DESCRIPTION
Iraq is a country in the Middle East and is the 58th largest in the world with the 39th highest population at around 29 million people. Once known as Mesopotamia, the country was home to the world’s first known civilization. Due to ongoing political and social problems in Iraq, it is not recommended as a tourist destination despite the fact that there are interesting attractions here, and tourism would no doubt benefit the economy. When the situation does improve travelers will find a country rich in history and culture. Cities for travelers to visit include Erbil whose main tourist attraction is the Kurdish Textile Museum. Near the city of Dahuk are the ruins of Zoroastian Temple, plus some scenic waterfalls, while in the nearby city of Lalish tourists can visit the Holy See, or ancient cave engravings near the village of Gondik. When the country is more stable there are plans to reconstruct the famous city of Babylon, near Karbala, and this will no doubt be a top tourist attraction. Iraq has hot and dry summers, and mild to cool winters depending on elevation. The country is situated in the Northern Hemisphere and the currency is the Iraqi Dinar.