Iraq has three distinct geographical regions: lowlands/marshes in the south, a large limestone plateau that takes up most of the center and a mountainous northern part. The Tigris (1,100 mi/1,700 km long) and Euphrates (1,400 mi/2,300 km long) rivers run the length of the country from the northwest to southeast before meeting near the town of Basra and emptying into the Arabian (or Persian) Gulf.
Iraq, which calls itself the "Cradle of Civilization," has been settled for more than 10,000 years. The land was formerly known as Mesopotamia and contains the ruins of Ur, Babylon and other ancient cities as well as the site of Assyrian and Parthian cultures. Throughout the country are hundreds of ruins and other cultural landmarks.
After the Muslim conquests in the seventh century, the region became a center for Arab learning and arts. The next major shift occurred when Iraq became a frontier outpost of the Ottoman Empire in 1638, which it remained until the empire collapsed after World War I. The British then ruled until Iraq gained its independence in 1932. Following decades of political violence and instability, the Baath Party leadership gained power in 1968.
Starting in 1980, Iraq was at war with its neighbor Iran. The roots of the conflict, which lasted eight years, are complex: The two countries have traditionally been rivals for regional influence, and although Iran wanted to see its brand of Shiite fundamentalist Islam spread, Saddam Hussein's ruling Baath Party, predominantly Sunni Muslim, feared that imported ideas might find root within its borders (where a majority of the people are Shiites). Both sides paid for their positions—all casualty estimates range well above the 1 million mark.
Iraq attempted to regain economic losses from its war with Iran by invading and conquering Kuwait. This action ignited a war that pitted Iraq against U.S.-led Allied forces made up of troops from around the world. During the war, Iraq sustained very heavy damage, both in military and civilian areas. After the war, Iraq's ongoing conflict with its Kurdish population in the north erupted sporadically in fighting, as well. Saddam Hussein's refusal to cooperate with U.N. arms inspectors provoked additional retaliation, including economic sanctions and threats of war from the U.S.
Citing Iraq's possession of weapons of mass destruction and the country's support of international terrorism, a U.S.-led coalition of forces did indeed launch military attacks on Iraq in March 2003, ousting Hussein's regime and capturing Hussein himself nine months later. No weapons of mass destruction were found. Despite the presence of coalition troops and the removal of Hussein, supporters of the regime remain in the country. Iraq has also become a magnet for jihadis, or holy warriors, from all over the Islamic world, who in conjunction with former Baathists have organized a major campaign of violence against foreigners, coalition forces and Iraqi civilians.
The foremost attractions of Iraq include archaeological and biblical sites, the ruins of Ur of the Chaldees, the reputed location of the Garden of Eden and the site of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Because of the political and military situation, it's unlikely anyone will go to Iraq for tourism anytime soon. Travelers who want to visit the country—and can get visas—should be aware that visiting central Iraq, especially Baghdad and surrounding Sunni areas, will put their lives in jeopardy.
Nearly every brick in the buildings of Saddamiat al-Tharthar, the resort on Lake Tharthar, are engraved with Saddam Hussein's initials. But in Iraq, that's not surprising: The ruins of ancient Babylon have been reconstructed with modern bricks bearing Saddam Hussein's name.
Internet and satellite telephone capabilities have given rise to inexpensive phone centers, which have sprung up all over Iraq. Calls start at US$0.20 per minute.
For years, Iraqi history books taught that Mosul was the home of Saladin, the Kurdish Muslim who defeated the invading Third Crusade, led by the English King Richard the Lionheart. Saddam Hussein, who styled himself a modern Saladin, was born near Tikrit and saw to it that Iraqi histories show Tikrit as Saladin's birthplace. And in the current version, Saladin is no longer a Kurd, either.
Al Kifl, 25 mi/40 km south of Babylon, is said to be the place where the biblical prophet Ezekiel was buried. The prophet Daniel is supposedly buried at Kirkuk, southeast of Mosul.
Berlin's Pergamon Museum houses many of the treasures of Babylon, including the original Ishtar Gate. The British Museum in London also has a large Babylonian collection. Europeans removed hundreds of tons of artifacts in the late Ottoman period.
At the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in southern Iraq live the Madan, or "Marsh Arabs," whose boats have plied those waters since ancient times. The Hussein regime attempted to wipe out the Shiite Madan by draining the marshes, as well as by forcibly resettling the marsh Arabs into prefabricated concrete villages. Satellite images indicated that up to 40% of the marshes were destroyed. The intentional drainage has also endangered the area's wildlife habitat, which has sustained wild boars, ibis and other species.
The solid-gold domes and minarets found on the Kadhimain Mosque in Baghdad, the tomb of Hussein in Karbala and the shrine of Ali in Najaf are distinctive features of Iraqi Shiite mosques.
After Mecca and Medina, Karbala and Najaf are the holiest cities for Shiites.
Arabic numerals, the decimal system and algebra were created in Iraq.
Kurds make up about 20% of the population.
