  | |
| Continent | Asia |
|---|---|
| Region | West Asia[1][2][3] |
| Coordinates | 32°00'N, 53°00'E |
| Area | Ranked 17th |
| • Total | 1,648,195 km2 (636,372 sq mi) |
| • Land | 99.27% |
| • Water | 0.73% |
| Coastline | 2,815 km (1,749 mi) |
| Borders | Total land borders: 5,894 km (3,662 mi) Afghanistan: 921 km (572 mi) Armenia: 44 km (27 mi) Azerbaijan (proper): 432 km (268 mi) Azerbaijan (Nakhchivanexclave): 179 km (111 mi) Iraq: 1,599 km (994 mi) Pakistan: 909 km (565 mi) Turkey: 534 km (332 mi) Turkmenistan: 1,148 km (713 mi) |
| Highest point | Mount Damavand 5,610 m (18,406 ft) |
| Lowest point | Caspian Sea −28 m (−91.9 ft) |
| Longest river | Karun |
| Largest lake | Lake Urmia |
| Exclusive economic zone | 168,718 km2 (65,142 sq mi) |
Geographically, the country ofIran is located inWest Asia and the bodies of water the nation borders are theCaspian Sea,Persian Gulf (Persian Gulf), andGulf of Oman. Topographically, it is predominantly located on theIranian/Persian plateau. Its mountains have impacted both the political and the economic history of the country for several centuries. The mountains enclose several broadbasins, on which major agricultural and urban settlements are located. Until the 20th century, when majorhighways and railroads were constructed through the mountains to connect the population centers, these basins tended to be relatively isolated from one another.
Typically, one major town has dominated each basin, and there were complex economic relationships between the town and the hundreds of villages that surrounded it. In the higher elevations of the mountains rimming the basins, tribally organized groups practicedtranshumance, moving with their herds of sheep and goats between traditionally established summer and winterpastures. There are no major river systems in the country, and historically transportation was by means of caravans that followed routes traversing gaps and passes in the mountains. The mountains also impeded easy access to the Persian Gulf and theCaspian Sea.
With an area of 1,648,195 square kilometres (636,372 sq mi), Iran ranks seventeenth in size among the countries of the world. Iran sharesits northern borders with severalpost-Soviet states:Armenia,Azerbaijan,[a] andTurkmenistan. These borders extend for more than 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi), including nearly 650 kilometres (400 mi) of water along the southern shore of the Caspian Sea. Iran's western borders are withTurkey in the north andIraq in the south, terminating at theArvand Rud.
ThePersian Gulf and Gulf of Omanlittorals form the entire 1,770-kilometre (1,100 mi) southern border. To the east lieAfghanistan on the north andPakistan on the far south. Iran's diagonal distance from Azerbaijan in the northwest toSistan and Baluchestan province in the southeast is approximately 2,333 kilometres (1,450 mi).
The topography of Iran consists of rugged, mountainous rims surrounding high interior basins. The main mountain chain is theZagros Mountains, a series of parallel ridges interspersed with plains that bisect the country from northwest to southeast. Many peaks in the Zagros exceed 3,000 metres (9,843 ft) above sea level, and in the south-central region of the country there are at least five peaks that are over 4,000 metres (13,123 ft).
As the Zagros continue into southeastern Iran, the average elevation of the peaks declines dramatically to under 1,500 metres (4,921 ft). Rimming the Caspian Sea littoral is another chain of mountains, the narrow but highAlborz Mountains. VolcanicMount Damavand, 5,610 metres (18,406 ft), located in the center of the Alborz, is not only the country's highest peak but also the second highest mountain on the Eurasian landmass west of theHindu Kush, afterMount Elbrus.
The center of Iran consists of several closed basins that collectively are referred to as the Central Plateau. The average elevation of this plateau is about 900 metres (2,953 ft), but several of the mountains that tower over the plateau exceed 3,000 metres (9,843 ft). The eastern part of the plateau is covered by two salt deserts, theDasht-e Kavir (Great Salt Desert) and theDasht-e Lut. Except for some scatteredoases, these deserts are uninhabited.
Parts of northwestern Iran are part of theArmenian highlands, which adjoins it topographically with other parts of neighbouringTurkey,Armenia,Azerbaijan, andGeorgia.[4]
Iran has only two expanses of lowlands: theKhuzestan Plain in the southwest and the Caspian Sea coastal plain in the north. The former is a roughly triangular-shaped extension of the Mesopotamia plain and averages about 160 kilometres (99 mi) in width. It extends for about 120 kilometres (75 mi) inland, barely rising a few meters above sea level, then meets abruptly with the first foothills of the Zagros. Much of the Khuzestan plain is covered with marshes.
The Caspian plain is both longer and narrower. It extends for some 640 kilometres (400 mi) along the Caspian shore, but its widest point is less than 50 kilometres (31 mi), while at some places less than 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) separate the shore from the Alborz foothills. The Persian Gulf coast south of Khuzestan and the Gulf of Oman coast have no real plains because the Zagros in these areas come right down to the shore.
There are no major rivers in the country. Of the small rivers and streams, the only one that is navigable is the 830 kilometres (520 mi)-longKarun, which shallow-draft boats can negotiate fromKhorramshahr toAhvaz, a distance of about 180 kilometres (110 mi). Other notable rivers include theKarkheh, spanning 700 kilometres (430 mi) and joining theTigris; and theZayandeh River, which is 300 kilometres (190 mi) long. Several other permanent rivers and streams also drain into the Persian Gulf, while a number of small rivers that originate in the northwestern Zagros or Alborz drain into the Caspian Sea.
On the Central Plateau, numerous rivers—most of which have dry beds for the greater part of the year—form from snow melting in the mountains during the spring and flow through permanent channels, draining eventually into salt lakes that also tend to dry up during the summer months. There is a permanent salt lake,Lake Urmia (the traditional name, also cited as Lake Urmiyeh, to which it has reverted after being called Lake Rezaiyeh underMohammad Reza Shah), in the northwest, whose brine content is too high to support fish or most other forms of aquatic life. There are also several connected salt lakes along the Iran-Afghanistan border in the province of Baluchestan va Sistan.
Iran's highlands are home to some of the world's most unexpected glaciers. Their appearance in the dry environment is advantageous for those who depend on glacial ice as a supply of fresh water. In an expedition,Klaus Thymann together with the environmental charityProject Pressure produced a series of archive and expedition photographs that depict the urgency of the situation surrounding climate change and the individuals who rely on such natural ice forms to sustain life in remote areas.[5]
A recent globalremote sensing analysis suggested that there were 1,481 km2 of tidal flats in Iran, making it the 22nd ranked country in terms of tidal flat area.[6]
Iran has a diverse climate. In the northwest, winters are cold with heavy snowfalls and sub-freezing temperatures. Spring and fall are relatively mild, while summers are dry and hot. In the south, winters are mild and summers are very hot, with average daily maximum temperature exceeding 38 °C (100.4 °F) in the month of July. On theKhuzestan Plain, summer heat is accompanied by high humidity.
