Short facts about the geography of Iran
| 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 |
| Map
references: |
Middle
East |
| Area: |
total: 1.648 million sq km
land: 1.636 million sq
km
water: 12,000 sq km |
| Area -
comparative: |
slightly larger than
Alaska |
| Land
boundaries: |
total: 5,440 km
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: |
2,440 km; note - Iran also borders the
Caspian Sea (740 km) |
| Maritime
claims: |
contiguous zone:
24 NM
continental shelf: natural
prolongation
exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or
median lines in the Persian Gulf
territorial sea: 12
NM |
| Climate: |
mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical
along Caspian coast |
| Terrain: |
rugged, mountainous rim; high, central
basin with deserts, mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both
coasts |
| Elevation
extremes: |
lowest point:
Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Qolleh-ye 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% (1993
est.) |
| Irrigated
land: |
94,000 sq km (1993
est.) |
| Natural
hazards: |
periodic droughts, floods; dust storms,
sandstorms; earthquakes along western border and in the
northeast |
| Environment
- current issues: |
air pollution, especially in urban
areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents;
deforestation; overgrazing; desertification; oil pollution in the Persian Gulf;
inadequate supplies of potable water |
| Environment
- international agreements: |
party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species,
Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection,
Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification,
Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation | Source: World Factbook |
