By Mohamed Hassan TCLP teacher of Arabic Bell High School

Name in Arabic

Iraq borders Syria to the northwest, Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, Jordan to the southwest and Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to the south. Iraq has a narrow section of coastline measuring 58 km (36 mi) on the northern Persian Gulf.

Map of Iraq

The capital city is Baghdad(بغداد) and it’s in the center-east of the country.

The population of Iraq is approximately 31,234,000

The population consists mainly of an Arab majority and a Kurdish minority.

Arabic, Kurdish (both official).

Islam (official; mostly Shi'ite ) also Christianity

The country can be divided into four major regions: the Tigris-Euphrates plains in central and southeastern Iraq; Al-Jazirah, an upland region in the north between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers; deserts in the west and south, covering about two-fifths of the country; and highlands in the northeast.

Total: 437,072 km2 (168,754 sq mi) land: 432,162 km2 (166,859 sq mi) water: 4,910 km2 (1,900 sq mi)

Average temperatures in Iraq range from higher than 48 °C (118.4 °F) in July and August to below freezing in January. Most of the rainfall occurs from December through April.

The Tigris River(نهر دجلة) is the eastern member of the two great rivers that define Mesopotamia(بلاد ما بين الهرين), the other being the Euphrates(نهر الفرات). The river flows south from the mountains of southeastern Turkey through Iraq.

The Tigris is 1,850 km long, rising in the mountains of eastern Turkey. The river then flows for 400 km through Turkish territory before becoming the border between Syria and Iraq. This stretch of 44 km is the only part of the river that is located in Syria. The remaining 1,418 km are entirely within the Iraqi borders.

al-Furāt The longest and one of the most historically important rivers of Western Asia. Together with the Tigris, it is one of the two defining rivers of Mesopotamia. Originating in eastern Turkey, the Euphrates flows through Syria and Iraq to join the Tigris in the Shatt al-Arab, which empties into the Persian Gulf.

The Euphrates

Iraq’s Geography

Baghdad بغداد

Baghdad was founded (762) on the west bank of the Tigris by the Abbasid caliph Mansur, who made it his capital

Baghdad rose to become one of the greatest cities of Islam. It was the home of many scholars, artists, and poets, who enjoyed the city's wealth and culture. The period of its utmost glory is reflected in the Thousand and One Nights, in which many of the tales are set in Baghdad.

Most of Iraq's other industries are in Baghdad, such as the making of carpets, leather, textiles, cement, and tobacco products. Military industries are also located there. Baghdad has several museums, numerous archaeological sites, and three universities

Babylon Hanging gardens of Babylon

Karbalah كربلاء

Resources and industries Petroleum, wheat, hand-made leather, metal crafts and textile industries

Currency Iraqi dinar

The war between Iraq and Iran Iraq has had many disputes with Iran, but in 1980, Iraq invaded Iran to make control on Shaat Al Arab waterway and the war lasted for 8 years

Iraqi independence Iraq gained independence from under British Administration in 1932.

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