Best Iraq
Updated Daily
The Imam Hussain Shrine, located in Karbala, Iraq, is a mosque and mausoleum that serves as the final resting place of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. Constructed on the site where Husayn was killed during the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD, it is one of the holiest sites...
Uruk was one of the most significant early cities in ancient Mesopotamia, located in the southern region of modern-day Iraq. It flourished from around 4000 BCE during the Uruk period and was a major center for the Sumerian civilization. The site is widely credited by historians and archaeologists wi...
Located in Najaf, Iraq, the Mosque of Ali ibn Abi Talib is a major Shia Islamic shrine housing the tomb of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first Shia Imam and fourth Rashidun Caliph. The site serves as a primary pilgrimage destination for millions of Shia Muslims annually, ranking among the holiest sites in...
The Great Mosque of Samarra is a large 9th-century mosque located in Samarra, Iraq. Commissioned by the Abbasid caliph Al-Mutawakkil, it was once one of the largest mosques in the Islamic world. The structure's most recognizable feature is its Malwiya Minaret, a massive spiraling cone that stands ov...
The Taq-i Kisra, also known as the Ctesiphon Arch, stands as a remarkable example of Sasanian engineering. Constructed around 6th century AD within the ruins of the ancient palace city of Ctesiphon in Iraq, this arch is notable for being the world’s largest surviving single-span brick vault. Its imp...
The Mesopotamian Marshes represent one of the world’s most significant historic wetland areas. Located in southern Iraq, this alluvial marshland is notable for its size and ecological importance within the Middle East. Recovered from extensive drainage efforts during the 1990s, it now supports a uni...
The Imam Husayn Shrine is a mosque and mausoleum located in the city of Karbala, Iraq, that houses the tomb of Husayn ibn Ali. Husayn was a grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad who was killed by the forces of the Umayyad caliph Yazid I during the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. The site is one of t...
The Ishtar Gate was a monumental entrance to the inner city of ancient Babylon, Iraq. Constructed by King Nebuchadnezzar II around 575 BC, it is notable for its vibrant blue glazed brick construction and elaborate reliefs featuring processions of gods and mythical creatures like lions, bulls, and dr...
The Tigris-Euphrates Delta is a vast inland delta system located in southern Iraq where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers historically converged before reaching the Persian Gulf. Often referred to as the Mesopotamian Marshes, this wetland ecosystem is situated in a region recognized as the cradle of a...
The Imam Ali Mosque is a significant Shia Muslim shrine located in Najaf, Iraq. It serves as the primary place of worship for pilgrims visiting the holy city and the resting place of Imam Ali, the fourth Caliph of Islam. The mosque’s importance stems from its role within Shia religious tradition and...
The Great Mosque of Kufa is a historic Islamic mosque located in Kufa, Iraq, originally founded in 638 CE. It is considered one of the earliest mosques in Islamic history. The site features a large courtyard and a prominent golden dome marking the shrine of Muslim ibn Aqeel and his companions. It ho...
Wadi Al-Salam, located in the Shia holy city of Najaf, Iraq, is an Islamic cemetery spanning approximately 1,485 acres. It is one of the largest cemeteries in the world, containing millions of graves. The site is highly revered by Shia Muslims because of its adjacency to the Shrine of Imam Ali, who...
The Great Ziggurat of Ur stands as one of the oldest and largest structures of its kind in Mesopotamia. Constructed during the reign of Ur-Nammu around 2100 BCE, this stepped temple platform served as a religious center for the ancient Sumerian city of Ur. Its impressive scale reflects the power and...
The Hawizeh Marshes represent a significant remnant of the ancient Mesopotamian wetlands. Located along the Iran-Iraq border, this alluvial marshland is recognized by UNESCO for its ecological importance and biodiversity. It supports unique plant and animal life, including several threatened species...
Al-Kadhimiya Mosque is a major Shia shrine located in the Kadhimiya district of Baghdad, Iraq. It contains the tombs of Musa al-Kadhim, the seventh Twelver Shia imam, and Muhammad al-Jawad, the ninth Twelver Shia imam. The current structure includes domes and minarets added or rebuilt during Safavid...
