Iraq: Background & Geography
| Introduction | Iraq |
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Background:
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Formerly part of the Ottoman Empire, Iraq was occupied by Britain during the course of World War I; in 1920, it was declared a League of Nations mandate under UK administration. In stages over the next dozen years, Iraq attained its independence as a kingdom in 1932. A "republic" was proclaimed in 1958, but in actuality a series of military strongmen have ruled the country since then, the latest being SADDAM Husayn. Territorial disputes with Iran led to an inconclusive and costly eight-year war (1980-88). In August 1990, Iraq seized Kuwait, but was expelled by US-led, UN coalition forces during the Gulf War of January-February 1991. Following Kuwait's liberation, the UN Security Council (UNSC) required Iraq to scrap all weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles and to allow UN verification inspections. Continued Iraqi noncompliance with UNSC resolutions over a period of 12 years resulted in the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and the ouster of the SADDAM Husayn regime. Coalition forces remain in Iraq, helping to restore degraded infrastructure and facilitating the establishment of a freely elected government. The Coalition plans to return sovereignty to the Iraqi people by July 2004. |
| Geography | Iraq |
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Location:
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Middle East, bordering the Persian Gulf, between Iran and Kuwait |
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Geographic coordinates:
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33 00 N, 44 00 E |
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Map references:
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Middle East |
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Area:
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total: 437,072 sq km
water: 4,910 sq km land: 432,162 sq km |
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Area - comparative:
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slightly more than twice the size of Idaho |
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Land boundaries:
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total: 3,650 km
border countries: Iran 1,458 km, Jordan 181 km, Kuwait 240 km, Saudi Arabia 814 km, Syria 605 km, Turkey 352 km |
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Coastline:
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58 km |
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Maritime claims - as described in UNCLOS 1982 (see Notes and Definitions):
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territorial sea: 12 NM
continental shelf: not specified |
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Climate:
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mostly desert; mild to cool winters with dry, hot, cloudless summers; northern mountainous regions along Iranian and Turkish borders experience cold winters with occasionally heavy snows that melt in early spring, sometimes causing extensive flooding in central and southern Iraq |
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Terrain:
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mostly broad plains; reedy marshes along Iranian border in south with large flooded areas; mountains along borders with Iran and Turkey |
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Elevation extremes:
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lowest point: Persian Gulf 0 m
highest point: unamed peak 3,611 m; note - this peak is not Gundah Zhur 3,607 m or Kuh-e Hajji-Ebrahim 3,595 m |
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Natural resources:
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petroleum, natural gas, phosphates, sulfur |
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Land use:
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arable land: 11.89%
permanent crops: 0.78% other: 87.33% (1998 est.) |
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Irrigated land:
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35,250 sq km (1998 est.) |
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Natural hazards:
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dust storms, sandstorms, floods |
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Environment - current issues:
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government water control projects have drained most of the inhabited marsh areas east of An Nasiriyah by drying up or diverting the feeder streams and rivers; a once sizable population of Marsh Arabs, who inhabited these areas for thousands of years, has been displaced; furthermore, the destruction of the natural habitat poses serious threats to the area's wildlife populations; inadequate supplies of potable water; development of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers system contingent upon agreements with upstream riparian Turkey; air and water pollution; soil degradation (salination) and erosion; desertification |
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Environment - international agreements:
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party to: Law of the Sea
signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification |
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Geography - note:
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strategic location on Shatt al Arab waterway and at the head of the Persian Gulf |