In general, Iran has a temperate climate in which most of the relatively scant annual precipitation falls from October through April. In most of the country, yearly precipitation averages 400 millimetres (15.7 in) or less. The major exceptions are the higher mountain valleys of the Zagros and the Caspian coastal plain, where precipitation averages at least 600 millimetres (24 in) and is in the form of snow at high altitudes. In the western part of the Caspian, rainfall exceeds 1,500 millimetres (59 in) annually and is distributed relatively evenly throughout the year. This contrasts with some basins of the Central Plateau that receive 100 millimetres (4 in) or less of precipitation. Iran is considered colder than neighboring countries such as Iraq and Turkmenistan, due to its higher elevation.
 | Caspian mild and wet Caspian mild Mediterranean with spring rains Mediterranean Cold mountains Very cold mountains Cold semi-desert Hot semi-desert Dry desert Hot dry desert Hot coastal dry Coastal dry |
| Climate data for Tehran Mehrabad – Altitude: 1190.8 m (1951–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 19.6 (67.3) | 23.0 (73.4) | 29.4 (84.9) | 33.4 (92.1) | 37.0 (98.6) | 41.0 (105.8) | 43.0 (109.4) | 42.0 (107.6) | 38.0 (100.4) | 33.4 (92.1) | 26.4 (79.5) | 21.0 (69.8) | 43.0 (109.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.9 (46.2) | 10.6 (51.1) | 15.7 (60.3) | 22.2 (72.0) | 28.0 (82.4) | 34.0 (93.2) | 36.7 (98.1) | 35.7 (96.3) | 31.6 (88.9) | 24.5 (76.1) | 16.3 (61.3) | 10.1 (50.2) | 22.8 (73.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 3.8 (38.8) | 6.0 (42.8) | 10.7 (51.3) | 16.8 (62.2) | 22.1 (71.8) | 27.5 (81.5) | 30.3 (86.5) | 29.5 (85.1) | 25.5 (77.9) | 19.0 (66.2) | 11.6 (52.9) | 5.9 (42.6) | 17.4 (63.3) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.4 (31.3) | 1.4 (34.5) | 5.7 (42.3) | 11.4 (52.5) | 16.3 (61.3) | 21.1 (70.0) | 24.0 (75.2) | 23.4 (74.1) | 19.4 (66.9) | 13.5 (56.3) | 6.8 (44.2) | 1.8 (35.2) | 12.0 (53.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −15.0 (5.0) | −13.0 (8.6) | −8.0 (17.6) | −4.0 (24.8) | 2.4 (36.3) | 5.0 (41.0) | 14.0 (57.2) | 13.0 (55.4) | 9.0 (48.2) | 2.8 (37.0) | −7.0 (19.4) | −13.0 (8.6) | −15.0 (5.0) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 34.6 (1.36) | 33.2 (1.31) | 39.6 (1.56) | 31.9 (1.26) | 14.8 (0.58) | 3.0 (0.12) | 2.2 (0.09) | 1.7 (0.07) | 1.2 (0.05) | 10.7 (0.42) | 26.1 (1.03) | 33.7 (1.33) | 232.7 (9.18) |
| Average precipitation days | 9.0 | 8.6 | 10.7 | 10.8 | 8.8 | 3.1 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 5.3 | 7.2 | 8.6 | 76.6 |
| Average snowy days | 5.1 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 12.3 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 64 | 56 | 47 | 40 | 33 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 36 | 49 | 62 | 41 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 168.8 | 179.8 | 203.0 | 220.6 | 287.0 | 346.3 | 345.9 | 333.6 | 302.8 | 249.9 | 202.9 | 168.9 | 3,009.5 |
| Averageultraviolet index | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Source 1: Iran Meteorological Organization (records),[7] (temperatures),[8] (precipitation),[9] (humidity),[10] (days with precipitation),[11] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Weather Atlas (UV),[14] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data for Tehran-Shomal (north of Tehran), altitude: 1549.1 m, from 1988–2010. | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.2 (63.0) | 21.2 (70.2) | 29.0 (84.2) | 32.4 (90.3) | 33.6 (92.5) | 39.2 (102.6) | 40.4 (104.7) | 39.6 (103.3) | 36.2 (97.2) | 31.2 (88.2) | 23.6 (74.5) | 19.6 (67.3) | 40.4 (104.7) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.1 (43.0) | 8.6 (47.5) | 13.8 (56.8) | 20.0 (68.0) | 25.5 (77.9) | 31.6 (88.9) | 34.4 (93.9) | 33.6 (92.5) | 29.5 (85.1) | 22.8 (73.0) | 14.5 (58.1) | 8.6 (47.5) | 20.8 (69.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.3 (36.1) | 4.4 (39.9) | 9.2 (48.6) | 14.9 (58.8) | 19.8 (67.6) | 25.6 (78.1) | 28.5 (83.3) | 27.6 (81.7) | 23.4 (74.1) | 17.2 (63.0) | 9.9 (49.8) | 4.8 (40.6) | 15.6 (60.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1.5 (29.3) | 0.2 (32.4) | 4.6 (40.3) | 9.8 (49.6) | 14.2 (57.6) | 19.7 (67.5) | 22.6 (72.7) | 21.6 (70.9) | 17.3 (63.1) | 11.7 (53.1) | 5.3 (41.5) | 0.9 (33.6) | 10.5 (51.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −13.0 (8.6) | −11.0 (12.2) | −8.0 (17.6) | −1.6 (29.1) | 3.0 (37.4) | 12.0 (53.6) | 15.4 (59.7) | 13.5 (56.3) | 8.8 (47.8) | 2.6 (36.7) | −5.2 (22.6) | −9.6 (14.7) | −13.0 (8.6) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 61.9 (2.44) | 68.3 (2.69) | 73.9 (2.91) | 53.2 (2.09) | 24.0 (0.94) | 4.9 (0.19) | 3.8 (0.15) | 2.5 (0.10) | 3.8 (0.15) | 18.4 (0.72) | 41.5 (1.63) | 64.3 (2.53) | 420.5 (16.54) |
| Average precipitation days | 12.3 | 10.9 | 12.3 | 10.0 | 8.9 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 5.8 | 8.6 | 10.7 | 89.1 |
| Average snowy days | 8.9 | 6.6 | 2.5 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.6 | 4.9 | 23.7 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 67 | 59 | 53 | 44 | 39 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 33 | 44 | 57 | 66 | 46 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 135.8 | 146.4 | 185.1 | 215.0 | 274.6 | 322.8 | 331.8 | 327.5 | 292.6 | 245.5 | 171.5 | 135.8 | 2,784.4 |
