Iraq Natural Environment
Iraq is a country created from the break-up of the Ottoman Empire after WW I, when the western powers, particularly the British and French carved up the Middle East to establish their respective spheres of influence.
The country has a land area of 437,000 sq km. To the east of the country is Iran , and surrounding it from the south to the north (anti-clockwise) are Kuwait , Saudi Arabia , Jordan , Syria and Turkey . Its only outlet to the sea is through the Shatt al Arab waterway at the Persian Gulf .
Much of the land falls in the area around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers , both of which originate from the Taurus Mountains in southeast Turkey . The terrain for this part of the country is made up mainly of mountains (in the northwest) and alluvial plains (in the southeast). Further away from the two rivers, in the west and south, near Jordan and Saudi Arabia , are deserts. In the southeast, around the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates are several marshlands.
About two-thirds of the entire length of the 1,900 km Tigris River flow through Iraq (the rest is in Turkey), whereas about half of the length of the 2,700 km Euphrates River is within Iraqi territory with the rest being in Turkey and Syria. While in Iraq , both rivers flow in the southeast direction, more or less in parallel to each other and are no more than 160 km apart, until they merge near the Basra in the southeast to form the Shatt al Arab waterway before entering the Persian Gulf .
Although the country is hot and dry, the river basins around the two rivers provide fertile soil, the result of annual seasonal flooding caused by spring rain and melting of snow from the two river themselves, and in the southeast, also from melting snow coming down the Zagros Mountains near the border with Iran. Seasonal flooding occurs even today downstream, but was more serious in the past before flood control measures were introduced.
In ancient times, the population used levees and irrigation canals to control flooding to make way for human settlement and agriculture. These days, there are a series of dams and reservoirs, such as the Qadisiyah Dam and its Hadiyha Reservoir, and the Dokan, Al Azim, Darbandikhan and Diyala reservoirs along the rivers to control water flow.
The river basins have been settled by humans for thousands of years. Major cities (such as Baghdad, Karbala and An Nasiriyah) are located along the two rivers, and the land on the plains is used for cultivation of crops, such as wheat, barley, linseed and sesame, as well as all kinds of fruits and vegetables.
The country has a land area of 437,000 sq km. To the east of the country is Iran , and surrounding it from the south to the north (anti-clockwise) are Kuwait , Saudi Arabia , Jordan , Syria and Turkey . Its only outlet to the sea is through the Shatt al Arab waterway at the Persian Gulf .
Much of the land falls in the area around the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers , both of which originate from the Taurus Mountains in southeast Turkey . The terrain for this part of the country is made up mainly of mountains (in the northwest) and alluvial plains (in the southeast). Further away from the two rivers, in the west and south, near Jordan and Saudi Arabia , are deserts. In the southeast, around the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates are several marshlands.
About two-thirds of the entire length of the 1,900 km Tigris River flow through Iraq (the rest is in Turkey), whereas about half of the length of the 2,700 km Euphrates River is within Iraqi territory with the rest being in Turkey and Syria. While in Iraq , both rivers flow in the southeast direction, more or less in parallel to each other and are no more than 160 km apart, until they merge near the Basra in the southeast to form the Shatt al Arab waterway before entering the Persian Gulf .
Although the country is hot and dry, the river basins around the two rivers provide fertile soil, the result of annual seasonal flooding caused by spring rain and melting of snow from the two river themselves, and in the southeast, also from melting snow coming down the Zagros Mountains near the border with Iran. Seasonal flooding occurs even today downstream, but was more serious in the past before flood control measures were introduced.
In ancient times, the population used levees and irrigation canals to control flooding to make way for human settlement and agriculture. These days, there are a series of dams and reservoirs, such as the Qadisiyah Dam and its Hadiyha Reservoir, and the Dokan, Al Azim, Darbandikhan and Diyala reservoirs along the rivers to control water flow.
The river basins have been settled by humans for thousands of years. Major cities (such as Baghdad, Karbala and An Nasiriyah) are located along the two rivers, and the land on the plains is used for cultivation of crops, such as wheat, barley, linseed and sesame, as well as all kinds of fruits and vegetables.
Last edited Feb 14, 09 8:00 PM. Contributors: Contributors: Andrew W.
Most parts of the country are hot to very hot in the summer, with average maximum temperatures reaching nearly 50° C in the deserts; in the plains and marshlands, the average maximum varies between 37° C and 44° C, depending on the region. The mountain regions are cooler.
In the winter, the average minimum temperature may reach freezing in the mountains and hilly regions, as well as in the deserts, and the day-time highs are on average around 15° C to 16° C. The plains in the southeast are a few degrees warmer.
Most regions in the country are quite arid. In those regions where there is rainfall, rain generally occurs from around November to mid April. Except for the mountainous regions, where average annual rainfall may reach 100 cm , annual rainfall tends to be less than 35 cm ; in the desert areas, near Jordan and Saudi Arabia , rainfall is minimal.
From June to November, the country is subject to windy conditions. The wind from June to September is a steady stream of dry air coming from the north and northwest. The more violent wind occurs from September until November, which brings severe dust storms with occasional gusts of up to 80 km an hour, driving sands and dusts several thousand meters in the air.
In the winter, the average minimum temperature may reach freezing in the mountains and hilly regions, as well as in the deserts, and the day-time highs are on average around 15° C to 16° C. The plains in the southeast are a few degrees warmer.
Most regions in the country are quite arid. In those regions where there is rainfall, rain generally occurs from around November to mid April. Except for the mountainous regions, where average annual rainfall may reach 100 cm , annual rainfall tends to be less than 35 cm ; in the desert areas, near Jordan and Saudi Arabia , rainfall is minimal.
From June to November, the country is subject to windy conditions. The wind from June to September is a steady stream of dry air coming from the north and northwest. The more violent wind occurs from September until November, which brings severe dust storms with occasional gusts of up to 80 km an hour, driving sands and dusts several thousand meters in the air.
Last edited Feb 13, 09 1:58 PM. Contributors: Contributors: Andrew W.
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