Karaj is a city in Iran. It is located in Tehran province with 1 million inhabitants (2003), situated 20 km west of Tehran, at the foot of Elburz mountains. The economical base for Karaj is its proximity to Tehran, where transportation of products between the capital and the Caspian Sea is central. Chemicals, fertilizers and processed agricultural goods are produced here. It is connected by road and rail to Tehran 50 km east and Qazvin 100 km northwest. Several dams and small lakes are based here. Karaj's climated is a bit cooler than Tehran and it receives 260 mm of rain.