Tehran

Tehran
source
Name	Tehran
Settlement type	Capital city
Coordinates	35.6892°N 51.3890°E
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name	Iran
Subdivision type1	Province
Subdivision name1	Tehran Province
Subdivision type2	County
Subdivision name2	Tehran County
Leader title	Mayor
Leader name	Alireza Zakani
Area total km2	686
Elevation m	1200
Population total	8430000
Population as of	2016
Population density km2	12300
Timezone	Iran Standard Time
Utc offset	+3:30
Timezone DST	Iran Daylight Time
Utc offset DST	+4:30

Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran, located in the northern part of the country, near the Alborz Mountains and the Dasht-e Kavir desert. The city is home to many famous landmarks, including the Golestan Palace, Niavaran Palace, and Azadi Tower, which was built to commemorate the 2,500th anniversary of the Achaemenid Empire. Tehran is also a major cultural center, with numerous museums, such as the National Museum of Iran, Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, and Reza Abbasi Museum, which showcase the city's rich history and art. The city is also home to many universities, including the University of Tehran, Sharif University of Technology, and Amirkabir University of Technology, which are among the top universities in the country.

Geography

Tehran is situated in the Tehran Province, which is one of the 31 provinces of Iran, and is bounded by the Alborz Mountains to the north, the Dasht-e Kavir desert to the east, and the Qom Province to the south. The city's geography is characterized by its location in a sedimentary basin, which is surrounded by mountains, including the Tochal and Dizin mountains, which are popular ski resorts. Tehran's climate is semi-arid, with cold winters and hot summers, and is influenced by the Elburz Mountains and the Caspian Sea. The city is also prone to earthquakes, due to its location on the Iranian plateau, which is a seismically active region, and has experienced several major earthquakes, including the 2003 Bam earthquake and the 1962 Buin-Zahra earthquake.

History

Tehran has a long and rich history, dating back to the Achaemenid Empire, which was founded by Cyrus the Great in the 6th century BC. The city was an important center of trade and commerce during the Sassanian Empire, which was founded by Ardashir I in the 3rd century AD, and was also a major cultural center during the Islamic Golden Age, which was a period of significant cultural, scientific, and philosophical achievement in the Islamic world. Tehran was also the capital of the Qajar dynasty, which was founded by Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar in the 18th century, and was a major center of politics and diplomacy during the Pahlavi dynasty, which was founded by Reza Shah in the 20th century. The city has also been influenced by other cultures, including the Mongol Empire, which was founded by Genghis Khan in the 13th century, and the Ottoman Empire, which was founded by Osman I in the 13th century.

Economy

Tehran is the economic center of Iran, and is home to many major industries, including automotive manufacturing, petrochemicals, and textiles. The city is also a major center of trade and commerce, with many markets, including the Tehran Grand Bazaar, which is one of the largest bazaars in the Middle East. Tehran is also home to many major companies, including Iran Khodro, which is one of the largest automakers in the Middle East, and National Iranian Oil Company, which is the state-owned oil company of Iran. The city's economy is also influenced by its location on the Silk Road, which is a major trade route that connects Europe and Asia, and has been an important center of trade and commerce for centuries.

Culture

Tehran is a major cultural center, with many museums, galleries, and performance venues, including the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art, which is one of the most important modern art museums in the Middle East, and the Rudaki Hall, which is a major concert hall that hosts many performances, including those by the Tehran Symphony Orchestra. The city is also home to many festivals, including the Fajr International Film Festival, which is one of the most important film festivals in Asia, and the Tehran International Book Fair, which is one of the largest book fairs in the Middle East. Tehran's culture is also influenced by its rich history, with many historical landmarks, including the Golestan Palace, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Niavaran Palace, which is a former royal palace that is now a museum.

Transportation

Tehran has a well-developed transportation system, with many roads, highways, and public transportation systems, including the Tehran Metro, which is one of the largest metro systems in the Middle East, and the Tehran Bus Rapid Transit system, which is a major bus system that connects many parts of the city. The city is also home to two major airports, including the Mehrabad International Airport and the Imam Khomeini International Airport, which is one of the busiest airports in the Middle East. Tehran is also connected to other cities in Iran by a network of highways and roads, including the Tehran-Qom Highway and the Tehran-Isfahan Highway.

Education

Tehran is home to many major universities, including the University of Tehran, which is one of the oldest and most prestigious universities in Iran, and the Sharif University of Technology, which is one of the top technical universities in the Middle East. The city is also home to many other universities, including the Amirkabir University of Technology, which is one of the top engineering universities in Iran, and the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, which is one of the top medical universities in the Middle East. Tehran's education system is also influenced by its rich history, with many historical universities, including the University of al-Qarawiyyin, which is one of the oldest universities in the Islamic world, and the Nizamiyya, which is a former university that was founded by Nizam al-Mulk in the 11th century. Category:Cities in Iran