkish, Arabic, etc. are also used in the country. English and French are used in business circles. It can be said that, in general, the local population does not speak foreign languages ​​very well. This is due to the fact that the country is not very popular among tourists.

Administratively, the territory of Iran is divided into 26 regions ("ostans"), 277 urban regions ("sharestan") and 604 districts ("bakhsh", "bakhshesh"). The regions are headed by governors-general (“ostandar”). They head all local government agencies.

Politically, Iran is an Islamic republic (Jomhuriye Eslamiye Iran). Until 1935, this state was called Persia.

The Iranian Constitution was adopted in November 1979. According to this document, all cultural, social, political and economic institutions of the country are based on Islamic laws and norms.

The highest official of Iran is the Ayatollah ("Vali-e Faqi", leader of the Islamic Revolution) and the Governing (Expert) Council.

The highest official position is the president. He is elected by universal suffrage for a term of 4 years.

Legislative power belongs to the unicameral Islamic Consultative Assembly (Majlis-e Shura-e-Islami). It consists of 270 members who are elected for four-year terms.

The country's Constitution also provides for the Council of the Wise (Council of Guardians of the Constitution, "Shura-e Negahban-e Kanum Assasi"). He has the right to approve decisions of the Mejlis.

Another governing body is the Assembly of Experts (Majlis-e Khebregan). It is responsible for choosing or replacing the ayatollah. The executive branch consists of 22 ministers and related ministries, which function under the President.

What to see

Tehran is one of the largest cities in Asia. It stands on the southern slope of the Tochal ridge at an altitude of about 1210 meters above sea level. Most of the commercial and government buildings are located in the center.

Tehran is a very densely populated metropolis. Its area is about 600 square meters. km.

There are a huge number of beautiful mosques in the city. The most famous of them are: the Imam Mosque (Masjid-Imam, Masjid-e Shah, or “Royal Mosque”), the Imam Khomeini Mosque, the Motahari, Shah Abdul Azim, Sheikh Abdul Hussein mosques. The Motahari Mosque (Masjid-e-Sepa-Salar), built in the 19th century, is the largest and most revered in Tehran.

Also of great interest to tourists are: the university and its campus, the Takht-e Marmar Palace (Takht-e Suleymaniye, “Marble Throne”), Meydani Imam Square, the buildings of the old parliament Moshir od Doule and the Mejlis.

It is worth visiting the palace of Shah Qajar Fat-Ali, the Alikapu Palace, the Shams-ol Emare Palace (19th century), the Niavaran Palace and the Sabz (“Green”) Palace.

Banay-e Azadi Tower was built in 1971 to celebrate the 2500th anniversary of the founding of the Iranian Empire. It has a rather unusual architecture. The Bahman Cultural Center is located in the southernmost part of Tehran.

Four of Tehran's most beautiful parks are located in the northern part of the capital: the Dar Abad "coastal park", Ferdowsi Park on the slope of Mount Kolak Chal, Laleh (Tulip) Park and the English-style Mellat Park. Saei Park, located south of Wanak Square, resembles a Japanese garden.

Another attraction of the city is the huge city bazaar, which is one of the largest in the world.

In the vicinity of Tehran, many tourists are attracted by the grandiose mausoleum at the grave of Ayatollah Khomeini, located in the northwestern part of the Behesht-e Zahra cemetery.

50 km northeast of the capital you can see the Damavand volcano (the highest mountain in the country).

The museum city of Isfahan is located on a plateau on the eastern slopes of the Zagros range (400 km south of Tehran). This city was first the capital of the Seljuk Empire, and from 1598 to 1722 - the capital of the entire country.

Isfahan has stunning architecture and a cooler climate.

The most beautiful mosques of the city are: the Sheikh Lotf-Alla Mosque (Sheikh Lutfollah), the Ali Mosque (XIII century), the swinging minarets of the Menar-e-Junban (XIV century), the Dashti Mosque, the Friday Mosque Masjid- e Jome.

Meydan Imam Square is one of the largest city squares in the world.

History buffs should visit St. Mary's Church and Bethlehem Church. The Vank Armenian Church Cathedral was built between 1606 and 1636 and is considered one of the first cathedrals in the Islamic world.

It is interesting to see the Baba-Kassem mausoleum (1340), visit the Sassanid-Atashga fire temple, the Chehel-Sotun archaeological and historical museum and the park of the same name. Also very popular are: Kashan National Museum and Kavir Museum, Taymun Hall Natural History Museum and Imam Khomeini Art Gallery.

