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Fun facts about Basra

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Basra at night
city

In Arabic, the word baṣrah means 'the overwatcher', possibly referencing Basra's origin as an Arab military base.

Basra
Iraq
Tap to learn more
city

Basra

Iraq

Country
Iraq
Population
2.8M
Coordinates
30.51, 47.78
108th most populous city in the world

Basra or Basrah is a port city in southern Iraq. It is the capital of the eponymous Basra Governorate, as well as the third largest city in Iraq overall, behind Baghdad and Mosul. Located near the Iran–Iraq border, the city is situated along the banks of the Shatt al-Arab that empties into the Persian Gulf.

From the “Etymology” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: شرشاوي · CC BY-SA 3.0

Fact 1 permalink
Basra at night
city

Basra was founded in 636 as a garrison encampment for Arab tribesmen during the Islamic era.

Basra
Iraq
Tap to learn more
city

Basra

Iraq

Country
Iraq
Population
2.8M
Coordinates
30.51, 47.78
108th most populous city in the world

Basra or Basrah is a port city in southern Iraq. It is the capital of the eponymous Basra Governorate, as well as the third largest city in Iraq overall, behind Baghdad and Mosul. Located near the Iran–Iraq border, the city is situated along the banks of the Shatt al-Arab that empties into the Persian Gulf.

From the “History” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: شرشاوي · CC BY-SA 3.0

Fact 2 permalink
Basra at night
city

Basra's irrigation system, covering some 57,000 hectares, was first reported in 962 but became largely abandoned by the late 900s.

Basra
Iraq
Tap to learn more
city

Basra

Iraq

Country
Iraq
Population
2.8M
Coordinates
30.51, 47.78
108th most populous city in the world

Basra or Basrah is a port city in southern Iraq. It is the capital of the eponymous Basra Governorate, as well as the third largest city in Iraq overall, behind Baghdad and Mosul. Located near the Iran–Iraq border, the city is situated along the banks of the Shatt al-Arab that empties into the Persian Gulf.

From the “History” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: شرشاوي · CC BY-SA 3.0

Fact 3 permalink
Basra at night
city

Basra is located on the Shatt-Al-Arab waterway, roughly 110 km from the Persian Gulf.

Basra
Iraq
Tap to learn more
city

Basra

Iraq

Country
Iraq
Population
2.8M
Coordinates
30.51, 47.78
108th most populous city in the world

Basra or Basrah is a port city in southern Iraq. It is the capital of the eponymous Basra Governorate, as well as the third largest city in Iraq overall, behind Baghdad and Mosul. Located near the Iran–Iraq border, the city is situated along the banks of the Shatt al-Arab that empties into the Persian Gulf.

From the “Geography” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: شرشاوي · CC BY-SA 3.0

Fact 4 permalink
Basra at night
city

The Old Mosque of Basra is the first mosque in Islam outside the Arabian peninsula.

Basra
Iraq
Tap to learn more
city

Basra

Iraq

Country
Iraq
Population
2.8M
Coordinates
30.51, 47.78
108th most populous city in the world

Basra or Basrah is a port city in southern Iraq. It is the capital of the eponymous Basra Governorate, as well as the third largest city in Iraq overall, behind Baghdad and Mosul. Located near the Iran–Iraq border, the city is situated along the banks of the Shatt al-Arab that empties into the Persian Gulf.

From the “Urban Landscape” section

Text from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Photo: شرشاوي · CC BY-SA 3.0

Fact 5 permalink