Iraq resources. Iraq: sights and general information. Useful information for tourists
- a state in South-West Asia. In the north it borders with Turkey, in the east - with Iran, in the south - with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, in the west - with Jordan and Syria. In the south the state is washed by the Persian Gulf.
The name of the country comes from the Arabic “Iraq” - “coast” or “lowland”.
Official name: Republic of Iraq
Capital:
The area of the land: 432.1 thousand sq. km
Total Population: 31.2 million people
Administrative division: 16 governorates (provinces).
Form of government: Parliamentary republic.
Head of State: The president.
Population composition : 75% are Arabs, 15% are Kurds, Turks and Jews also live.
Official language: Arabic and Kurdish. At the everyday level, the languages of ethnic groups are widely used, including Armenian and Assyrian. Many Iraqis speak English and French quite well, and some speak Russian.
Religion: 60% profess Shiite Islam, 37% Sunni Islam, 3% are Christians.
Internet domain: .iq
Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz
Country dialing code: +964
Country barcode: 626
Climate
Iraq's climate is subtropical Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and warm, rainy winters. Two seasons are most pronounced: a long, hot summer (May - October) and a shorter, cool and sometimes cold winter (December - March). In summer the weather is usually cloudless and dry. There is no precipitation at all for four months, and in the remaining months of the warm season it is less than 15 mm.
The northern mountainous regions are characterized by hot, dry summers and mild, warm winters with rare frosts and frequent snowfalls. El Jazeera has dry, hot summers and mild, rainy winters. Lower Mesopotamia is characterized by hot summers and warm winters with rain and relatively high relative humidity. The southwestern region is characterized by dry, hot summers and cool winters with rare rains. Significant seasonal and diurnal temperature changes (sometimes reaching 30°C) have been recorded in many areas of Iraq.
Average July temperatures are 32–35° C, maximum – 40–43°, minimum – 25–28°, absolute maximum – 57° C. Average January temperatures +10–13° C, average January maximum 16–18° C, minimum – 4–7° C, the absolute minimum in the north of the country reached –18° C.
Precipitation falls mainly in winter (December - January), and there is little of it in the central and southern regions of the country: the average annual precipitation in Baghdad is 180 mm, in the southwest approx. 100 mm, in Basra 160 mm. As you move north, their number increases and amounts to approx. 300 mm on the plains and up to 500–800 mm in the mountains.
In the summer (May–June), northwestern winds blow continuously, carrying masses of sand (so-called dust storms), and in winter northeastern winds predominate, especially strong in February.
Geography
Iraq is a state in the Middle East, in the Mesopotamian lowland, in the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It borders on the southeast with Kuwait, on the south with Saudi Arabia, on the west with Jordan and Syria, on the north with Turkey, and Iran on the east. The territory of Iraq is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf in the southeast of the country.
The northern region of Iraq - El Jazeera - occupies the Armenian Highlands, the height of which reaches 2135 m in the area of the Turkish border. Further south lies the vast plain of the Tigris and Euphrates river valleys. In the far south of Iraq there is a swampy plain, and to the west of the Euphrates the valley opens into the Syrian Desert.
Flora and fauna
Vegetable world
The most widespread in Iraq is subtropical steppe and semi-desert vegetation, confined to the western, southwestern and southern regions (west and south of the Euphrates Valley) and represented mainly by wormwood, saltwort, camel thorn, juzgun, and astragalus. In El Jazeera and the northeast of the country, steppe xerophytic and ephemeral-forb vegetation predominates.
Above 2500 m, summer pastures are common. In the mountains in the north and northeast of the country, tracts of mountain oak forests have been preserved, in which oaks predominate and there are also comb (tamarix), pine, wild pear, pistachio, juniper, etc. Thorn bushes are common at the foot of mountain ranges. The floodplain of the Euphrates, Tigris and its tributaries is confined to tugai forest vegetation with shrubby undergrowth, including poplars, willows, and comb grass.
In the southeast of the country, large swampy areas are occupied by reed-reed thickets and salt marsh vegetation. Currently, in the river valleys of central and southern Iraq, right up to the coast of the Persian Gulf, significant areas are devoted to date palm plantations.
Animal world
The fauna of Iraq is not rich. Gazelle, jackal, and striped hyena are found in the steppes and semi-deserts. Rodents and reptiles are widespread, including monitor lizards and the poisonous cobra snake. Many waterfowl (flamingos, pelicans, ducks, geese, swans, herons, etc.) live along the river banks. Rivers and lakes abound with fish. Carp, carp, catfish, etc. are of commercial importance. Horse mackerel, mackerel, barracuda, and shrimp are caught in the Persian Gulf. The real scourge of Iraq is insects, especially mosquitoes and midges, carriers of malaria and other diseases.
Attractions
The territory of modern Iraq is one of the centers of civilization. This land has been inhabited since time immemorial and is literally saturated with legends and myths. It is here that the Tigris and Euphrates flow, whose sources, according to legend, were in the Garden of Eden, the legendary cultures of Mesopotamia and Parthia, Assyria and Sumer, Akkad and Persia were born here, Babylon roared here with its famous Hanging Gardens and the Tower of Babel, and the birthplace of Abraham was located - Ur of the Chaldeans, one of the oldest cities on the planet - Baghdad - still stands here, as well as the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.
The rich history of the country, the unique historical, cultural, archaeological and religious monuments of Iraq have earned it the reputation of one of the most interesting places in Asia, which even the tragic events of the late 20th century could not prevent.
Banks and currency
New Iraqi dinar (NID, IQD), nominally equal to 20 dirhams and 1000 fils (in reality, these units are practically not used). There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 25,000, 10,000, 5000, 1000, 500, 250 and 50 dirhams, as well as coins of 100 and 25 dirhams. The dirham exchange rate is quite unstable.
Banks are usually open from Saturday to Wednesday from 08.00 to 12.30, on Thursdays from 08.00 to 11.00. During Ramadan, banks close by 10:00.
Iraq's banking and financial infrastructure was virtually destroyed during the overthrow of the Hussein regime and is currently in the process of reconstruction. You can exchange currency for dinars and back only in markets or in specialized exchange shops.
Credit and debit cards are not accepted for payment. There are no ATMs. Cashing travel checks is also almost impossible (only 2 banks in Baghdad work with them, and the procedure itself is full of formalities and takes a lot of time).
Officially, foreign currency can be used in specialized duty-free shops in Baghdad, while a passport must be presented, and the amount of a one-time purchase should not exceed $200. However, in practice, US dollars, euros and the currencies of neighboring countries have almost unlimited circulation in Iraq (hotels, for example, usually require payment only in foreign currency).
Useful information for tourists
Due to the tense situation, the state is practically not visited by foreign tourists.
is a state located between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The southeastern part of the country borders the Persian Gulf. Like neighboring countries, Iraq boasts large gas and oil reserves. The capital of Iraq - - was very often located in the center of various historical events. Today, the country is experiencing events that do not contribute to the development of the tourism industry. Constant military conflicts and the presence of terrorism greatly influence the image of the country and the capital.
General information
Baghdad is a huge city, home to more than six million people. Many cultural institutions are concentrated here. The capital is located in the very heart of the state. The city was founded on the banks of the Tigris River. These places experience a hot climate with little rainfall. The capital is characterized by a long summer, which begins in May and ends in October. Due to this climate, Baghdad cannot boast of lush vegetation. These are mainly date palms, as well as reeds and reeds in the coastal zone.
Development of the capital
The first settlement was formed on the site of Baghdad back in the ninth century BC. The city itself was founded only in 762. Within a few centuries the city became a center of trade. There was a huge market here. Baghdad gradually became the economic center of the entire Middle East.
The fifteenth century was tragic for the city. It was then that Tamerlane came here with his army. Baghdad was sacked and many buildings destroyed. It was later conquered Ottoman Empire, under whose rule he remained until the beginning of the nineteenth century. In the 20s of the twentieth century, the Iraq Museum was founded here, where they began to collect collections illustrating the history of Assyria and Ancient Babylon.
In the early 70s, mass nationalization took place in the capital. Everything came under state power except oil production and oil refineries. The 80s were a difficult period both for the capital and for the country as a whole. The state was drawn into the conflict in the Persian Gulf. At the beginning of the 21st century, the Iraq War took place in the state, which led to the overthrow of the regime of Saddam Hussein. Although the city is gradually recovering, the situation is still tense.
Iraq is often called the “cradle of human civilization,” which is absolutely true. It was on the territory of modern Iraq in the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers that the Sumerian civilization. Unfortunately, it is not very safe for tourists to visit this country now, because... the socio-political situation there has not yet stabilized. However, we are confident that everything will change soon, and foreigners will again be able to see the historical monuments of Ancient Sumer and Uruk, as well as safely walk along the streets of Baghdad.
Geography of Iraq
Iraq is located in the Middle East. Iraq borders Syria in the northwest, Turkey in the north, Jordan in the southwest, and Kuwait and Saudi Arabia in the south. The Persian Gulf is located in the southeast of Iraq. The total area of this country is 437,072 square meters. km., and the total length of the state border is 3,650 km.
Iraq occupies the territory of the Mesopotamian Lowland. In the southwest of Iraq is the Syrian Desert, in the north is the Armenian Highlands, and in the northeast is the Iranian Highlands. The highest peak in the country is Mount Haji Ibrahim, whose height reaches 3,587 meters.
The two largest rivers of the East flow through Iraq - the Tigris and Euphrates.
Capital
The capital of Iraq is Baghdad, which is now home to more than 6 million people. Archaeologists claim that human settlement on the site of modern Baghdad existed already 3 thousand years ago. The city of Baghdad itself was built in 762 AD.
Official language
Iraq has two official languages - Arabic (belongs to the Semitic group of the Afroasiatic language family) and Kurdish (a northwestern subgroup of the Iranian group of the Indo-European language family).
Religion
About 95% of Iraq's population is Muslim (65% Shia Muslims and 30% Sunni Muslims).
Government structure of Iraq
According to the current Constitution of 2005, Iraq is a parliamentary republic (this country is considered a federation). The parliament in Iraq (National Assembly) is bipartisan - it consists of the Council of Unions and the Council of Representatives.
The main Iraqi political parties are the United Iraqi Alliance, the Alliance of Kurdish Parties and the Islamic Party of Iraq.
Climate and weather
The climate in most of Iraq is hot and arid with a noticeable subtropical influence. The average annual air temperature is +22.8C. The highest average air temperature in August is +44C, and the lowest in January (+4C). The average annual precipitation is 156 mm.
Sea in Iraq
Iraq has 58 km of coastline on the Persian Gulf, which is part of the Arabian Sea.
Rivers and lakes
The two largest rivers of the East flow through Iraq - the Tigris and Euphrates. Thanks to these rivers, Iraq, unlike other countries in West Asia, has agricultural land.
History of Iraq
On the territory of modern Iraq (Mesopotamia), in the fertile valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, the Sumerian civilization was born a long time ago. It is considered to be the earliest civilization formed in the world. It was in Ancient Sumer that the first writing appeared.
In ancient times, Iraq was part of the Assyrian Empire, the Babylonian Kingdom, and the Persian Kingdom. Iraq was conquered by the troops of Alexander the Great, the Parthians and Roman legionnaires.
In the 7th century, Iraq was conquered by the Arabs, who brought Islam with them. In the 8th century, the Arabs made Baghdad the capital of their Caliphate.
In the middle of the 13th century, Iraq was invaded by the Mongol Tatars, and in 1401 the country was conquered by the troops of Tamerlane. In the 16th century, most of the territory of modern Iraq became part of the Ottoman Empire.
Only in 1921, on the initiative of Great Britain, the Kingdom of Iraq was formed, which was under the British protectorate (under the mandate of the League of Nations). The independence of the Kingdom of Iraq was declared in 1932. In 1958, the power of kings in Iraq was destroyed and the country became a Republic.
In 1979, as a result of a military coup, Saddam Hussein became President of Iraq.
On January 17, 1991, the United States, together with its allies, decided to restore the independence of Kuwait (it was captured by Iraq in 1990), and invaded this country. The so-called begins "The First Gulf War". This war continues until February 1991. Kuwait's independence has been restored.
On March 20, 2003, the United States, with the support of its allies, invades Iraq and conquers the country. Saddam Hussein is captured and after some time he is executed.
