Iran Tourism

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Covering an area of 1,648,000 square kilometers, the Islamic Republic of Iran is located in southwestern Asia. The Caspian Sea, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Armenia in the north; Afqanistan and Pakistan in the east; Turkey and Iraq in the west surround the country.

On the south Iran borders the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.  Total terrestrial borders of the country are 5,170 km. and total water borders are 2,510 km. Iran is situated at the heart of the Middle East and, as a bridge, links the Caspian Sea, the largest land-locked body of water in the world, to the Persian Gulf. It is also a crossroad between the East and the West. Thus, historically, Iran has been in the juncture of cultural, intellectual and political manifestations of both the East and the West, while preserving it's unique identity. 

Unique landscapes such as limpid water springs, pomegranate orchards, pistachio gardens, rows of lombardy poplars, decampment of nomads in different seasons, stelliferous nights, rocky mountains, endless high and low lands, extinct snow-clad volcanoes, dense forests of the Alborz Mountain Range, and coastlines of the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman are all eye-catching and memorable. Iran's landscapes vary remarkably at different seasons. They are at times full of stone and sand, at times full of floodwater, sometimes covered by snow or by lush vegetation.

Iranian artists have portrayed Iran's nature as a sign of diversity and charm in their different and diverse artistic works. Iranians also have traditionally valued Water as a symbol of life and development. Innumerable permanent streams can be seen flowing in meadows, gardens, orchards, homes, mosques and sacred places irrigating trees.Nature and it's diversity in Iran are valuable parameters for development of the tourism industry.

In total, it is estimated that 19 million hectares of terrestrial land are covered by orchards, gardens and farmlands; 10 million hectares are plain and pastures; 19 million hectares are forests; and the remaining include barren lands, desert, and mountains. Among significant characteristics of the vast land of Iran is the existence of high mountains as well as flat plains, desert areas, rivers and lakes contributing to unique geographical conditions in which, at any time of the year, and in each section of the country, one of the four seasons is visible.

Thus, in winter, swimming and water skiing are possible in the warm waters of the Persian Gulf, and at the same time winter sports, like skiing are possible in the northern and western mountains of the country, while one can enjoy the pleasant spring weather along the shores of the Caspian Sea at the same time of the year. The high Alborz Mountains, sealing off the narrow Caspian strip, are covered with dense forests and lush vegetation which have to be crossed when traveling to northern Iran. The coastline of the Persian Gulf in the south is rocky and mountainous in some areas and sandy and swampy in others; it is not as even as the northern shores of the country.

The southern provinces of Iran, specially Khuzestan, which encompass some parts of vast Mesopotamia (between two rivers) plain, are very flat and level with low altitude. If one walks in the northern or western mountains of Iran, he/she will be able to see so many eye-catching views and towns, villages, orchards, gardens and meadows with an amazing landscape. In any case, Iran has many amazing landscapes in very unexpected places.

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Iran Tourism