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
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