Iran: Geography#
| Location | Middle East, bordering the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan |
|---|---|
| Geographic Coordinates | 32 00 N, 53 00 E 32.0,53.0 |
| Area | total: 1,648,195 sq km land: 1,531,595 sq km water: 116,600 sq km [Verified in 8 databases] |
| Land boundaries | total: 5,894 km border countries: Afghanistan 921 km, Armenia 44 km, Azerbaijan 689 km, Iraq 1,599 km, Pakistan 959 km, Turkey 534 km, Turkmenistan 1,148 km |
| Coastline | 2,440 km; note - Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km) |
| Elevation Extremes | lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Kuh-e Damavand 5,671 m |
| Highest Mountains | Due to difference in mountain rankings taken from two data sources we are listing here both lists : According to Wolfram: 5670 m; Alam Kuh 4850 m; Sabalan 4811 m; Takhte Soleyman 4659 m; Mount Heram 4650 m According to Geonames: Kuh-e Kalu Farangi 5642 m; Kuh-e Damavand 5628 m; Kuh-e Zelzeleh Khiz 5150 m; Kuh-e Alborz 5025 m; Kuh-e ‘Alam 4822 m Attempted Explanation: Please help us to try to explain the discrepancies by sending us helpful information to office nospam@TUGraz.at @global-geography.org Important Mountains |
| Terrain | rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts |
| Natural Hazards | periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes |
| Natural Resource | petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur |
| Land Use | arable land: 10.05% permanent crops: 1.08% other: 88.86% (2011) |
| Climate | mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast |
| Irrigated Land | 87,000 sq km (2009) |
| Renewable Water Resources | 137 cu km (2011) |
| Environment_CurrentIssues | air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents; deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf; wetland losses from drought; soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies of potable water; water pollution from raw sewage and industrial waste; urbanization |
| Environment - international agreements | party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation |
| Large Cities | Tehran; Mashhad; Isfahan; Karaj; Tabriz [Verified] Important Cities |
| Geography-note | strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport |