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General Information
Country: Islamic Republic of Iran
Area: 1648195 sq.km
Population:70472846 (2005)
Capital: Tehran
Official Language: Farsi (Persian)
Money Unit: Rial
Land and Government:
Iran comprises a land area of over 1 . 6 million squar Km (the 17th country in the world by land area). It is located in south west of Asia and is one of the middle-east countries. Iran lies down the northern temperate zone, between latitudes 25 degree north and 39 degree 47' north and between longitude 44 degree 02' east and 63 degree 20' east.
Iran is bounded by Turkmenistan , Caspian Sea , Azerbaijan, and Armenia on the North , Afghanistan and Pakistan on the East , Oman sea and persian gulf on the South , and Iraq and Turkey on the West . Totally Iran has a border of 8731 kms of which 2700 kms go for water borders and 6031 kms for land borders .
- The highest point in Iran is Mount Damavand being 5610 metres high .
- The longest river is the Karun river being 890 kilometres long (only navigable river).
- The largest lake is the Orumiyeh lake with an area of 4868 kilometres .
- The largest island is Qeshm with an area of 1491 squar kilometres .
Culture & Tourism
Iran is among the old civilizations in the world and for this reason and due to its variety of climates and a number of beautiful natural attractions , it is considered as one of the worlds most important tourism centres . Of the worlds places recognized and registered as "the worlds Civilization Heritage" by UNESCO , four are located in Iran :
- Takht-e-Soleyman ( ancient area including Atashkadeh Azargoshastb in the sasanids era) in Tekab, west Azarbayejan.
- Takht-e-Jamshid ( ruins of the former capital of Iran in 2500 years ago) near the city of Shiraz.
- Naqsh-e-Jahan square ( a set of religious and public monuments from safavids era) near the city of Esfahan.
- Choghazanbil temple ( Aeelams imperial city in 3000 years ago) in Haftappeh.
Of the most important and famouse historical and attractive places in Iran :
- Imam Reza (Shiit Enghth Imam) Shrine in Mashhad.
- Masjid-e-Shaikh Lotfollah (one of the Islamic architecture masterpieces in Safavids era) in Esfahan .
- Vank Cathedral (one of the most beautiful Iranian churches) in Esfahan .
- Atashkadeh Yazd (the largest and oldest Zoroasterians firetemple) in Yazd .
- Arg-e-Bam (the worlds largest adobe building) in Bam .
- Maabad-e-Anahita (the stone temple of Ashkanian era) in Kermanshah .
- Qaleh-e-Falak -ol-Aflak (a large military castle in Sasanids era) in Khorramabad .
- Taq Bostan (of stone buildings in the Sasanids era) in Kermanshah .
- Pasargad (Cyrus's grave , the founder of Achaemenid dynasty in Iran) near Shiraz .
- Naqsh-e-Rostam (the largest stone building in Sasanids era) near Shiraz .
- Gounbad-e-Soltaniyeh (the world's highest dome) in Khodabandeh , Zanjan .
- Syoseh Pol(of the architecture masterpieces and in Safavids era) Pol-e-Khajoo in Esfahan .
- Banaye Shamsolemareh (Imperial Palace of Qajar kings) in Tehran .
- Tochal Telecabin (the world's longest telecabin installation) in Tehran .
- Ferdusi's Mausoleum - Tus.
- Attar's Mausoleum in Neyshabur .
- Hafez's Mausoleum (Hafeziyeh) in Shiraz.
- Saadi's Mausoleum (Saaeediyeh) in Shiraz .
- Qabus-ebne- Voshmgir Mausoleum (the world's highest brick tower) in Gondad-e-Kavus.
- Khayam Mausoleum in Neyshabur.
- Ibn-e-Sina Mausoleum in Hamadan.
- Bagh-e-Naderi in Mashhad.
- Karimkhan-e-Zand Mausoleum in Shiraz .
- Baba Taher Mausoleum in Hamadan.
- Arghe Bam in Bam.
- Pasarghad in Marvdashet.
In addition , other attractive places in Iran include Bazaar-e-Tehran , Bagh-e-fin-e-Kashan, Borj-e-Toghrol in Shahr-e-Rey, Bagh-e-Eram in Shiraz, Bagh-e-Shazdeh in Mahan, Masjid-e-Vakil in Shiraz , Masjid Aqa bozorg in Kashan , Masjid-e-Goharshad in Mashhad, Arg-e-Karimkhan in Shiraz, Darvaz-e-Qoran in Shiraz, Kakh-e-Golestan in Tehran , Masjid-e-Amirchakhmagh in Yazd, Masjid-Imam Khomeini in Esfahan, etc .
The most important natural places in Iran :
- Damavand Peak in north-east of Tehran
- Ghar-e-Ali Sadr in Hamadan (cave)
- Crown imperial plains (fritillaria imperialis) at the foot of peak Dena
- Golestan forest in Bojnurd
- Kavir-e-Lut (desert) in the centre of Iran
- Lake Ourumiyeh in Azarbayejan
- Anzali marsh in Anzali port
- Lar Plain in the Mountain Damavand skirts
There are many museums , exhibiting the world's and Iranian civilization , culture as well as history , the most important of which are as follows :
- Ancient Iran museum in Tehran.
- Glassware and earthware museum in Tehran.
- Natural history museum in Tehran.
- Chehelsoton Museum in Esfahan.
- Ganj Ali Khan bathroom museum in Kerman.
- Carpet Museum in Tehran.
- Complex of Saadabad museums in Tehran.
- Anthropology museum in Tehran.
- Fine arts in Tehran.
- Post museum in Tehran.
- National Jewellery Museum in Tehran.
- Modern Art Meuseum in Tehran.
- Azadi cultural complex in Tehran.
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