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Iran

Middle East

Photos of Iran

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Measured by surface area, the Caspian Sea is the world&apos;s largest inland water body. It covers roughly 371,000 sq km (143,200 sq mi) and borders five countries. To the ancient Greeks and Persians, the lake&apos;s immense size suggested it was an ocean, hence its name. A large expanse of clear sky permitted this natural-color satellite image of the entire water body. The color of the Caspian Sea darkens from north to south, thanks to changes in depth and perhaps sediment and other runoff. The northern part of the lake is just 5 to 6 m (16 to 20 ft) deep. The southern end, however, plunges more than 1,000 m (3,300 ft). Just as the lake reaches a greater depth in the south, the nearby land reaches a greater height. The mountains of northern Iran line the southern end of the giant lake, and emerald green vegetation clings to those mountain slopes. In marked contrast to the mountains, sand seas line the southeastern and northern perimeters of the lake, and marshes occur along the lake shores in Azerbaijan to the west. Multiple rivers empty into the Caspian Sea, the Volga being the largest. Lacking an outlet, the Caspian Sea loses water only by evaporation, leading to the accumulation of salt. Although a lake, the Caspian is not a freshwater lake; the water delivered by the Volga River minimizes the lake&apos;s salt content at the northern end, but the Caspian grows more saline to the south. Kara-Bogaz-Gol is a saline inlet along the lake&apos;s eastern perimeter. Image courtesy of NASA.
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Contents

Introduction

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Definitions and Notes
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Geography

Area

comparison ranking: total 19

Area - comparative

Area comparison map:
Area comparison map

People and Society

Languages

Persian audio sample:

Age structure

2023 population pyramid:
2023 population pyramid

Median age

comparison ranking: total 110

Population growth rate

comparison ranking: 104

Birth rate

comparison ranking: 119

Death rate

comparison ranking: 187

Net migration rate

comparison ranking: 113

Maternal mortality ratio

comparison ranking: 119

Infant mortality rate

comparison ranking: total 97

Total fertility rate

comparison ranking: 117

Tobacco use

comparison ranking: total 113

Education expenditures

comparison ranking: 137

Environment

Revenue from coal

comparison ranking: 47

Government

Economy

Real GDP growth rate

comparison ranking: 58

Real GDP per capita

comparison ranking: 115

Labor force

comparison ranking: 24

Unemployment rate

comparison ranking: 157

Public debt

comparison ranking: 134

Taxes and other revenues

comparison ranking: 110

Current account balance

comparison ranking: 28

Exports

comparison ranking: 46

Imports

comparison ranking: 46

Debt - external

comparison ranking: 97

Energy

Communications

Internet users

comparison ranking: total 13

Transportation

Airports

comparison ranking: 33

Railways

comparison ranking: total 25

Roadways

comparison ranking: total 21

Waterways

comparison ranking: 76

Merchant marine

comparison ranking: total 24

Military and Security

Military expenditures

comparison ranking: 62

Space

Terrorism

Transnational Issues

Contents