Independence Day in Iraq

People all across IRAQ recently celebrated their country's Independence Day yesterday on Saturday, October 3rd. Iraq achieved independence from The United Kingdom in 1932. Happy belated Independence Day!

Republic Day Recently Celebrated in Iraq

People all across IRAQ celebrated their country's Republic Day on Tuesday, July 14th. Iraq's Republic Day commemorates a day of revolution in 1958 when the British-supported Hashemite kingdom was overthrown in a coup d'état — establishing a republic form of government. Happy belated Republic Day!

Later this year, Iraq's annual Independence Day will occur on October 3rd. Iraq achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1932.

Iraq Exports

The following items are major exports of IRAQ: barley, construction materials, cotton, date fruit, fabricated metal, fertilizer, leather, livestock, natural gas, petroleum (especially crude oil), phosphates, processed food, rice, sulfur, textiles, wheat, and various vegetables. According to the International Monetary Fund (data.imf.org), countries and territories buying and importing most of those exports (February 2017 statistics) include India (top importer), China, the United States, the Netherlands, South Korea, Greece, Italy, Spain, Singapore, Japan, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Sweden, Poland, Egypt, Oman, Serbia, Croatia, Malaysia, Germany, and Iran.

Languages of Iraq

According to Ethnologue (↗), a total of 24 living languages are currently used for communication in the Republic of IRAQ. Arabic — particularly the standard and Mesopotamian versions — and Kurdish are Iraq's official languages. Approximately 27,200,000 Iraqis are Standard Arabic communicators, followed by Kurdish (25,354,000 people) and Mesopotamian Arabic (13,400,000 people).

● ● ● ● ●  Other main languages spoken and written in Iraq are Adyghe / Adygey / West Circassian (35,000 communicators), Gulf Arabic (70,000), Judeo-Iraqi Arabic (120), Najdi Arabic (1,480,000), North Mesopotamian Arabic (7,580,000), Armenian (65,000), Assyrian / Lishana Aturaya / Neo-Syriac (153,000), Azeri / South Azerbaijani (2,050,000), Bajelani (60,000), Chaldean (110,000), Domari (23,000), Koy Sanjaq Surat / Koi-Sanjaq Sooret (820), Central Kurdish (4,000,000), Northern Kurdish (3,450,000), Southern Kurdish (150,000), Macho (125,000), Mandaic (5,200), Persian / Iranian (410,000), Sarli / Sarliya (20,000), Shabak (22,000), Syriac (810,000), and Turkmen (405,000). Population stats in parentheses represent the estimated number of language communicators in 2017, based on past data from Ethnologue.

Iraq Extinct and Endangered Species

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ for IRAQ in West Asia and the Middle East lists 1 extinct species since the beginning of IUCN recordkeeping, 7 critically endangered species, and 15 endangered species. The Saudi Gazelle is extinct in Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.

Iraq's critically endangered species include the Haditha Cavefish, Northern Bald Ibis, Pita Skate, Slender-billed Curlew. Endangered species include the Basra Reed Warbler, Egyptian Vulture, Euphrates Softshell Turtle, Persian Fallow Deer, Saker Falcon, Scalloped Hammerhead, and White-headed Duck.

The "critically-endangered" Pita Skate is a rather interesting addition to the IUCN Red List. There was only one Pita Skate individual discovered ever, located in the Iraqi territory of the Persian Gulf. Additionally, the extremely rare species was named after its similar coloration to pita bread.

Iraq Lakes

Buhayrat ath Tharthār (Tharthār Lake) & Buhayrat ar Razāzah (Lake Razāzah) are large freshwater lakes located in central IRAQ. More specifically, the lakes are located north & south (respectively) of the Euphrates River. There is also a smaller lake, named Lake Habbaniyah, located between the larger lakes and south of the Euphrates River.

Iraq

Click here to enlarge the map from Eric Olason in a new window.

The Republic of IRAQ is a Middle Eastern country, touching the Persian Gulf along a 66-kilometer (41-mile) coastline. There are six bordering countries: Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey. Located along the diagonal Tigris river, the capital of Iraq is Baghdad (Baghdād). West of the Tigris river is another historically important river: Euphrates. Mesopotamia is the world's earliest known area of human civilization where widespread agriculture took root. Iraq's currency is the Iraqi Dinar, and its ISO 4217 currency code is IQD.