๐ Countries of the world ๐ฏ Asia
Iran
๐ In short
Iran is a Muslim country in southwest Asia whose history goes back thousands of years, to the days of the Persian Empire. It has snow-capped mountains, vast deserts and green valleys. Its capital is Tehran and its language is Persian.
๐คฉ Did you know?
- Iran's capital is Tehran.
- Isfahan became the capital of the Safavid state in 1598.
- The currency is the Iranian rial.
- The Caspian Sea, the largest lake in the world, lies north of Iran.
๐๏ธ Fact file
- Capital
- Tehran.
- Official language
- Persian.
- Official name
- Islamic Republic of Iran.
- Currency
- Basic unit: the rial.
- Area
- 1,633,188 kmยฒ.
- Population
- Population, 2000 estimate: 74,644,000; 1996 census: 60,055,000 people.
๐ Find out more
๐ Isfahan, half the world
Isfahan was a beautiful capital, with a huge square and mosques whose domes are covered in blue and turquoise tiles, so people said: โIsfahan is half the worldโ.
๐ Persian carpets
Iranian carpets are famous all over the world for their fine patterns and beautiful colors. They're woven by hand, knot by knot, which can take years.
๐ก Underground channels
Long ago Iranians dug underground channels called โqanatsโ or kariz, which carry water from the mountains to desert villages without it evaporating.
๐ฏ Saffron and pistachios
Iran is one of the world's biggest producers of saffron and pistachios, and is also famous for pomegranates and dates.
๐งฉ Test yourself
1 Which handicraft are Iranians famous for?
2 What is Iran's official language?
3 Which picture shows โIranโ?
๐ Discover more
๐ท Picture sources: Wikimedia Commons
- Mehrraz ยท CC BY-SA 4.0
