Iraq: Geographic Perspectives

Chapter 1 Introduction
After September 11, 2001, Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq once again came into the global spotlight
A geographic perspective emphasizing regional patterns can provide a useful framework for understanding Iraq.Chapter 2 Location
To understand Iraq's geography, it is first necessary to appreciate its absolute and relative location
Iraq shares borders with six countries
Iraq has limited access to the sea
Iraq is slightly larger in area than CaliforniaChapter 3 Geomorphology
Iraq has four major physiographic regions: desert, uplands, highlands, and an alluvial plain
Deserts cover over 40 percent of Iraq's area, especially in the western and southern parts of the country
The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, the lifeblood of Iraq, are vital to human populations and agricultural activityChapter 4 Climate
Iraq has three distinct climatic zones: subtropical desert, subtropical steppe, and dry summer subtropical
Iraq's deserts are extremely hot and dry in the summer and cool and dry in the winter
Precipitation is limited, with even the wettest areas getting less than 30 inches per year
Cold is a significant hazard in the northern mountains
Sandstorms and dust storms are common, especially in the deserts
Spring flooding is a real hazard in many areasChapter 5 Vegetation and Soils
Iraq is largely devoid of significant natural vegetation
Minor forest resources, already significantly impacted by human activity, exist in the northern mountains
The most unique natural biome in Iraq is the marshland area of the lower Tigris and Euphrates, but this area was damaged by Iraqi government policies in the 1990s that aimed at reducing populations in the regionChapter 6 Historical Geography
Iraq's history dates back to one of the earliest civilizations, in Mesopotamia
Iraq's history is marked by periods of prosperity interspersed with eras of conquest and destruction
Saddam Hussein came to power in the 1970s with the support of Sunni Muslims, who had been relatively favored since the times of British controlChapter 7 Cultural Geography
Islam is the dominant religion in Iraq, but there are divisions mainly among Shiite and Sunni groups
Iraq is the home of many important Shiite holy sites, including Karbala and Najaf
Arabic is spoken by 80 percent of the population
Kurdish languages are spoken by nearly 20 percent of Iraqis
The uniqueness of Kurdish culture goes beyond language differencesChapter 8 Political geography
Saddam Hussein's quarter-century in power reflected rule through shrewd politics and the ruthless destruction of any opposition
The two strongest sources of opposition during the Saddam Hussein era were the Kurdish populations in the North and Shiite Muslims in the South
Although a minority, Sunni Muslims dominated politics when Saddam Hussein was in power
Kurdish politics has often been characterized by internal disagreements and fightingChapter 9 Economic Geography
Based solely on oil reserves, Iraq is one of the richest countries in the world
Because of United Nations sanctions and governmental neglect, the Iraqi people are the poorest in the region
Iraq has almost no capacity to grow its own foodChapter 10 Population and Urban Geography
Iraq's population is not uniformly distributed; it is clustered in the cities of Baghdad, Mosul, and Basra
Iraq's population is growing fast, creating a large population under age 14
Demographic statistics reveal the poor quality of health care in IraqChapter 11 Medical Geography
Infectious diseases are endemic
Public health systems are in complete disarray, increasing disease and mortality rates
Food and water in Iraq is often unsafe
Poor nutrition is a major cause of health problems
Heat and cold also pose a human health risk in the areaChapter 12 ConclusionBibliography