IRAN STATISTICAL YEARBOOK 1390 1. LAND AND CLIMATE Introduction and Qarah Dagh in Khorasan Ostanon the east of he statistical information appeared in this Iran. chapter is presented in three sections: The mountain ranges in the west, whichhave Geographical characteristics and administrative extended from Ararat Mountain to the north divisions, Climate, and Environment. west and thesouth east of the country, cover Sari 1. Geographical characteristics and Dash, Chehel Cheshmeh, Panjeh Ali, Alvand, administrative divisions Bakhtiyari mountains, Pish Kuh, Posht Kuh, Iran comprises a land area of over 1.6 million Oshtoran Kuh and Zard Kuh and form Zagros square kilometers. It lies down the northern ranges .The highest peak of this range is “Dena” temperate zone, between latitudes 25º 00' and with a 4409m height. 39º 47' north, and longitudes 44º 02' and 63º 20' east. The land’s average height is over 1200 Southern mountain range stretches from meters. The lowest place, located in Chaleh-ye- Khouzestan province to Sistan & Baluchestan Loot, is only 56 meters high, while the highest province and joins Soleyman Mountains in point, Damavand peak in Alborz Mountains, Pakistan. The mountain range includes Sepidar, rises as high as 5610 meters. The land height at Meymand, Bashagard and Bam Posht mountains. the southern coastal strip of the Caspian Sea is Central and eastern mountains mainly comprise 28 meters lower than the open seas. Karkas, Shir Kuh, Kuh Banan, Jebal Barez, Iran is bounded by Turkmenistan, Caspian Hezar,Bazman and Taftan mountains, the highest Sea, Azerbaijan, and Armenia on the north, of which is Hezar mountain with a 4465 m Afghanistan and Pakistan on the east, Oman Sea height. and Persian Gulf on the south, and Iraq and The largest Iranian islands that are mainly Turkey on the west. located at Persian Gulf and Hormuz Strait, are: Administratively, the country is divided into Qeshm, Kish, Lavan, Larak Shahri, Hormuz, Ostans, Ostans into Shahrestans, and Shahrestans Hengam Jadid (new Hengam), Kabudan, Ashk into cities and Dehestans. (Orumiyeh Lake), Faroor Bozorg (Great Faroor), Highlands of Iran can be divided into four Hendurabi, Khark, Minou,Siri, Khan, Abu Mosa, mountain ranges: northern, western, southern Espir (Orumiyeh Lake), Tonb Bozorg (Great and central and eastern ranges. The northern Tonb), Morghi, Kharku, Arezoo, (Orumiyeh mountain ranges have extended from Ararat Lake), Faroor Kuchak( Small Faroor) and Tunb Mountain in Turkey to Hindu Kush Mountain in Kuchak ( Small Tonb). Afghanistan, including Alamdar, Sahand, The Caspian Sea (the world’s largest lake) lies Sabalan, Talesh, Qaflan Kuh mountains in on the north of Iran and connects Iran to Azarbayejan, Albourz mountain ranges at the European countries through Russian water ways. north of Tehran and south of Mazandaran and The water of the most Iranian lakes is salty. The Gilan Ostans, Ala Dagh, Binalud, Hezar Masjed major internal lakes are: Orumiyeh, Namak, 49 1. LAND AND CLIMATE IRAN STATISTICAL YEARBOOK 1390 Hamoun Jazmourian, Hamoun-e-Saberi, high peaks. The annual precipitation in these Bakhtegan,Toshak, Hamoun-e-Pouzak, Maharlu, regions exceeds 500 mm. Hamoun-e-Hirmand, Talab-e-Anzali( Anzali 2. 2. Moderate mountainous climate: lagoon), Howz-e-Sultan, Parishan and Zarivar some 300000 sq km of the country enjoys of Marivan. moderate mountainous climate, where 2. Climate the annual precipitation varies from 250 to 600 Due to its vast area, abundant mountains, desert mm. lands and being adjacent to two large seas at the 3.Caspian climate, which is a narrow strip with north and south as well as its closeness to a limited extension, trapped between the Caspian Europe, Mediterranean Sea, African large Sahara Sea and Alborz mountains range with as much as desert, Indian Ocean, Asian internal highlands 600 to 2000 mm precipitation per annum. and large cold areas, Iran enjoys a very variable Measurement of climatic characteristics, climate. The effect of distance from the sea, which dates back to 1320, is currently performed namely closeness and remoteness from sea, can by the National Meteorological Organization at be easily perceived by comparing the large its numerous synoptic stations scattered around amount of rainfall and rich vegetation and highly the country. The data in this chapter, however, populated areas around the Caspian Sea with the are only from those located in Ostan (provincial) uninhabited arid deserts in the centre of Iran. The centers. They include temperature, precipitation, continuation of the mountain ranges, their and relative humidity, the number of frosty days, location opposite or parallel to the winds hours of bright sunshine and speed of wind. direction and air flows are among the factors Notes: which always affect climate change. There is a 1. Some capitals of Ostans have several synoptic significant difference among slopes facing or stations and the data appeared here are from backing onto humid winds in terms of rainfall those located at the airports of Ostan's capitals. amount and vegetation. 