Worth knowing
Iran
Ancient Persians walled in their parks and orchards, and the Greeks borrowed their word for such a place as 'paradeisos'. The oldest known garden of the classic Persian kind is at Pasargadae, capital of Cyrus the Great.
Where its story happens
Pasargadae, at 30.20°N, 53.18°E. It's the place the game marks on the globe once the country is found. See it on a map.
Five things to know about Iran
In Geodar these are the five clues to this country, and it counts as one of the easy countries. The game asks the hardest clue first. Here the easiest comes first.
- Where it is. It's Iran, between Iraq and Afghanistan, south of the Caspian Sea. See Iran on a map.
- The world knew it as Persia until 1935, and the ruins of Persepolis stand here.
- Its new year, Nowruz, begins at the spring equinox and has roots about 3,000 years old.
- Satellites have measured the ground in its Lut Desert at more than 70°C, among the hottest readings on Earth.
- The word 'paradise' comes from this country's ancient word for a walled garden.