Iraq Geography

Iraq geography is a contrast, from snowy mountain peaks to sea level at the Gulf, from desert sands to the Garden of Eden. This country has everything, but mostly sand and intense heat.

Iraq's geographical location is something most young Americans are not familiar with, even though our troops are there.

If you were an adult during the first Gulf War back in 1990-1991, you may recall seeing maps of that country on the news, but it is rarely taught in American schools.

The geography of Iraq is complex, with many terrains and internal waterways. Iraq is almost totally landlocked, with Saudi Arabia to the south and southwest.

Jordan is on the western-most border. Syria is on the mid to upper west side. Turkey is at the northern border.

Iran shares the eastern border with Iraq until the southeastern tip is reached. Kuwait is on the tip next to Saudi Arabia. It is between Kuwait and Iran that Iraq touches the Persian Gulf.

It is common to associate Iraq geography with desert sand. But Iraq has a fertile area up north, known as the fertile crescent or the upper plain. Back in history, this area was also known as the fertile crescent.

This area begins above Baghdad, between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and continues all the way up to the Turkish border.

The dangerous al Anbar Province is to the west of Baghdad.

The lower plain begins along the cities of Samara and Hit and goes down southeast to the Persian Gulf. The lower plain contains marshes, lakes, and swamps with tall reeds.

10,000 square kilometers of marshes were in this area. In 1980, Saddam Hussein decided Iranians were infiltrating the country through these marshes so he had a lot of them drained.

Northeastern Iraq geography has tall mountains that are sometimes covered with snow.

The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers are familiar names in Iraq geography to us from school.

These two rivers meet near Baghdad and then split going south. They meet again at a town called Qurna. Here they become Shatt al-Arab River.

You may not be familiar with the name Qurna, but it is believed to be the location of the Garden of Eden where God placed Adam and Eve to live in paradise until they disobeyed Him.

Shatt al-Arab River flows the city of Basra through into the Persian Gulf. Basra is the second largest city in Iraq and is very important because of its port. On the outskirts are canals and large palm groves. Here the majority of Iraq's delectable dates are grown.

Return from Iraq Geography to Home Page.