Living In Iran
After Libya and Mongolia, Iran is the 18th largest country in the world. The area of the country is roughly equal to the size of the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Germany combined. The climate in Iran varies from arid to subtropical depending on the area in question.
Living in Iran means learning to deal with sub-zero temperatures in many regions to desert-like dryness and tropical temperatures in other regions.
The capital and largest city of Iran is Tehran, with a population of more than 7 million. Like larger cities, Tehran has a severe air pollution program.
Other larger cities in Iran include Mashhad, Isfahan, Tabriz and Karaj. In Isfahan, the capital of the Isfahan Province, the Naghsh-e Jahan Square has been designated as the UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city also contains many Islamic architectural sites dating back for many centuries.
Living in Iran means living with an economy that is a mix of central planning and state ownership of oil and other enterprises. Village agriculture and small private trading and service ventures are also evident. Although the economy has been improving steadily over the past few years, it has continued to be plagued by inflation and unemployment.
During 2006 an estimated 45 percent of the Iranian government budget came from oil and natural gas revenues. Another 31 percent came from taxes and fees on both individuals and businesses. The United Nations currently classifies the economy in Iran as semi-developed.
State investment has helped to boost the agricultural aspect of the economy with the liberalization of production as well as the improvement of packaging and marketing. These developments have helped to determine new export markets. The construction of several dams throughout Iran has also helped the country recently as have the many irrigation schemes and the production of dates, flowers and pistachios.
Agriculture currently accounts for more than 20 percent of all Iranian jobs.
The cuisine in Iran is diverse to say the least. Each area produces its own localized specialty and the meals are all served primarily with large portions of rice accompanied by meat or fish. Herbs are used in the preparation of food frequently as are onions and garlic for flavor.
With the hardships that it has endured over the centuries, Iran has continued to present a strong, united front. Living in Iran suggests a life of culture and traditional events that have been evident for centuries.