Iran lies within the desert belt of the Northern Hemisphere, so the desert plays a significant role in the formation of its climatic and general natural conditions. The undulations and the hills and mountains that appeared in the third geological era somewhat reduced the unfavorable effects of the desert. The existence of high snow-covered mountains next to low arid and hot deserts, and the littorals of the south and the north, give Iran a very varied climate and have made it rich in many resources.
For example, while the maximum absolute temperature in Khuzistan is 54 deg in summer, the minimum absolute temperature in Ardebil Province in winter is -33(degree). Another example: While in the province of Hormozgan, in the month of February, the temperature may be as high as 27 (degree), it could be as low as -25(degree) in Ardebil Province. In other words at a certain time in Iran the temperature difference between two different points of the country may be as high as 52(degree).
Consequently, at any given time, the climatic conditions may be very different at different parts of the country. While in winter the northern parts are bitterly cold and there is plenty of snow on the slopes to create excellent ski conditions, in the south the weather is sunny but mild, and the sea ideal for summer water sports: swimming in the sea and water-skiing.
It rains heavily in the north, by the Caspian, as heavy as 1400 mm annually. But in Yazd Province where there is severe shortage of precipitation, it only rains 65 mm a year on average. On certain days it rains as much on the Caspian littoral as it does over a number of years in a number of provinces put together.
Such varied climatic conditions have given Iran a wide variety of flora and fauna. Iran has ideal conditions for the cultivation of flowers. In 1997, there were 7,129 establishments of various sizes engaged in growing flowers. They operated in 3,460,798 square meters of greenhouses, built for cultivation of decorative flowers. This is besides the operators who grow flowers in the open.
Many beautiful flowers grow naturally in Iran, such as the inverted tulip which grows abundantly on the slopes of Zardkooh (Yellow Mountain). This flower is unique to Iran.
Iran possesses 12,400,000 hectares of forests and woods, and 90,000,000 hectares of gardens (orchards). There are over 90 protected or conserved areas where the fauna can live in peace, free of the dangers of human beings. The Iranian yellow deer and its brown bear are two unique species that are seriously protected.
Iran has 115 swamps and marshes of various sizes, 24 of which are internationally recognized as being of great environmental value both with respect to their effects on the climate and with respect to the animals which have their habitats at the sites. The fish and other aquatic animals and the migrating birds that fly to these regions are of great significance to environmentalists. To give one fact in evidence of the international importance of the habitats, suffice it to say that every year 12,000,000 migrating birds arrive at Anzali Swamp only.
Iran has a number of vast deserts, such as Kavire Loot and Dashte Kavir. They provide excellent opportunities for those who are interested in the study of deserts and desert fauna and flora. Yet the country also has impressively grand mountains which attract nature-lovers in enormous numbers.
Huge and dense forests, vast seas, lakes, and marshes, rivers so long that they seem to be endless, enormous and mysterious caves, hundreds of miles of plains, frighteningly deep valleys, thousands of springs of mineral water, rich flora and fauna...Iran has it all!