Episode 1: Iran's land and people. The country lies between the Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf with high mountain ranges and a central salt desert. The climate is extreme: cloudless skies, heavy snow, thunderstorms, and pestilent desert winds. Fertile areas like Mazandaran yield rice, sugar, grapes, olives. Wildlife includes wild asses, antelopes, goats, lions and tigers. Domestic animals: oxen, sheep, horses and camels.