Nestled at the foot of the Alborz Mountains, Tehran's unique geography shapes its environmental challenges and treasures.
* **Air Quality:** Tehran struggles significantly with air pollution. The mountains trap vehicle emissions and industrial smog, creating severe temperature inversions in the winter. The city occasionally closes schools on highly polluted days. * **Water Resources:** Rapid population growth and regional droughts have put immense pressure on Tehran's water supply, leading to concerns about aquifer depletion and subsequent land subsidence in the southern plains. * **Parks and Green Spaces:** The municipality has heavily invested in greening the city. Tehran has over 800 parks, including the sprawling Mellat Park, Laleh Park, and the mountain-hugging Jamshidieh Park. * **Protected Areas:** The nearby Turghe-ye-Tehran and Central Alborz Protected Area offer sanctuaries for local wildlife, including Persian leopards, wild sheep, and eagles, while providing vital hiking and ecotourism spaces for city dwellers.
