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Bookmark & shareDangerous? Sure. But Iraq also boasts a rich history and warm, resilient people.
Long ago in the fertile valleys between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, the great civilisations of the age were born. Modern Iraq was ancient Mesopotamia, and it was here that humans first began to cultivate their land, where writing was invented and where the Assyrians, Sumerians and Babylonians all made Iraq the centre of the ancient world.
The country remains rich with the resonance of its glorious history, but recent years have been hard. Under Saddam Hussein, widespread political repression and conflicts with Iran, Kuwait and the West earned Iraq worldwide infamy and alarmed international human-rights organisations and Western armies in equal measure. Indeed in recent years, few countries have experienced such external interference as Iraq has, culminating in the 2003 American-led invasion of the country.
Travel Warning: Ongoing Turmoil
It won't come as a surprise to too many people that Iraq isn't the world's most popular holiday destination at the moment. Its turbulent and extreme domestic situation makes Iraq one of the least desirable places in the world to be. Widespread violence and kidnappings continue to occur, and the threat to foreigners remains high.
The Kurdistan region in the country's north is considerably less dangerous, but military and terrorist activity at the Turkish border is an ongoing cause for concern.
severity: Extreme Danger
Fast Facts
Country Full Name
Republic of Iraq
Population
24,683,313
Currency
Name: Iraqi Dinar
Code: IQD
Symbol: ID
Electrical Plugs
230V 50Hz
Languages Spoken
Official: Arabic, Kurdish
Time Zones
GMT/UTC +4
Country Dialing Code
+964
Weights & Measures
Metric
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The other Iraq
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The other Iraq
photofeature by Cesar Soriano, May 2008
Leave your preconceptions behind and discover the happening cities, soaring mountains and new museums of Iraq's Kurdish region. Read the full article ›
Tags: Tough Travel • Iraq
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Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.