The palaces of Chehel-Sotun ("Forty Columns"), Ali-Kapu or "Imperial Palace", Hasht-Behesht (1669) in the Bak-e Bolbol garden and the Talar-Ashraf pavilion are worthy of attention.

This city is home to the most luxurious hotel in Iran - the five-star Abbasi Hotel.

The best parks in the city: Bustan-e Sadi southwest of Pol-e Felezi ("Steel Bridge"), Bustan-e Mellat, Bustan-e Ayene-Hanen, Bustan-e Sahel.

8 km west of Isfahan you can see the ruins of one of the most important Zoroastrian temples of the Sassanid era - Atashga.

Shiraz was one of the most important cities of the medieval Islamic world. It was the capital of the country during the reign of the Zand dynasty (XVI-XVIII centuries).

The city lies at an altitude of 1600 m above sea level at the foot of Mount Alla-u Akbar. It is today the capital of the province of Far.

Interesting sights of the city are: Shiraz University, Arki-Karimkhani fortress, Bagram Palace (XVIII century), Shah Cherag and Nasir-ol-Molk mosques, Hafeziye Garden.

The Masjid-e Vakil ("Mosque of the Protector") was built in 1773 and restored in 1825.

Also of interest to tourists are: the huge “New Mosque”, the ancient Kuran Gate, the mausoleum of Takie-Haft-Tanan (“Tomb of the Seven”), the tomb of Shah Shoja.

The Bak-e Eram House was built in the 19th century and currently houses the Asia Institute.

The Pars Museum houses a collection of ancient works of art and crafts, and the Iranian Press Agency Museum has an extensive exhibition of relics of the Zand dynasty. Also worth a visit are the Narejestan Ghavam Museum (archaeological finds), the Afifabad Military Museum, the Anatomy Museum and the Museum of Natural History at Shiraz University.

The city has many magnificent parks. The best: Ghavam Botanical Garden and Greenhouse, Bak-e Eram Garden (Garden of Eden), where you can see the Ghajar Palace, built in the 19th century.

In the vicinity of Shiraz there is the Shapur Cave, in which there is a huge statue of King Shapur. Not far from here are the ruins of his capital, Bishapur. Many tourists go to the hot springs of Tankab, Hanifan and Khan-e Kherke.

The main attractions are: the "Residential Palace" and the lower tier of the walls of the western gallery, the remains of the so-called Zendan-e Suleiman ("Solomon's prison"), Takht-e Madar-e Suleiman ("the throne of Solomon's mother"), as well as the ruins of the altars of Anahita and Ahura Mazda.

Persepolis is the capital of the Persian Empire and the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenids. This city used to be considered one of the most beautiful in the East. It is located 60 km northeast of Shiraz.

The city was founded by Darius I the Great around 521 BC. e. In 331 BC e. it was captured and destroyed by the troops of Alexander the Great.

Numerous tourists are attracted here by the legendary Xerxes Gate ("Gate of all Nations"), the winter palace of Darius - Tahara, and the huge ensemble of the Apadana Palace ("state hall").

It is worth seeing the Tripylon ("main ceremonial hall"), the Throne Hall of Xerxes or the "Hall of 100 Columns", the palace of Artaxerxes III - Haddish. The royal treasury, the area of ​​which is 10 thousand square meters. m, carved into the rock mass. Darius the Great, Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I and Darius II are buried in the Naqshi-Rustem pantheon.

Yazd lies 400 km northeast of Shiraz. This city is considered the center of the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism, which was in Persia before Islam. Yazd is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on the planet. UNESCO recognized at the end of the 20th century that Yazd has the second oldest urban area in the world.

The Dowlat Tower, which is 33 meters high, is considered one of the main attractions. Dakhme or Kale-e Hamusha are burial places according to the Zoroastrian rite.

An unquenchable fire has been burning on the “tower of fire” at Atashkad for 3 thousand years. The Zoroastrian shrines of Kale-ye Asadan ("Fortress of Lions") and Chak-Chak (52 km north of Yazd) are worthy of attention. The Amir-Chakhmak (Jome) Mosque was built in the 14th century. It is a large historical complex, which consists of a mosque, public baths, a hotel, a mausoleum, three reservoirs and the portal of one of the Yazd bazaars.

The Jameh Friday Mosque (1324-1364) is one of the tallest in the country.

"Alexander's Dungeon" Zendan-e Iskander is an unusual round structure. Its walls are covered with inscriptions with the names of all Shiite imams. The Yazd Museum (Aine-va-Roushani) can be visited in the archaeological complex "Mirror Palace".

