Geography and Environment

Geography and Environment of Iran

Terrain, climate, natural resources, hazards, and environmental conditions of Iran.

Terrain: rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts
Climate: mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
Weather Patterns: http://voap.weather.com/weather/oap/IRXX0018?template=TRVLH&par=1003114983&unit=0&key=5b85ae1d85877a1b34827fba743e2133
Highest Point: 5671 — Kuh-e Damavand 5,671 m
Lowest Point: -28 — Caspian Sea -28 m

Area (Comparative): slightly larger than Alaska
Border 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
Coastline: note - Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 )

Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur, uranium Iran holds some of the world's largest proven reserves of petroleum and natural gas, ranking among the top nations globally for both resources. The country's hydrocarbon wealth forms the backbone of its economy, supplemented by significant deposits of minerals including chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur, and uranium. Iran also possesses substantial coal reserves and is home to considerable quantities of other industrial minerals such as turquoise, which it has historically mined and exported for centuries.
Natural Hazards: periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes

Current Environmental Issues: 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
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

Detailed geography