Islamic Republic of Iran
Iran a state in southwestern Asia. It borders with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan in the north, with Afghanistan and Pakistan in the east and Iraq and Turkey in the west. In the north it is washed by the Caspian Sea, and in the south - by the Gulf of Oman, the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf.
The name of the country comes from the ethnonym of the Arii tribe - "noble".
Capital
Square
Population
66129 thousand people
Administrative division
24 stops (provinces).
Form of government
Theocratic parliamentary republic.
head of state
President (secular head of state), elected for a term of 4 years. The head of the country (spiritual head of state) is the ayatollah.
supreme legislative body
The unicameral parliament is the Assembly of the Islamic People (Majlis), whose term of office is 4 years.
Supreme executive body
Missing.
Big cities
Mashhad, Isfahan, Tabriz, Shiraz.
Official language
Farsi (Persian).
Religion
94% of the population professes Shiite Islam.
Ethnic composition
51% - Persians, 24% - Azerbaijanis, 8% - Gilaks and Mazendarans, 7% - Kurds, 3% - Arabs, 2% - Lurs, 2% - Balochs, 2% - Turkmens.
Currency
Iranian rial = 100 dinars.
Climate
According to climatic conditions, Iran can be divided into three zones: the hot coast of the Persian and Oman Gulfs, the temperate but arid climate of the central highlands and the cold climate in the Elbrus region. The average temperature in January is from + 2°С in the north to + 19°С in the south, in July - respectively + 25 °С and + 32 °С. Precipitation is less than 500 mm per year, only on the northern slopes of Elbrus - 2000 mm.
Flora
In the Zagros Mountains there are forest areas where oak, walnut, elm, and pistachio trees grow. On the slopes of the Elbrus Mountains and in the Caspian Valley, a large number of ash, elm, elm, oak, and birch grow. Cacti and thorns grow in desert areas.
Fauna
The fauna of Iran is quite diverse. Rabbit, fox, wolf, hyena, jackal, leopard, deer, porcupine, ibex (mountain goat), bear, tiger, badger live here. A large number of pheasants and partridges, and on the coast of the Persian Gulf - flamingos and pelicans. Beluga, herring and sturgeon are found in the Caspian Sea.
Rivers and lakes
The rivers are mostly shallow. The main navigable river of the country is the Karun. The largest lake is Urmia (Rezaye).
Attractions
Bastan Museum, Imam Mosque, Aka Shrine, Ayatollah Khomeini Burial Site, Shahiyad Tower, Ethnographic Museum in Tehran. The tombs of the Persian poets Hafiz and Saadi, the Kom Museum and the Pars Museum in Shiraz. Esther's tomb and Avicenna's tomb in Hamadan. Tomb of Omar Khayyam in Nishair and many others.
Useful information for tourists
As a result of the unstable situation, there are practically no foreign tourists in the state.
Iran is one of the largest Asian states. It borders countries such as Iraq, Turkey, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Armenia. The capital is the city of Tehran. Iran is a country on whose territory the first centers of human civilization were located thousands of years ago. What are the main features of this country?
Main information and geographical characteristics of Iran
The main part of the country is located on the plateau. Here the plateaus are interspersed with high plains. The Elbrus mountain range is located in the northern part of the country. It is separated from the Caspian by a small strip of lowland. The climate of the country is continental subtropical. Iranian rivers are usually shallow. The largest lakes are Urmia and Khamun.
The entire area of Iran is divided into 27 districts, or "stations". The largest cities are Isfahan, Tabriz, Urmia, Abadan, Mashhad. Iran also includes some islands located in the Persian and Ottoman Gulfs. The total area of Iran is 1.65 million km2. The state is in 17th place in the world in terms of territory. is the monetary unit of the rial.
Economy
A significant part of the area of Iran is rich in minerals. These are manganese, copper, chromium, zinc ores. Foreign trade products are carpets and nuts, as well as fishing products. Most of the population living in Iran Square is employed in agriculture. One of the main problems is low soil fertility and lack of fresh water for irrigation. About a third of the total population are unemployed. Mostly it is young people.
Population
More than 60 ethnic groups live in Iran. For the most part, these are Persians - they live in the southern and central parts of the country. Gilyans, Mazenderans, Talyshs live in the north. In the western territory - Kurds, Lurs, Bakhtiars, in the east - Pashtuns, Balochs, Tajiks. All these peoples are ethnically close to the Persians. It is known that Iran is one of the "youngest" countries in the world. The number of residents, whose age does not exceed 15 years, is approximately 25%. The next largest ethnic group is Azerbaijanis. According to various estimates, their number ranges from 20% to 40% of the total population. Why do so many Azerbaijanis live on both sides of the Iranian border? This is due to the fact that historically the territory of present-day Azerbaijan is part of the Iranian state system. They are part of Iranian society. And in the western part of Iran, Kurds live (from 5% to 10% of the total). The total population is 78.4 million people.
Languages in Iran
What languages are most common among Iranians? There are many misconceptions about this. Most Iranians are ethnically Persians. Therefore, they speak Persian, or Farsi. Persian is the most common among the Iranian group of the Indo-European language tree. It has about 50 million speakers in Iran (more than 80% of the total population).
Farsi is not only the official language in Iran - it is spoken in Tajikistan and the Pamirs. There are also a few communities that use Farsi in Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. For written speech, Farsi speakers use a slightly modified Arabic alphabet - several letters have been added to it that are not in Arabic itself. The Persian language contains a large number of borrowed lexical units from Arabic. This language influenced Farsi as a result of conquests in the 7th century.
From the history of Farsi
Farsi has a fairly ancient history. The first sources of the Old Persian language date back to the 1st millennium BC. e. Then cuneiform writing was widely used. The most ancient version of Farsi has undergone transformations for 2 thousand years. Approximately in the 1st millennium AD. e. the era of the Middle Persian language came, which was the official language in the 7th century AD. e. political transformations took place - the Persian territory was conquered by the Arabs. At this time, the Middle Persian language was used by small Zoroastrian diasporas and the ethnic group of Parsis in India.
The next stage is the New Persian language, which included elements from Arabic. Starting from the 9th century, Farsi very quickly acquires the status of a second literary language throughout the Muslim world. At present, Farsi differs significantly from classical New Persian. These differences are visible in pronunciation, writing, and vocabulary. The basis for oral speech, corresponding to stylistic and grammatical norms, is the Tehran dialect.
President of Iran
The current leader of Iran is Hassan Rouhani, who won the elections on May 20, 2017. In total, about 41 million Iranians took part in the elections. 57% of the total number of voters voted for the incumbent president, while 38% voted for his opponent, Ibrahim Raisi. The state structure of Iran is such that the president occupies the second place in terms of influence - in the political hierarchy, the head of state is subordinate to the religious leader ("ayatollah"). The religious head is elected by a special council. Now it is Ali Khamenei.