| Source:[15] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forMashhad (1951–2010, extremes 1951–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 20.0 (68.0) | 22.0 (71.6) | 28.0 (82.4) | 30.4 (86.7) | 35.2 (95.4) | 38.6 (101.5) | 43.8 (110.8) | 40.4 (104.7) | 38.0 (100.4) | 33.8 (92.8) | 28.4 (83.1) | 22.2 (72.0) | 43.8 (110.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.1 (43.0) | 7.3 (45.1) | 12.2 (54.0) | 17.9 (64.2) | 24.8 (76.6) | 30.3 (86.5) | 32.4 (90.3) | 31.1 (88.0) | 25.9 (78.6) | 20.5 (68.9) | 13.5 (56.3) | 8.1 (46.6) | 21.2 (70.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 1.7 (35.1) | 3.7 (38.7) | 8.5 (47.3) | 14.7 (58.5) | 19.6 (67.3) | 24.4 (75.9) | 26.6 (79.9) | 24.8 (76.6) | 20.3 (68.5) | 14.5 (58.1) | 8.7 (47.7) | 4.0 (39.2) | 14.3 (57.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.8 (21.6) | −4.3 (24.3) | 2.9 (37.2) | 6.4 (43.5) | 10.4 (50.7) | 14.4 (57.9) | 16.7 (62.1) | 14.5 (58.1) | 9.7 (49.5) | 4.4 (39.9) | −1.9 (28.6) | −3.7 (25.3) | 7.3 (45.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −27.0 (−16.6) | −32.0 (−25.6) | −13.0 (8.6) | −7.0 (19.4) | −1.0 (30.2) | 4.0 (39.2) | 10.0 (50.0) | 5.0 (41.0) | −1.0 (30.2) | −8.0 (17.6) | −16.0 (3.2) | −25.0 (−13.0) | −32.0 (−25.6) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 32.6 (1.28) | 34.5 (1.36) | 55.5 (2.19) | 45.4 (1.79) | 27.2 (1.07) | 4.0 (0.16) | 1.1 (0.04) | 0.7 (0.03) | 2.1 (0.08) | 8.0 (0.31) | 16.1 (0.63) | 24.3 (0.96) | 251.5 (9.90) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 5.6 | 5.8 | 8.2 | 6.8 | 4.5 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 1.5 | 2.9 | 4.2 | 41.6 |
| Average snowy days | 5.6 | 5.8 | 4.0 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 3.8 | 20.9 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 75 | 73 | 69 | 62 | 50 | 37 | 34 | 33 | 37 | 49 | 63 | 73 | 54 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 148.3 | 147.5 | 163.3 | 200.4 | 280.4 | 343.2 | 366.9 | 359.7 | 305.2 | 249.5 | 188.3 | 151.6 | 2,904.3 |
| Source: Iran Meteorological Organization (records),[16] (temperatures),[17] (precipitation),[18] (humidity),[19] (days with precipitation),[20] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forIsfahan (1961–1990, extremes 1951–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 20.4 (68.7) | 23.4 (74.1) | 29.0 (84.2) | 32.0 (89.6) | 37.6 (99.7) | 41.0 (105.8) | 43.0 (109.4) | 42.0 (107.6) | 39.0 (102.2) | 33.2 (91.8) | 26.8 (80.2) | 21.2 (70.2) | 43.0 (109.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 8.8 (47.8) | 11.9 (53.4) | 16.8 (62.2) | 22.0 (71.6) | 28.0 (82.4) | 34.1 (93.4) | 36.4 (97.5) | 35.1 (95.2) | 31.2 (88.2) | 24.4 (75.9) | 16.9 (62.4) | 10.8 (51.4) | 23.0 (73.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 2.7 (36.9) | 5.5 (41.9) | 10.4 (50.7) | 15.7 (60.3) | 21.3 (70.3) | 27.1 (80.8) | 29.4 (84.9) | 27.9 (82.2) | 23.5 (74.3) | 16.9 (62.4) | 9.9 (49.8) | 4.4 (39.9) | 16.2 (61.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −2.4 (27.7) | −0.2 (31.6) | 4.5 (40.1) | 9.4 (48.9) | 14.2 (57.6) | 19.1 (66.4) | 21.5 (70.7) | 19.8 (67.6) | 15.1 (59.2) | 9.3 (48.7) | 3.6 (38.5) | −0.9 (30.4) | 9.4 (48.9) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −19.4 (−2.9) | −12.2 (10.0) | −8.0 (17.6) | −4.0 (24.8) | 4.5 (40.1) | 10.0 (50.0) | 13.0 (55.4) | 11.0 (51.8) | 5.0 (41.0) | 0.0 (32.0) | −8.0 (17.6) | −13.0 (8.6) | −19.4 (−2.9) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 17.1 (0.67) | 14.1 (0.56) | 18.2 (0.72) | 19.2 (0.76) | 8.8 (0.35) | 0.6 (0.02) | 0.7 (0.03) | 0.2 (0.01) | 0.0 (0.0) | 4.1 (0.16) | 9.9 (0.39) | 19.6 (0.77) | 112.5 (4.43) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 4.0 | 2.9 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 0.2 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 23.5 |
| Average snowy days | 3.2 | 1.7 | 0.7 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.9 | 7.8 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 60 | 51 | 43 | 39 | 33 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 36 | 48 | 57 | 39 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 205.3 | 213.3 | 242.1 | 244.5 | 301.3 | 345.4 | 347.6 | 331.2 | 311.6 | 276.5 | 226.1 | 207.6 | 3,252.5 |
| Source 1: NOAA[23] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Iran Meteorological Organization (records)[24][25] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forKaraj (1985–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 18.2 (64.8) | 19.8 (67.6) | 27.4 (81.3) | 33.0 (91.4) | 34.6 (94.3) | 39.2 (102.6) | 42.0 (107.6) | 40.2 (104.4) | 37.2 (99.0) | 31.8 (89.2) | 25.0 (77.0) | 20.0 (68.0) | 42.0 (107.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.1 (43.0) | 9.0 (48.2) | 14.2 (57.6) | 20.7 (69.3) | 26.2 (79.2) | 32.6 (90.7) | 35.2 (95.4) | 34.5 (94.1) | 30.4 (86.7) | 23.5 (74.3) | 15.1 (59.2) | 8.9 (48.0) | 21.4 (70.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 1.8 (35.2) | 4.1 (39.4) | 8.7 (47.7) | 14.5 (58.1) | 19.2 (66.6) | 24.6 (76.3) | 27.1 (80.8) | 26.8 (80.2) | 22.9 (73.2) | 17.1 (62.8) | 9.9 (49.8) | 4.6 (40.3) | 15.1 (59.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −2.5 (27.5) | −0.7 (30.7) | 3.2 (37.8) | 8.4 (47.1) | 12.2 (54.0) | 16.5 (61.7) | 19.0 (66.2) | 19.1 (66.4) | 15.3 (59.5) | 10.8 (51.4) | 4.8 (40.6) | 0.3 (32.5) | 8.9 (48.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −19.0 (−2.2) | −15.6 (3.9) | −10.5 (13.1) | −3.5 (25.7) | −0.4 (31.3) | 7.2 (45.0) | 10.6 (51.1) | 12.0 (53.6) | 7.0 (44.6) | −0.5 (31.1) | −6.0 (21.2) | −14.6 (5.7) | −19.0 (−2.2) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 30.8 (1.21) | 32.1 (1.26) | 45.4 (1.79) | 39.1 (1.54) | 19.5 (0.77) | 2.7 (0.11) | 3.0 (0.12) | 1.2 (0.05) | 1.6 (0.06) | 15.1 (0.59) | 27.7 (1.09) | 33.5 (1.32) | 251.7 (9.91) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 6.3 | 5.7 | 6.7 | 5.8 | 3.7 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 3.2 | 4.8 | 5.8 | 44.3 |
| Average snowy days | 5.4 | 3.7 | 1.9 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 2.7 | 14.3 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 67 | 60 | 53 | 48 | 43 | 34 | 35 | 34 | 36 | 44 | 56 | 66 | 48 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 166.3 | 169.7 | 197.4 | 218.1 | 280.7 | 335.2 | 341.5 | 340.1 | 304.2 | 250.1 | 187.2 | 156.8 | 2,947.3 |
