Much of early history centers itself around an area known as the “Fertile Crescent,” referring to the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in present-day Iraq. Many ancient kingdoms were borne out of this region, including the Assyrians, Sumerians, and Babylonians–whose legendary King Hammurabi penned the enormously important Code of Hammurabi, one of the most significant legal doctrines of all time.
Much later this region was part of the Ottoman Empire, until 1932 when Iraq became an independent kingdom. Traveling to Iraq has not been appealing to most people in recent years; the country has been part of a series of wars dating back decades–first with their neighbor and foe, Iran; then with the United States after a failed attempt to gain control over another neighbor, Kuwait. Currently, the U.S. government and the governments of several other nations are extremely focussed on removing the despotic dictator Saddam Hussein and his regime. This has led to large-scale military action between Iraq and much of the outside world.
Economic sanctions and internal mismanagement have essentially ruined the Iraqi economy, food shortages have reached devastating levels, and the threat of war has all but guaranteed that Iraq won’t develop into a tourist destination in the foreseeable future.
For the present, it is our contention that–barring extreme circumstances–traveling to Iraq should be avoided at all costs. Particularly for Westerners, it is considered very unsafe.
Traveling in Iraq
For those brave enough to travel to this war-torn and tumultuous nation, getting in is the hardest part. Due to war-related restrictions, there are no commercial air carriers running flights to Baghdad’s international airport. By road, borders with Turkey and Jordan are heavily guarded. Internal and cross-border struggles with the Kurdish population make many outlying regions dangerous. And internal violence between allied Western troops and local Iraqi militia pose a threat to just about everyone.
Weather in Iraq
The weather in Iraq is very arid and the country gets little rainfall. The hottest season in Iraq is between May and September. In Bagbdad the temperature in summer can reach 123°F (51°C), but averages about 95°F (35°C). In the winter it gets down to a temperature average of 50°F (10°C).
Iraq Information
Population: 24,001,816 (2002 est.)
Government: Republic
Square Miles: 169,235 sq mi (438,317 sq km)
Capitol: Baghdad (pop. 5 million)
Official Language: Arabic (official), Kurdish
People: 79% Arabs, 16% Kurds, 3% Persians, 2% Turks
Religion: Shia Muslim (65%), Sunni Muslim (30%), Christian (3%)
Major products/industries: Oil, natural gas, agriculture, fishing
Papua New Guinea Flag Papua New Guinea makes up the eastern half of the island of New Guinea–the second largest island in the world. It was divided between Germany (north) and the U.K. (south) in 1885. The latter area was transferred to Australia in 1902, which occupied the north during World War I and continued to administer the combined areas until independence in 1975.
Costa Rica has long been seen as an “eye of the hurricane”–a peaceful nation situated in the center of an often turbulent region. The rich history and well-preserved and diverse environment attracts tourists from around the globe. From its beautiful beaches to its massive rainforest, teaming with wildlife, the Costa Rican government has long been committed to preserve the country’s reputation as a environmentally and user-friendly place to visit.
Venezuela is a gloriously beautiful country, and with almost 2000 miles of coastline, mountains, and jungle, there is something for everyone. Sites like Angel Falls, the world’s highest waterfall, and Lake Maracaibo, South America’s largest lake, ensure that you won’t soon forget Venezuela’s natural beauty. This is a country of extremes–just check out the giant anaconda for proof; it’s the world’s longest snake, capable of devouring a 100-pound tapir, or even a human, in a single meal.
Compared with the rest of volatile Central America, Belize is more like the island nations of the eastern Caribbean than it’s mainland neighbors. Its laid back way reminds visitors of the way the Caribbean was in the days before the big resorts.
The sultanate of Oman is a land of friendly people and magnificent landscapes–so the world is finding out as this corner of the Middle East emerges from a long period of isolation. Oman is one of the most traditional countries in the Middle East, but as it slowly comes out of its shell, it’s beginning to look more toward the future than the past.
Population: 2.5 million
Ireland is more than just the land of Guinness and Shamrocks, it is a land of mythic beauty that is hard to forget. From the ancient Celts to the early European Christians, Vikings, and finally the Normans, Ireland has seen more history than many other places on earth. But the country has emerged from tumultuous past into the modern world as a leader in technology and economic development. The Irish have come a long way over the past few generations, but don’t let the new modern ways fool you–you can still expect to find that good old Irish hospitality all over the country.
Best known for the war that was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the British, this colony of Britain is still a lonely outpost of only about 4000 inhabitants, mainly consisting of British military personnel. The residents of the Falkland Islands are typically decended from the British, and culture there–while unique in many ways–is, itself, British through and through.
Senegal is a favorite destination among tourists to Western Africa. With its eventful history, serene plains and farmland, luxurious seaside resorts, and bustling capital Dakar, Senegal stands out among its neighbors and peers as very much a “go to” spot.
Switzerland, sometimes referred to as the “island inside Europe,” is a land with many identies. From its busy banking centers in the cities to the lovely mountains and Alpine villages, Switzerland is also a land of many contrasts. The robust culture of this country is exemplified by the four different languages spoken by its population: German, French, Italian, and the native Romansch.
The weather in Switzerland can vary a tremendously. Due to its rugged geography, Switzerland has many microclimates; you can leave one beautiful sunny place only to travel a half-hour away and find it cloudy, cold, and overcast. The southern part of the country gets more of the Mediterranean climate, while the rest of Switzerland tends toward conditions more typical of central Europe, with temperatures in the summer reaching 20° to 25°C, and 1° to 5°C in the winter.