Location : Asia, Middle East, bordering the Sea of Oman, the Persian Gulf,

and the Caspian Sea, between Iraq and Pakistan

Geographic Coordinates : 35 00 N, 51 00 E

Time : GMT +3:30

Iran operates Daylight saving Time between 1 Farvardin (March 21) and the 1

Mehr (September 23) when the time is 4.5 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean

Time (GMT+4:30).

Area : 1.648 million sq km (slightly larger than Alaska)

Bordering Countries : Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijanproper 432 km, Azerbaijan Naxcivan exclave 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499 km, Turkmenistan 992 km, total 5,440 km

Coastline : 2,440 km along the Sea of Oman and the Persian Gulf; Iran also

borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)

Climate : Mostly arid or semi-arid, subtropical along the Caspian Coast

Terrain : Rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts,

mountains; small, discontinuous plains along both coasts

Elevation Extremes : Caspian Sea -28 m, Mount Damavand 5,671 m

Natural Resources : Petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron

ore, lead, manganese, zinc, sulfur

Land Use : Arable land 10%, permanent crops 1%, permanent pastures

27%, forests and woodland 7%, other 55%

Capital : Tehran

Administrative Divisions : 30 Provinces

Major Cities : Tehran, Mashad, Isfahan, Tabriz, Shiraz

Population : 70,500,000 (2006)

Ethnic Groups : Persian 51%, Azerbaijani 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%,

Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baluch 2%, Turkic 1%, other 2%

Official Language : Farsi or Persian

Religions : Muslim 99%; Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians 1%

Economy : A mixture of central planning, state ownership of oil and large

enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service

ventures

Industries : Petroleum, petrochemicals, textiles, construction materials, food

processing, metal fabricating, automobile manufactoring

Agricultural Products : Wheat, rice, sugar beets, tea, fruits, pistachios,

cotton, dairy products, wool; caviar

Exports : Petroleum, carpets, fruits, nuts, hides, steel

Currency : Rial

Exchange Rate : Approximately 10,000 Rials to one US Dollar

Fiscal Year : 21 March - 20 March

Best Time to Visit : The best time to visit Iran is March-May or September-

November. It mostly rains in the winter months and can be very cold and

snowy at times. Areas along the coasts enjoy a mild climate.

Dressing: Women: Due to the Islamic rules, all Iranian & foreign females

over the age of 9 appearing in public should cover their hair & wear a dress

that covers the body. (Wearing a nee-length, long sleeves & light weight coat

+ head scarf + long trousers is enough).Men : Short trousers are strictly prohibited

Transportation : Mehrabad, Tehran international airport, is 10 km west of

town. A large international airport is being constructed south of Tehran.

Iranians use the internal airlines as their primary means of transportation, so

flights are often booked well in advance.

Taxis from the airport (and elsewhere) don't use meters, so be sure to agree

on the fare before getting in the cab. There is a reliable prepaid taxi service

outside the international arrivals hall. A journey across the city should cost no

more than $10 US.

There's rail service, both within the country and to Europe and surrounding

countries. There is excellent bus service between Istanbul and Tehran. Land

borders with Turkey, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Pakistan are open.

An escorted tour is the best way for most first-time visitors to see the

country. Hiring a car and driver or taxis would be a second choice. Bus service

is extremely popular, and many buses run each day between all cities and

towns in Iran. Taxis are also available.

Shopping : The best places to shop are the bazaars in Tehran, Shiraz and

Isfahan. Shop for silks, Persian rugs, brassware, embroidery, ceramics, hand

blown glass, antiques, turquoise, carved or painted miniatures, caviar, inlaid

wood, enamel work, silver and gold ware and other local handicrafts.

Food : Most international foods are found in the deluxe hotels, but the local

food, lightly seasoned, is excellent and should be sampled as often as

possible. Try some regional specialties: nougat in Isfahan, pistachios in

Rafsanjan, dates in Bam and bergamot jam in Shiraz and northern Iran.

Rice is a national staple and is cooked superbly. Local dishes include tasty

shrimp, lamb and chicken dishes (most meat is grilled), fruit, vegetables,

yogurt and desserts. Sample shirin polo (chicken and rice), fesenjan (made

with chicken or duck) and ab-gusht (meat stew). If you get a chance, try the

caviar (Iranian caviar, considered some of the world's best, is mostly

exported). There are four more popular kinds of breads: taftoon (fresh, flat

lunch bread), barbary (chewy breakfast bread), lavash (crispy and thin) and

sangak (baked on hot pebbles). Iranian ice cream is also excellent.

Prohibition : There are limitations for hard drinks (Alcohol) as forbidden in

Islam.

Public Holidays :

11th February: Victory of Islamic Revolution

20th March: Oil Industry Nationalized

21st-24th March: Now Rouz (Iranian New Year)

1st April: Islamic Republic Day

2nd April: Sizdah be-dar (13th day of the Iranian new year. Day

to pass as many hours as possible outdoors in nature.)