#12: The Metropolis with a Sizzling Name

Tehran, Iran’s bustling capital with 8.4 million residents, gets its name ‘the hot place’ from Indo-European origins, according to historian Ahmad Kasravi. This city, central in Iran, is home to over 15 million people in its greater metropolitan area.

Tehran’s Ab-o-Atash (“water and fire”) Park, one of the Middle East’s largest skateparks, challenges stereotypes by thriving in a trend many wouldn’t associate with the region. Its existence speaks volumes about the city’s unique blend of culture and modernity.