Iraq or Republic of Iraq, covering an area of 437,072 square kilometers, is rated in the world as the 58th biggest country. Iraq is located in Southwest Asia, surrounded by the north western part of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern side of Syrian Desert and a large section of earstwhile Mesopotamia. Its neighboring countries are Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Turkey and Iran. It has the second highest oil reserves in the world with 112 billion barrels after Saudi Arabia. The capital city of Iraq is Baghdad.
During 1968-2003 the Baath Party ruled Iraq with Saddam Hussein taking control as the President of Iraq in 1979. In 2003 he was overthrown when the US invaded Iraq. Following the invasion Saddam Hussein was imprisoned and the United States set up a Coalition Provisional Authority to run the Iraqi government. However in 2004 the authority was handed over to an Iraqi Interim Government with the culmination of a stable elected government being set up in October, 2005.
Though much of Iraq consists of sandy
deserts, it is blessed by two rivers namely Euphrates and Tigris which deposits large amount of silt in the delta. Its summers are scorching hot and dry and winters are cool.The northern mountains face severe winters accompanied by heavy
snowfall. It is estimated by the United States Department of Energy that the remaining 90 percent of the country which is yet to be explored can produce an extra 100 billion barrels of oil.
