Isfahan is located in the lush Zayandehrud (Zayandeh River) valley, situated at the eastern foothills of the Zagros Mountains. The geography represents a transitional zone between the mountainous terrain to the west and the vast, arid deserts of the Iranian plateau extending to the east and north.
The lifeblood of the city has historically been the Zayandehrud, which originates in the Zagros Mountains and flows directly through the center of Isfahan before emptying into the Gavkhouni wetland to the southeast. The river has shaped the city's urban planning, acting as an anchor for its historic bridges, parks, and agricultural zones. However, modern geological and environmental challenges, combined with up-river diversions and prolonged drought, have severely impacted the river's flow.