One of the largest countries of western Asia, the Islamic Republic of Iran has two coastlines. In the south it has a long and well known coastline facing the Gulf of Oman, Strait of Hormuz, and Persian Gulf. Less well known is that in the northwest of the country Iran has a coastline about 630 km (395 mi) long facing the southern end of the Caspian Sea (known in Iran as the Sea of Māzandarān). Iran's Caspian coast is low and sandy, although the Alborz (Elburz) Mountains rise steeply to the south. In general the coastline lacks natural harbors; the one traditional harbor is Bandar-e Anzali at the mouth of the Sefid River near the west end of the coast. In modern times ports have been developed at Noshahr in the central part of the coast and Amirabad in the east. Persian is the official language of Iran. The Persian phrase for a lighthouse is فانوس دریایی (fānoos daryaii). Jazīreh is an island, demaghh (nose) is a headland, rewdekhanh is a river, and bandar is a port or harbor. Navigational aids in Iran are maintained by the Ports and Maritime Organization, an agency of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development. Because the Caspian Sea is landlocked its lights are not listed on the international light lists. The ARLHS list also does not include any lights of Iran's Caspian coast
|
Bandar-e Anzali Light, September 2008 ex-Panoramio photo copyright David Khani; permission requested |
|
|
|
Information available on lost lighthouses: |
Notable faux lighthouses:
Adjoining pages: Northeast: Turkmenistan | Northwest: Azerbaijan
Return to the Lighthouse Directory index | Ratings key
Posted August 5, 2011. Checked and revised July 13, 2023. Lighthouses: 17. Site copyright 2023 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.