IRAQ
| Capital City | Baghdad |
| Geographic Location | Iraq, the country between rivers, welcomes its visitors with the vast historical heritage of Mesopotamia. Despite the destructive wars it has lived through, Iraq continues to serve as the guardian of the region and its historical heritage. This Middle Eastern country, located north of the Persian Gulf, has only 58 kilometers of sea shore at its southeast corner. Iraq neighbors Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, and Turkey. |
| Geographic Coordinates | 35°53’ K 14°30′D |
| Climate | A tropical climate, which is diversified within itself according to the continental climate effects originating from the north, is dominant in Iraq. Today, life still depends on the fertility provided by the waters of Euphrates and Tigris, in Iraq which has seldom rainfalls in addition to those received during rainy periods. The western and southern parts of the country are made up of stony deserts. |
| Time Zone | GMT +3 |
| Language | ARABIC |
| Other Languages | Kurdish, Turkish, Persian |
| Monetary Unit | Iraqi dinar |
Telephone |
00+964 |
| Mobile Phone | GSM 900/1800 |
| Important Phone Nos. |
Ambulance- Police-Fire Department There is no single number for all. |
| Internet | .iq |
| Opening Hours | Banks; 08:30 – 15:00 (Sunday - Thursday) Stores; 10:00 – 17:00 (Saturday - Thursday) |
| Public Holidays | New Year’s Day (January 1), Army Day (January 6), Ashura (January 5, 2009 and December 27, 2009), Baghdad Liberation Day (April 9), Republic Day (July 14), Iraqi Independence Day (October 3). |
| Electric | 230V 50HzHz |
General Information
A quick read of some materials before departure by any visitor to this area is enough to find information on the tens of civilizations which have come and gone on this soil. The air of the Sumerian, Babylonian, Assyrian, Persian, Greek, Roman, Turkish, and finally Arabic times can be felt, at the least.
The country has been called Iraq since the 7th century. Although it may not hold true for today, holy texts claim the region to be “paradise.” The plains of Mesopotamia with rich alluvial deposits and the ruins of old civilizations which have survived through time confirm these paradise-like characteristics of the region.
The foundation of contemporary Iraq dates back to World War I and the post-war time period, with the country finally declaring its independence in 1932. Following a long period of peace, wars and massacres such as the situation with Iran, Gulf Wars and the invasion of the region, and the bloody suppression of the uprisings by the Kurdish minorities have taken place in the region. The era of Saddam Hussein, who held the governing power in the country since the 1970s, has ended with the recent American intervention. A federative structure has been embraced for the country’s new government.
Flight Points
- Baghdad
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