Iraq

Landscape

Iraq’s central and southern landscape is shaped by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. Their broad alluvial plains contrast with western desert country and the mountains of the northeast. The two rivers approach one another as they flow toward the Gulf.

The Mesopotamian marshes occupy parts of the southern lowlands. Their channels, reed beds and shallow water create a landscape very different from the upland valleys near the Zagros. Iraq also has a short coastline at the head of the Persian Gulf.

Climate & seasons

Summers are very hot and dry across much of the country. Winters are cooler, and the northern mountains receive rain and snow that contribute to river flows.

River dependence

Irrigation and river flow are central to farming and settlement. Changes in water supply affect wetlands as well as cultivated land. Mountain areas generally receive more precipitation than the hot, dry plains and desert regions.