Introduction to Landscapes and Landforms of Iran

Abstract

IranIran as a country located in the southwest Asia is mainly covered by arid, semiarid, and hyper-arid climatic conditions. The country has high geological, climatologic, biologic, and cultural diversities. For example, though it is located in the hot spot of the world in the Lut DesertLut Desert, several parts of highlands in AlborzAlborz Mountain and Zagros MountainsZagros Mountain experience below zero temperature in the summer. Sedimentary-structural unitsSedimentary-structural units and climateClimate conditions configured main landformsLandforms and landscapes of IranIran. Two mountainous areas of AlborzAlborz Mountain and ZagrosZagros Mountain are formed by the main topographic components of the country. These mountains have inevitable effects on climateClimate, hydrology, and even history and cultural aspects. The six first-order and thirty second-order watersheds with different types of riversRiver and aquifers supply surface and ground water for any human activities. Paleoenvironmental studies show the effects of complicated relationship between human activities and environmental functions during the history.