2. Central basins, Hamun and Sarakhs, were The country generally features three climatic renamed Central Plateau, Eastern Border and zones: Qareh Qum respectively in 1383. 1. Arid and semi-arid climate of the interior and far south characterized by long, warm and dry 3. Environment periods, lasting some years over 7 months. The Statistics for types of natural resources, natural annual precipitation in such regions varies monuments protected by Iran Department of between 30 to 250 mm. Environment have been reflected in the Iranian 2.Mountainous climate, whichare statistical yearbook since 1368. sub-divided into cold and moderate Definitions and concepts mountainous climate. Shahrestan (subprovince):an administrative 2.1. Cold mountainous climate: about 40000 sq division with a certain geographical boundary, km of the total country consists of major formed from joining of a few neighboring highlands, including Alborz and Zagross Bakhshes(county) which enjoy homogeneous mountain ranges, as well as Sahand and Sabalan natural, social, economic, political and cultural 50 IRAN STATISTICAL YEARBOOK 1390 1. LAND AND CLIMATE conditions. Relative humidity: the amount of humid air in a Bakhsh (county): an administrative division volume unit of air. with a specific geographical boundary, including Average height of precipitation: is the weighted a number of neighboring Dehestans and their mean of an area. By dividing the area into adjacent fields, places, Roostas (hamlets), and several polygons and considering the possibly Shahrs, which are similar in natural, precipitation in each polygon, the average height social, cultural, economic and political aspects. of precipitation is calculated. Shahr (city/town):an area with a legal boundary, Water basin: is a geographical area in which located within the geographical boundary of a overland flows from, and drains downhill into a certain Bakhsh and in terms of constructional body of water, such as ocean, sea, or flat. If the context, employment and other factors, having concentration point is located inside the basin, the distinctive features of a city. the basin is a closed one (e.g. Orumiyeh Lake), Dehestan (rural agglomeration): the smallest but if the point is located at the end of the basin, unit among administrative divisions with a so that the flow can leave there, then there is an specific geographical boundary, comprised of a open basin. Every given point in a river is number of neighboring Roostas and their considered the concentration point for the basin adjacent places and fields, homogeneous in just above it. environment, economic and social conditions Aquatic year: from the first day of Mehr to the that allow for providing public services and end of Shahrivar of the next year. planning within a single system and network. Coefficient of overland flow: the ratio of the Synoptic stations (simultaneous meteorological volume of water flowed in a given hydrometric reporting stations):the stations at which various station to the volume of the precipitation of the climatic features including dry and humid basin stretching to the station. temperatures, amount and type of cloud, amount Hydrometric stations: stations in which of precipitation, type of climatic phenomenon, parameters of debit (discharge), sediment, direction and speed of wind, amount of temperature, physical properties of water and evaporation, air pressure, hours of bright features of ice cover and chemical properties of sunshine, changes in pressure, amount of solar rivers, lake and dams reservoir are observed and radiation, etc. are according to certain measured. instructions at certain hours measured and by Volume of overland flow: To estimate the devices like SSB, telephone or telex volume of overland flow of each of the country’s communicated to meteorological centers across main basins, a total of 42 rivers have been the globe after being registered. selected to indicate and represent the overland Absolute minimum: the lowest temperature flow whose annual total volume exceeds 60 during a certain period (24 hours, one month, percent of the country’s grand total. To reach the one year, or a few years). volume of any individual flow, a proper coefficient is Absolute maximum: the highest temperature applied to the total volume. during a certain period (24 hours, one month, National parks: an area of the nation's natural one year, or a few years). resources such as jungles, pastures, natural coppices, 51 1. LAND AND CLIMATE IRAN STATISTICAL YEARBOOK 1390 woodlands, plains, water and mountainous regions Dehestans (rural agglomerations). which presents distinguished samples of Iran's Moreover, average maximum and minimum natural manifestations and is protected in order to temperatures in Ostans’ centers belong to Ahvaz, provide sustainable preservation of its natural and with 32.9O C and Ardebil with 7.0O C respectively. varied conditions and create a suitable environment Furthermore, the absolute maximum belongs to for reproduction and breeding of wildlife and growth Ahvaz with 54.0O C and the absolute minimum goes of plants in a completely natural condition.