10 Astounding Facts about Iran You Never Knew

Iran is a bit of a wallflower in the world of tourism that is slowly coming out of its shell.  People are now looking up how to visit Iran and the country is seeing an influx of travelers eager to visit ancient places in Iran as well as its modern wonders and investigate its culture.  Iran is actually one of the Middle East’s most intriguing destinations because so few people have traveled there, giving it a very real sense of mystery.  Here are some little known facts about Iran to tempt you into investigating the country further.

10 LITTLE KNOWN IRAN FACTS

1. Iran has had a reputation for producing some of the world’s most beautiful rugs for over 2,500 years. They are the country’s second-most popular exported commodity after oil.  Interestingly enough, carpet-makers will intentionally weave a mistake into each rug to reiterate the belief that the only God himself is perfect.  When you visit Iran, exploring the carpet section of a bazaar is a must, if not purchasing one for yourself!
2. Iran is home to many nomadic people groups, although no one knows exactly how many are roaming the country. The last census taken of nomadic peoples was 30 years ago and at that time they numbered over 1 million.
3. One of the lesser-known tourist attractions in Iran is the Kalouts in Shahdad. The Kalouts are a “desert city” of naturally formed monuments in Iran’s Lout Desert.  Nicknamed “the hottest place on earth,” the Kalouts are fantastic, unique, and surreal, providing an almost fantasy landscape to explore.
4. Iran contains 10% of the world’s oil reserves.
5. One of the most impressive tourist attractions in Iran is the Treasury of National Jewels located in Tehran. This extensive collection of jewelry houses some of the world’s most unique, expensive, and extravagant pieces of jewelry and will literally have your jaw dropping down to the floor.  A comprehensive appraisal of the value of all the items has never been able to be completed cue to the rarity of so many of the gems.
6. Most Iranian households do not have tables or chairs in them. Instead, people places cushions directly on the floor and eat from there.
7. Almost half of Iran has a desert climate, but there is a ski resort within an hour of the capital city!
8. A fascinating piece of historical information about Iran is that the English word “assassin” comes from an elite group of killers called “Hashishin” that was once based out of modern-day Iran in the 11^th and 12^th The group believed that eliminating their enemies’ prominent members was better than waging a full-scale war where thousands were killed. The members of the group become famous for only killing their targets and not innocent bystanders; hence, the term “assassin” in English refers only to high profile killings.
9. Over 60% of Iran’s population is under the age of 30.
10. Iran contains the world’s largest aqua-cave. Found in the province of Hamadan, Ali-Sadr Cave is one of the most interesting places in Iran.  The cave contains stalactites and stalagmites of varying shapes (umbrellas, needles, etc.) that range from purple, brown, red, blue, and green.  With 2-50 meter-wide canals, visitors can tour the cave via canoe as well as on foot.

If Persian culture and history interests you, then a trip to Iran is something you should investigate.  There is much more to Iran than just these few pieces of information and many more interesting places to explore within the country.  Just find yourself a good tour operator that is safety conscious and pick a tour that hits all the highlights you want to see!

Photos from source: http://www.trekearth.com/, http://www.wallpaperhi.com/, http://www.skyscrapercity.com/