| Source: Iran Meteorological Organization (records),[26] (temperatures),[27] (precipitation),[28] (humidity),[29] (days with precipitation and snow),[30] (sunshine)[31] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forShiraz (1961–1990, extremes 1951–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 22.4 (72.3) | 24.0 (75.2) | 30.6 (87.1) | 34.0 (93.2) | 38.6 (101.5) | 42.0 (107.6) | 43.2 (109.8) | 42.0 (107.6) | 39.0 (102.2) | 34.4 (93.9) | 28.4 (83.1) | 23.2 (73.8) | 43.2 (109.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 12.1 (53.8) | 14.7 (58.5) | 18.9 (66.0) | 23.8 (74.8) | 30.6 (87.1) | 36.1 (97.0) | 37.8 (100.0) | 37.0 (98.6) | 33.7 (92.7) | 27.8 (82.0) | 20.5 (68.9) | 14.4 (57.9) | 25.6 (78.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 5.3 (41.5) | 7.7 (45.9) | 11.8 (53.2) | 16.2 (61.2) | 22.5 (72.5) | 27.7 (81.9) | 29.8 (85.6) | 28.7 (83.7) | 24.5 (76.1) | 18.4 (65.1) | 11.7 (53.1) | 6.8 (44.2) | 17.6 (63.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −0.4 (31.3) | 1.2 (34.2) | 4.8 (40.6) | 8.5 (47.3) | 13.2 (55.8) | 17.1 (62.8) | 19.9 (67.8) | 18.8 (65.8) | 14.1 (57.4) | 8.8 (47.8) | 3.8 (38.8) | 0.5 (32.9) | 9.2 (48.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −14.0 (6.8) | −8.0 (17.6) | −4.0 (24.8) | −2.0 (28.4) | 3.0 (37.4) | 9.0 (48.2) | 14.0 (57.2) | 12.0 (53.6) | 1.0 (33.8) | 1.6 (34.9) | −8.0 (17.6) | −11.0 (12.2) | −14.0 (6.8) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 79.8 (3.14) | 49.8 (1.96) | 48.4 (1.91) | 30.6 (1.20) | 6.6 (0.26) | 0.2 (0.01) | 1.0 (0.04) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.0 (0.0) | 5.2 (0.20) | 20.7 (0.81) | 63.2 (2.49) | 305.6 (12.03) |
| Average rainy days | 8.7 | 7.9 | 7.9 | 6.4 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.1 | 1.2 | 3.7 | 7.2 | 46.6 |
| Average snowy days | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 2.7 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 65 | 58 | 51 | 46 | 32 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 26 | 34 | 48 | 61 | 41 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 217.0 | 218.5 | 236.2 | 247.7 | 324.1 | 357.8 | 344.6 | 329.7 | 318.0 | 297.7 | 238.3 | 216.2 | 3,345.8 |
| Source 1: NOAA[32] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Iran Meteorological Organization (records)[33][34] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forTabriz (1951–2010, extremes 1951–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 16.0 (60.8) | 19.0 (66.2) | 25.6 (78.1) | 31.2 (88.2) | 33.8 (92.8) | 39.0 (102.2) | 42.0 (107.6) | 41.0 (105.8) | 38.0 (100.4) | 30.6 (87.1) | 23.4 (74.1) | 21.8 (71.2) | 42.0 (107.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.3 (36.1) | 4.9 (40.8) | 10.6 (51.1) | 17.0 (62.6) | 22.8 (73.0) | 28.8 (83.8) | 32.8 (91.0) | 32.7 (90.9) | 28.3 (82.9) | 20.7 (69.3) | 12.0 (53.6) | 5.2 (41.4) | 18.2 (64.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.7 (28.9) | 0.5 (32.9) | 5.6 (42.1) | 11.5 (52.7) | 16.7 (62.1) | 22.1 (71.8) | 26.0 (78.8) | 25.9 (78.6) | 21.4 (70.5) | 14.5 (58.1) | 7.1 (44.8) | 1.2 (34.2) | 12.6 (54.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.7 (21.7) | −3.9 (25.0) | 0.6 (33.1) | 6.0 (42.8) | 10.7 (51.3) | 15.4 (59.7) | 19.3 (66.7) | 19.1 (66.4) | 14.5 (58.1) | 8.4 (47.1) | 2.1 (35.8) | −2.9 (26.8) | 7.0 (44.6) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −30.0 (−22.0) | −25.0 (−13.0) | −20.0 (−4.0) | −15.0 (5.0) | 0.6 (33.1) | 4.0 (39.2) | 7.0 (44.6) | 10.0 (50.0) | 4.0 (39.2) | −4.0 (24.8) | −17.0 (1.4) | −23.5 (−10.3) | −30.0 (−22.0) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 24.0 (0.94) | 28.2 (1.11) | 45.0 (1.77) | 56.6 (2.23) | 43.1 (1.70) | 19.4 (0.76) | 5.6 (0.22) | 3.3 (0.13) | 10.9 (0.43) | 24.5 (0.96) | 30.1 (1.19) | 24.1 (0.95) | 318.8 (12.55) |
| Average rainy days | 6.9 | 7.3 | 10.7 | 14.8 | 9.3 | 3.2 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 6.3 | 72.6 |
| Average snowy days | 11.3 | 9.9 | 5.9 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.8 | 8.2 | 38.4 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 72 | 69 | 61 | 56 | 50 | 40 | 36 | 36 | 39 | 51 | 65 | 71 | 53 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 125.9 | 146.3 | 179.7 | 200.8 | 268.7 | 334.3 | 352.5 | 337.7 | 301.4 | 231.6 | 180.3 | 136.8 | 2,796 |
| Source: Iran Meteorological Organization (records),[35] (temperatures),[36] (precipitation),[37] (humidity),[38] (days with precipitation),[39][40] (sunshine)[41] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forQom (1986–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 23.4 (74.1) | 26.5 (79.7) | 35.5 (95.9) | 36.5 (97.7) | 41.5 (106.7) | 44.2 (111.6) | 47.0 (116.6) | 45.5 (113.9) | 41.6 (106.9) | 36.6 (97.9) | 28.6 (83.5) | 22.5 (72.5) | 47.0 (116.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 10.2 (50.4) | 13.6 (56.5) | 19.1 (66.4) | 26.0 (78.8) | 31.8 (89.2) | 37.9 (100.2) | 40.3 (104.5) | 39.4 (102.9) | 34.9 (94.8) | 27.7 (81.9) | 18.9 (66.0) | 12.2 (54.0) | 26.0 (78.8) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.2 (39.6) | 7.1 (44.8) | 12.0 (53.6) | 18.3 (64.9) | 23.6 (74.5) | 29.1 (84.4) | 31.8 (89.2) | 30.3 (86.5) | 25.2 (77.4) | 19.0 (66.2) | 11.5 (52.7) | 6.1 (43.0) | 18.2 (64.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −1.9 (28.6) | 0.6 (33.1) | 5.0 (41.0) | 10.5 (50.9) | 15.4 (59.7) | 20.2 (68.4) | 23.4 (74.1) | 21.2 (70.2) | 15.6 (60.1) | 10.3 (50.5) | 4.1 (39.4) | −0.1 (31.8) | 10.4 (50.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −23 (−9) | −11.2 (11.8) | −11 (12) | 0.4 (32.7) | 5.4 (41.7) | 8.0 (46.4) | 15.0 (59.0) | 13.5 (56.3) | 6.5 (43.7) | 0.6 (33.1) | −7 (19) | −10.5 (13.1) | −23 (−9) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 25.4 (1.00) | 20.5 (0.81) | 27.7 (1.09) | 20.2 (0.80) | 10.4 (0.41) | 2.3 (0.09) | 0.7 (0.03) | 0.3 (0.01) | 0.8 (0.03) | 6.2 (0.24) | 14.3 (0.56) | 19.4 (0.76) | 148.2 (5.83) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 4.4 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 2.0 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.8 | 2.6 | 3.2 | 27.2 |