Bam (Arg-e-Bam) is located 1260 km southeast of the capital. This ancient fortified city was continuously built from the 9th to the 18th centuries AD. Its area is only 6 square meters. km. It is surrounded by eucalyptus and date palm plantations. All buildings in the city are built from unbaked clay.

The main attractions include: Ark-e-Bam Citadel, the ruins of the outer rampart and three rows of walls, the Inner Fortress, Chahar Fasl (“Palace of the Four Seasons”). The Ice Palace is a unique hydraulic structure.

Hosseiniye is a ritual building for prayers and mourning for Imam Hussein. The complex of the mystic and astronomer Mirza Naim (17th century) and his tomb are also interesting.

Kerman is located between Bam and Tehran. This city is considered the capital of Iranian carpet weaving.
At the end of the 18th century, the city was almost completely destroyed by an earthquake and the troops of Agha Mohammad, Shah Qajar. However, he recovered very quickly.

Here you should definitely visit the hammam (bath) complex of Ganj Ali Khan and the palace complex of Shah Nematullah Wali. The Friday Mosque of Masjid-e Jameh (XIV century) is beautifully tiled in several shades of blue.

You can visit the Museum of the Kerman Diocese, the museum of the famous Iranian painter Ali Akbar Sanati-zadeh. 35 km south of the city is the Mahan sanctuary with the beautiful Bak-e Tariki garden.

Tabriz is located in the northwestern part of the country and is the capital of the East Azerbaijan province.

This city was first mentioned in chronicles in the 2nd century. before. n. e. as a fortress called Tauri or Tarmkis. For several decades the city was even part of the Russian Empire.

Numerous tourists are attracted by: Shahrdan Square, the Blue Mosque of Masjid-e Kabud (1465), the citadel of Arg-e Alishah, Takht-e Suleiman ("Solomon's Throne"), El Goli National Park, the churches of St. Thaddeus and St. Stephen , Church of St. Sarkis in the Armenian quarter, mausoleum of Hayed Hamza.

The surrounding area of ​​the city is famous for its numerous mineral springs. Around the village of Kandovan, which lies 50 km south of Tabriz, there is a picturesque karst area.

The Marak Observatory (1260-1272) is located in the town of the same name, 130 km south of Tabriz. The mausoleum of Hulagu's mother is interesting with its blue dome.

On the shores of Lake Urmia, balneological resorts have been built that use the healing properties of the salty lake water. Its chemical composition is similar to that of the Dead Sea.

Hamadan is one of the oldest cities in the world. It was the capital of the Median kingdom and the first capital of Persia. This city is also considered one of the centers of civilization.

Today it is the capital of the region of the same name in Iran. The city is located at the foot of Mount Alvand, at an altitude of 1,829 m above sea level.

On the Mosalla hill are the ruins of a Parthian citadel and the ancient temple of Anahita. The Parthian stone lion Sang-Shir can be seen in the city park of the same name.

The rock bas-reliefs of Ganjname on Mount Alvand, dating back to the 2nd-3rd centuries, are also of great interest. BC e.

Archaeologists are intensively studying the palace of Darius (521-486 BC). Members of the Alavi family, which ruled Hamadan for two centuries, are buried in the Gonbad-e Alawian mausoleum.

In the vicinity of the city, it is worth visiting the picturesque valleys of Morad Beg and Abbas Abad. Ali Sadr Cave is located 75 km north of the city and is one of the largest caves in the world.

Shush (Susa) lies 117 km northwest of Ahvaz. This town was the biblical capital of Elam Susa. A large number of structures from the era of Darius and Xerxes, unique ceramics, as well as a complex of buildings of the “Royal City” and the acropolis were discovered here.

The majestic statue of Darius the Great is currently housed in the Tehran Archaeological Museum. Today, tourists have the opportunity to explore the tomb of Daniel - the supposed burial place of the legendary prophet. Not far from here is the Choga Zembil Ziggurat, which was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

You can also see the second oldest city in the country - Shushtar, the ruins of irrigation structures, and the residence of Darius.

Kish Island is the largest and most popular seaside resort in Iran. It lies in the Strait of Hormuz 17 km from the coast of the country. There is an international airport, as well as many hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. Kish is also a Free Trade Zone.

The first settlers on the Iranian plateau were the Elamites. In the second millennium BC. they created the city of Shush in the southwest.

Persian history began in the 6th century BC. from King Cyrus the Great of the Achamenite dynasty.

The Achamenite dynasty founded the first Persian Empire. In the 4th century BC. Persia was conquered by Alexander the Great.

