Iran

Iran Located in Western Asia, bordering among others the Persian Gulf, this rather closed country has a heavy histrory to explore. The country is very known for its persian carpets that is like an investment, beeing more worth with time. Exellent museums will take you through more than ten thousand years of history. But if you are looking for an adventure, take on a Nomad tour and experience a part of the population still living the traditional way, wondering around the desert with their special clothes. From the hot desert you can go walking in the cold mountains, that is how far this country stretches.

Area: 1.638.489 Km²
Population: 66.129.000 (2001 est.)
Density: 40 pop/Km²

System of government: Theocratic republic
Capital: Teheran (6.835.000 pop.)
Major cities: Mashad 2.015.000 pop., Esfahan 1.925.000 pop., Tabriz 1.000.000 pop., Shiraz 850.000 pop.
Ethnic majority: Iranian 50%, Azeri 17%, Tajik 15%, Kurd 9%, Arab 2%, Baloch 2%, Armenian 0,5%
Border countries:Turkey and Iraq WEST, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan NORTH, Afghanistan and Pakistan EAST

Principal mountains: Damavand 5670 m
Principal rivers: Karun 830 Km
Principal lakes: Caspian Sea 371.000 Km² (with russian, azerbaijani, turkmen and kazakhstani parts), Lake Urmia 5800 Km² (average), Namak 1800 Km²
Principal islands: Qeshm 1330 Km²
Climate: Continental - arid

Language: Farsi (official), Turkish, Kurdish, Arabic
Religion: Shi'a Muslim 99%
Currency: Iranian Rial (IRR)

Fixed public holidays: 11/2, 20/3, 21/3, 22/3, 23/3, 24/3, 25/3, 1/4, 2/4
Dialling code: 0098
GMT: +3.30

World Heritage List:

• Meidan Emam, Esfahan (1979)
• Persepolis (1979)
• Tchogha Zanbil (1979)
• Takht-e Soleyman (2003)
• Bam and its Cultural Landscape (2004)
• Pasargadae (2004)
• Soltaniyeh (2005)