| Average snowy days | 3.1 | 1.4 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 5.8 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 66 | 58 | 48 | 42 | 33 | 24 | 23 | 24 | 26 | 38 | 52 | 66 | 41 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 185.0 | 194.0 | 221.5 | 233.3 | 296.6 | 351.5 | 354.5 | 347.3 | 309.9 | 263.4 | 204.9 | 172.7 | 3,134.6 |
| Source: Iran Meteorological Organization (records),[42] (temperatures),[43] (precipitation),[44] (humidity),[45] (days with precipitation and snow),[46] (sunshine)[47] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forAhvaz (1951–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 28.0 (82.4) | 31.5 (88.7) | 37.6 (99.7) | 43.0 (109.4) | 48.6 (119.5) | 52.2 (126.0) | 51.6 (124.9) | 51.0 (123.8) | 48.4 (119.1) | 45.0 (113.0) | 36.0 (96.8) | 29.0 (84.2) | 54.0 (129.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 17.5 (63.5) | 20.5 (68.9) | 25.5 (77.9) | 32.2 (90.0) | 39.3 (102.7) | 44.6 (112.3) | 46.3 (115.3) | 45.9 (114.6) | 42.5 (108.5) | 36.0 (96.8) | 26.5 (79.7) | 19.4 (66.9) | 33.0 (91.4) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 12.3 (54.1) | 14.7 (58.5) | 19.0 (66.2) | 24.9 (76.8) | 31.1 (88.0) | 35.2 (95.4) | 37.3 (99.1) | 36.7 (98.1) | 33.0 (91.4) | 27.3 (81.1) | 19.8 (67.6) | 14.0 (57.2) | 25.4 (77.7) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 7.2 (45.0) | 8.8 (47.8) | 12.5 (54.5) | 17.6 (63.7) | 23.0 (73.4) | 25.9 (78.6) | 28.2 (82.8) | 27.4 (81.3) | 23.4 (74.1) | 18.8 (65.8) | 13.0 (55.4) | 8.6 (47.5) | 17.9 (64.2) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −7.0 (19.4) | −5.0 (23.0) | −1.0 (30.2) | 6.0 (42.8) | 13.0 (55.4) | 15.0 (59.0) | 19.0 (66.2) | 18.0 (64.4) | 13.0 (55.4) | 8.0 (46.4) | 0.0 (32.0) | −1.0 (30.2) | −7.0 (19.4) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 48.2 (1.90) | 26.9 (1.06) | 26.4 (1.04) | 16.1 (0.63) | 4.4 (0.17) | 0.4 (0.02) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.2 (0.01) | 6.4 (0.25) | 31.4 (1.24) | 48.7 (1.92) | 209.2 (8.24) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 4.9 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 4.5 | 24.2 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 71 | 61 | 51 | 41 | 28 | 22 | 24 | 28 | 29 | 38 | 53 | 69 | 43 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 174.7 | 193.2 | 214.1 | 233.8 | 284.4 | 326.2 | 336.1 | 331.2 | 301.8 | 263.5 | 209.5 | 176.4 | 3,044.9 |
Source: Iran Meteorological Organization (records),[48] (temperatures),[49]
| |||||||||||||
| Climate data forKermanshah, Iran (1961–1990, extremes 1951–2010) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 20.2 (68.4) | 21.8 (71.2) | 28.4 (83.1) | 33.7 (92.7) | 38.5 (101.3) | 43.0 (109.4) | 44.1 (111.4) | 44.0 (111.2) | 40.4 (104.7) | 34.4 (93.9) | 28.4 (83.1) | 25.4 (77.7) | 44.1 (111.4) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 6.5 (43.7) | 8.9 (48.0) | 14.3 (57.7) | 19.7 (67.5) | 25.8 (78.4) | 33.3 (91.9) | 37.8 (100.0) | 37.0 (98.6) | 32.5 (90.5) | 25.0 (77.0) | 16.7 (62.1) | 9.7 (49.5) | 22.3 (72.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 0.6 (33.1) | 2.5 (36.5) | 7.7 (45.9) | 12.7 (54.9) | 17.6 (63.7) | 23.6 (74.5) | 28.2 (82.8) | 27.2 (81.0) | 22.4 (72.3) | 16.0 (60.8) | 8.9 (48.0) | 3.5 (38.3) | 14.2 (57.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −4.3 (24.3) | −3.0 (26.6) | 1.2 (34.2) | 5.1 (41.2) | 8.2 (46.8) | 11.4 (52.5) | 16.1 (61.0) | 15.4 (59.7) | 10.6 (51.1) | 6.4 (43.5) | 1.8 (35.2) | −1.7 (28.9) | 5.6 (42.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −24 (−11) | −27.0 (−16.6) | −11.3 (11.7) | −6.1 (21.0) | −1.0 (30.2) | 2.0 (35.6) | 8.0 (46.4) | 8.0 (46.4) | 1.2 (34.2) | −3.5 (25.7) | −17.0 (1.4) | −17 (1) | −27.0 (−16.6) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 67.1 (2.64) | 62.9 (2.48) | 88.9 (3.50) | 69.9 (2.75) | 33.7 (1.33) | 0.5 (0.02) | 0.3 (0.01) | 0.3 (0.01) | 1.3 (0.05) | 29.2 (1.15) | 54.3 (2.14) | 70.3 (2.77) | 478.7 (18.85) |
| Average rainy days | 11.4 | 10.7 | 12.6 | 11.0 | 7.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 0.4 | 0.5 | 4.9 | 7.9 | 9.6 | 77.3 |
| Average snowy days | 5.9 | 4.7 | 1.9 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.3 | 3.1 | 16.1 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 75 | 71 | 62 | 57 | 49 | 28 | 23 | 23 | 25 | 40 | 59 | 71 | 49 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 134.8 | 150.1 | 180.7 | 204.6 | 268.0 | 348.3 | 349.1 | 336.7 | 304.6 | 242.8 | 187.6 | 147.9 | 2,855.2 |
| Source 1: NOAA[54] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Iran Meteorological Organization (records)[55][56] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forRasht | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 30 (86) | 31 (88) | 38.0 (100.4) | 37 (99) | 37.6 (99.7) | 37 (99) | 37 (99) | 37.2 (99.0) | 40 (104) | 37.4 (99.3) | 36 (97) | 32 (90) | 40 (104) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 11.0 (51.8) | 11.2 (52.2) | 13.5 (56.3) | 19.0 (66.2) | 24.0 (75.2) | 28.1 (82.6) | 30.3 (86.5) | 30.2 (86.4) | 26.7 (80.1) | 22.1 (71.8) | 17.5 (63.5) | 13.5 (56.3) | 20.6 (69.1) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.7 (44.1) | 7.0 (44.6) | 9.4 (48.9) | 14.3 (57.7) | 19.2 (66.6) | 23.2 (73.8) | 25.3 (77.5) | 25.3 (77.5) | 22.2 (72.0) | 17.7 (63.9) | 12.9 (55.2) | 8.9 (48.0) | 16.0 (60.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.4 (36.3) | 2.7 (36.9) | 5.3 (41.5) | 9.6 (49.3) | 14.4 (57.9) | 18.2 (64.8) | 20.4 (68.7) | 20.3 (68.5) | 17.6 (63.7) | 13.3 (55.9) | 8.3 (46.9) | 4.4 (39.9) | 11.4 (52.5) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −19 (−2) | −18 (0) | −6.4 (20.5) | −2 (28) | 3.6 (38.5) | 5 (41) | 11 (52) | 9 (48) | 7 (45) | 1 (34) | −4 (25) | −10 (14) | −19 (−2) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 132.4 (5.21) | 116.0 (4.57) | 112.5 (4.43) | 64.8 (2.55) | 51.5 (2.03) | 43.0 (1.69) | 42.3 (1.67) | 68.4 (2.69) | 152.5 (6.00) | 211.5 (8.33) | 186.8 (7.35) | 155.8 (6.13) | 1,337.5 (52.65) |
