Iraq
Iraq is a country in Western Asia that has a rich and diverse history, culture, and natural beauty.
It is home to some of the oldest civilizations in the world, as well as some of the most sacred sites for Muslims, Christians, and Jews.
Iraq also offers a variety of attractions for tourists, from ancient ruins and museums to modern cities and resorts.
In this article, we will explore some of the best places to visit in Iraq, as well as some facts and information about the country.
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1 - Iraq is located in the Middle East, bordering Turkey, Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Syria.
2 - It has a coastline of 36 miles along the Persian Gulf.
3 - The capital and largest city of Iraq is Baghdad, which is one of the oldest and most influential cities in history.
Baghdad was founded in 762 CE as the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, and became a center of learning, culture, and trade.
Today, Baghdad is a modern metropolis with many historical and cultural landmarks,
such as the Al-Kadhimiya Mosque, the National Museum of Iraq, and the Abbasid Palace.
4 - Iraq has a population of about 45.5 million people as of 2023, making it the 37th most populous country in the world.
The majority of Iraqis are Arabs (75%), followed by Kurds (20%), Turkmen (3%), and other ethnic groups (2%).
5 - The official languages of Iraq are Arabic and Kurdish, but other languages such as Turkmen,
Assyrian, and Armenian are also spoken by minorities.
6 - The official religion of Iraq is Islam, with 95% of Iraqis being Muslims (mostly Shia), and 5% being Christians.
7 - Iraq has a long and complex history that dates back to ancient times.
The region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, known as Mesopotamia,
is considered the cradle of civilization, where writing, law, mathematics, astronomy, and agriculture were invented.
Some of the most famous ancient civilizations that emerged in Mesopotamia were Sumer, Akkad, Babylon, Assyria, and Chaldea.
These civilizations produced many cultural achievements and monuments,
such as the Ziggurat of Ur, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, the Code of Hammurabi, and the Epic of Gilgamesh.
8 - Iraq was also part of various empires and kingdoms throughout history, such as the Achaemenid Empire,
the Parthian Empire, the Sassanid Empire, the Abbasid Caliphate, the Mongol Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the British Mandate.
Iraq gained its independence as a kingdom in 1932,
but experienced political turmoil and coups that led to the rise of the Ba’ath Party and Saddam Hussein in 1979.
Saddam ruled Iraq with an iron fist for more than two decades, waging wars with Iran and Kuwait.
Saddam was overthrown in 2003 by a US-led invasion that triggered a civil war and sectarian violence.
Since then, Iraq has been struggling to rebuild its institutions, economy, and society amid security challenges and political instability.
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9 - Iraq has a mixed economy that is dominated by the oil sector,
which accounts for about 99% of export earnings, 85% of government revenue, and 42% of GDP.
Iraq has the fifth-largest proven oil reserves in the world, estimated at 145 billion barrels.
However, Iraq’s oil production and exports have been affected by conflicts, sanctions, corruption, mismanagement, and underinvestment.
Iraq’s non-oil sectors are largely underdeveloped and dependent on public spending.
Agriculture contributes about 6% to GDP, while industry contributes about 22%.
Services account for about 30% of GDP, mainly driven by trade, transportation, and communication.
Iraq’s main trading partners are China, India, Turkey, South Korea, and the United States.
10 - The currency of Iraq is the Iraqi dinar (IQD), which replaced the Indian rupee in 1932.
The dinar was pegged to the British pound until 1959, then to the US dollar until 2003.
Since then, the dinar has been floating freely in the market, with an average exchange rate of 1 USD = 1,304 IQD of 8 October 2023.
The dinar is divided into 1, 000 fils, but coins are rarely used due to inflation.
The dinar features various symbols and images related to Iraqi history, culture, and religion.
11 - The flag of Iraq consists of three equal horizontal bands of red (top), white, and black.
The flag is a pan-Arab tricolor and the colors represent different meanings.
The red color represents bravery, the white color represents generosity, the black color represents victory, and the green color represents Islam.
The flag also has the inscription “Allahu akbar” (God is great) in green Arabic script in the center of the white band.
The flag was approved in 2008 as a compromise replacement for the Ba’athist Saddam-era flag.
12 - Iraq belongs to the continent of Asia, specifically the subregion of Western Asia.
Iraq is also considered part of the Middle East, a term that refers to the countries and territories that lie between the Mediterranean Sea
and the Indian Ocean, and between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran.
13 - Iraq is a member of various regional and international organizations,
such as the Arab League, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the United Nations.
14 - Iraq has a hot and dry climate, with long and hot summers and short and mild winters.
The average temperature in Baghdad is 24°C (75°F), ranging from 10°C (50°F) in January to 37°C (99°F) in July.
The average annual rainfall in Baghdad is 152 mm (6 inches), mostly falling between November and April.
The northern part of Iraq has a more temperate climate, with cooler temperatures and higher rainfall.
The southern part of Iraq has a more arid climate, with higher temperatures and lower rainfall.
Iraq also has frequent dust storms, especially in the spring and summer.
