History

The Father of Time
And Iran was there in the beginning, inhabited by civilizations great and small, each leaving a deep impression on the land and its people. 9000 year old mounds of the plain of Khuzestan, ancient mounds of central, northwestern and northeastern, as well as central Iran, are but a few of such examples.
From these the oldest known painted pottery in the world and the earliest metal artifacts have been excavated, all bearing witness to the ingenuity and competence of their creators, and presenting a rich and diverse variety unique to Iran.
Modern Iran offers a chance to visit the ancient mounds across the country, monuments such as the largest remaining Ziggurat in the world, that of Chogha Zanbil from the 13th century BC, the greatest architectural achievement of the first Persian Empire, Persepolis, from the 6th Century BC, remains of monuments from the second Persian Empire, and a host of world class monuments from the Islamic era, reaching its zenith in Safavid Isfahan.

Geography

A Landscape of Dreams
Iran is a huge country of 1,648,000 square Kilometers with varying ecosystems. From the tropical Caspian shore with its rice and tea plantations, to the oilfields and sugar cane fields of Khuzestan; from the orchards and wheat fields of the province of Azerbaijan, to the deserts of Kavir and Lut with their oasis towns; from the central arid plateau, to the snowcapped Zagros and Alburz mountains – Iran is a land of extraordinary contrasts. The mountains are cold in the winter, the deserts hot in the summer, yet in spring and autumn there is no more beautiful a place on earth. Carpets of wild flowers are everywhere; little villages extend a shy welcome. This truly is God’s own land.
The beauty and variety of scenery to be found throughout Iran is simply second to none. In addition to the natural splendors, you are very likely to see nomadic tribes in many parts of the country. Iran has the world’s largest population of nomads, the majority of whom still live and dress in their traditional ways.
The wealth of Islamic architecture found all over Iran makes the entire country a world heritage site. Minarets and domes glitter in the distance and almost all the sites can be visited and enjoyed at leisure. Spiritual serenity and architectural perfection abound in this country of poets, artists and philosophers.
 

Art & Culture

Iranian Art through the Ages
From The moment, some 3000 years ago, when an ingenious artist shaped and painted the magnificent bridge-spouted vessels at Tepe Sialk … to the time when master craftsmen carved the famous Achaemenian relief’s at Persepolis … and on into the Islamic era when sophisticated glassware and ceramics were made in the kilns of Ray, Gorgan and Nishapur … art has become an inseparable part of Iranian life. One just has to stand before the intricately designed Ardabil carpet, woven for the shrine of Sheikh Saffieddin, to appreciate that. This artistic tradition, resulting in the creation of numerous objects of extraordinary beauty, has meant that most of today’s Iranian cities boast at least one museum. However, the capital, Tehran, is particularly rich in this respect, allowing the traveler to Iran to begin or end his visit with a tour of very fine collections.
The Archaeological Museum, along with the magnificent collection of the Islamic Museum, forms Iran's National Museum. The Abguineh offers a wonderful exhibition of delicate glass and ceramics housed in an elegant early 20th century building. The Carpet Museum justifies the worldwide fame of Persian carpet weaving with its display of beautiful new and old carpets created in the workshops of Kerman, Qom, Tabriz, Isfahan and Kashan, etc. Persian miniatures and calligraphy – two more artistic traditions in which the Iranians excel – can be seen at the Reza Abbasi Museum. These are just a selection from the fabulous collections to be visited in Tehran – 'the City of Museums'.
 

Useful Information

General Information

• Formal Name
  The Islamic Republic of Iran

• Location
  Middle East, bordering the Sea of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan

• Geographic Coordinates
  32 00 N, 53 00 E

• Time
  GMT +3:30 September 22 to March 21 --------- GMT +4:30 March 22 to September 21

• Area
  1.648 million sq km (slightly larger than Alaska)

• Bordering Countries
  Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijan-proper 432 km, Azerbaijan Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km, total 5,440 km

• Coastline
  2,440 km along the Sea of Oman and the Persian Gulf; Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)

• Climate
  Mostly arid or semi-arid, subtropical along the Caspian Coast

• Terrain
  Rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts

• Elevation Extremes
  Caspian Sea -28 m, Mount Damavand 5,671 m

• Natural Resources
  Petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur

• Land Use
  Arable land 10%, permanent crops 1%, permanent pastures 27%, forests and woodland 7%, other 55%

• Capital
  Tehran

• Administrative Divisions
  28 Provinces

• Major Cities
  Tehran, Mashad, Isfahan, Tabriz, Shiraz

• Population
  65,000,000 (July 1999 est.)

• Ethnic Groups
  Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baluch 2%, Turkic 1%, other 2%

• Official Language
  Farsi or Persian

• Religions
  Muslim 99%; Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians 1%

• Economy
  A mixture of central planning, state ownership of oil and large enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service ventures

• Industries
  Petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, construction materials, food processing, metal fabricating, automobile manufactoring

• Agricultural Products
  Wheat, rice, sugar beets, fruits, pistachios, cotton, dairy products, wool; caviar

• Exports
  Petroleum, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides, steel

• Currency
  Rial

• Exchange Rate
  Approximately 9,000 Rials to one US Dollar

• Fiscal Year
  21 March - 20 March

• Best Time to Visit
  The best time to visit Iran is March-May or September-November. It mostly rains in the winter months and can be very cold and snowy at times. Areas along the coasts enjoy a mild climate.

• Transportation
  Mehrabad, Tehran international airport, is 10 km west of town. A large international airport is being constructed south of Tehran. Iranians use the internal airlines as their primary means of transportation, so flights are often booked well in advance.
  Taxis from the airport (and elsewhere) don't use meters, so be sure to agree on the fare before getting in the cab. There is a reliable prepaid taxi service outside the international arrivals hall. A journey across the city should cost no more than $10 US.
  There's rail service, both within the country and to Europe and surrounding countries. There is excellent bus service between Istanbul and Tehran. Land borders with Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Pakistan are open.
  An escorted tour is the best way for most first-time visitors to see the country. Hiring a car and driver or taxis would be a second choice. Bus service is extremely popular, and many buses run each day between all cities and towns in Iran. Taxis are also available.

• Shopping
  The best places to shop are the bazaars in Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan. Shop for silks, Persian rugs, brassware, embroidery, ceramics, hand blown glass, antiques, turquoise, carved or painted miniatures, caviar, inlaid wood, enamel work, silver and gold ware and other local handicrafts.

• Food
  Most international foods are found in the deluxe hotels, but the local food, lightly seasoned, is excellent and should be sampled as often as possible. Try some regional specialties: nougat in Isfahan, pistachios in Rafsanjan, dates in Bam and bergamot jam in Shiraz and northern Iran.
  Rice is a national staple and is cooked superbly. Local dishes include tasty shrimp, lamb and chicken dishes (most meat is grilled), fruit, vegetables, yogurt and desserts. Sample shirin polo (chicken and rice), fesenjan (made with chicken or duck) and ab-gusht (meat stew). If you get a chance, try the caviar (Iranian caviar, considered some of the world's best, is mostly exported). There are four more popular kinds of breads: taftoon (fresh, flat lunch bread), barbary (chewy breakfast bread), lavash (crispy and thin) and sangak (baked on hot pebbles). Iranian ice cream is also excellent.