Our travelers just about unanimously agree: Iran is a wonderful, mind- and heart-expanding destination. Its Islamic architecture, in Shiraz and Isfahan especially, is awe striking. Its sceneries, from snowy ranges to vast deserts, are gorgeous. And perhaps most importantly, its people are very glad to see us.

• TOTAL AREA: 1,648,000 sq km

• LAND AREA: 1,636,000 sq km

• WATER AREA: 12,000 sq km

• POPULATION: 68,688,433

• RELIGIONS: Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 9%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 2%

• LANGUAGES: Persian and Persian dialects 58%, Turkic and Turkic dialects 26%, Kurdish 9%, Luri 2%, Balochi 1%, Arabic 1%, Turkish 1%, other 2%

• GOVERNMENT TYPE: Theocratic Republic

• CAPITAL CITY: Tehran

• OFFICIAL CURRENCY: Iranian rial (IRR)

• TIME ZONE: GMT/UTC +3.5