| Average precipitation days | 13.4 | 12.9 | 15.4 | 12.3 | 10.9 | 7.3 | 6.3 | 8.6 | 12.0 | 13.8 | 12.8 | 13.0 | 138.7 |
| Average snowy days | 2.5 | 2.8 | 1.3 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.9 | 7.7 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 84 | 85 | 84 | 80 | 78 | 74 | 74 | 77 | 82 | 86 | 85 | 85 | 81 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 91.7 | 86.7 | 91.2 | 122.0 | 174.0 | 213.2 | 222.1 | 187.7 | 140.2 | 118.3 | 100.2 | 89.6 | 1,636.9 |
| Source 1: World Climate[57] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: Shahrekord Meteorology Database[58] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forSaqqez, Iran | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 18.2 (64.8) | 20 (68) | 24 (75) | 29 (84) | 34.4 (93.9) | 39 (102) | 43 (109) | 42 (108) | 39 (102) | 32 (90) | 26 (79) | 22.2 (72.0) | 43 (109) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.4 (36.3) | 4.7 (40.5) | 11.0 (51.8) | 17.3 (63.1) | 23.1 (73.6) | 29.8 (85.6) | 34.3 (93.7) | 34.2 (93.6) | 29.8 (85.6) | 22.2 (72.0) | 13.4 (56.1) | 6.1 (43.0) | 19.03 (66.25) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −8.1 (17.4) | −6.7 (19.9) | −1.2 (29.8) | 3.6 (38.5) | 6.6 (43.9) | 9.5 (49.1) | 14.0 (57.2) | 13.4 (56.1) | 8.3 (46.9) | 4.4 (39.9) | −0.3 (31.5) | −4.6 (23.7) | 3.24 (37.83) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −32 (−26) | −36 (−33) | −27.6 (−17.7) | −9 (16) | −5 (23) | −0.6 (30.9) | 3.8 (38.8) | 4.8 (40.6) | −0.4 (31.3) | −7 (19) | −24 (−11) | −32 (−26) | −36 (−33) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 66.6 (2.62) | 58.7 (2.31) | 79.5 (3.13) | 83.6 (3.29) | 52.0 (2.05) | 5.8 (0.23) | 2.9 (0.11) | 2.5 (0.10) | 1.4 (0.06) | 27.8 (1.09) | 56.9 (2.24) | 61.7 (2.43) | 499.4 (19.66) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 8.5 | 8.3 | 10.0 | 9.8 | 7.0 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 4.3 | 6.2 | 8.1 | 65.2 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 73 | 70 | 64 | 58 | 52 | 40 | 35 | 33 | 33 | 47 | 63 | 71 | 53 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 121.5 | 142.2 | 177.4 | 213.1 | 287.1 | 345.1 | 357.4 | 344.3 | 311.1 | 254.3 | 174.1 | 123.4 | 2,851 |
| Source:Synoptic Stations Statistics | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forHamedan | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.0 (62.6) | 19.0 (66.2) | 25.0 (77.0) | 28.0 (82.4) | 33.0 (91.4) | 39.0 (102.2) | 40.6 (105.1) | 39.4 (102.9) | 36.4 (97.5) | 30.0 (86.0) | 23.0 (73.4) | 18.8 (65.8) | 40.6 (105.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.0 (35.6) | 4.3 (39.7) | 11.5 (52.7) | 18.1 (64.6) | 23.9 (75.0) | 30.9 (87.6) | 34.9 (94.8) | 34.2 (93.6) | 29.8 (85.6) | 21.9 (71.4) | 13.7 (56.7) | 5.9 (42.6) | 19.3 (66.7) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −4.6 (23.7) | −2.2 (28.0) | 4.5 (40.1) | 10.4 (50.7) | 15.5 (59.9) | 21.3 (70.3) | 25.3 (77.5) | 24.3 (75.7) | 19.0 (66.2) | 12.1 (53.8) | 5.3 (41.5) | −0.9 (30.4) | 10.8 (51.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −10.5 (13.1) | −8.2 (17.2) | −2.1 (28.2) | 2.7 (36.9) | 6.4 (43.5) | 9.8 (49.6) | 13.9 (57.0) | 12.8 (55.0) | 7.0 (44.6) | 2.5 (36.5) | −2.1 (28.2) | −6.6 (20.1) | 2.1 (35.8) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −34 (−29) | −33.0 (−27.4) | −21 (−6) | −12.0 (10.4) | −3.0 (26.6) | 2.0 (35.6) | 7.0 (44.6) | 4.0 (39.2) | −4.0 (24.8) | −7.0 (19.4) | −14.5 (5.9) | −29 (−20) | −34 (−29) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 46.3 (1.82) | 43.6 (1.72) | 49.4 (1.94) | 49.8 (1.96) | 37.8 (1.49) | 3.7 (0.15) | 2.0 (0.08) | 1.8 (0.07) | 0.8 (0.03) | 20.7 (0.81) | 26.9 (1.06) | 40.9 (1.61) | 323.7 (12.74) |
| Average rainy days | 11.6 | 11.1 | 12.4 | 12.1 | 9.5 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 5.6 | 6.8 | 10.1 | 85.1 |
| Average snowy days | 8.8 | 8.2 | 4.2 | 0.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 6.9 | 29.8 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 76 | 73 | 64 | 56 | 50 | 36 | 31 | 31 | 34 | 48 | 61 | 73 | 53 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 131.8 | 137.1 | 174.5 | 199.6 | 258.5 | 341.8 | 342.7 | 322.2 | 295.6 | 234.3 | 183.1 | 135.3 | 2,756.5 |
| Source: NOAA (1961–1990)[59] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forYazd (1951–2010, records and temperature normals 1951–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 27.0 (80.6) | 29.4 (84.9) | 35.2 (95.4) | 38.0 (100.4) | 41.0 (105.8) | 44.1 (111.4) | 45.6 (114.1) | 45.6 (114.1) | 42.0 (107.6) | 36.4 (97.5) | 30.8 (87.4) | 28.5 (83.3) | 45.6 (114.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 12.7 (54.9) | 16.0 (60.8) | 21.0 (69.8) | 26.9 (80.4) | 32.5 (90.5) | 38.1 (100.6) | 39.6 (103.3) | 38.0 (100.4) | 34.5 (94.1) | 27.8 (82.0) | 19.9 (67.8) | 14.5 (58.1) | 26.8 (80.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 6.4 (43.5) | 9.3 (48.7) | 14.2 (57.6) | 19.9 (67.8) | 25.3 (77.5) | 30.5 (86.9) | 32.3 (90.1) | 30.2 (86.4) | 26.3 (79.3) | 19.9 (67.8) | 12.7 (54.9) | 7.8 (46.0) | 19.6 (67.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | -0 (32) | 2.6 (36.7) | 7.4 (45.3) | 12.9 (55.2) | 18.0 (64.4) | 22.8 (73.0) | 24.9 (76.8) | 22.3 (72.1) | 18.1 (64.6) | 12.0 (53.6) | 5.5 (41.9) | 1.1 (34.0) | 12.3 (54.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −14 (7) | −10.1 (13.8) | −7 (19) | 0.0 (32.0) | 2.0 (35.6) | 11.0 (51.8) | 16.0 (60.8) | 12.0 (53.6) | 2.0 (35.6) | −3 (27) | −10 (14) | −16 (3) | −16 (3) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 12.2 (0.48) | 7.6 (0.30) | 12.5 (0.49) | 7.3 (0.29) | 3.6 (0.14) | 0.3 (0.01) | 0.2 (0.01) | 0.1 (0.00) | 0.1 (0.00) | 1.2 (0.05) | 4.1 (0.16) | 10.0 (0.39) | 59.2 (2.32) |
