Country Profile: Iraq -- by Daniel

The famous city of Babylon was in Iraq a very long time ago. It was the one of the first cities in the world. Because of this, the land of Iraq is sometimes called "The Cradle of Civilization."

History & Geography

Map of Iraq's provinces.

Iraq is located in the Middle east, between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Iraq is mostly desert, with reedy marshes along the Iranian border in the south. Because of its desert clime, Iraq's natural hazards are dust storms and sand storms. Its rivers are also known to flood.

Although Iraq has a glorious history, its recent history isn't so great. In 2003, the United States invaded and killed then-president Saddam Hussein, leading to a civil war in the country.

Oil pipelines are integral to the country's economy.

Economy
Iraq has large amounts of oil, so it was their main export. Currently, the United Nations allows Iraq to sell only small amounts of oil to buy food, clothes, and medicine for its people.

People & Culture
Iraq is a multiethnic society and its two main languages are Arabic and Kurdish. Although many kinds of people live in the country, nearly everyone -- 97 percent -- is Muslim.

Overall
I didn't know anything about Iraq before, but it sounds like a place that might be dangerous to visit. That's too bad because I think it would be neat to see.