Iraq is now a country pitting Sunni Muslims against Shiite Muslims, and Kurds in the north of the country waging an armed struggle to secede and create an independent Kurdistan.
Culture
Most Asian countries and some European countries have borrowed elements of their cultural traditions from Iraq. This is not surprising, given that Iraq is considered the "cradle of human civilization."
The dominant religion in Iraq is Islam, and therefore religious holidays are common there (Ramadan, etc.).
Iraqi cuisine
We can safely say that the cuisine of Iraq was formed under the strong influence of Iranian and Turkish culinary traditions. The main foodstuffs in Iraq are rice, meat, vegetables, dairy products, and fruits.
- “tikka” - lamb roasted on a spit;
- “kuozi” - whole fried lamb, which is stuffed with different fillings;
- “kibbe” - meat with nuts and raisins;
- “kibbe-batata” - beef stew with potatoes;
- “baryani” - pilaf with meat and raisins;
- “kuba” - pies with different fillings.
Traditional soft drinks are yogurt, coffee and tea.
Iraq strictly enforces Muslim laws regarding alcohol consumption. Alcohol consumption is only permitted in some international chain hotels. During Ramadan, smoking and drinking alcohol in public places is prohibited.
However, in Iraq there is a tradition of drinking aniseed vodka (“arak”), which is also typical for some other Eastern countries.
Sights of Iraq
Iraq has gone through many wars, as a result of which many unique historical and architectural monuments were destroyed. However, some historical monuments were destroyed in peacetime (for example, if it was necessary to build a highway). However, there are still many interesting sights left in Iraq. In our opinion, the top ten best Iraqi attractions may include the following:
- Ruins ancient city Babylon
- Abassid Palace in Baghdad
- Hussein Mosque in Karbala
- Souq al-Ghazal minaret in Baghdad
- El Mahayam Mosque in Karbala
- Mausoleum of Imam Ali in Najaf
- Golden Mosque in Baghdad
- Mausoleum of Sitt-Zumurrud-Khatun in Baghdad
- Abassid Palace in Samarra
- Fortress in Kirkuk
Cities and resorts
The largest Iraqi cities are Mosul, Basra, Erbil, Karbala, Najaf, Kirkuk, and, of course, Baghdad. As for resorts, there are no such resorts in Iraq yet.
Souvenirs/shopping
Foreigners from Iraq bring products as souvenirs folk art, silver and jewelry, various sweets, ceramics, towels and tablecloths.
Office hours
Banks:
Sat-Thu: 08:00:12:30
The shops:
Sat-Thu: 09:00-18:00 (in summer – until 17:00)
Government agencies:
Sat-Thu: 08:00-14:00
Visa
A visa to visit Iraq is required.
Currency of Iraq
The official currency in Iraq is the Iraqi dinar (its international symbol is IQD). One Iraqi dinar = 1000 fils. IN last years began to come into circulation in the country credit cards(Visa, Master Card, Diners Club, and American Express).
Customs restrictions
The import and export of currency in Iraq is not limited, but a declaration is required. It is prohibited to import Israeli shekels, as well as drugs and firearms. In addition, citrus fruits, mangoes, grapes, and plums cannot be imported into Iraq - these are the phytosanitary requirements.
Iraq
Prepared by:
Kozachenkov Andrey
Business card
official name- Republic of Iraq
S- 437,072 km²
Population- 31 858 48
Form of government- Parliamentary republic
Capital– Baghdad
Economic – Geographical position Iraq
A state in the Middle East, in the Mesopotamian lowland, in the valley of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. It borders on the southeast with Kuwait, on the south with Saudi Arabia, on the west on Jordan and Syria, on the north on Turkey and on the east on Iran. The territory of Iraq is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf in the southeast of the country. It has a very favorable economic and geographical position. The neighboring countries are rich and moderately developed. Iraq and its neighbors are members of OPEC.