| Average precipitation days | 4.8 | 3.5 | 4.8 | 4.3 | 2.2 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 27 |
| Average snowy days | 2.1 | 0.8 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.8 | 4 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 54 | 44 | 37 | 32 | 25 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 19 | 27 | 38 | 50 | 32 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 194.1 | 210.3 | 225.4 | 246.2 | 302.7 | 343.1 | 347.2 | 346.1 | 316.4 | 286.9 | 226.2 | 200.3 | 3,244.9 |
| Source 1:[1] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: IRIMO (extremes, sun, humidity, 1952–2010)[60] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forArdabil | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 18.2 (64.8) | 20.0 (68.0) | 27.2 (81.0) | 32.0 (89.6) | 33.0 (91.4) | 37.5 (99.5) | 38.0 (100.4) | 39.8 (103.6) | 37.4 (99.3) | 30.8 (87.4) | 25.0 (77.0) | 21.2 (70.2) | 39.8 (103.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 3.0 (37.4) | 4.5 (40.1) | 9.3 (48.7) | 16.7 (62.1) | 19.7 (67.5) | 23.2 (73.8) | 25.0 (77.0) | 24.7 (76.5) | 22.6 (72.7) | 17.5 (63.5) | 11.4 (52.5) | 5.7 (42.3) | 15.3 (59.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −7.9 (17.8) | −6.3 (20.7) | −2.4 (27.7) | 2.8 (37.0) | 6.0 (42.8) | 9.0 (48.2) | 11.6 (52.9) | 11.6 (52.9) | 8.7 (47.7) | 4.8 (40.6) | 0.3 (32.5) | −4.6 (23.7) | 2.8 (37.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −31.4 (−24.5) | −33.8 (−28.8) | −28.8 (−19.8) | −13.0 (8.6) | −8.5 (16.7) | −0.2 (31.6) | 3.0 (37.4) | 2.2 (36.0) | −4.4 (24.1) | −21.0 (−5.8) | −24.2 (−11.6) | −27.0 (−16.6) | −33.8 (−28.8) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 25.3 (1.00) | 24.1 (0.95) | 40.1 (1.58) | 47.0 (1.85) | 42.6 (1.68) | 18.9 (0.74) | 5.9 (0.23) | 5.5 (0.22) | 10.4 (0.41) | 31.8 (1.25) | 34.5 (1.36) | 29.4 (1.16) | 315.5 (12.43) |
| Average rainy days | 8.2 | 8.9 | 11.3 | 14.2 | 15.7 | 7.2 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 6.4 | 9.2 | 7.7 | 7.9 | 104.7 |
| Average snowy days | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 2.1 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 6.3 | 35.5 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 75 | 74 | 73 | 68 | 71 | 71 | 69 | 70 | 74 | 75 | 74 | 74 | 72 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 146.2 | 153.7 | 170.4 | 184.9 | 245.4 | 293.6 | 302.8 | 274.3 | 227.1 | 185.6 | 153.4 | 141.0 | 2,478.4 |
| Source:[61] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forBandar Abbas (1961–1990) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 32.0 (89.6) | 33.0 (91.4) | 39.0 (102.2) | 42.0 (107.6) | 47.0 (116.6) | 51.0 (123.8) | 48.0 (118.4) | 46.0 (114.8) | 45.0 (113.0) | 42.0 (107.6) | 38.0 (100.4) | 32.0 (89.6) | 51.0 (123.8) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23.5 (74.3) | 24.4 (75.9) | 27.7 (81.9) | 31.6 (88.9) | 36.3 (97.3) | 38.4 (101.1) | 38.2 (100.8) | 37.7 (99.9) | 36.8 (98.2) | 35.0 (95.0) | 30.4 (86.7) | 25.5 (77.9) | 32.13 (89.83) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 18.1 (64.6) | 19.4 (66.9) | 23.1 (73.6) | 26.8 (80.2) | 31.2 (88.2) | 33.7 (92.7) | 34.4 (93.9) | 34.0 (93.2) | 32.5 (90.5) | 29.6 (85.3) | 24.3 (75.7) | 19.7 (67.5) | 27.2 (81.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 12.1 (53.8) | 14.0 (57.2) | 17.5 (63.5) | 20.9 (69.6) | 24.7 (76.5) | 28.0 (82.4) | 30.3 (86.5) | 30.1 (86.2) | 27.7 (81.9) | 23.5 (74.3) | 18.0 (64.4) | 13.5 (56.3) | 21.69 (71.04) |
| Record low °C (°F) | 2.3 (36.1) | 5.4 (41.7) | 7.6 (45.7) | 11.5 (52.7) | 17.0 (62.6) | 20.0 (68.0) | 25.2 (77.4) | 25.0 (77.0) | 21.0 (69.8) | 12.0 (53.6) | 6.0 (42.8) | 2.0 (35.6) | 2.0 (35.6) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 39.7 (1.56) | 47.5 (1.87) | 34.8 (1.37) | 10.7 (0.42) | 4.8 (0.19) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.6 (0.02) | 2.2 (0.09) | 0.8 (0.03) | 1.3 (0.05) | 5.0 (0.20) | 24.0 (0.94) | 171.4 (6.74) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 1.0 mm) | 3.3 | 3.1 | 2.6 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 0.4 | 2.3 | 13.7 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 64 | 68 | 67 | 64 | 61 | 64 | 68 | 69 | 67 | 64 | 61 | 63 | 65 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 220.1 | 211.9 | 232.5 | 242.4 | 312.7 | 302.2 | 264.6 | 270.1 | 270.1 | 283.4 | 251.2 | 228.8 | 3,090 |
| Source: NOAA (1961–1990)[62][63] | |||||||||||||
| Climate data forArak | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.0 (62.6) | 21.0 (69.8) | 25.2 (77.4) | 29.0 (84.2) | 35.0 (95.0) | 41.0 (105.8) | 44.0 (111.2) | 41.0 (105.8) | 38.0 (100.4) | 31.0 (87.8) | 24.0 (75.2) | 20.0 (68.0) | 44.0 (111.2) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 4.2 (39.6) | 7.3 (45.1) | 13.7 (56.7) | 19.7 (67.5) | 25.6 (78.1) | 32.5 (90.5) | 35.7 (96.3) | 34.9 (94.8) | 30.7 (87.3) | 23.2 (73.8) | 14.5 (58.1) | 7.7 (45.9) | 20.8 (69.5) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −0.8 (30.6) | 1.9 (35.4) | 7.8 (46.0) | 13.4 (56.1) | 18.2 (64.8) | 24.0 (75.2) | 27.3 (81.1) | 26.4 (79.5) | 21.9 (71.4) | 15.6 (60.1) | 8.4 (47.1) | 2.8 (37.0) | 13.9 (57.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.7 (21.7) | −3.4 (25.9) | 2.0 (35.6) | 7.0 (44.6) | 10.9 (51.6) | 15.5 (59.9) | 19.0 (66.2) | 17.9 (64.2) | 13.1 (55.6) | 7.9 (46.2) | 2.4 (36.3) | −2.1 (28.2) | 7.0 (44.7) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −29.6 (−21.3) | −30.5 (−22.9) | −22 (−8) | −7.0 (19.4) | 0.0 (32.0) | 4.0 (39.2) | 12.0 (53.6) | 10.0 (50.0) | 2.0 (35.6) | −4.0 (24.8) | −17 (1) | −23 (−9) | −30.5 (−22.9) |
| Averageprecipitation mm (inches) | 51.6 (2.03) | 43.3 (1.70) | 57.1 (2.25) | 53.6 (2.11) | 30.0 (1.18) | 2.8 (0.11) | 1.2 (0.05) | 1.6 (0.06) | 0.9 (0.04) | 16.9 (0.67) | 33.7 (1.33) | 44.4 (1.75) | 337.1 (13.28) |
