Nature, climate and travel

Kurdistan is characteristic for its stunning mountains and wild natural surroundings. The Kurdistan Region is mostly mountainous with the highest peak reaching to 3.611 m, known as Cheekha Dar. The mountains are part of a larger range called Zagros that spreads across the whole of Iraq.

Rivers are also abundant in Kurdistan. The Little Zab and Great Zab rivers stretch from east to west. One of the greatest ancient rivers –Tigris – enters Iraq through the Kurdistan Region where it flows from Turkey. The biggest lake of the region is Dukan Lake.

An extreme continental climate is typical for Kurdistan. In summer, the temperatures reach 39-48°C, while in winter it can be 2-13°C. Mountanious nature of the landscape, variable temperaturess across the region, and sufficient amount of water makes Kurdistan a country suitable for agriculture as well as tourism.

One of the numerous significant sights born out of Kurdistan’s rich history is the tomb of Cyaxares Qyzqapan in Sulejmanija. According to a Russian historian Igor Diakonov, the tomb belonged to a royal family whose most honourable and powerful king was, in words of an ancient historian Herodotus, Phraortes – the King of Media. Other major sights are Pira Delal (a bridge 114 metres long and 15.5 metres wide crossing the Khabur river), Amadiya (a town situated at the altitude of 1.400 metres), citadel in Hawler (Erbil), Shanidar Cave (situated in the Bradost mountains where the remnants of ten Neaderthals were discovered).

References:  Wikipedia