An unusual tradition of communication
Tourists who visit Iran for the first time are usually confused. When they want to pay for taxi services, the driver refuses the money. They come to the store - the same thing happens. What is the reason? It turns out that a cultural practice has been adopted in Iran under the intricate name "taarof". Of course, as in other countries, people do not receive free goods in stores or services. The practice of taarof being a local brand is a manifestation of true Persian courtesy. If someone is invited to visit or to dinner, then the duty of the invitee is to play along with the inviter and first refuse. The practice of taarof in Iran is suitable for almost any communication situation.
Famous Persian carpets
There is a saying among the Persians: "The Persian carpet is impeccable in its imperfection, accurate in its inaccuracy." Where did it come from? In fact, errors and inaccuracies in Persian carpets are deliberately created. So the Persians strive to show that only God can create something perfect. If we ignore the issues of religion, it is an important element of the culture of the Iranians. After all, it is over 2,000 years old. The ability to weave carpets is especially common in some regions - for example, in the city of Kashan, they are passed down from generation to generation.
The Qur'an describes the process of creation of the world: the earth was created by Allah in six days. The first in the infinite void of the Cosmos were the seven heavenly bodies. And then a beautiful carpet of earth spread beneath them. Therefore, the carpet in the Eastern tradition is associated with a mini-model of the kingdom of God on earth. The level of prosperity in the East is measured by how many carpets a person has in a house, and how expensive they are. If for some reason a family could not afford to cover their home with carpets, they evoked compassion. Historians believe that carpets were first invented by ancient Asian nomadic tribes.
Real gold of Iran
It is known that Iran is the largest producer of caviar, one of the most expensive products on the entire globe. It is from here that its rarest species is supplied, and at the same time the most expensive. called "Almas" costs more than 2 million rubles for just one kilogram. The age of fish for this caviar is from 60 to 100 years.
And that's not all. The Iranian tradition of saffron production dates back about 3 millennia. About 90% of all exports of this spice are produced here. At the same time, saffron is more expensive than many jewelry. Its price is about 4 thousand rubles per gram.
Beliefs of Ancient Iran
Mesopotamia was once located on the site of modern Iraq and Iran. The cities that appeared here in antiquity are called the cities of Mesopotamia by modern historians. They reached the peak of their power during the Sassanid era. The ancient Iranian urban culture was formed under the influence of Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism.
Zoroastrianism is a very ancient monotheistic belief. It is named after the founder named Zarathustra. The inhabitants of ancient Greece considered Zarathustra a philosopher and astrologer. They also renamed the prophet Zoroaster (from the ancient Greek "aster" - "star"). According to one version, the prophet lived in the II millennium BC. e. According to researcher Mary Boyce, Zarathustra lived in the territory to the east of the Volga.
Manichaeism arose around the 3rd century. n. e. His prophet was Mani, or Manes, who delivered sermons in 240 CE. e. in the capital of the Sassanid Empire - Ctesiphon. Prophet Mani was sure that all religions of the world are one. The basis of Manichaeism was the opposition between good and evil.
Myths about Iran
In fact, Iran has a very high level of public safety. The last hostilities took place here more than 30 years ago. This misconception has spread because of tourists who tend to confuse Iran and Iraq. Despite the fact that Iran is adjacent to Afghanistan and Iraq, it is absolutely safe to be on its territory. Iranians are very friendly and hospitable people. Every year more and more tourists from different countries come here to relax.
Iran also has a high level of education and culture, especially among women. More than half of university students are girls. Women also work in offices, can do business, take part in elections. In Iran, it is customary for women to wear headscarves, but they do not wear a veil covering their faces. Among the beautiful half there are many fashionistas who love bright clothes.
Iran is in third place in the world in terms of the number of UNESCO cultural monuments, behind only Italy and Egypt. The history of Ancient Persia, the heir of which is modern Iran, has more than 5 thousand years. Previously, a saying was common among Iranians: "Whoever visited Isfahan saw half of the world."
Basic moments
Iran occupies most of the Iranian Plateau, which is an alternation of high plains, mountain ranges and intermountain basins. Low-lying plains adjoin the shores of the Caspian Sea, the Persian and Oman gulfs. In most of the country the climate is continental, on the Caspian coast - subtropical, on the coast of the Oman and Persian Gulf - tropical, with negligible precipitation and high "greenhouse" air humidity. In the Iranian Highlands, the amount of precipitation does not exceed 100–200 mm per year; in some desert interior regions, precipitation does not occur for several years in a row. Natural conditions allow the cultivation of a variety of crops - rice, tea, date and banana palms, pistachios, citrus fruits. The country's economic development is based on oil and gas resources and the developing mining industry.
Iran, along with Afghanistan, is one of the most multinational states in Southwest Asia. More than 60 peoples, ethnic groups and tribes live here, belonging mainly to the Iranian group of the Indo-European language family (75%) and to the Turkic group of the Altaic language family (over 20%). The main ethnic community - the Persians - makes up the majority of the urban population, and also occupy the main area of settlement in the central and southern parts of the country. Gilans, Mazenderans, Talyshs, ethnically close to them, live to the north, Kurds, Lurs, Bakhtiars live to the west, Afghans, Balochs, Tajiks live to the east. The second largest ethnic community - Azerbaijanis - inhabits the northwestern part of the country.
The capital of Iran, Tehran, located on a vast foothill plain, at the foot of the extinct volcano Elburs, is a major transport hub, industrial and cultural center. Of the architectural sights of the capital, the Golestan Palace, the Sepah-Salar Mosque, the buildings of the Mejlis and the Senate deserve attention. Other major cities of the country: Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, Urmia, Abadan, Khorremabad, Kerman, Mashhad.
Geography
Iran is located in southwestern Asia at the crossroads of the Near and Middle East. From the north it is washed by the Caspian Sea, from the south by the Persian and Oman Gulfs. Iran borders on land with seven states: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkmenistan, Turkey; and also shares the waters of the Caspian Sea with Russia and Kazakhstan, the Persian Gulf - with Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, the Gulf of Oman - with Oman.
In terms of area (1,648,000 km²), Iran ranks 17th in the world. Five countries like Germany could fit on the territory of Iran. At the same time, the area of Iran is half that of Yakutia. Almost the entire territory of the country, with the exception of lowland Gilan, Mazandaran, Golestan in the north and Khuzestan in the southwest, is located at an altitude of at least 900 m above sea level. The Zagros mountain range stretches from northwest to southeast.
Due to the arid climate and mountainous terrain, Iran does not have sufficient water resources. There is only one navigable river in the country - Karun. The largest lake is Urmia, located in the northwest of Iran. However, Iran is rich in minerals, especially hydrocarbons. Iran has the world's third largest oil reserves, the second - natural gas, as well as large reserves of coal, iron ore, manganese and zinc.
