A GENERAL VIEW OF IRAN     The area of Iran is 1,648,195 square kilometer (Sq km), making it the 17th largest country in the world. Its perimeter is 8,731 km. It is located in the Northern Hemisphere, in the Middle East, Asia. If you look at the map, diagonally Chahbahar in the southeast adjacent to the Persian Gulf and "Maku" not far from the Azerbaijan border and Bazargan on the Turkish borderline, both in the northwest, form the longest diagonal and the farthest distance between two towns. The former is a Free Trade Zone or Free Port. Iran's neighbors and length of their borderlines are as follows: 1. To the North: a. Republic of Azerbaijan: 767 km b. Armenia: 40 km c. Turkmenistan: 1,206 km 2. To the East: a. Afghanistan: 945 km b. Pakistan: 978 km 3. To the West: a. Turkey: 486 km b. Iraq: 1,609 Also the North Coast of the Caspian Sea, extending from Astara River in the northwest to the Hosseinqoli measures 657 km. While the South Coat extending from Goitre Bay in the Oman Sea in the southwest to the Bandar Abbas port in the Persian Gulf measures 784 km. From the latter port to Arvand-Rood river's delta is 1,259 km. Natural Geography Much of Iran is mountainous. Some of the country's most spectacular sceneries are in Massouleh, Gilan Province. Other fascinating sceneries are found in Park-e Jangali Sisangan, Naharkhoran, Javaherdeh, Talesh and Dizin Ski Resort. Over 90% of Iran's territory is located in the Plateau of Iran and a quadrant is desert. Only one quarter of the land is agriculturally appropriate for cultivation, while mountains constitute more than half of it. The mountains are divided into 4 parts: I. Northern range connecting Ararat Mountain range in Turkey to Hindokish range in Afghanistan. This range includes Alamdar, Sahand, Sabalan, Talesh, Gafelan-Kuh, Alborz, Aladagh, Binalood, Hizar Masjed and Qaredaq. Damavand at 5,671 meters, in Alborz located in Tehran Province is the highest summit in the country, and can be seen from any point in Tehran. Alborz range, on whose skirts the capital city has been built, boasts to have the most spectacular ski resort among the neighboring states. Shemshak ski resort, which hosts thousands of skiers every winter is only a 20-minute drive from Tehran. Dizin is the largest one in the country.   II. The second range extending from Ararat range on the northwest crosses the country diagonally toward southeast, constitute the Zagros range, which in turn consists of Saridash, Chehel Cheshmeh, Panjeh Ali, Alvand, Bakhtiyari, Pishku, Ashtaranku, and Zardku mountains. At 4,409 meters Dena is the highest summit. III. Southern range: Composed of Sepidar, Maymand, Bashaguard and Bam mountains. Extending from Khuzestan in the southwest it is linked to Soleyman range in Pakistan. IV. Central and eastern mountains: Including Karkas, Shirku, Kuhbonan, Jebale Barez, Bozman, Taftan and Hezar mountains. The latter being the highest at 4,465 meters. Rivers: Karoon River in Khuzestan is the only river where you can sail a ship, whereas most of the other rivers (or rather large streams) in the country except a very few are too small. Such rivers are divided into 4 beds: I. Southern beds: Pouring into the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea consist of: Karkheh, Arvand-Rood, Jarahi, Dez, Zohreh, Mand, Hendijan, Dalki, Simreh, Tiawb, Nie-band, Shoor, Kol, Mehran, Alvand, Minab, Sarbaz and Bahukolat rivers. II. Northern beds: Pouring into the Caspian Sea consist of: Arass, Atrak, Gorgan, Tajan, Haraz, Chaloos, Sefid-rood and Qezel-Owzan rivers. III. Central bed: Flowing in Isfahan and Tehran Province: Zayandeh Rood Jaj-rood and Karaj River. IV. Those pouring into the Oroomieh River: Simineh-Rood, Zarineh-Rood, Talkheh-Rood and Nazloo-chie Rivers. Strait of Hurmuz: Being a strategic waterway in the Persian Gulf, the strait is Iran's gateway to international waters. The Major Islands Qeshme 1,491 Sq km Kish 89.7 Sq km Lavan 76 Sq km Lark 48.7 Sq km Hurmuz 41.9 Sq km Hengam 33.6 Sq km Ashk 26.3 Sq km (in Oroomieh Lake) Khark 20 Sq km Sirri 17.3 Sq km Tomb-e-Bozorg Tomb-e-Kuchik Abu-Mussa. The Caspian Sea being the largest lake is less than 425,000 sq km (whereas the Persian Gulf is about 240,000 Sq km). While linking Iran to Europe through Russia it is also considered the smallest sea in the world. The Iranian salty lakes include Urumieh, 4,868 sq km, Namak, Hamoon, Jazmoriyan, Bakhtegan, Tashak and Maharloo lakes. Forests, 19% of which are adjacent to the Caspian Sea, cover some 180,000 sq km of the territory. Climate: One will experience diversity of climate in Iran. In the north it is quite different from that of south. The mountains old the humid Mediterranean winds back, depriving the central parts from humidity. Thus the inner skirts of the mountain ranges are dry. The average temperature during the year near the Caspian is about 18 degrees Celsius. We have hot summers inside valleys in the West, whereas in high mountains the winter is cold. In the South it is humid and hot in the summer with max 54 degrees Celsius, but the winters are beautiful. As you travel South the weather gets warmer with very hot summers. In the central deserts, in the East and the southeast the climate is desert climate, i.e. bitter cold winters and very hot summers; wide discrepancy of temperature between day and night.