Central Iran lies at the heart of the country, home to major cities and travel destinations like Shiraz and Isfahan, the capital Tehran, and the holy city of Qom.
the original homeland of the Persian people
a paradise for palaeontologists
Iran's most densely populated region, with Mount Damavand reaching 5,678 m
situated at an oasis where the deserts Dasht-e Kavir and Dasht-e Lut meet
{{mapshape|type=geoshape|fill=|title=Fars|wikidata=Q1004666}} {{mapshape|type=geoshape|fill=|title=Isfahan (province)|wikidata=Q1367759}} {{mapshape|type=geoshape|fill=|title=Kerman (province)|wikidata=Q165352}} {{mapshape|type=geoshape|fill=|title=Semnan (province)|wikidata=Q168949}} {{mapshape|type=geoshape|fill=|title=Qom (province)|wikidata=Q131664}} {{mapshape|type=geoshape|fill=|title=Tehran (province)|wikidata=Q590866}} {{mapshape|type=geoshape|fill=|title=Yazd (province)|wikidata=Q170568}}
Two great deserts extend over much of central Iran: the Dasht-e Lut is covered largely with sand and rocks, and the Dasht-e Kavir is covered mainly with salt. Both deserts are inhospitable and virtually uninhabited.