Alexander captured Shush, despite three peace proposals from Darius III. After his death in 323 BC, his empire was divided into three parts. Three dynasties were in power. The Seleusids became the rulers of Persia. However, most of its territory until the 3rd century AD. occupied by the Parthian tribe of nomads.

Then the Sassanites came from the central regions of Persia, which were not under Parthian control. They brought Zoroastrianism with them. But in 637 AD. they were supplanted by the Arabs. The Arabs lived in these lands until 1050. They brought Islam with them, introduced the new Persian alphabet, and also introduced Islamic culture. In 1051 the Turks captured Isfahan and drove out the Arabs.

The local population rebelled against the Turkish invaders many times. But the Turks dominated this region until the 13th century. Then their place was taken by the hordes of Genghis Khan.

At the end of the 14th century, the Timurid dynasty reigned in Iran, but it was under pressure from the Turkmen tribes, Ottoman Turks and European Portuguese colonists.

From 1502 to 1722, the Safavid dynasty ruled here. At this time, Iran was part of the vast Persian Empire. The great Shah Abbas I and his successors preserved Shiism and restored Isfahan. But at the beginning of the 18th century, Afghans invaded the country. They seized power, but could not hold it for a long time. For some time, weak rulers succeeded each other in power.

In 1779, Agha Muhammad Khan united the Turkish Gayars and conquered Iran. The capital was Tehran. The rule of the Gaillards lasted until 1921. During the First World War, the country maintained neutrality. But British troops still partially occupied Iran, because... sought to control oil production.

The Persian Khan Rez became the country's first prime minister in 1923. The name Iran was officially adopted in 1934.

During World War II, the country also maintained neutrality. To keep the Germans out, the British and Russians established spheres of influence in Iran. In 1941, Reza was exiled to South Africa and his son Muhammad Reza followed him.

After the end of the war, the Americans insisted that the Russians leave the region. The young ruler Mohammad Reza began to improve relations with the West.

The economic situation in Iran has worsened due to mismanagement of oil. The opposition opposed this situation. The Shah suppressed these revolts with the help of the Americans. However, he still had to flee the country on January 16, 1979.

A few weeks later, the recognized leader Ayatollah Khomeini came to power in the country. The Ayatollah's nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism led to the creation of the Islamic Republic. The Americans have lost their influence. The Ayatollah was soon proclaimed Imam (leader). Iraqi President Saddam Hussein attempted to seize Khuzestan, a region of Iran. This step led to the start of a bloody war. Peace negotiations began only in 1988.

Western countries and the USSR supported Iraq, but at the same time continued to sell weapons to Iran at inflated prices. Ayatollah Khomeini died on June 4, 1989. He had no successor.

Two months later, the Iranians elected Hoijat-ol-Eslam Rafsanjani as president. Former President Ayatollah Ali Khomeini became the country's supreme spiritual leader.

America imposed a trade embargo on Iran because... Iran supported Islamic terrorist groups. In 1997, Hojat-ol-Eslam Seyyed Mohammed Khatami became the country's president.

In the same year, the involvement of the Iranian government in the murder of Iranian Kurdish emigrants, which occurred several years earlier in Germany, was proven. After this, Iran's relations with Germany and other Western countries deteriorated sharply.

International trade

Iran's main exports are crude oil and petroleum products, metal ores, and agricultural products. The country sells imports mainly from heavy engineering and chemical industries, as well as cars, iron, steel, minerals, textiles and paper.

Iran's main import trading partners are: South Korea 5.8%, Turkey 5.7%, Netherlands 4.6%, France 4.4%, South Africa 4.1% and Taiwan 4.1%

Main export partners: Germany 13.9%, UAE 8.4%, China 8.3%, Italy 7.1%, France 6.3%, South Korea 5.4% and Russia 4.9%.

Iran is a key member of the Economic Cooperation Organization. This organization includes the countries of southwest Asia and the Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union.

The country also continues to actively develop economic ties with countries in the region. Iran is trying to form free trade zones similar to the EU. Free trade and industrial zones are being developed in Chabahar and on Kish Island.

The shops

The most popular shopping places in the country are city bazaars. Due to the heat of the day, the local population engages in trade only from morning to noon and from 10 pm.

The main goods at the bazaars are: fabrics, clothing, jewelry, carpets and spices. A good souvenir bazaar is located in Isfahan.

There are bazaars in every city. They have fairly clear divisions into grocery and household aisles, clothing and souvenirs. There are also regular shops. They sell basic necessities.

Demography

During the early years of Islamic rule, the country experienced a “population boom.” In 1976, the population growth rate was 3.9%. In 1991-1996 they decreased to 1.5%, in 1996-2002 - to 1.2%.

