Iran or Persia is a familiar word for people all around the world. Iran originally means “the lands of Aryans” has been officially named after this vast country since 1935. The ancient name Persia –the cradle of civilization- contains glorious achievement in the history of its territory with the worldwide impact. Iran is a land of the world’s first charter of human rights by Cyrus the Great who founded the most powerful empire in Persia and the world’s first monotheistic religion of Zoroastrian. After conversion to Islam, the Persian Islamic polymath, Avicenna called “ the influential philosopher of the pre-modern era” and so many great Persian poets like Rumi and Omar Khayam had an impact on literature and societies.
In terms of art, since the 4th millennium B.C until the Islamic era, the indigenous and conquerors who had lived in Persia territory formed Persian art and architecture and also partly influenced by neighboring borders such as Mesopotamia. From the invention of making a dome over the square chamber for the first time in the late Sassanid dynasty to dugout underground water canals (Qanat) for kilometers to spread water in deserts, from the 2nd millennium Luristan Bronze objects to the Persian Islamic calligraphy proudly highlighted the ingenuity of Iranian throughout history.
Iran is a four-season country with nature diversity. Thanks to its geography bordering to the Caspian Sea in the North, the subtropical weather created very eye-catching views in all parts especially the Caspian Hyrcanian Mixed Forest (UNESCO). With few hours driving from the Caspian Sea, one reaches to the Alborz mountain range- Stretches from West to East- divides the Forest zone at North from the Central Plateau of Iran and the astonishing deserts of Iran such as Central Desert (known Dasht-e Markazi) and Lut Desert (UNESCO), recorded as one of the hottest spots on Earth. In the west, the Zagros Mountains provided pastures with the mountainous area while at South the Persian Gulf hosts so many beautiful islands shining like Persian pearl. One can ski in the heights of Alborz Mountain during winter and enjoy swimming and diving in the Persian Gulf.
Iranian hospitality is beyond the imaginations and one can feel Iran in his/her unforgettable trip. Travelers not only get amazed with its beauty but also seize the chances of being hospitalized by the kind-hearted and modest people. In Persian culture from the old-time, there is a saying” The guest is a friend of God”. Thus they welcome strangers with friendly manners and open arms on the contrary to the propaganda.
Iran situated in Western Asia as the eighteenth largest country in the world and second-largest in the Middle East. Iran’s location in Eurasia credits its geostrategic importance throughout history. Iran’s territory spans 1,648,195 km2. To compare is the size of the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy and Switzerland all combined. Tehran the capital of this country is the most populous and politically important city in Western Asia with more than 8.8 million residents. Iran’s official language is Persian (58%) and the ethnic diversity has recorded: Turkish and dialects 28%, Kurdish 9%, Lori 2%, Baluchi 1%, Arabic 1% and others 3%. Iran’s religion is Islam which has the major population of Shiite Muslims nearly 89%, Sunnite Muslims 10 % and also 1% Christian, Zoroastrian and others.
Iran’s economy is a mixture of state ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, small-scale private trading and service venture. The Major industries are oil, gas, agriculture and Persian carpet. Iran ranks in the world’s second-largest gas reserves and fourth oil reserves. Iran’s export is oil and oil products 85%, Persian Carpets, fruits and nuts, iron and steel, chemicals. Iran’s agriculture is the world’s largest producer of saffron, pistachios, honey, berberis and berries, caviar and the second-largest date producer. It also has wheat, rice, other grain, sugar beets, fruit, nuts, cotton, wool, and dairy product.
