Iran From Above

Land of warriors, refuge for many communities and a natural bulwark against invaders, the Iranian mountains have played an important role in the country's culture.

In central Iran, the dune deserts are the cradles of the Persian Empire. Despite a hostile climate, man has made a place for himself among their unique landscapes.

Large plains stretch across eastern Iran, between the Persian Gulf and the Caspian Sea. These immense arid territories have become fertile, as evidenced by the fields and orchards surrounding the city of Gonabad, irrigated by ingenious underground canals erected 2,500 years ago. On Qeshm Island, in the Strait of Hormuz, women draw inspiration from nature to create traditional embroidery. In Madan-e Olya, near the border with Turkmenistan, a rare stone coveted throughout the world has been mined for 7000 years: turquoise. Further north, in the province of Golestan, meet the semi-nomadic community of Turkmens and their animal king, the dromedary.