Salam! Welcome to the land of ancient empires and exquisite poetry—Iran, one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations, located at the heart of the Middle East. There are around 90 million people living here, and the capital is Tehran, a sprawling metropolis set against the dramatic backdrop of the snow-capped Alborz Mountains. The official language is Persian (Farsi), known for its melodic beauty and some of history’s greatest poets, like Rumi and Hafez.

Iran covers about 1,648,195 square kilometers (636,372 square miles). The country is roughly the same size as the state of Alaska in the U.S., or about the same size as the combined areas of France, Germany, Spain, and the UK. The landscape is a stunning mix of high-altitude deserts, rugged mountains, and lush green forests along the Caspian Sea.

The most popular sports are Wrestling—which is considered the national sport with a deep historical tradition—and Football. Their national animal is the Asiatic Cheetah, an incredibly rare and beautiful cat that now finds its last refuge on the Iranian plateau.

The flag consists of three horizontal stripes of green, white, and red with a central emblem and stylized script, where the green represents Islam and growth, the white symbolizes peace, and the red stands for bravery and the blood of those who fought for the country.

The food is a sophisticated art form that balances herbs, fruits, and saffron. You must try Ghormeh Sabzi, a fragrant herb stew with kidney beans and dried lime, or Chelow Kabab, succulent grilled meat served over buttery saffron rice. Iran is also the world’s leading producer of Saffron and Pistachios, and a Persian meal is rarely complete without a piece of Tahdig, the prized, crunchy layer of rice at the bottom of the pot.

Iran is home to Persepolis, the magnificent ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire, which dates back to 515 BCE. The city of Isfahan is often called “Half the World” (Nesf-e-Jahan) because of its breathtaking Naqsh-e Jahan Square, one of the largest and most beautiful city squares on Earth. If you visit the city of Yazd, you can see ancient “Windcatchers” (Badgirs)—ingenious traditional air conditioning towers that have cooled buildings for centuries. Iran is also famous for its Persian Carpets, which are considered the finest in the world, with designs that can take years to hand-weave. Despite what many expect, Iran is also a major skiing destination, with resorts like Dizin offering some of the highest altitudes in the world.

From the turquoise domes of Shiraz to the nomadic tribes of the Zagros Mountains, Iran is a land of profound history and legendary hospitality. Kheyli Mamnoon! That means “Thank you very much!”