Geography (Iran)
================


     Total area:
         1,648,000 km2
     Land area:
         1,636,000 km2
     Comparative area:
         slightly larger than Alaska
     Land boundaries:
         5,440 km; Afghanistan 936 km, Armenia 35 km, Azerbaijan (north) 432 km,
         Azerbaijan (northwest) 179 km, Iraq 1,458 km, Pakistan 909 km, Turkey 499
         km, Turkmenistan 992 km
     Coastline:
         2,440 km
       note:
         Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)
     Maritime claims:
       Continental shelf:
         not specific
       Exclusive fishing zone:
         50 nm in the Sea of Oman; continental shelf limit, continental shelf
         boundaries, or median lines in the Persian Gulf
       Territorial sea:
         12 nm
     Disputes:
         Iran and Iraq restored diplomatic relations in 1990 but are still trying to
         work out written agreements settling outstanding disputes from their
         eight-year war concerning border demarcation, prisoners-of-war, and freedom
         of navigation and sovereignty over the Shatt-al-Arab waterway; Iran occupies
         two islands in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE: Tunb as Sughra (Arabic),
         Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Kuchek (Persian) or Lesser Tunb, and Tunb al Kubra
         (Arabic), Jazireh-ye Tonb-e Bozorg (Persian) or Greater Tunb; it jointly
         administers with the UAE an island in the Persian Gulf claimed by the UAE,
         Abu Musa (Arabic) or Jazireh-ye Abu Musa (Persian)
     Climate:
         mostly arid or semiarid, subtropical along Caspian coast
     Terrain:
         rugged, mountainous rim; high, central basin with deserts, mountains; small,
         discontinuous plains along both coasts
     Natural resources:
         petroleum, natural gas, coal, chromium, copper, iron ore, lead, manganese,
         zinc, sulfur
     Land use:
         arable land 8%; permanent crops NEGL%; meadows and pastures 27%; forest and
         woodland 11%; other 54%; includes irrigated 2%
     Environment:
         deforestation; overgrazing; desertification