Tehran

Tehran's name may derive from the Persian words meaning 'end' or 'bottom' and '[mountain] slope', referring to its location at the foot of the Alborz mountains.

Tehran was chosen as the capital of Iran in 1786 by Qajar king Agha Mohammad Khan due to its lack of a substantial urban structure, minimizing resistance to his rule.

Tehran's population grew from about 80,000 inhabitants after 50 years of Qajar rule to over 8 million by 2016.

Tehran is bounded by the Alborz Mountain Range to the north and features a wide elevation range from approximately 1,100 m to over 1,800 m above sea level.

Tehran is considered one of the most car-dependent cities in the world, relying heavily on private cars, buses, motorcycles, and taxis.