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
Map references:
Area:
total:
1,648,000 sq km
land:
1,636,000 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 1458 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
territorial sea: 12 NM
exclusive economic zone: bilateral agreements or median lines in the Persian Gulf
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: Kuh-e Damavand 5,671 m
Natural resources:
Petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur
Land use:
arable land: 8.72%
permanent crops: 1.39%
other: 89.89%
(2001)
Irrigated land:
75,620 sq km (1998 est.)
Natural hazards:
Periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms; earthquakes
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; 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, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Wetlands
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, Marine Life Conservation (not ratified)
Geography - Note:
Strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport |
