6

MEOC Perspectives

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Persian Gulf, much of Irans interior has
a majestic but forbidding landscape. Of
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3,000 feet above sea level.

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among other crops.

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70 miles south of the Caspian Sea on the
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Elburz Mountains begin to rise not far
from Irans coastline along the Caspian
Sea. As moist air from the Caspian rises
and condenses, it brings rainfall to the
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stretching from the border Iran shares
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along the Persian Gulf. While broader
than the Elburz Mountains, this is rugged
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high mountains impede travel, and of
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is navigable.

Iran has one of the most active

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have learned to adapt to their environment
for centuries.

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are still home to some 1.2 million pas
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pastoralists have abandoned the moun
tainsides for urban centers, but because of
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Development & Environment estimates
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order to irrigate parts of the arid central
plateau, farmers learned to build qanats.
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underground springs at mountain bases
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and production of oil (discovered at the
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funds to build more than 50,000 miles of
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its ports on the Persian Gulf.
From its antecedents in the Per
sian Empire, Iran has inherited an ethni
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and a quarter are Azeri.


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Among other minorities are Kurds, Lurs,
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stan and Iraq.

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to curtail. As people have deserted rural
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create a vibrant and diverse urban culture
in Iran.