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Welcome to Iran
Iran, historically known as Persia, is the 18th largest country in
the world with an area of 1,648,195 km2 (636,372 miles2). Tehran,
the capital, is the country's largest city and the political,
cultural, and commercial center of the nation. Over thirteen million
of the country's 74 million people live in this dynamic city nestled
at the foot of the Alborz Mountains.
 History:
Iran is home to one of the world's oldest continuous major
civilizations. The first Iranian dynasty formed in 2800 BC and by
625 BC, became the largest and most powerful empire in human history
until that time. The borders of the Persian empire stretched from
the Indus River in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west,
extending through modern day Turkey and Egypt. Pre-Islamic Iranians
practiced a religion known as "Zoroastrianism", which introduced and
adopted policies based on human rights, equality, and the banning of
slavery. Zoroastrianism spread during this time through contacts
with exiled Jewish people in Babylon who were freed by the Persian
king, Cyrus the Great. The Golden Age of Athens, known for
philosophers such as Aristotle, Plato and Socrates, came into
existence during a time of close relations between Ancient Greece
and Persia. This period was marked by a high standard of living for
both Persians and Greeks as well as tranquility throughout the
region. The interaction between these two cultures helped to lay the
foundations for the modern world.
In 632 AD, invaders from the Arab peninsula began attacking the
Persian empire which paved the way for the Islamic conquest of
Persia. As a result of these events, most of Persia came under
Islamic rule. By the ninth century, Islam became a dominant religion
in Persia and brought about profound changes to everyday life and
belief systems. However, by 822 AD, an era of cultural revival led
to a resurfacing of Iranian national identity. Thus developed
Persian Islam, a unique melding of the original Arab religion with
Iranian traditions that continues to this day.
 Culture:
The culture of present day Iran is comprised of ancient traditions
and Islamic influences. Iranian culture has long enjoyed a
predominant presence in the Middle East and Central Asia with
Persian considered the language of intellectuals during much of the
second millennium. Persian culture has impacted civilization in
China, India and Rome and has reached as far as Western Europe and
Africa. Life in modern Iran is interwoven with Shia Islam and its
legacy of great architecture, art, and literature.
Nowruz, commonly called Persian New Year, was originally a
Zoroastrian holiday dating back nearly two thousand years. It is
celebrated on March 21st to mark the beginning of spring in Iran.
Nowruz was registered on the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) list of Masterpieces of the Oral
and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2009.
 Cuisine:
The cuisine of Iran is diverse. It is possible to visit each
province and find local specialties that are prepared nowhere else
in the country. In general, Persian dishes are combinations of rice
with meat, chicken or fish prepared with onions, vegetables, nuts
and herbs. Herbs are frequently used along with fruits such as
plums, pomegranates, quince, prunes, apricots, and raisins to give
the food a spicy sweetness. Plain yogurt, a staple of the Iranian
diet, is served with lunch and dinner. Characteristic ingredients
such as saffron, dried limes, cinnamon, and parsley create a
delicate accord in fine Persian cuisine. As an accompaniment, onions
and garlic are enjoyed along with meals, either in raw or pickled
form. When you come to Iran, celebrate the country's heritage by
sampling its many delicacies.
 Language:
Persian is a member of the Indo-European language family. Farsi, as
it is known in Iran, is the nation's official language. In addition
to Persian, many other languages are spoken in Iran such as Azeri,
Kurdish, Arabic and Armenian. Modern Persian has its roots in Old
Persian which dates back to the Persian Empire during the Achaemenid
period in the sixth century BC. Many literary and scientific
contributions to the eastern half of the Muslim world have been made
in the Persian language.
 Climate:
Iran has a diverse climate that is highly influenced by the local
geography. Dense rain forests cover most of northern Iran and are
called Shomal or Jungles of Iran because of their high humidity and
moderate temperatures that rarely drop below freezing. The eastern
and central plateau regions of the country consist mostly of desert
basins and experience a continental climate with cold winters and
hot summers. These areas experience less than twelve inches of
rainfall annually. In the Zagros Mountain Basin in western Iran,
winters can be severe with freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall.
The coastal plains of the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman in southern
Iran have mild winters and very humid hot summers. In the capital
city of Tehran, the coldest winter temperatures occur in January and
range from an average low of -3° C (27° F ) to an average high of 7°
C (45° F ). At the peak of summer in July, average temperatures
range from 22° C (72° F ) to 37° C (99° F ). Although most of Iran
has an arid climate, regions of semiarid and subtropical rain forest
are also represented in certain parts of the country. All four
seasons may be experienced in Iran. Travelers can enjoy the dry heat
of the desert, ski in the Alborz mountains north of Tehran, or relax
by the Caspian Sea.
Regions:
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Persepolis:
The name “Persepolis” is actually a transliteration from the Greek
meaning “Persian city”. It is situated 70 km northeast of modern
Shiraz. The earliest ruins at Persepolis date from approximately 515
BC. Originally built as the ceremonial capitol of the Achaemenid
Empire, the great complex at Persepolis was set on fire by Alexander
of Macedonia around 330 BC in what may have been an act of revenge
for the burning of the Acropolis at Athens during the Second
Hellenic-Persian War. It is widely believed that Cyrus the Great was
buried at Persepolis along with Darius the Great, Xerxes I,
Artaxerxes I and Darius II. |
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• Kish Island:
Kish Island is a free trade zone in the Persian Gulf and is
regarded as a consumers' paradise, with numerous malls, gallerias,
shopping centres, tourist attractions, and resort hotels. Kish is
the home of the magnificent Dariush Grand Hotel, which is recognized
as one of the top ten best hotels in the Middle East. |
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• Qeshm Island
Famous for its wide range of ecotourism attractions, Qeshm
Island is the largest island in the Persian Gulf and is home to the
Hara Marine Forests, Iran's first geopark. According to
environmentalists, about 1.5% of the world birds and 25% of Iran's
native birds annually migrate to the Hara Forests. A trip to Qeshm
Island is a must for the ecotraveler, bird watcher or nature lover. |
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• Susa
Susa, Iran's most oldest city, dates back almost six
thousand years and archeological evidence of prehistoric
civilization has been found at Susa from 7000 BC. Two
hundred fifty kilometers east of the Tigris River, it is
located in the very cradle of humanity. Sush is
mentioned in the earliest known Sumarian records, the
Hebrew Bible and Greek mythology. Recognized as one of
the oldest continuously inhabited places on earth, the
modern Persian city of Shush presently occupies the site
of ancient Susa. The Zigurat of Chughazanbil, Darius the
Great's palace, the Jewish prophet Daniel's temple, and
Artaxerxer II 's palace are among the historical sites
travelers will enjoy during their trip to this amazing
city in the Zagros mountains. |
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• Dizin:
With a lift that reaches 3,600 m (11,800 ft), Dizin ranks among
the forty highest ski resorts in the world. Because of
it's high altitude, the ski season lasts from December
to May, allowing European visitors to continue to enjoy
winter sports long after the snow has melted in their
home counties. Dizin is conveniently located just two
hours north of Tehran in the Alborz mountain range.
Great powder snow, inexpensive prices, and uncrowded
slopes makes this is an ideal place for a unique Persian
ski holiday. |
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