Covering an area of 1500 sq. km, Tehran is situated in the north-central part of Iran, on the slope of the Alborz Mountain. As the national capital it is the most populated city in Iran and the center of cultural, economical, political and social activities. It is about 1200 meters above sea level and enjoys a mild climate. The highest peak in the Alborz range, Mount Damavand (5,671 meters, 18,600 feet) is an extinct volcano, which dominates the skyline of Tehran.
The beginnings of Tehran are unclear but probably occurred sometime in the 11th century. It is believed that, as Tehran had a pleasant climate and was green and fertile, it often came under attack from highwaymen. In order to protect themselves, the villagers made underground dwellings. Hence, the name Tehran (Tah – Ran), meaning “underground town” (Tah meaning under, Ran meaning town or place).
Tehran became a capital in 1789, under Qajar rule, replacing Shiraz in that function, and in 1796, Agha Mohammad Khan was enthroned there. His successor, Fath Ali Shah (1797-1834) continued the transformation of the town and had the Shah’s Mosque (today, the Imam Khomeini Mosque) and Golestan Palace built, while Nasir ad-Din Shah (1848-96) enlarged the walls and commissioned the Sepahsalar Mosque.
During the 19th century, the center of the city remained focused around the palace and the bazaar. However, Reza Shah (1925-1941) preferred to live in his palaces to the west of the town or in those of Sa’ad Abad, 10 kilometers to the north, and large avenues were cut to link these areas together during his reign. This was the beginning of the vertical north-south axis, which is so characteristic of Tehran.
With a population of an estimated 15 million, Greater Metropolitan Tehran ranks as one of the world’s largest capitals. The aerial size of the city has also expanded to such an extent that the size of the city now exceeds that of New York. The skyline of Tehran is growing with an ever increasing speed – Construction cranes are scattered across the cityscape. New buildings are popping up everywhere, every month.
To be continued…
Related posts:
Tags: Capital of Iran, Iran, Tehran, Tehran's city size, The history of Tehran