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GeographyLocation
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 World Ranking: 18
Total 1,648,195 sq km
Land 1,531,595 sq km Water 116,600 sq km Area - comparative
Slightly smaller 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
Territorial sea 12 nm
Contiguous zone 24 nm Exclusive economic zone Bilateral agreements or median lines in the Persian Gulf Continental shelf Natural prolongationClimate
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 9.78%
Permanent crops 1.29% Other 88.93% (2005) Irrigated land
89,930 sq km (2003)
Total renewable water resources
137.5 cu km (1997)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)
Total 72.88 cu km/yr (7%/2%/91%)
Per capita 1,048 cu m/yr (2000) 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, 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 Geography - note
Strategic location on the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, which are vital maritime pathways for crude oil transport
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Iran (Tehran):
GPS points from Iran (Tehran)
Daulatabad (ir24)
Pa Yi Kalat Fars
Raziabad Ostan-e Hamadan
Safiabad Kerman
Mansuri-ye Vosta Bushehr
Kochok Ostan-e Sistan Va Baluchestan
Khun Marghzar Ostan-e Kerman
Rowshan Darreh (ir17) |