Climate and Relief of Iraq
Relief
Most of Iraq is located within the Mesopotamian Lowland, which is a foredeep that separates the Precambrian Arabian Platform and the young highlands of the Alpine-Himalayan mobile belt. The northern part of the Mesopotamian Lowland is a denudation-accumulative plain with a height of 200-500 m, complicated by individual remnant massifs up to 1460 m high (Sinjar Mountains), the southern part of Mesopotamia is a swampy alluvial lowland with a height of no more than 100 m. The edge of the Arabian Platform, entering Iraq from southwest, located within the Syrian-Arabian stratified plateau up to 900 m high, occupied by the Syrian Desert and the Al-Hijjar Desert. In the north of Iraq stretch the low ridges of the Armenian Highlands, passing in the northeast of the country into the medium-high ridges of the Iranian Highlands with the highest point in Iraq - Mount Haji Ibrahim (3587 m). These mountainous areas are characterized by increased seismicity.
Climate
The climate in Iraq is continental, with dry and exceptionally hot summers and relatively rainy, cool winters, subtropical in the north, tropical in the south. Average January temperatures increase from north to south from 7 to 12 °C (there is snow in the mountains), average July temperatures are 34 °C everywhere (on some days they can reach 48 °C). Annual precipitation is 50-150 mm on the plains and up to 1500 mm in the mountains. Dust storms are common in the south in summer.
Minerals
The main mineral resources of Iraq are oil and gas, the deposits of which stretch from the northwest to the southeast of the country along the Mesopotamian foredeep and belong to the oil and gas basin of the Persian Gulf. In the Syrian Desert, phosphorite deposits belonging to the East Mediterranean phosphorite basin are industrially significant. The country also has deposits of sulfur, gypsum, talc, asbestos, table salt, clay, limestone, chromite, iron, lead-zinc, copper, nickel ores and other minerals.
Population of Iraq
Ethno-religious groups of Iraq Shia Arabs
Sunni Arabs
Assyrians
Turkomans
According to 2009 estimates, Iraq has approximately 31 million inhabitants.
According to some sources, Shiites in Iraq represent 65% of the population, Sunnis - 35% (obviously, this means only the Muslim population). According to other sources (1997 census, the results of which were transferred to the UN), in the country, on the contrary, there are 66% Sunnis and 34% Shiites
During the reign of Saddam Hussein, the country's Christian population, numbering 1.8 million in 2003, was protected by the authorities. With the beginning of the American occupation and the reign of anarchy and chaos, the country was overwhelmed by a wave of pogroms directed against Christians and Yazidis, which were accompanied by murders and robberies. The attacking side in this case are both Sunnis and Shiites with Kurds.
E.p. = 24.49 ‰
The balance of migration is positive
Population density - 69.4 people / km 2
Urbanization - 66%
Economy of Iraq
Industry:
The main sectors of the public sector in Iraq are: metalworking, electricity, gas, cement, textile, electrical and food industries. The country is also involved in the production of synthetic fibers and the assembly of trucks, buses and engines.
Agriculture in Iraq
The area of land suitable for agriculture is about 5,450 thousand hectares (1/8 of the territory of Iraq). About 4,000 thousand hectares are pastures. The remaining lands are unsuitable for agriculture. This is due to their aridity and salinity.
Crop production: wheat, barley and rice.
Livestock: breeding sheep and goats, as well as cattle. It is developed mainly in the mountainous regions of the country.
Transport
Transport systemIraq developed mainly in the middle of the 20th century. Due to a series of large-scale wars, the general condition of communications within the country has noticeably deteriorated.
The total length of railways in Iraq is 2,032 kilometers, all of them have a standard gauge of 1,435 mm
Total length: 45,550 kilometers.
There are 113 airports in Iraq, including 80 with paved runways. 
Trade of Iraq
Import Export
Weapon Oil
Food
Iraq
Medicines
Transport Fuel
List of information used:
1) http://luckycamper.net/
2) http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki
3) http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki
The Republic of Iraq is a state in South-West Asia. Its area is more than 435 square meters. km. Iraq's population is about 36 million.
Briefly about the state
In the north, the border of this country is with Turkey, and in the west it neighbors Syria and Jordan. In the southeast, the coast of the state is washed by the waters of the Persian Gulf - this can be clearly imagined by finding Iraq on the map. In the east it borders with Iran, but along the border there are also disputed territories that have not been officially established.
