Isfahan: A Whirlwind of Rain and Ancient Stones
okay, wow. isfahan. where do i even start? it’s…a lot. i’m staring at my notes and honestly, it feels overwhelming trying to condense this into something coherent. it’s a bit like trying to catch smoke, you know? the data i have is…well, let’s just say it’s not a complete picture. but i’ll do my best.
first off, location-wise, it’s smack-dab in the middle of iran. i’ve dropped a little map here for you to get a visual.
it’s about 440 kilometers south of tehran - which, from what i hear, is a whole other beast. the elevation is pretty high, 1,590 metres, sitting right at the foot of the zagros mountains. it’s the third-most populous city in the whole country, which is wild to imagine. they’re talking about 2.2 to 2.24 million in the city itself, and around 4 million in the broader area. it definitely feels big; lots of people moving around.
geographically? it’s lucky enough to be on a lush plain alongside the zayandeh rud - that’s the fertile river. it’s a pretty important river, apparently, and it’s the reason they can even grow olive trees there. which is just…surprising, right? the climate is described as a ‘cold desert climate,’ which sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? it’s dry. like, seriously dry. only like, 125-135 millimetres of rain a year. half of what tehran gets! and a quarter of kermanshah. someone told me that the zayandeh river is actually drying up, which is…not great news, obviously.
The weather data i grabbed…it’s weird. the current temp is 10.78 degrees celsius, feels like 8.46. temp range was 10.78 to 10.78 - which is…something. pressure is 1018, humidity is 21%. it’s…cool. i just checked and it’s…there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. they mention summers can get up to 35°C (95°F), with the occasional spike to 43°C (109°F). winters are cold, though. the lowest recorded temp? minus 19.4°C (-3°F). and they get snow! an average of 6.7 days each winter. i just don’t know how anyone lives with that kind of temperature swing.
there’s a bit of a pollution issue, too. being in a valley, the air tends to stagnate, especially in autumn and winter. which is just…fantastic.
province-wise, it’s a pretty big area - over 107,000 square kilometres. and it’s not all flat plains. there’s mountainous terrain too. sounds like there’s a lot of variety in terms of natural resources. if you get bored, [cities] are just a short drive away. i didn't catch what those cities are, though. someone told me that the historical sites are supposed to be incredible, though. apparently, that’s what everyone raves about. the whole thing feels a bit…unfinished, like someone started writing a story but never quite got to the end. a lot of missing pieces.
honestly, i’d need a lot more information to give you a proper rundown. historical background? neighboring cities? tourist traps? local food? famous people? cultural tidbits? visitor warnings? it's all a bit of a mystery for now. but it's definitely a place that feels like it has a story to tell - a story i’m still trying to piece together. the data suggests the current temperature is quite mild, but that winter will be brutal. a total contrast.
1364023865. 418863. yeah, that's all i've got for now. time for another cup of tea and more research, i guess. this place is a head-scratcher in the best possible way.
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