The Al-Abbas Shrine is a prominent Shia Muslim shrine located in Karbala, Iraq. It marks the burial site of Abbas ibn Ali, the half-brother of Imam Hussein, who was killed during the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. The shrine features a grand dome and minarets that dominate the city's skyline. It is lo...
The Ziggurat of Ur is an ancient Mesopotamian monument built around 21st century BC by King Ur-Nammu. Located in present-day Iraq, it served as a temple dedicated to Nanna, the Sumerian moon god. This stepped pyramid represents a significant achievement in engineering and religious architecture for...
The Central Marshes of southern Iraq represent one of the world’s largest remaining examples of alluvial wetland ecosystems. This restored marsh complex, recognized by UNESCO, is vital for freshwater biodiversity and supports a unique habitat. It's crucial for scientists studying wetland restoration...
The Hammar Marshes are a significant wetland area located within Iraq, situated along the Euphrates River. Once encompassing over 2,800 square kilometers, this alluvial marsh ecosystem was dramatically reduced due to drainage efforts in the 1990s. Designated as a restored UNESCO World Heritage site,...
Mohamed ElBaradei is an Egyptian diplomat and international civil servant who served as director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency from 1997 to 2009. His tenure included nuclear inspections and diplomatic disputes involving Iraq, Iran, and other states. In 2005, ElBaradei and the IAE...
Turtles Can Fly is a 2004 drama set near the Iraqi-Turkish border focusing on three young refugee children anticipating the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq. The film’s cast includes Soran Ebrahim and others, depicting their situation awaiting the outcome of the conflict with Saddam Hussein. It explores th...
The Al-Kadhimiya Shrine is a Twelver Shia Islamic mosque and mausoleum located in the Kadhimiya neighborhood of Baghdad, Iraq. The complex houses the tombs of the seventh Shia Imam, Musa al-Kadhim, and the ninth Shia Imam, Muhammad al-Jawad. The site is distinguished by its large golden domes and mi...
Al-Sahlah Mosque is a historic Shia Islamic mosque located in Kufa, Iraq, with origins tracing to the early Islamic period. According to Shia tradition, the mosque is associated with the Hidden Imam, the Mahdi, who is said to visit the site, making it a place of pilgrimage. The structure has been re...
The Kadhimiya Mosque is a significant Shia Muslim shrine located in Baghdad, Iraq. It holds immense religious importance as the site where the tombs of Imam Ali and his son, Hussein, are housed. Pilgrims travel from across the Shia world to visit this holy place, making it essential for Shia Muslims...
The Abu Dulaf Mosque is a 9th-century Abbasid-era mosque located near Samarra, Iraq, commissioned during the reign of Caliph Al-Mutawakkil. It is among the largest mosques ever constructed in the Islamic world, with a vast central courtyard surrounded by hypostyle prayer halls. Its most distinctive...
The Al-Askari Mosque in Samarra, Iraq is a significant Shia Islamic shrine housing the tombs of the Fatimid caliphs al-Mu’izz li-Dīn Allah and his son al-Mustansir Billah. Constructed in the 9th century, it's notable for its golden dome, rebuilt after extensive damage. It serves as an important pilg...
The Erbil Citadel is an ancient fortified settlement in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, notable for being continuously inhabited for over 6,000 years atop a massive tell.
The Marsh Arabs, documented primarily through Wilfred Thesiger’s experiences, represent a unique Mesopotamian culture deeply intertwined with the southern Iraqi Tigris-Euphrates delta. The Ma'dan people, known as the “Bedouins of the Marshes,” maintained a self-sufficient lifestyle adapting to chall...
The Abdul Qadir Gilani Mosque is a significant religious site in Baghdad, Iraq. Constructed during the 12th century, it honors Abd al-Qadir al-Gilani, founder of the influential Qadiriyya Sufi order. This mosque remains a vital destination for Sunni Muslims and those interested in exploring Iraqi Su...
The Al-Askari Shrine is a prominent Shia Islamic mosque and mausoleum located in Samarra, Iraq. It contains the tombs of the 10th and 11th Shia Imams, Ali al-Hadi and Hasan al-Askari, making it a central pilgrimage site for Shia Muslims. The shrine is also traditionally associated with the occultati...
