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Tehran

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Tehran is the capital and largest city of Iran.

Iran map 2
Iran map 2

It sits at the foot of the Alborz mountains. The name Tehran might mean "the bottom of the mountain slope." This city is very crowded and busy. About 9 million people live in the city itself. If you count the whole metropolitan area, there are 16.8 million people. This makes it the most populous city in West Asia. It is also the 24th-largest metropolitan area in the whole world.

Life in Tehran is a mix of many different things. Most people there are Persian and speak the Persian language. It is often called a cultural "melting pot." This is because many different groups live there together. For example, it hosts more Azerbaijanis than any other city in the world. To get around, people use the Tehran Metro or the bus system. There are also trolleybuses and many large highways. Travelers can fly into the city using Imam Khomeini International Airport.

Tehran1
Tehran1

Tehran has a very long and deep history. People have lived in this area for over 6,000 years. Long ago, a famous city called Rhages was nearby. Rhages was destroyed during many different invasions. In 1786, a leader named Agha Mohammad Khan chose Tehran as the capital.

Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, painting, ca. 1840
Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, painting, ca. 1840

He wanted a place that was easy to control. He also wanted to be close to the northern territories. Tehran was actually the 32nd capital of Iran in its long history.

As time passed, the city grew and changed quickly. During the reign of Naser al-Din Shah, many new things arrived. Tehran saw its first bank, museum, and railway line.

Tehran2
Tehran2

Large building projects began in the 1920s. Many people moved to the city from all over Iran during the 20th century. The city has also faced hard times. It was at the center of the Iranian Revolution. It also saw damage during the Iran–Iraq War.

There are many amazing landmarks to see in Tehran today. You can visit the Golestan Palace, which is a World Heritage Site.

Golestan Palace Album No. 132-31
Golestan Palace Album No. 132-31

The Azadi Tower was built in 1971 to celebrate the Persian Empire. You might also see the Milad Tower. It was completed in 2007 and is very tall.

Tehran3
Tehran3

Another modern site is the Tabiat Bridge, finished in 2014. Even though the city faces challenges like air pollution, it remains a major center for tourism.

Tehran4
Tehran4
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🖼️ Images & Media (41)
File:Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, painting, ca. 1840.jpg
Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar, painting, ca. 1840.jpg
File:Golestan Palace Album No. 132-31.jpg
Golestan Palace Album No. 132-31.jpg
File:Poster of Conquest of Tehran in July 1909 by Bakhtiaris.jpg
Poster of Conquest of Tehran in July 1909...
File:Toopkhooneh ghadeem.jpg
Toopkhooneh ghadeem.jpg
File:University of Tehran Students ceremony.jpg
University of Tehran Students ceremony.jpg
File:1979 Iranian Revolution.jpg
1979 Iranian Revolution.jpg
File:Tehran Population (1956-2016).png
Tehran Population (1956-2016).png
File:Tehran population pyramid in 2016.svg
Tehran population pyramid in 2016.svg
File:Tehran district map (blank).svg
Tehran district map (blank).svg
File:Iran map 2.svg
Iran map 2.svg
File:Tehran1.PNG
Tehran1.PNG
File:Tehran2.PNG
Tehran2.PNG

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