Most of the territory of Iran is covered with mountains. The main mountain system, Zagros, stretches for 1500 km from northwest to southeast. A considerable number of Zagros peaks exceed 3,000 meters in height, and in the highest mountain region (Fars) - 4,000 meters. Another large mountain range, Elburz, runs along the Iranian coast of the Caspian Sea. The highest point of Iran is located in Elburs - the extinct volcano Damavend (5610 m above sea level).
The area between Zagros and Elburs is occupied by the Central Plateau, where the average height above sea level is 900 m. The eastern part of the plateau is covered by two large saline deserts: Deshte-Kevir and Deshte-Lut. With the exception of a few oases, this area is uninhabited.
There are only two vast lowlands in Iran: the Khuzestan plain in the southwest, and the Caspian coastal lowland in the north. The first is a continuation of the Mesopotamian plain and goes deep into Iranian territory for 120-160 km, where it is interrupted by the Zagros chain. The height throughout the plain does not exceed 3-5 meters above sea level. The Caspian lowland stretches along the seashore for 640 km, while its width does not exceed 40 km. In some places, the coastline from the foot of Elburz is separated by 2 km. Along most of the coast of the Persian and Gulf of Oman, there are no plains, as such, since the Zagros comes directly to the coastline.
There are no large rivers in Iran, and only one is navigable - Karun. The Karun originates in the Zagros (Chekharmekhal and Bakhtiaria) and flows mainly through the territory of Khuzestan in the south-west of the country. River transport is used mainly in the 180 km section of the downstream between the cities of Ahvaz and Khorramshahr, where the Karun flows into the Arvandrud (Shatt al-Arab). The total length of the river is 950 km. Other significant rivers are Karkhe, Dez and Zayande. There are a large number of small short rivers in the north of Iran, especially in Mazandaran. All of them flow down from the Elburz and flow into the Caspian (Khazar) Sea. The rivers in central Iran are full only during the short period of snowmelt in the mountains, but they dry up most of the year.
One of the few reservoirs that never dry up is the salt lake Urmia in South Azerbaijan. However, the salt content there is so high that it does not allow life to be maintained in the lake. Other lakes: Bakhtagan, Gavkhuni, Neyriz, Parishan, Neor, Save. A group of small salt lakes is located in the east of Iran - in Sistan and Balochistan, near the borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan. There are a few fresh lakes in Elburs, north of Tehran.
Climate
Iran has an arid climate. Along the coast of the Caspian Sea - subtropical. In the north of the country in winter, the temperature often drops below 0°, in July it occasionally reaches 30°. The average annual rainfall is 1700 mm in the humid western regions and 680 mm in the dry eastern regions. In summer the temperature in the deserts can exceed 40°C. In the west of Iran, in the Zagros mountains, the temperature in winter is almost always below 0 °, heavy snowfalls and strong winds are characteristic. The coast of the Persian and Oman Gulfs is located in a zone of hot and humid tropical climate, the temperature ranges from + 16-18 ° C in winter to + 24-30 ° C in summer, with a relatively large amount of precipitation (up to 1000 mm on the slopes of the mountains, up to 600 mm in flat areas).
Population
Since the Islamic Revolution, the country has experienced a constant population explosion. The population has doubled since 1979 and reached 70 million in 2006. However, in the 1990s, the birth rate dropped markedly. According to forecasts, by 2050 the population of Iran will reach 90 million. More than a third of the population has not reached the age of 30. The literacy rate is 79%. Urbanization - 67%. The fertility rate is 1.87 (2.15 is necessary for the reproduction of generations). The number of Iranians abroad exceeds 4 million. Most of them emigrated to Australia, North America and Europe after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. In addition, more than a million refugees live in Iran itself - mainly from Afghanistan and Waziristan.
The Iranian Constitution guarantees every citizen, regardless of nationality and religion, social protection: pension, unemployment benefit, disability, medical insurance. Education and medical services are free. The average annual per capita income is $2,700 (2006). About 40% of the population lives below the poverty line.
Iran is a multinational state. Persians make up the majority of the country's population. 70% of the population belong to the Iranian peoples - the ancestors of the Indo-European group of languages, descended from the Aryan tribes who migrated to Iran from Central Asia. The majority of the population, in addition to the official language (Farsi), also speaks at least one of the Iranian languages. Persians and Iranian peoples make up 64% of the population, Azerbaijanis - 21%, Kurds - 9%, Arabs - 2%, Balochs and Turkmens - 2% each. In addition, there are national minorities of Armenians, Assyrians, Georgians and Pashtuns.
Most Iranians are Muslims. 90% of the population are Shiites (state religion). Along with Iraq and Bahrain, Iran is one of the states where Shiites make up more than half of the population. There are two holy cities of Shiites in Iran: Mashhad (mausoleum of Imam Reza) and Qom. Qom is the most important religious center of Islam with many Islamic seminaries and universities.
Sunnis make up about 8% of the population. The other 2% are Baha'is, Mandaeans, Hindus, Yezidis, Zoroastrians, Jews and Christians. The last 3 are officially recognized and protected by the constitution. Seats in the Majlis are reserved for representatives of these religions, while even Sunnis do not have such a privilege. At the same time, the Bahá'ís (the largest religious minority) are being persecuted. The state system of Iran, based on religion, implies the truncation of certain rights and freedoms. In particular, there is gender inequality (although this is not as pronounced as in most other Muslim countries). Homosexuality is a criminal offense and in most cases punishable by death.
Iranian state energy company Pars Special Economic Energy Zone announced in June 2008 that all unmarried and unmarried employees are required to marry by the end of September. Failure to comply with the leadership's decision is punishable by dismissal. Iran's economic problems have led to a demographic crisis - many Iranians are in no hurry to start a family. Civil servants loyal to state policy seek to change the existing order of things. For example, the governor of one of the provinces of Iran announced that only family people will be hired in state institutions.
Economy
Iran is the largest economy in the Middle East, second only to China, Japan, India and South Korea in terms of GDP in Asia.
Iran is an agro-industrial country with a developed oil industry. There are oil refineries and petrochemical enterprises. Extraction of oil, coal, gas, copper, iron, manganese and lead-zinc ores. Mechanical engineering and metalworking, as well as the food and textile industries are widely represented. Handicraft production of carpets and hardware is developed. Among the most important agricultural crops: wheat, barley, rice, legumes, cotton, sugar beets, sugar cane, tobacco, tea, nuts, pistachios. Animal husbandry is based on the breeding of sheep, goats, camels, and cattle. 7.5 million hectares of land are irrigated.
45% of budget revenues come from oil and gas exports, 31% from taxes and fees. In 2007, GDP was $852 billion. GDP growth amounted to 5%, in 2008 growth of 7% is predicted. Inflation is 15.8%.
Main export items: crude oil and refined petroleum products, metal ores, agricultural products. The main import items are products of heavy engineering and the chemical industry, automobiles, iron, steel, minerals, textiles, and paper.
