Iraqi Kurdistan

The Iraqi Kurdistan also called Autonomous region of Kurdistan, is a federal and autonomous entity North of the internationally recognized Iraq. This area is bordered by the Iran in the East, the Turkey in North and the Syria in the West. The capital of Iraqi Kurdistan is Erbil (or Arbil).

Ethymology & official name

The word Kurdistan literally means Pays of the Kurds . The " term; Kurde" comes from the Latin Cordueni which designates the inhabitants of the old kingdom of Corduène (or Cordyene), become province of the Roman Empire into 66 before JC.

Concerning official name, the news Iraqi Constitution speaks about Région of Kurdistan (Kurdistan Region in English). The regional government speaks about Kurdistan-Iraq or Kurdistan Region but avoids the term of Iraqi Kurdistan. The name of the regional government is " K urdistan R egional G overnment" or KRG ( Hikûmetî Herêmî Kurdistan in Kurdish).

The Kurds call also their area Kurdistana Başûr (Southern Kurdistan) gold Başûrî Kurdistan (Kudistan of the South) in reference to the geographical location of the autonomous region within the Kurdistan.

In the Arab countries, one calls Kurdistan only Iraqi Kurdistan.

Geography

Iraqi Kurdistan is very largely mountainous, with a culminating point with 3.611 meters in Cheekah Dar. The many rivers which run since these mountains and sprinkle the area are at the origin of the fertile and luxuriant grounds of Iraqi Kurdistan.

The mountains, the climate and water quality make of Iraqi Kurdistan an area of agriculture and tourism. Moreover this area has mineral raw materials, in particular oil which has been exploited for several decades.

More the big lake of the area is the lake Dukan.

External bond

Iraqi Kurdistan, article in number 124 of the review Hérodote. By Berévan Alig, doctorante with the French Institute of geopolitics (university Paris VIII)

References

Be-X-old: Курдыстан

Random links: