Iraq: Capital, Flag and Fun Facts

About Iraq

Iraq is a country in Western Asia at the head of the Persian Gulf. The Tigris and Euphrates rivers flow through it, with mountains in the north, desert in the west and marshes in the south. This land, once called Mesopotamia, is known as a cradle of civilization.

About Baghdad

Baghdad lies on the Tigris River, which divides the city into eastern and western halves. Founded in 762 as the 'Round City', it became a great centre of learning, and many tales of the Thousand and One Nights are set there.

Fun facts about Iraq

1. Cuneiform, one of the earliest known writing systems, began in ancient Mesopotamia more than 5,000 years ago.
2. The Epic of Gilgamesh, one of the oldest known stories in the world, was written in ancient Mesopotamia.
3. Sumer, in what is now southern Iraq, was one of the earliest known civilizations, with some of the first cities.
4. The marshes of southern Iraq form one of the world's largest inland delta systems and are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
5. Babylon, 85 km south of Baghdad, is linked to the legendary Hanging Gardens, a wonder of the ancient world.
6. Erbil Citadel, built on a tall mound of ancient settlements, may be one of the oldest continuously inhabited places on Earth.