iran travel 2008 (part 3 of 4)

Iran tripIran travel (Book 3 of 4)

IRAN(FROM NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC)

Iran is a southwest Asian

country of mountains and

deserts. Eastern Iran is

dominated by a high plateau,

with large salt flats and vast sand

deserts. The plateau is

surrounded by even higher

mountains, including the Zagros

to the west and the Elburz to the

north. Farming and settlement

are largely concentrated in the

narrow plains or valleys in the

west or north, where there is

more rainfall. Iran's huge oil

reserves lie in the southwest,

along the Persian Gulf.

Yazd, is the capital of Yazd province in Iran, and a centre of Zoroastrian culture. The city is located some 175 miles southeast of Isfahan. Because of generations of adaptations to its desert surroundings, Yazd is an architecturally unique city. It is also known in Iran for the high quality of its handicrafts, especially silk weaving, and its sweet shops.

Yazd, Ostan-e Yazd

Yazd

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Yazd, is the capital of Yazd

province in Iran, and a centre of

Zoroastrian culture. The city is

located some 175 miles

southeast of Isfahan.

Yazd

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Citadel of Karim Khan, 18th century, Shiraz

Shiraz

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Citadel of Karim Khan, 18th century, Shiraz

Shiraz, F!rs Province

Shiraz

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The Hafeziyeh, tomb of Hafez (persian poet) in Shiraz is one of famous landmarks of the city.

The Qur'an Gate was a part of the great city wall built under the Buwayhid empire

Persepolis was the ceremonial

capital of the Persian Empire

during the Achaemenid

dynasty. Persepolis is situated

70 km northeast of the modern

city of Shiraz in the Fars

Province of modern Iran.

The earliest remains of

Persepolis date from around

515 BC.

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Persopolis

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Naqsh-e Rustam is an archaeological site located about 12 km northwest of Persepolis, in Fars province, Iran. The

oldest relief at Naqsh-i Rustam is severely damaged and dates to c. 1000 BCE. It depicts a faint image of a man with

unusual head-gear and is thought to be Elamite in origin.

The depiction is part of a larger mural, most of which was removed at the command of Bahram II. The man with the

unusual cap gives the site its name, Naqsh-e Rostam, "Picture of Rostam", because the relief was locally believed to be

a depiction of the mythical hero Rostam.

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