Animals and Plants

What is growing in Iran?

Much of the country is made up of deserts or semi-deserts. No or very few plants grow here. What grows here must be able to survive in this hostile environment. Acacia trees, for example, survive even in extremely drought conditions.

More plants are thriving in the mountains and along the coast of Iran. Oaks, maples and hornbeams grow in the mountains and mountains. Tamarisks can reach heights of up to 15 meters, but can also only reach the height of a shrub.

In the few existing wet forests in Iran, elms, beeches and maples grow, but also the iron tree or the chestnut-leaved oak. Cypress trees can also be found in certain locations. You will find willows and poplars along the rivers.

Which animals live in Iran?

Iran’s wildlife is diverse. Gazelles and donkeys live in the steppes and semi-deserts. There are wild sheep and goats here. Well-known animals such as red deer and lynx frolic in the forests. There are also cheetahs, leopards and the grumpy brown bear. Unfortunately, tigers and lions are now extinct in Iran. Hyenas, jackals and foxes still roam the country. In the deserts of Iran there are also many dromedaries that are often used as workhorses.

What’s flying in Iran?

As a country located in Middle East according to directoryaah, Iran is very species-rich in birds. Birds of prey such as golden eagles and falcons find a home in Iran, as do certain species of vulture, such as the bearded vulture. The Plesky Jay is a species of bird that only exists in Iran and is then called endemic. Iranians also like to go hunting. But what are they hunting then? Preferably pheasants and partridges. By the way, there are many different bird species on the south coast of the Caspian Sea. Most of the birds that fly over Iran are migratory birds. That means they don’t always live here, but only occasionally, during the time when it is too cold in their home countries and they are drawn into the warmth.

What is swimming and sneaking around in Iran?

There are also a lot of fish in the Caspian Sea and fishing is very important. A well-known fish, especially in the Caspian Sea, is the sturgeon. You may have heard of this fish before because its eggs are an expensive delicacy: caviar.

Many geckos and lizard species as well as non-poisonous snakes such as the grass snake cavort in Iran. As in Turkey and Iraq, the Armenian mountain otter lives as a venomous snake.

Many animals are now protected

There are now regions in Iran where certain animal species are protected. This includes the Golestan National Park. This is also the oldest national park in Iran. Leopards, wolves, wild boars, but also steppe wild sheep and wild goats are protected here. The Persian leopard and Asiatic cheetah find refuge in Kawir National Park, which is 120 kilometers from Tehran.

Economy

Many companies in Iran are state-owned

Most of the companies in Iran are state-owned, only a few companies do not belong to the state, such as the banks. In Iran, for example, the state intervenes in the economy, sets prices and specifies what is to be produced in which quantities.

There is oil and gas in Iran. These are the most important raw materials and at the same time the most important branches of industry. By the way, most of the state’s income comes from the sale of petroleum. The result is that Iran is dependent on oil. Since the Iranian state finances a lot with this income, such as schools, roads or hospitals, a falling oil price has dire consequences, because some things can then no longer be paid by the state, which has less income. Another problem is the mostly outdated conveyor systems.

Since Iran was subject to sanctions from the West for a long time (see also History and Politics), many parts of the systems could never be replaced. Accidents occur again and again and the old systems are a long way from being as productive as the new ones. Large amounts of natural gas are believed to be in Iran, but it is still a long way from being produced as much as would be possible.

Other industries in Iran

That is why Iran is also focusing on the expansion of nuclear energy. The auto industry is also growing in Iran. The armaments industry receives orders, which the state supports above all. Iran continues to rely on deterrence against the USA and Israel. The textile industry is not equally important, but also worth mentioning. Many people in Iran work in industry, which generates almost half of the so-called GDP.

Agriculture

Then there is agriculture. Although this is not that important for the economy, a quarter of the population still works in agriculture. Only a small part of Iran can be used for agriculture at all. This is due to the geographical conditions, because the country is very mountainous and rich in desert. Artificial irrigation is often required. This artificial irrigation has now led to major problems because there is far too little water and the water consumption is too high. For example, Iran exports cotton, dates, and pistachios.

In Iran there is the problem of corruption: people get money so that they can, for example, place an order with a certain company. The police are also often given something so that they don’t look so closely at some offenses.