IRAN STATISTICAL YEARBOOK 1388 1. LAND AND CLIMATE Introduction Gilan Ostans, Ala Dagh, Binalud, Hezar Masjed he statistical information appeared in this and Qarah Dagh in Khorasan Ostan on the east chapter is presented in three sections: of Iran. Geographical characteristics and administrative The mountains in the east which have divisions, Climate, and Environment. extended from Ararat Mountain to the north 1. Geographical characteristics and adminis- west and the south east of the country covering trative divisions Sari Dash, Chehel Cheshmeh, Panjeh Ali, Iran comprises a land area of over 1.6 million Alvand, Bakhtiyari mountains, Pish Kuh, Posht square kilometres. It lies down the northern Kuh, Oshtoran Kuh and Zard Kuh, form Zagros temperate zone, between latitudes 25º 00' north ranges . The highest peak of this range is “Dena” and 39º 47' north and between longitudes 44º 02' with a 4409 m height. east and 63º 20' east. The land’s average height Southern mountains range stretches from is over 1200 metres. The lowest place, located in Khzestan province to Sistan & Baluchestan Chaleh-ye-Loot is only 56 metres high, while the province and joins Soleyman mountains in highest point, Damavand peak in Alborz Pakistan. The mountain range includes Sepidar, mountains, rises as high as 5610 metres. The Meymand, Bashagard and Bam Posht mountains. land height at the southern coastal strip of the Central and eastern mountains mainly comprise Caspian Sea is 28 metres lower than the open Karkas, Shir Kuh, Kuh Banan, Jebal Barez, seas. Hezar, Bazman and Taftan , the highest of which Iran is bounded by Turkmenistan, Caspian is Hezar mountain with a 4465 m height. Sea, Azerbaijan, and Armenia on the north, The largest Iranian islands are mainly located at Afghanistan and Pakistan on the east, Oman Sea Persian Gulf and Hormuz Strait. They are: and Persian Gulf on the south, and Iraq and Qeshm, Kish, Lavan, Larak Shahri, Hormuz, Turkey on the west. Hengam Jadid (new Hengam), Kabudan, Ashk Administratively, the country is divided into (Orumiyeh Lake), Faroor Bozorg (Great Faroor), Ostans, Ostans into Shahrestans, and Shahrestans Hendurabi, Khark, Minou, Siri, Khan, Abu into cities and Dehestans. Mosa, Espir (Orumiyeh Lake), Tonb Bozorg Highlands of Iran can be divided into four (Great Tonb), Morghi, Kharku, Arezoo, mountain ranges: northern, western, southern (Orumiyeh Lake), Faroor Kuchak( Small and central and eastern ranges. The northern Faroor) and Tunb Kuchak ( Small Tonb). mountains have extended from Ararat Mountain The Caspian Sea (the world’s largest lake) lies in Turkey to Hindu Kush Mountain in on the north of Iran and connects Iran to Afghanistan, including Alamdar, Sahand, European countries through Russian water ways. Sabalan, Talesh, Qaflan Kuh mountains in The water of the most Iranian lakes is salty. The Azarbayejan, Albourz mountain ranges at the major internal lakes are: Orumiyeh, Namak, north of Tehran and south of Mazandaran and Hamoun Jazmourian, Hamoun Saberi, 49 1. LAND AND CLIMATE IRAN STATISTICAL YEARBOOK 1388 Bakhtegan,Toshak, Hamoun Pouzak, Maharlu, regions exceeds 500 mm. Hamoun Hirmand, Talab Anzali( Anzali lagoon), 2. 2. Moderate mountainous regions: Howz-e- Sultan, Parishan and Zarivar of some 300000 sq km of the country enjoys Marivan. moderate mountainous climate, where 2. Climate the annual Due to its vast area, abundant mountains, desert precipitation varies from 250 to 600 mm. lands and being adjacent to two large seas at the 3. Caspian region, which is a narrow strip with a north and south as well as its closeness to limited extension, trapped between the Caspian Europe, Mediterranean Sea, African large Sahara Sea and Alborz mountains with as much as 600 desert, Indian Ocean, Asian internal highlands to 2000 mm precipitation per annum. and large cold areas, Iran enjoys a 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 are only from those located in Ostan (provincial) uninhabited arid deserts in the centre of Iran. The centres. They include temperature, precipitation, continuation of the mountain ranges, their and relative humidity, the number of frosty days, location opposite or parallel the winds direction hours of bright sunshine and speed of wind. and air flows are among the factors which Notes: 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 regions 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 extensions, which are statistical yearbook since 1368. sub-divided into cold and moderate Definitions and concepts mountainous regions. Shahrestan (subprovince): an administrative 2.1. Cold mountainous regions: about 40000 sq division with a certain geographical boundary, km of the total country consists of major formed from joining of a few neighbouring highlands, including Alborz and Zagross Bakhshes which enjoy homogeneous natural, mountain ranges, as well as Sahand and Sabalan social, economic, political and cultural high peaks. The annual precipitation in these conditions. 50 IRAN STATISTICAL YEARBOOK 1388 1. LAND AND CLIMATE Bakhsh (county): an administrative division volume unit of air. with a specific geographical boundary, including Average height of precipitation: the weighted a number of neighbouring Dehestans and their mean of an area, measured by dividing the area adjacent fields, places, Roostas (hamlets), and into several polygons and calculating the mean possibly Shahrs, which are similar in natural, from the precipitation over each polygon. social, cultural, economic and political aspects. Water basin: is a geographical area in which Shahr (city/town): an area with a legal overland flows from rain and melting snow or boundary, located within the geographical ice drains downhill into a body of water, such as boundary of a certain Bakhsh and in terms of ocean, sea, lake, wetland or flat. If the constructional context, employment and other concentration point is located inside the basin, factors, having 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 neighbouring 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 reservoir water 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 centres across main basins, a total of 42 rivers have been the globe after being registered. selected to indicate and represent the overall Absolute minimum: the lowest temperature overland flow. The total volume of overland during a certain period (24 hours, one month, flow of the group exceeds 60 percent of the one year, or a few years). country’s grand total. To reach the volume of Absolute maximum: the highest temperature any individual flow, a proper coefficient is during a certain period (24 hours, one month, applied to the total volume. one year, or a few years). National parks: an area of the nation's natural Relative humidity: the amount of humid air in a resources such as jungles, pastures, natural 51 1. LAND AND