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- Iraq has a rich and diverse culture that reflects its ancient and modern history, as well as its ethnic and religious diversity.
- Iraqis are known for their hospitality, generosity, and pride.
15 - Language: Arabic is the official language of Iraq, spoken by most Iraqis as their first or second language.
Arabic is a Semitic language that uses the Arabic script, which is written from right to left.
Arabic has many dialects and varieties, such as Iraqi Arabic, which is influenced by Turkish, Persian, Kurdish, and Syriac.
Kurdish is another official language of Iraq, spoken by about 20% of Iraqis as their first language.
Kurdish is an Indo-European language that uses the Latin script, which is written from left to right.
Kurdish has two main dialects: Kurmanji and Sorani.
Other languages spoken in Iraq include Turkmen, Assyrian, Armenian, Mandaic, and Yazidi.
16 - Religion: Islam is the official religion of Iraq, practiced by about 95% of Iraqis.
Islam is a monotheistic religion that believes in one God (Allah) and his final messenger Muhammad.
Islam has two main branches: Sunni and Shia.
Sunnis are the majority in Iraq, accounting for about 65% of Muslims.
Sunnis follow the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah as interpreted by the four schools of Islamic law: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi’i, and Hanbali.
Shias are the minority in Iraq, accounting for about 35% of Muslims.
Shias follow the teachings of the Quran and the Sunnah.
Shias have three main branches: Twelvers, Ismailis, and Zaydis.
Twelvers are the majority in Iraq, accounting for about 30% of Muslims.
Other religions practiced in Iraq include Christianity, Yazidism, Mandaeism, and Judaism.
17 - Literature: Iraq has a long and rich literary tradition that dates back to ancient times.
Iraq is the birthplace of some of the earliest forms of writing, such as cuneiform,
and some of the oldest literary works, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, the world’s first epic poem.
Iraqi literature encompasses various genres and themes, such as poetry, prose, drama, history, philosophy, religion, and science.
Some of the most famous Iraqi writers include Al-Mutanabbi, Al-Jahiz, Al-Khwarizmi, Al-Kindi,
Al-Farabi, Al-Razi, Ibn al-Haytham, Ibn Khaldun, Ibn Battuta, Ibn al-Nafis, Al-Ma’arri, Al-Hallaj,
Rabia al-Adawiyya, Abu Nuwas, Abdul Qadir al-Jilani, Abdul Wahab al-Bayati, Fadhil Al Azzawi,
Muhammad Mahdi al-Jawahiri, Badr Shakir al-Sayyab, Nazik al-Mala
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18 - Art: Iraq’s art has a deep heritage that extends back in time to ancient times
and refers to all works of visual art originating from the geographical region since ancient Mesopotamian periods.
Mesopotamian art include favourite subjects such as deities, either alone or with worshippers.
During the Abbasid Caliphate, which ruled from the heartland of Mesopotamia,
pottery achieved a high level of sophistication,
calligraphy began to be used to decorate the surface of decorative objects and illuminated manuscripts.
Iraq’s first art school was established during this period, allowing artisans and crafts to flourish.
Famous Abbasid artist include Yahya Al-Wasiti whi lived in Baghdad in the late Abbasid era (12th to 13th-centuries)
and was the pre-eminent artist of the Baghdad school.
His most well-known works include the illustrations for the book of the Maqamat (Assemblies) in 1237, a series of anecdotes of social satire written by al-Hariri.
Al-Waiti’s illustrations served as an inspiration for the 20th-century modern Baghdad art movement.
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- some of the landmarks in Iraq.
Iraq is a country that has a rich and diverse history, culture, and natural beauty.
It is home to some of the oldest civilizations in the world, as well as some of the most sacred sites for Muslims, Christians, and Jews.
Iraq also offers a variety of attractions for tourists, from ancient ruins and museums to modern cities and resorts.
- Here are some of the landmarks that you can visit in Iraq:
19 - Ziggurat of Ur: This is one of the oldest and best-preserved ziggurats in the world, dating back to the 21st century BCE.
A ziggurat is a stepped pyramid-like structure that was used as a temple or a shrine by the ancient Mesopotamians.
The Ziggurat of Ur was dedicated to the moon god Nanna, and was part of a complex that included a royal palace, a residential area, and a cemetery.
The ziggurat was restored by Saddam Hussein in the 1980s, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
20 - Erbil Citadel: This is one of the oldest continuously inhabited places in the world, dating back to at least the 6th millennium BCE.
The citadel is a fortified settlement that rises above the modern city of Erbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan.
The citadel has a circular shape and covers an area of about 10 hectares (25 acres).
It contains many historical and cultural buildings, such as mosques, churches, schools, markets, and houses.
The citadel was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2014.
21 - Al-Shaheed Monument: This is a monument that commemorates the Iraqi soldiers and civilians who died in the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988).
The monument was designed by the Iraqi architect Saman Kamal and was completed in 1983.
It consists of a circular platform that supports two turquoise domes that split open like a flower.
The domes are made of glazed ceramic tiles that reflect the sunlight.
The monument also contains a museum, a library, and a hall of honor.
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