Iran's main trading partners include China, Japan, Germany, Russia, France, Italy and Turkey. Iran is a key member of the Economic Cooperation Organization, which includes the countries of Southwest Asia as well as the Central Asian republics of the former USSR. Iran is actively developing economic ties with the countries of the region and aims to form a free trade area similar to the EU. Free commercial and industrial zones are being developed in Chabahar and on the island of Kish.
culture
Religiosity is a special cultural trait of Iran as it permeates every aspect of life. Islam is the belief in one God and people are obliged to serve him in accordance with the Qur'an. In Arabic, "Islam" means submission, and "Muslim" is one who submits to the will of God. The most visible manifestations of Shiism in Iran are modest dress and visits to mosques. The official language of Iran is Farsi, Persian from the Indo-European group. In addition, several regional languages are spoken here, such as: Azar, Kurdish, Arabic, and Lori (which is spoken by the Lori); and in a variety of languages of 26 provinces of Iran: Gilaki, Baluchi, Turkmen, etc. After the adoption of Islam, the Arabic alphabet entered the Persian language. But there is no standard way to transliterate Farsi into English.
Most Iranian art forms originated before the Arab conquest and reached their peak during the Islamic era, although the art is rarely without religious influence. Persian carpets are an integral part of the culture of Iran and the origin of this art form falls on the fifth century BC. The most melodic music in Iran is the music of national minorities: Turkmens, Azars, Kurds and Lores. Persian poetry originated in the 9th century CE. and slowly developed from epic poems to unrhymed couplets, which form the bulk of Iran's poetic treasury. Persian painting developed during the period of the Seljuk dynasty, but was practically forgotten until the 16th century, and then transformed into calligraphy. In addition, the Persians produced metal products, glass, and wooden products. Great films are being shot in Iran right now. Mohsen Makhmalbaf, the author of the film Gabbeh, is the most criticized and revered Iranian director.
Iranian cuisine is one of the most delicious in the world. The main ingredients are rice, bread, fresh vegetables, fruits and herbs. The meat, usually lamb or mutton, is cut into small pieces and cooked in a small amount of fat, but it rarely dominates the table. But unfortunately, travelers rarely get to try true Iranian cuisine, as in most local restaurants, you will be offered two or three types of kebabs or rice with vegetables. So for true gourmets, it is better to try to visit the locals or visit a restaurant in a high-level hotel. Tea is the national drink of Iran, here it is drunk strong and hot. But everywhere in Iran you can buy all kinds of fruit juices, milkshakes and yogurts. Alcohol in Iran is forbidden by religion, although it is allowed to be drunk for religious purposes, in mosques and by non-Muslims with special permission.
Story
The first people who founded settlements on the Iranian plateau were, apparently, the Elamites. They founded the city of Shush in the southwest. Aryas came here in the second millennium BC, and brought with them their culture and crafts. Persian history dates back to the 6th century BC, when King Cyrus the Great from the Achamenite dynasty began to rule the region. The Akhamenite dynasty founded the first Persian Empire, which was the prototype of modern Iran.
In the 4th century BC. Alexander the Great captured Persia after his victories over Greece, Egypt, Turkey and Iraq. Despite three peace proposals from Darius III, Alexander captured Shush. From here he sent his armies over the mountains to the east and captured Persepolis. After the death of Alexander in 323 BC, his empire was divided into three parts, which were ruled by three dynasties. The Seleusids became the rulers of Persia. But they found it difficult to control the numerous ethnic groups, in particular the nomadic Parthian tribe, who occupied most of Persia and held out until the 3rd century AD. The Sassanites came from the central regions of Persia, which were not under the control of the Parthians. They brought Zoroastrianism with them and began to develop cities and trade, but were eventually forced out by the Arabs who came here in 637 AD.
The Arabs held out here until 1050. They converted the local population to Islam, introduced a new Persian alphabet and introduced Islamic culture. The Arabs were driven out by the Turks, who took Isfahan in 1051. Despite numerous uprisings, the Turks maintained their dominance in the region until the 13th century, when the hordes of Genghis Khan came here. At the end of the 14th century, the power of the Mongols weakened, and the Timurid dynasty reigned in Iran, but it was under pressure from the tribes of Turkmens, Ottoman Turks and European colonists-Portuguese.
Under the rule of the Safavid dynasty (1502-1722), Iran was part of the vast Persian Empire. The great Shah Abbas I and his successors preserved Shiism and restored Isfahan, but this dynasty fell at the beginning of the 18th century, after the invasion of the Afghans. The Afghans were not able to hold power for a long time, and for some time Iran was ruled by successive weak kings. In 1779, Agha Mohammed Khan united the Turkish Gayars, entered Iran and moved the capital to Tehran. Gayar rulers ruled Iran peacefully until 1921 and managed to maintain neutrality during World War I, but could not avoid the partial occupation of Iran by British forces seeking control of the oil.
One of the last Gayar rulers put forward the idea of elections and a legislative assembly (Majlis), but the idea was realized only by the Persian Khan Reza, who became the first prime minister in 1923. Before him was the task of pulling the country out of the abyss of the Middle Ages. Iran (the name was officially adopted in 1934) remained neutral during World War II, but the British and Russians established spheres of influence here to keep Germany out. In 1941 Reza was exiled to South Africa and his son Mohammed Reza followed him. After the war, the Americans insisted on the Russians leaving the region, and the young Muhammad Reza, who received absolute power, began to establish contacts with the West.
Over the next 30 years, they became a confrontation between the power of Reza, who received the title of Shah, and his regime of repression and modernization. The economic situation in the country has gone from bad to worse due to the mismanagement of oil, and the opposition has met these changes with sabotage and mass demonstrations. The Shah's response was desperate armed attempts to suppress the rebellion with the support of the Americans, but in the end, the Shah nevertheless left the country on January 16, 1979. And a few weeks later, the acclaimed leader Ayatollah Khomeini, head of the opposition, returned from exile to cheers from millions. The nationalism and Islamic fundamentalism of the ayatollah led to the creation of the Islamic Republic and the US lost its influence here.
After some time, the ayatollah was proclaimed Imam (leader), and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein made an adventurous attempt to seize Khuzestan, a region of Iran. It was an ill-conceived move that dragged both countries into a war in which hundreds of thousands of people were killed on both sides. Peace negotiations began only in 1988. Western countries and the USSR supported Iraq, choosing the lesser of two evils, but at the same time they supplied Iran with weapons, albeit at inflated prices.
On June 4, 1989, Ayatollah Khomeini died, leaving the question of a successor open. Two months later, Hoyjat-ol-Eslam Rafsanjani became the elected president, and the former president, Ayatollah Ali Khomeini, became the Supreme Spiritual Leader of the country. The United States imposed a trade embargo on Iran, explaining that Iran supports Islamic terrorist groups, destabilizing the situation in the Middle East. After the 1997 election of moderate Iranian President Hojat-ol-Eslam Seyyed Mohammed Khatami, many hoped that relations with most of the world's countries would improve. But Iran's relations with Germany (and most of Europe) deteriorated sharply in 1997 after it was proven that the Iranian government was involved in the murder of Iranian Kurdish émigrés in Germany a few years earlier.
