Iraq

History

The Ottoman reign ruled Iraq from 1534 to 1918. The British then took over and founded the state of Iraq that later became independent in 1932. Saddam Hussein became the president in 1979.

The country went to war with Iran between 1980 to 1988.

Food/ culture

Although it is a Muslim dominated country, the country’s culture is influenced by the secular world.

The staple foods are wheat, barley, rice and dates. Iraqi biryani is also a common dish in the country.

Wildlife

The wildlife includes flora and fauna and animals like wild bear, Bactrian camel, fallow deer, roe deer, wild goat, European hare and goitered gazelle.

Annual events/ celebrations/ festivals

The most celebrated festivals include the Independence day on 3^rd October, Army Day on 6^th January, Baghdad Liberation Day on 9^th April and end of Iran-Iraq war on 8^th August.

Things to see

The most visited cities with the best scenic sites are Karbala and Najaf.

The Iraq Museum in Baghdad contains artefacts and statues of the ancient times although some of them were stolen during the 2003 attack.

Eridu city which is claimed to be the oldest in the world created by gods is an archaeological site worth visiting to view the remains of the Sumerians.

The Babylon city known from the old Mesopotamia is located in present-day Iraq and it has the rebuilt ruins and castle of Saddam Hussein.

The Capital, Baghdad.

Interesting facts

The country is famous for its production of handicrafts like mats, rugs and carpets.

The country has some of the best sculptors, paints and poets amongst the Arab countries.

The main religion is Islam and the official languages are Arabic and Kurdish.

The main export that contributes the largest to the economy of the country is petroleum.

Borders

Iraq is bordered on the north by Turkey, on the east by Iran, on the southeast by Kuwait, on the south by Saudi Arabia, on the southwest by Jordan and the west by Syria.