An icy glacier in the middle of a hot desert? It seems unlikely. But it's true. 

In the Zard-Kuh, a 4,200m-high mountain range bordering the western flank of Iran's vast central deserts, hides one of the Iran's most unexpected geographical finds. On the edge of the hot desert are a series of sub-tropical glaciers.

Ian Lloyd Neubauer went to see it for himself. While he was there, he came across the Bakhtiari, a nomadic tribe who camp near the glaciers to escape the stifling summer heat. They spend eight months a year in Khuzestan, a province in the south of Iran, and migrate to the Zard-Kuh at the end of every April to escape summer temperatures that soar to 50 C. They remain here until mid-September, fattening up their livestock on fresh green grass.

Read all about it in this photo essay by Ian Lloyd Neubauer that was published on the BBC travel site.

It is possible to go to Iran as a tourist and have a great time visiting interesting places and getting to know friendly people.

As Iran makes a push to increase inbound tourism Saeed Kamali Dehghan, staff journalist of The Guardian, takes a look at Iran's top tourist destinations – from ancient cities and beach resorts, to its modern capital and skiing destinations.

These beautiful photographs, taken by various photographers, present a fascinating side of this country.

Included are photos of the ruins of the ancient capital of Persepolis, a ninth-century mosque in the desert city of Yazd, a famous garden in Shiraz, a ninth century shrine in Mashhad, a ski resport north of Tehran, and the giant Milad tower in Tehran.

Everyone loves a good story. As Christians, we especially love stories that tell us how, when all seems lost, God makes a way.

One such story is about the church in Iran—and it’s one of the greatest stories in the world today.

It’s a simple story that can be summarized in just two sentences: Persecution threatened to wipe out Iran’s tiny church. Instead, the church in Iran has become the fastest growing in the world, and it is influencing the region for Christ.

As simple as it is, such an amazing story is worth examining deeper. Read more in this article written by Mark Howard and posted on The Gospel Coalition blog.

In light of the violent events that have increased migration around the world, many Christians are being lured into a posture of anger and hatred toward those from other lands.

In this pivotal time, it is crucial that the Church leads the way in revealing God’s heart to love the foreigner and His desire to see all nations and people groups come to an understanding of the gospel and hope that is only in Christ.

This video, produced by International Project, tries to address this vital topic from a biblical point of view. It is not seeking to communicate a perspective on policy but rather on loving people. We feel an urgency to share this important message during this confusing time.

For more information, visit https://internationalproject.org/