The election of Khatami allowed women and young people to hope that the strictest rules of Islam would be somewhat relaxed. There is now a national dialogue in the country to ease government restrictions between Khatami's liberalists and Khomeini's fundamentalists, but so far it has only led to more censorship and more discrimination.
Natural resources of Iran
The territory of Iran is located at the junction of Southwest Asia with the Near and Middle East.
Almost the entire territory of the country is located on the Iranian Plateau, most of which is covered with mountains.
From the northwest to the southeast, the main mountain system of the country, the Zagros, stretches for 1500 km. Many of its peaks rise above sea level by 3000 m.
Along the Iranian coast of the Caspian Sea there is another mountain range - Elbrus, within which the highest point of the country - Damavend, is located, this is an extinct volcano, 5610 m high.
Between Zagros and Elbrus is the Central Plateau, the average height of which is 900 m. From the east, the plateau is covered with large saline deserts - Deshte-Kevir and Deshte-Lut.
Within the deserts there are oases, and the rest of the territory is uninhabited.
There are also vast lowlands in Iran - in the southwestern part of the country - the Khuzestan plain and in the north - the coastal Caspian lowland.
The Khuzestan plain goes deep into Iran and is a continuation of the Mesopotamian lowland. The height of the plain above sea level is no more than 3-5 m.
The Caspian lowland stretches along the coast for 640 km with a width of 40 km. There are no plains on the coast of the Persian and Oman Gulfs.
The climate of Iran is arid, subtropical on the Caspian coast.
Winter temperatures in the north drop to 0 degrees, while summer temperatures sometimes reach +30 degrees.
On average, precipitation in the west is 1700 mm per year, and 680 mm in the east.
The Zagros Mountains are characterized by heavy snowfalls and strong winds, and winter temperatures are always below 0 degrees.
The coast of the bays is located in the zone of humid and hot tropical climate. The summer temperature here rises to +24, +30 degrees, and in winter it is +16, +18 degrees.
Of the major rivers, only one flows through the country - the Karun River, with a length of 950 km. Other rivers include:
- carhe,
- Zayande.
The main part of the rivers originates in Elbrus and flows into the Caspian Sea. During the year, the rivers of Iran dry up and are full-flowing only during the period of snowmelt in the mountains.
Only the country's salt lake, Urmia, located in Iranian Azerbaijan, never dries up. The lake has no inhabitants due to the high level of salinity.
There are small salt lakes in the eastern part in Sistan and Balochistan, not far from the border with Afghanistan and Pakistan.
There are freshwater lakes in Elbrus, north of the country's capital - Tehran.
Forests, whose area is 12 million hectares, are concentrated in the mountains on the slopes facing the Caspian Sea.
Oak, ironwood, boxwood, walnut, pomegranate, edible chestnut, almond, medlar, pistachio, persimmon grow in the lower mountain belt up to a mark of 900 m.
Up to a height of 2000 m, chestnut-leaved oak, hornbeam, clan, elm, carcass, yew, and hazel prevail.
Bushes appear above the 2400 m mark.
The forest cover of the country is 7.3%, and the exploited forests are all deciduous.
Remark 1
Ungulates are common among animals - goitered gazelle, ibex, Iranian fallow deer, mountain sheep urial, bearded goat, mouflon, kulan, wild boar, common gezel.
Brown and white-breasted bears are found in the mountains. Of the predators, there are leopard, reed cat, manul, jackal, wolf, striped hyena, astrakhan, you can meet a cheetah.
Numerous rodents and birds.
Oil and gas of Iran
According to expert assessments of oil reserves, Iran is in 4th place in the world and is its largest producer.
The main oil reserves are located within the Persian oil and gas basin and account for 10% of world reserves or 132.5 billion barrels.
According to the data, oil production in 2005 was about 3.979 million barrels. Of these, 1.51 million barrels remained in the country, the rest of the oil was exported.
Such impurities as sulfur in Iranian oil contain 1.1-1.5%.
The main Iranian oil fields include:
- Agadjari, with reserves of 1.9 billion tons;
- Bibe-Khekime, about 1.1 billion tons;
- Azedagan, the field was discovered in 1999 and has 4 main oil fields - Saruk, Gadvan, Fahliyan, Kajdomi. The reserves of this deposit amount to 5.7 billion tons;
- Anaran, discovered in 2005, with reserves of 1.1 billion barrels. Until 2011, Lukoil was involved in its development;
- Ahvaz, whose reserves are 4.1 billion tons;
- South Pars, with super-giant dimensions, whose reserves are estimated at 2.7 billion tons. The field, discovered in 1990, was divided into 28 blocks, and licenses for oil production in it belong to the oil companies of France, Russia, Malaysia, Iran, and South Korea.
In addition to these, there are about a dozen major oil fields in the country.
According to proven reserves of natural gas, which are estimated at 22.4 trillion. cube m, which is 15% of world reserves, Iran ranks 2nd in the world.
The main reserves are free gas, and associated gas is 3.4 trillion. cube m.
Gas production in 2014 amounted to 165 billion cubic meters. m and completely went to the needs of the domestic market.
A large gas condensate field is located in the waters of the Persian Gulf - South Pars. Its reserves are estimated at 7.9 trillion. cube m. of gas and more than 2 billion tons of condensate.
North Pars is an offshore field with gas reserves of 1.36 trillion cubic meters. cube m.
The identified resources of the Kengan onshore field have reserves of 3 trillion cubic meters. cube m of gas, and the Nar, Agkhar, Dalan fields - 368 billion cubic meters. m.
A large gas field was discovered in 2000 in the south of the country near the coast of the Persian Gulf - Tabnak. Iranian experts estimated its reserves at 395-445 billion cubic meters. m of gas and 30 million tons of condensate.
Remark 2
Oil and gas production in Iran is hampered as a result of US and European sanctions imposed on the country. As a result of restrictions, hydrocarbon production decreased in 2013 by 11 million tons. The largest investment projects related to the oil and gas industry in Iran have been suspended.
The sanctions have resulted in:
- a sharp reduction in production;
- lack of access to modern technologies;
- disconnection from the SWIFT system;
- lack of foreign investment.
Other types of minerals of Iran
In addition to oil and gas, there are other minerals in the bowels of Iran.
Among them is hard coal, the estimated reserves of which are 40 billion tons. They are concentrated in the Tebessky and Elbursky coal basins. The deposits contain 92 coal seams, 18 of which have a working thickness of 3.8-10.9 m. The coals are high-ash and require enrichment.
Iron ore reserves are about 10 billion tons with an iron content of 36-60%. Large iron ore deposits are located in the Bafk and Sirjan regions. There is ore in the region of Yerak and Bandar Abbas.
