An Inquiry Into The Republic of Iraq Quiz

Answer: Tigris and Euphrates

The Tigris River, located in eastern Iraq, is 1,750 kilometers (1,150 miles) long and begins in the Taurus Mountains of Turkey. Throughout its long history, the banks of the Tigris have been the site of many famous cities, including the current capital of Baghdad. It has been an important trade route for centuries, as it flows through the desert before joining with the Euphrates and flowing into the Persian Gulf.

The Euphrates River, the longest in Western Asia, is 2,800 kilometers (1,740) long, and begins in the Armenian Highlands of Turkey. In ancient times the city of Babylon was built and rebuilt on the Euphrates River by the Amorites and Chaldeans respectively. People rely on the river today for hydroelectric power, as well as drinking water and irrigation.

Answer: River

Also called the Arvand Rud, Persian for "Swift River", the Shatt al Arab is formed at the confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers and runs about 200 kilometers (124 miles) to empty into the Persian Gulf. The city of Basra, originally founded around 636 AD as an army base, is located on the channel. Geologists believe that the Shatt al Arab is only 1600-2000 years old and that the two mighty rivers originally emptied into the Persian Gulf via another route.

Answer: False

The city-state of Ur was one of the most important centers built by the ancient Sumerians. Dating back to approximately 3800 BC, Ur continues to be an important archaeological site in the country today; many people still visit the Ziggurat of Ur, which contained a shrine to the patron deity Nanna, the moon god, in ancient times. The city of Ur is also mentioned in the Old Testament as being the home of the patriarch Abraham.

Geologists believe that when the Sumerians first built the city of Ur it was located on the Persian Gulf. Today the city is about 16 kilometers inland.

Iraq does have four commercial port cities, with Umm Qasr Port, used by Alexander the Great when he entered Mesopotamia, and the Allies during World War II, being its only deep water port.

Answer: Baghdad

Of course, Baghdad is also the capital of the Kingdom of Iraq. The site for the city was chosen by Al-Mansur (754-775), the second Abbasid Caliph. The city, which was built in four years, quickly grew to become the largest city in the world of its time.

This was due to its location on the Tigris River, which gave it control of important trade routes, and the fact that it had a plentiful supply of water. Baghdad also became an important center of Muslim learning with its public school and private library.

After its destruction by the Mongols in 1258, it was several centuries before Baghdad regained its importance. In 1932 the Kingdom of Iraq, which had been a British protectorate since 1920, was given its independence, and Baghdad was chosen to be the capital of the new country.

Answer: Nineveh

The site of Nineveh was ancient even before the Assyrians chose it for their capital; it was settled as early as the New Stone Age. Of course, Nineveh is well-known due to its part in the Biblical story of Jonah. I must say that Jonah had a valid reason for being afraid to go to Nineveh.

It was typical for the ancient Assyrians to skin their enemies alive in the town square or roast them over low fires. As a show of force, they would decapitate people they conquered and stack their heads outside the city walls. Assyrian kings also adorned the city with beautiful buildings and monumental artwork, including a 71-room palace that was discovered by Sir Henry Ausen Layard in 1839 and the remains of a wall estimated to measure eight miles in circumference and 100 feet high.

Answer: Alluvial

The sediments that are deposited by flood waters, called alluvium, are what forms an alluvial plain over time. They are carried by rivers that flow from a higher area to a lower one; as erosion takes place in the highland, the sediments move with the river and settle on the plain during flood season. The alluvial plain in ancient Iraq was an extremely fertile area and many believe the first cereal crops were farmed there. Of course, having enough food to feed a large population is a criteria for the development of civilization; Iraq and Egypt are both considered to be Cradles of Civilization as we know it today.

By the way, an outwash plain is formed by glaciers, abyssal plains are found on the ocean floor, and lacustrine plains are located in places previously occupied by lakes.

And - what about the picture? It was taken in 1919. British soldiers are seen walking through the flood plain. The rivers reach flood stage in March, April, and May; it is estimated that the rivers carry 40 times more water at that time.

Answer: Syrian and Arabian

The Syrian and Arabian deserts form a vast region in the Middle East that includes many countries. The Syrian Desert covers 500,000 square kilometers (200,000 square miles) and covers parts of Syria, Jordan, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. It eventually meets the Arabian Desert, which is 2,330,000 square kilometers (900,000 square miles in size.

The Arabian Desert covers parts of Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait. An estimated 40% of Iraq is desert,

Answer: Karbala

While Shi'ite Muslims recognize the sacredness of Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem, they also believe that Karbala is a holy city. The Battle of Karbala, which took place in 680 AD, was fought between Umayyad Caliph Yazid I, and Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad, who refused to give his loyalty to the caliph. Members of Husayn's family were either killed or imprisoned as the result.

When the survivors were released from prison, they stopped at the site of the battle to pay their respects on their return to Mecca. Since then, approximately 685 AD, the city has been a holy place.

Many followers visit the sacred site twice a year.

Answer: Lake Milh

Lake Milh, the largest lake in Iraq, is a depression lake that is used to catch extra water from the Euphrates River that cannot be contained in Lake Habbaniyah. It was formed in the late 1970s in order to manage the annual flooding of the river. Because of the fluctuation of the water level and the amount of salt in the water, it is difficult to raise fish there.

There are, however, many different species of birds that are found around the water at different times during the year, as well as other animals, such as the golden jackal and the jungle or reed cat, which is seen in the picture.

Answer: Afghanistan

Iraq is bordered by Syria and Turkey to the north, Jordan to the west, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to the south, and Iran to the east. Afghanistan is seen to the east of Iran on the map in the picture.

Altogether Iraq has 3,809 kilometers (2,367 mi) of land borders. The terrain of the country is plains and desert, but there are mountains near the borders with Turkey and Iran. The highest point of the country is Cheekah Dar, which is thought to measure 3,611 meters (11,847 ft), and is located on the border with Iran; the lowest point is the Persian Gulf at 0 meters.