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About Iraq
Officially the Republic of Iraq, its capital is the city of Baghdad. Located in the western part of the Asian continent, overlooking the Arabian Gulf, Iraq is a federal parliamentary state. It is a member of the League of Arab States, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and OPEC. In ancient times, Iraq was known as Mesopotamia. Iraq is known to be the birthplace of many prophets, including Abraham, Adam, Noah, Hud, Salih, Solomon, Dhu al-Kifl and Job, peace be upon them all. It is also considered the shrine of many Imams. Such as Imam Ali bin Abi Talib, Imam Hussein, Imam Abbas, the two Kadhimi Imams, Imam Abu Hanifa Al-Numan and others.
Name
Iraq maintained its name "Mesopotamia" throughout the ages BC, and this name refers to "the land", and includes the areas confined between the regions existing between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and its name changed with the passage of time until it was called Arab Iraq in the Middle Ages, so the distinction is made. Between it and Persian Iraq, located in the western part of Iran, it included the geographical area of Arab Iraq, starting from the Tigris and Euphrates valleys to the southern parts of the Hamrin Hills.
The country was called Iraq in the sixth century AD, which is a translation of the word Uruk or Warka. It is a word of Persian origin and means lowland.
Geography
The Republic of Iraq, with its area extending to 4,370.72 square kilometres, occupies a place in the southwestern part of Asia, and the land uses an estimated 4,321.62 square kilometres of the total area of the country. Iraq joins the countries of the Middle East, and more precisely it is located in the northeastern part of the Arab world, and shares borders with The northern part is with Turkey, and the Islamic Republic of Iran is on the eastern side. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Syria to the west, and shares a border with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to the south.
The climate
The Republic of Iraq has a desert climate. Temperatures rise to 48 degrees Celsius in the months of July and August, which means that the summer is very hot. The country experiences rain between December and April, with rainfall ranging from 100 to 180 millimetres per year, and the mountainous areas enjoy... It receives more rainfall than any other region, and it is worth mentioning that the country is divided into three climates that affect it, which are:
- Mediterranean climate: It affects the mountainous regions in the north-eastern part of Iraq, and the most characteristic of the weather of these regions is the coldness and the accumulation of snow on their peaks. The rainfall is recorded between 400-1000 mm annually, while its summer is known as moderate and the temperatures do not exceed 35°C.
- Steppe climate: It is a climate between the Mediterranean and the desert. It has some influence on the northern and southern regions of the country, and its influence is most pronounced in the hilly areas, with annual rainfall ranging between 200-400 mm.
- Dry desert climate: The alluvial plains and the western plateau are affected by this climate, which occupies 70% of the total area of the country, and its temperatures rise sharply. Its summers and winters are warm, but there are cases of freezing on some winter nights.
The economy
The oil sector dominates the country's economy, accounting for 95% of Iraq's national income, and foreign investment has a significant impact on economic activity, particularly in the energy, urban and retail sectors. The country has been able to improve the quantities of oil reserves, and fish wealth also affects the Iraqi economy. It produces approximately 105,168 tonnes of fish extracted from the country's inland waters, while marine fish amounted to 5,314 tonnes, but the mining industry remained small, especially with regard to phosphate, salt and sulphur.