Chromium ore reserves are estimated at 30 million tons, and the most important area of their concentration is Minab and Sebzevar. In Sebzevar, reserves of 1.2 million tons are probable, and 10 million tons are promising.
In the period from 1998-2002, 14 new copper and chromium deposits were discovered in the east of the country. The largest deposit of chromium is located in the vicinity of Iranshahru.
The reserves of gold ores amount to 3 million tons and are concentrated in Muta - the Senendage region. New deposits of gold have been discovered southwest of Zanjan.
In terms of metal, the total copper reserves are 800 million tons. The most developed is the porphyry copper deposit Sercheshme - Kerman region.
Polymetallic ores are represented by lead-zinc in the areas of Zanjan, Qazvin, Isfahan, Yenarek, Yazd, Bafk, Uzbekkuh.
The Yenguran field is the largest with proven reserves of 9 million tons.
From other minerals, the best blue turquoise in the world is mined here. There are rock salt, barite, gypsum, sulfur, marble, volcanic tuff, refractory clay, limestone, dolomite, fluorite, quartzite in Iran.
Overview of the geography of Iran from the corresponding section of the Iranian publication in Russian "Spring of Freedom", issued by the Press Service of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Moscow. We have supplemented this publication with relevant data, specifying them specifically in the notes. Unfortunately, despite being active in Russian (Iran has several large websites in Russian, Iranian radio broadcasts in Russian, and in recent months it has been announced that Iran will soon launch a satellite TV channel in Russian), basic publications on the geography of Iran for Russian-speaking audience Iranian government media release extremely rarely. 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, transmitted by the Iranian foreign broadcast "Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran". You will find on these pages and materials about the provinces of Iran.
Geographic map of Iran.
Geographic map of Iran. It marks the mountains, deserts, rivers and lakes of Iran, as well as the main cities.
Geography of Iran:
Location and territory
“Having a territory of 1648195 sq. km (16th largest country in the world (According to other sources, the 17th country. Approx. site).
Iran is located in the eastern part of the northern hemisphere, in the southwest of 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-1 mi (85 km from Chabahar) and 39 degrees and 47 minutes (80 km north of Maku) north latitude.
Iran borders on the newly independent states on the territory of the former USSR (the border partly runs along the Caspian Sea), Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Turkey. The total length of the Iranian borders is 8731 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 belongs to deserts, and the rest is land suitable for agricultural use.
In the mountainous parts of Iran, northern, western, southern and central mountain ranges can be distinguished.
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;
The Alborz mountain range in the north of the Tehran province and in the south of the provinces of Gilan and Mazandaran;
Mountains Aladag, Binalud, Hezar Masjed and Karadag in Khorasan (this chain ends with the Hindu Kush in Afghanistan).
The highest mountain in Iran is Damavend (5671 m).
Mount Damavand -
highest point in Iran
On the collage: Mount Damavend is the highest point in Iran.
On the collage: Mount Damavend is the highest point in Iran. On the left - a plan of the climbing path to Damavend from Tehran. On this plan, you can see 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 of the collage: View of Damavend from Tehran. Bottom right: During the summer months, the snow at the summit melts.
(The name of Mount Damavend is also known in Russian spelling as Demavand, 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").
Damavend is covered with snow in winter and the snow melts in summer. But the snowy appearance of the mountain also gave rise to the origin of its name. Damavend is, in translation, "frozen, frosty mountain."
Demavend 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 Damavend 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 the Iranians. There are many legends and stories about this mountain. The old legends of Iran speak at length about the summit of Damavand. Writers and poets, especially epics such as Ferdowsi, dedicated many poems to her. Mount Damavand is sung in ancient and modern Persian literature as a symbol of valor and resilience, it inspired such great poets as Malek-ash-shoara Bahar. Sir Percy Sykes, in his book A History of Iran, writes the following about this mountain: “In the south of the Caspian Sea there is a grand volcano Damavand, whose height reaches more than 19 thousand feet and which is considered the highest point on the Asian continent, west of the Himalayas.”
The mountain peak Damavand with a height of 5671 m is the most majestic and beautiful peak of Iran. Due to its slender conical shape, it is considered a unique peak. Among other cone-shaped mountain peaks of the world, one can point to Fujiyama in Japan with a height of 3770 m and Ararat in Armenia with a height of 5000 m. However, they are inferior to Damavand in height.
Judging by the assumptions, the Damavand volcano died out about 100 thousand years ago. The rocks at the foot of the mountain have a sulfuric 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 the middle of summer is about -4 degrees. There are many routes to conquer the peaks of Damavand,” the Iranian station notes.
The western mountains include several mountain ranges, collectively known as the Zagros. They start in the northwest of Iran and go in a southeasterly direction. Among the most important peaks of Zagros, one should single out such as Sari-Dash, Chekhsl-Cheshme, Panje Ali. Alvand, Bakhtiyari, Pishkuh and Poshtkuh, Oshtorankukh and Zardkuh (yellow mountain), which is the highest peak in this mountain range (4547 m above sea level).
southern mountains stretched from the province of Khuzestan to the province of Sistan and Balochistan, ending with the Suleiman Mountains in Pakistan. Among the mountain ranges belonging to this group, one can single out Sepidar, Meymand, Bashagsrd, Bam Posht, etc.
Central and eastern mountains include several scattered dilapidated mountain ranges and peaks that cover most 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 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 country around the perimeter, most of the water flows are inland. 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 are Kyzyl Ozan, Sefidrud, Shur, Akharchay, Zanjanchay, Shakhrud, Karasu, Araks, Chlus, Khoraz, Tadzhan, Gorgan and Atrek.
The main rivers of the basin of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman: Karun, Jarrakhi, Karkhe, Dez, Zohre, 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 and, as a result of the active use of their waters for irrigation, turn into small streams during the summer months. Among the internal rivers of Iran, the following can be distinguished:
Karaj, Jajrud and Khable-rud, which provide drinking and irrigation water to Tehran and its environs;
Zayande-rud, which irrigates the valleys and populated areas in Isfahan and near this city;
Bampur and Khalil-rud, supplying water to the Jasmurian lowland in Balochistan;
Kalshur, Jovain and Kashafrud in Khorasan (the last of these at the end of its course disappears into the saline deserts of Turkmenistan);
The rivers Kor in the province of Fars and Mashkel in the east of Balochistan, as well as the Khirmand river, whose delta 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 the relief has also determined the diversity of the climate in Iran. AT In general, it can be said that Iran has a continental climate, which covers most of the interior of the country. Air temperature is subject to serious fluctuations depending on the time of year and on the location of each specific area: the internal deserts of Iran are among the hottest in the world, but the mountains play a very important role in lowering the air temperature. Although the average air temperature in the country is 18 degrees Celsius, it should be noted that in mountainous areas the minimum temperature can be kept at -30 degrees, and in the southern regions of the country the maximum temperature reaches more than 50 degrees.