The birth rate in 2002-2003 was 17.3 per 1 thousand inhabitants. The mortality rate is 5.4.

The fertility rate in 1970-1975 was 6.5, in 1996-2002 it dropped to 2.0. The ratio of male and female population in Iran is almost equal: 50.7% are men, 49.3% are women.

The average life expectancy of the country's population is 70 years. The average life expectancy of Iranian men is 69, women - 72.

About 31.6% of the population are under 14 years old, 63.7% are from 15 to 64 years old.

The urban population predominates, its share is constantly increasing.

Population density is 40 people per 1 sq. km. Urban population: 59%, rural - 41%.

Industry

Iran ranks second in the world in terms of oil and gas reserves. Oil refining and petrochemical enterprises operate in the country. The main industries are: mechanical engineering and metalworking, food and textile industries. In recent years, the automotive industry has been developing very quickly.

The largest industrial group Iran Khodro Industrial produces the Iranian passenger car Samand X7. Cooperation has also been established with French automobile concerns.

The oil industry is of primary importance to the country's economy. Iran ranks 5th in the world in oil production and is one of its main exporters. Iran is a member of OPEC; crude oil production and export is carried out in accordance with quotas.

The mining industry is mainly engaged in the extraction and primary processing of raw materials.

The manufacturing industry focuses mainly on the production of export products. Free zones have become important centers of industrial development, attracting foreign capital.

Great importance is also attached to the development of energy. Most of the electricity is generated at steam turbine stations.

Flora and fauna

The distribution of vegetation cover throughout the country depends on the degree of soil moisture and human economic activity. The northern slopes of Elborz are covered with dense deciduous forests. The predominant species here are oak, hornbeam, maple, beech, ironwood, elm, sycamore, ash, plum and walnut. On the coast of the Caspian Sea there are subtropical forests.

The northern and central regions of Zagros were formerly occupied by oak forests. Nowadays, mostly sparse shrubs with a significant presence of oak grow here. To the south there are open forests of pistachio, cherry plum, almond, as well as steppe and semi-desert vegetation.

In other mountainous areas, woody vegetation is found along rivers and in intermountain valleys. Tugai and marsh vegetation predominate along the river valleys in southwest Iran. On the coast of the Persian Gulf you can see mangroves.

Perennial and annual grasses and wormwood grow in the steppes. The following species mainly grow in deserts: saxaul, comb grass, camel thorn, saltwort, and aristida.

Vast areas of Iran's interior plateaus have virtually no vegetation.

The country's fauna is quite diverse. About 30 reserves have been created here. Ungulates are widespread: goitered gazelle, Iranian fallow deer, ibex, urial mountain sheep, mouflon, bearded goat, wild ass, common gazelle and wild boar. Brown and white-breasted bears live in the mountains. The most common predators are: leopard, manul, jackal, jungle cat, striped hyena, wolf, caracal, cheetah and common mongoose. Lots of rodents.

Among the birds, the predominant species are sandgrouse, houbara bustard, gray francolin, Caspian snowcock, partridges, tupach, chukar, common buzzard, gray crane, white stork, and little bustard.

Many birds nest and winter in Iran, especially on the coasts of the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf: flamingos, waders, geese, pelicans, ducks, marbled teal.

Lots of reptiles. The marsh crocodile is found in the floodplain of the Serbaz River in Balochistan. Green sea turtles live in the coastal waters of the Persian Gulf. There are many valuable species of commercial fish in the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf.

Banks and money

Iranian banknotes / Currency converter

The country's currency is the Iranian rial (IRR). 10 rials corresponds to one toman. Currently in circulation are banknotes in denominations of 10 thousand, 5 thousand, 2 thousand, one thousand, 500, 200 and 100 rials, as well as coins in 250, 100, 50, 20, 10 and 5 rials.

Tourists should check whether prices are quoted in rials or tomans.

Iranian banks are usually open from Saturday to Wednesday from 08.00 to 15.00-16.00. Some branches are open from 08.00 to 20.00. Closed days are Thursday and Friday. However, large banks are usually open on Thursdays from 8.00 to 13.00.

In tourist areas, US dollars, euros and pounds sterling are accepted. In other regions of Iran they are not officially accepted for payment, but there are exceptions.

Tourists can exchange currency at Tehran airport, in some hotels, and banks. There are few exchange offices in Iran; they can be found on the streets and markets.

Tourists can pay using credit cards or traveler's checks only in large banks and hotels in the capital and Kish Island. In other areas this is almost impossible. Non-cash payment instruments issued by US and European banks are not accepted everywhere.