The capital of Iraq is Baghdad. This city is considered one of the largest administrative centers in the Middle East. In addition, it is important. As we said earlier, the total population of Iraq varies between 36 million people, and of these, more than 6 million live in the capital.
By type of government, this state is a parliamentary republic with a federal structure. Iraq is divided into 18 provinces.
The state gained independence in 1932. From 1979 to 2003, Saddam Hussein ruled the country. Throughout his presidential term, the Iraqi population suffered from military action, which, naturally, could not benefit economic growth and, as a result, an improvement in living standards.
Geographical position
The territory of the country is located between the valleys of two large eastern rivers- Tigris and Euphrates. This place has long been popular. It was here that one of the first human civilizations arose - Sumerian. Later, other states existed on these lands - Babylon and Assyria. In the 7th century, these states were conquered by the Arabs, and Islam spread here.
Looking at Iraq on the map, you can see that geographically it is divided into 4 natural regions.
- A large territory of the country is located on the Mesopotamian lowland, in the northeast of which rises a low mountain system - Sinjar.
- The state is encircled from the north. It is here that the highest point of the country is located - Mount Haji Ibrahim, 3,587 m high.
- In the southwest there is a desert plateau - the Syrian Desert.
- The eastern part is the El Jazeera Plain.
Inland waters
The state of Iraq does not have a dense river system, but the two most important waterways of the Middle East - the Tigris and Euphrates - pass through here. The waters of these rivers are used for irrigation and also for energy production. Cascades of hydroelectric power stations have been built on rivers. In the northwest, both rivers merge into one single stream, the Shatt al-Arab, which leads to the Persian Gulf.
This waterway is deep and navigable throughout its entire course. In deserts, you can often find temporary streams that fill with water during rainfall, but dry up during dry weather.
Climate conditions in Iraq
The state is located in a subtropical climate zone, with hot summers and cold winters. The change of seasons of the year can also be traced, but only two are clearly pronounced: summer and winter. Summer in Iraq lasts from early May to October, winter - from December to late March.
The state is characterized by low rainfall throughout the year. IN summer period they are completely absent, which forces the Iraqi population to make maximum use water resources rec. In winter, in the flat part, precipitation varies between 50-150 mm. Moving to the north, they increase and reach a maximum amount of up to 1500 mm/year in the mountains.
Snowfalls and frosts - enough a rare event for Iraq. Average July temperatures are +32°C - 35°C, and average January temperatures are +16°C - 18°C.
A characteristic phenomenon for the state is winds. In summer the wind blows hotly from the northwest. They carry large masses of sand with them, creating sandstorms. The period of this season is from May to July. At this time, such winds blow every day. In winter, their direction changes to the northeast.
Features of flora, fauna and soils
The soil in the river valleys is quite fertile, but it requires constant additional irrigation. Here the local population mainly engages in agriculture. In the southern regions, the soils are sandy and unsuitable for growing crops. In the eastern regions, they are most often swampy.
The flora and fauna of the country does not spoil diversity. Subtropical and tropical desert vegetation is widespread. Among the animals found here are gazelles, jackals and the poisonous cobra, which is ubiquitous. And there are a lot of fish in rivers and lakes.
Population and form of government
The latest census showed that Iraq's population is experiencing positive growth. However, due to military conflicts, it, of course, can change dramatically.
A large percentage of local residents are Arabs. In percentage terms, they are 75%, Kurds - 18%, and the remaining 7% are other nationalities (Armenians, Turkmens, Assyrians, etc.).
The official language of the country is Arabic. Kurdish is also widespread - it, along with Arabic, has the status of an official language. The majority of the country's population professes Islam (more than 95%) and only 3% professes Christianity.
Iraq - federal Representatives of the three communities of the Iraqi people sit in parliament - Shiites, Sunnis and Kurds. The constitution of the state was recognized only in 2005, approved by a popular referendum.
Iraqi cities and economic development
There are 6 cities in Iraq with a population of more than a million people. This, of course, is the capital, Basra, An-Najaf, Erbil, etc. Provinces (governors) are divided into districts (kazy) and districts (nahiya). An autonomous region - Kurdish - was formed in the north of the country.
Due to recurring conflicts, Iraq's economy is in a deplorable state. The only stable industry is oil production. They transport "black gold" to neighboring states.