Rainfall in Iran is rather scarce and rare. Especially central areas. The exception is the coast of the Caspian Sea. On the plateau, it rains mainly as a result of winter cyclones that come here from the Mediterranean Sea.
The distribution of rainfall depends on the relief.
It can be said that on the Caspian coast the climate is temperate with abundant rainfall, while in the northwestern uplands the Mediterranean climate prevails with cold rainy winters and dry hot summers. The coast of the Persian Gulf is subject to a hot, humid, but non-rainy climate. The rest of the central and eastern regions of Iran have a continental type of climate.
Lake Orumiye (Urmia) -
the largest inland water basin of Iran
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 used in Russian as Urmia). 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, said the following about Lake Urmia:
“The Urmia National Park in northwestern Iran contains one of the largest inland lakes in the country. The lake has an area of about 5700 square kilometers, a length of 130 to 14 km, a width of 15 to 50 km. The lake is located at an altitude of 1267 m above sea level. The deepest point of Lake Urmia has a depth of about 15 m, 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 the 59 natural gas storages. This lake, due to its excellent natural conditions, serves as a permanent and temporary habitat for many rare species of birds. 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 largest salt reserves in the world, 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 Aji-chai, Sufi-chai, Zarrine-rud, Simine-rud, Shakhri-chai, Mahabad-rud and Nazly-chai.
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 a large amount of salt along the Aji-chai (Bitter River). The water of the lake is characterized by increased density, and although it changes in different seasons, on average it is about 300 g. per litre.
The high density of water does not allow it to freeze during the cold season. This feature of the lake was the reason that in winter a huge number of birds flock here. Despite the cold, the presence of a large number of migratory birds on the lake gives it an inimitable beauty. It is appropriate to note that Lake Urmia in the summer is a special excellent place for recreation and swimming. The increased 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 water and mud contained in the lake take the opportunity to get some medical treatment in Urmia. The beaches near the ports of Sharafkhane and Gelemkhane receive 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, studies show that one of the species of geoplankton called Artemia can still exist in this lake, its food is a green lichen growing in Urmia.
Artemia is one of the most valuable varieties of plankton that can live in an extremely salty environment. She, in turn, is the food for many species of farmed marine animals: shrimps, fish and even birds. Moreover, Artemia, living in Lake Urmia, is one of the most persistent types 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
Washing the south of Iran, the Persian Gulf is shallow and has an area of 240,000 square kilometers. Through the Strait of Hormuz, it provides access to the open ocean and thus is of great economic and strategic importance for the country.
There are numerous islands in the Persian Gulf, the most important of which are as follows:
Qeshm (the largest island of Iran with an area of 1491 sq. km), (89.7), Lavan (76), Larak (48.7), Hormoz (41.9), Hengam (33.6), Bani Forur (26.2), Hendorabi (21.1), Khark (20.5) and Sirri (17.3).
The Caspian Sea with an area of 424,200 sq. km is the largest lake in the world. It is located in the north of Iran and provides communication not only with the former USSR, but also with European countries. It is the most important source of products for the fishing industry.
There are numerous inland lakes in Iran, many of which have salt water and can dry up completely during a long drought. Major Iranian lakes: Orumiye, Namak, Jazmuriyan, Bakhtegan, Tashq, Maharlu, Khoz Soltan, Famur (Parishan), Zerivar.
Flora and fauna
180200 sq. km of Iranian territory are occupied by forests. We meet the most significant forest areas on the northern slopes of the mountain range that runs along the coast of the Caspian Sea. These forests are mixed-deciduous (oaks, pines, cypresses, etc.). In addition to these forests, individual oak forests and thickets of wild pistachios are found on the well-moistened slopes of the Zagros.
The central regions of the country are dominated by spring meadows on relative elevations and rare thickets of shrubs in the lowlands. Most of the inland deserts are completely uninhabited, with no sign of vegetation or any life during the long, hot summers.
Among the representatives of the animal world of Iran, one can single out bears living in the mountains, wild sheep and goats, gazelles, wild donkeys, wild boars, wild cats and panthers, as well as foxes. Pheasants, partridges, hawks and kites are widely represented.
Iranian population
The population of Iran is 58110227 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 1 sq. km. km, which indicates the rapid growth of the population of Iran. (The population of Iran, according to data for 2009, amounted to 80,208,000 people (17th place in the world). The population density is 42 people / km² Note site).
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 a hundred thousand people. Tehran, the country's capital, 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%). Least of all urbanization has affected the provinces of Boyerahmad and Kohgiluyeh, where for every 100 people only 30 live in cities.
The percentage of literate people over 6 years of age is 82.5% in urban areas and 63.1% in rural areas. Among persons older than 10 years, 88.6% are employed, 11.4% are unemployed.
ethnic groups
Modern Iranians are usually seen as descendants of the Aryans who settled on the plateau in the second millennium BC.
During the long Iranian history, many other ethnic groups entered the Iranian plateau and settled there. Thus, 45.6% of the population are Persians, 16.8% - Turks, 9.1 - 1.2 - Arabs. The remaining 26.3% represent other ethnic groups. It should be noted that non-Aryan ethnic groups live mainly in the northwest and in the border western regions of the country.
(According to 2008 data, Persians make up 51% of the population, Azerbaijanis and Turkic-speaking peoples close to them - 20% -35%, Kurds - 7%, Arabs -3%; Iranian-speaking peoples - Talysh, Gilyans, Mazenderans, Lurs and Bakhtiyars - 10 %, Persian-speaking Balochi and Turkic-Turkmen - 2% each.In addition, there are national minorities (1%) of Armenians, Circassians, Assyrians and Georgians.
Related information:
Fars Province - Beginning of Iran
From the name of this province, foreigners began to call the whole country - Persia. The Voice of the Islamic Republic of Iran reported on 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 for the formation and prosperity of Iranian and world civilizations ...
Relief patterns of four thousand years of history, captured 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 Pasargad, preserved from the time 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, she preached Zoroastrianism - the worship of fire. Note site), scattered throughout the cities of the province of Fars, are signs development and prosperity of ancient Persian culture in this part of Iranian land. In addition, Fars is rich in the history of its culture. Fars was the birthplace of such prominent 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 about 1100 BC. some tribe of the Aryan (ancient Iranian) race, having overcome a great distance and various natural barriers, penetrated from the north to the Iranian Highlands. 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 the capital of the Iranian states.
The tribe of Persians, which we know under the name "Achaemenids", in 559-330. BC. rule in Fars and gradually expanded its sphere of influence to other parts 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 Pasargada (Tomb of Cyrus).
After the spread of the Islamic religion in Iran, Fars became the center of the rule of such dynasties as the Atabeys 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 tell 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 the province of Fars is the city of Shiraz, which, due to its enormous cultural and historical significance, is one of the most popular cities in the world.
The province of Fars is generally a mountainous region, and the heights existing in this province are a continuation of the Zagros mountain range, extending from the northwest to the south of the country. The province of Fars, due to its proximity to the Persian Gulf in the south and the proximity to the desert regions in the northeast, has a unique climatic diversity.
