Topography

Iran is topographically complex and rugged. * **Highest Point:** Mount Damavand, a potentially active volcano in the Alborz range, towering at 5,609 meters (18,402 ft). * **Lowest Point:** The Caspian Sea coastline, which lies approximately 28 meters (92 ft) below sea level. * **Mountains:** The Zagros range creates a formidable barrier in the west and south, while the Alborz range seals the north. These ranges feature deep valleys, steep slopes, and high alpine meadows. * **Plateaus:** The Iranian Plateau covers the vast interior, sitting at an average elevation of about 900 meters (3,000 ft). * **Coastal Plains:** Narrow but highly fertile plains run along the Caspian Sea. In the south, a narrower, more arid coastal strip borders the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.