| Average rainy days | 10.8 | 9.8 | 11.4 | 9.4 | 7.1 | 1.1 | 0.9 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 4.3 | 6.1 | 8.9 | 71 |
| Average snowy days | 7.6 | 6.4 | 3.2 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.1 | 0.7 | 4.6 | 23.1 |
| Averagerelative humidity (%) | 72 | 66 | 54 | 48 | 41 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 41 | 57 | 68 | 47 |
| Mean monthlysunshine hours | 152.0 | 170.9 | 206.2 | 225.7 | 288.3 | 345.0 | 334.8 | 330.9 | 305.1 | 259.3 | 185.9 | 154.3 | 2,958.4 |
| Source: NOAA (1961–1990)[64] | |||||||||||||
7% of the country is forested. The most extensive growths are found on the mountain slopes rising from the Caspian Sea, with stands ofoak,ash,elm,cypress, and other valuable trees. On the plateau proper, areas of scrub oak appear on the best-watered mountain slopes, and villagers cultivate orchards and grow the plane tree, poplar,willow,walnut,beech,maple, andmulberry. Wild plants andshrubs spring from the barren land in the spring and afford pasturage, but the summer sun burns them away. According toFAO reports,[65] the major types of forests that exist in Iran and their respective areas are:
Wildlife of Iran is diverse and composed of several animal species including bears, gazelles, wild pigs, wolves, jackals, panthers, Eurasian lynx, and foxes. Domestic animals include, sheep, goats, cattle, horses, water buffalo, donkeys, and camels. The pheasant, partridge, stork, eagles and falcon are also native to Iran.
As of 2001, 20 of Iran'smammal species and 14 birdspecies areendangered. Among them are theBaluchistan bear (Ursus thibetanus gedrosianus), asubspecies ofAsian black bear,Persian fallow deer,Siberian crane,hawksbill turtle,green turtle,Oxus cobra,Latifi's viper,dugong and dolphins. TheAsiatic cheetah is acritically endangered species which isextinct elsewhere and now can only be found in central to northeastern parts of Iran.
Iran lost all itsAsiatic lions andCaspian tigers by the earlier part of the 20th century. TheSyrian wild ass has become extinct.Syrian brown bears in the mountains, wild sheep and goats,gazelles,Persian onagers,wild pigs,Persian leopards, and foxes abound. Domestic animals include sheep, goats, cattle, horses,water buffalo, donkeys, and camels. Thepheasant,partridge,stork, andfalcon are native to Iran.
The Persian leopard is said to be the largest of all the subspecies of leopards in the world. The main range of this species in Iran closely overlaps with that ofbezoar ibex. Hence, it is found throughoutAlborz andZagros mountain ranges, as well as smaller ranges within the Iranian plateau. The leopard population is very sparse, due to loss of habitat, loss of natural prey, and population fragmentation.[citation needed] Apart from bezoar ibex, wild sheep,boar, deer, (eitherCaspian red deer orroe deer), and domestic animals constitute leopards' diet in Iran.
Iran'sbio-diversity ranks 13th in the world.[citation needed] There are 272 conservation areas around Iran for a total of 17 million hectares under the supervision of theDepartment of Environment (Iran), variously named national parks, protected areas, and natural wildlife refuges, all meant to protect thegenetic resources of the country. There are only 2,617 rangers and 430 environmental monitoring units engaged in protecting these vast areas, which amounts to 6,500 hectares to cover for each ranger.[66]
| Ramsar sites (23 June 1975) | Area (km2) |
|---|---|
| Anzali Wetland Complex,[67]Gilan province | 150 |
| Arjan Meadow,[68]Fars province | 22 |
| Lake Gori,[69]East Azerbaijan province | 1.2 |
| Lake Kobi,[70]West Azerbaijan province | 12 |
| Lake Parishan,[68]Fars province | 40 |
| Miankaleh Peninsula,Gorgan Bay, Lapoo-Zaghmarz Ab-bandan[71]Mazandaran province | 1000 |
Natural hazards:periodic droughts, floods; dust storms, sandstorms;earthquakes along western border and in the northeast
Environment – current issues:air pollution, especially in urban areas, from vehicle emissions, refinery operations, and industrial effluents;deforestation;desertification;oil pollution in thePersian Gulf; wetland losses from drought;soil degradation (salination); inadequate supplies ofpotable water in some areas;water pollution from rawsewage and industrial waste; urbanization.
Natural resources:petroleum, natural gas, coal,chromium, copper, iron ore, lead,manganese,zinc,sulfur
arable land:10.87%
permanent crops:1.19%
other:87.93% (2012 est.)
Irrigated land:87,000 km2 (34,000 sq mi) (2009)
Total renewable water resources:137 km3 (2011)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
total: 93.3 km3/yr (7%/1%/92%)
per capita: 1,306 m3/yr (2004)
Iran is currently engaged in international territorial disputes with several neighbouring countries.
The country protestsAfghanistan's limiting flow of dammed tributaries to theHelmand River in periods of drought. The lack of amaritime boundary in the Persian Gulf withIraq also prompts jurisdictional disputes beyond the mouth of the Arvand Rud. Iran and theUnited Arab Emirates have aterritorial dispute over theGreater and Lesser Tunbs andAbu Musa islands, which are administered by Iran. Iran currently insists on dividing theCaspian Sea resources equally among the five littoral states, after the Russian-backed former soviet breakaway republics refused to respect the 50-50 agreements between Iran and the Soviet Union (despite their international obligation). Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan continue to claim territorial waters thus regarding the Caspian Sea as open international body of water, dismissing its geographically lake nature.[74]
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. Iran: A Country Study.Federal Research Division. This article incorporatespublic domain material fromThe World Factbook.CIA.
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