In total, there are three climatic zones in Fars Province. The northern and northwestern parts are mountainous regions with cold winters and moderate summers, while the central parts are characterized by relatively rainy, moderate winters and dry, hot summers. In the south and southeast of the province, the weather is moderate in winter, but it is extremely hot in summer.
The water resources of Fars Province are divided into groundwater and flowing water. Due to the climatic diversity, rivers, springs, waterfalls and lakes abound in Fars province. The river Kor, one of the most important rivers in the province of Fars, originates in the northern mountains and flows into Lake Bakhtegan. The Firuzabad, Kara Amadzh and Fakhliyan rivers also originate in the mountainous heights of the province and eventually flow into the Persian Gulf. There are numerous lakes in the province of Fars. Three lakes, Bakhtegan, Maharlu and Parishan (or Famur) are larger than all other lakes in the province.
The presence of numerous waterfalls, natural springs and river coast at high altitudes 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 land, Fars Province is considered one of the main centers of agriculture in Iran. Wheat, barley and corn are an important part of the province's grain production. Rice and citrus fruits in Fars province are also of good quality. In the province of Fars, along with agriculture, cattle breeding is also widely developed, partially meeting the country's need for meat and dairy products.
The population of the province of Fars, 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 peoples, other languages and dialects, such as Turkic, Lur and Arabic, are widely spoken in this province. The presence of various religious minorities: Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, etc. in Fars is one of the distinctive cultural features of this province.
It is pertinent to know that the province of Fars is considered one of the main centers of nomadic tribes in Iran. In this area, the Qashqai, Khamsa, Mamasani and Alwar Kohkiluya tribes lead a nomadic lifestyle, each of which is divided into numerous clans. The nomadic tribes of Fars have created a rich culture throughout history. In their life, the clan-tribal culture is partially preserved, which is considered one of the tourist attractions of this part of Iranian land.
The province of Fars is also famous for the production of handicrafts such as carpets, rugs, mats and gebbe.
In the cities of Fars, mosaic work and inlay work, wood carving, etc. were widely used. In the field of metal industry and related arts, Fars Province has a long track record. Silver carving, engraving and chasing on silver stand out especially here.
The flora of the province of Fars is made up of forest trees and industrial and medicinal plants. The most important tree species there are the following: mountain almond, willow, oak and some other industrial and pharmaceutical plants, among which are licorice, bullock, katira, asafoetida and astragalus. The province of Fars, due to its climatic diversity, is inhabited by various animals. These include mammals, birds, aquatic and marine animals. There are protected habitats for animals in Fars province.”
Religion and language
According to the latest census (1986), 98.8 percent of Iran's population is Muslim. Among them, 91% are Shiites, and the rest refer to the Hanafis, Shafiites, Malekites, Hanbalis, Zaidis 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. It is used in Iran (for Persian Note. In addition, Azerbaijani, Arabic, etc. are spoken in various parts of the country.
Administrative division of the country
According to the Law on Administrative Division of 1992, Iran consists of 24 (for 1994) provinces (stop), 277 city regions (shahrestan) and 604 districts (bakhsh). Each province is divided into several regions, which in turn are divided into districts, and the districts are divided into several rural counties. The counties consist of several villages.
A province is ruled by a governor-general (ostandar), a city region by a governor (farmandar), a district by a district governor (bakhshdar), a rural county by the head of the county (dehdar) and each village by a 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. Approx. site).
Agriculture
Major agricultural 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 beet (3,536,000 tons), sugar cane (1,448,000 tons), cotton (394,000 tons). ) and tobacco (16,000 tons).
animal husbandry
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 land and special pastures. Cattle breeding is mainly developed in Khorasan, Azerbaijan, Kurdistan, Lurestan and Fars. Recently, nomadic pastoralism has largely given way to mechanized livestock and poultry complexes that are 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 fish resources in the Caspian Sea in the north and in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman in the south. Iranian fishermen constantly fish in these areas. Many types of fish, in particular salmon and sturgeon, which gives the famous caviar, are harvested in the Caspian Sea, and shrimp are harvested in southern waters. One of the most important centers of the fishing industry is the city of Bandar Abbas on the coast of the Persian Gulf, where several canneries are located. In 1990, Iran received about 270 tons of caviar, at least 9,246 tons of shrimp and lobster, 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, which includes 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 Khark Island. (Iran has 10% of the world's proven oil reserves and is in second place in the world in terms of 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 oil products due to the lack of oil refining capacity in the country.
Iran has one of the largest gas reserves in the world given that oil reserves are gradually depleted, Iran can rely on its gas reserves in the future.
Total electricity production in Iran in 1990 to. 54,896 million kW, including 6,083 million kW at hydroelectric power plants, 38,836 at thermal power plants, 8,723 at gas and 1,254 million kW at diesel stations. (Iranian energy allows to generate 33,000 megawatts of electricity annually (2004). 75% of this amount comes from natural gas, 18% from oil, 7% from hydroelectric power plants. Wind and geothermal and solar power plants began to operate in the country. At the same time, Iran is experiencing a shortage of electricity Imports of electricity exceed exports by 500 million kilowatt-hours.
In 1990, there were 967 operating 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 stage of development, after the completion of all the work, Iran will become one of the most important industrial countries in the world. Among other industrial facilities, automobile factories, a pipe factory ... in addition, numerous textile, tobacco, clothing, canning, sugar, glass, paper, wood processing, cement factories and factories, as well as factories for the production of building materials are located throughout the country. , mosaics, matches.
Carpet weaving can be distinguished among the main Iranian folk crafts. and the manufacture of carpets, enamels, work on metal, wood, 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 are crude oil and refined petroleum products, metal ores, fruits and nuts, and carpets. Iran's main imports : products of heavy engineering and chemical industry, automobiles, iron, steel, minerals, food, consumer goods, textiles, paper.
With the exception of the southern part of the Karun River and Lake Orumiye, there are no navigable rivers and lakes in Iran. Therefore, the main part of the transportation is carried out by means of various types of land transport, incl. highways.
In 1939, the Trans-Iranian railway with a length of 1392 km was built exclusively at the expense of local capital.
It connected the port of Bandar-e Torkaman, located on the Caspian Sea, and Bandar-s Imam Khomeini on the coast of the Persian Gulf. This major highway runs from the south to the north of the country, passing through cities such as Ahvaz, Dezful, Arak, Qum, Tehran, Garmsar, Firuzkuh, Gayem Shahr and Behshahr ... (Now a number of other lines have been built).
Air transport began in Iran in 1926...
Maritime transportation 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, Khark, Bushehr, Bandar Abbas (Shahid Bohonar-Rajai) and Chabahar (Shahid Beshekhti) contribute to the establishment of the country's maritime links…
In the Caspian Sea, this role is assigned to the ports of Anzeli 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..
