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• Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, it is also the largest city in the country.

  On January 1, 2009, more than five years after the 2003 invasion, the United States formally handed control of the heavily-fortified Green Zone portion of Baghdad to Iraqi forces.Los Angeles Times: U.S. hands control of Baghdad's Green Zone to Iraq (January 2, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Capital of Iraq
  2. Area: 168,754 square milesNational Geographic: Iraq Map
  3. Population: 5,620,000
  4. Currency: Iraqi dinar (IQD)
  5. Languages: Arabic, Kurdish, Assyrian, Armenian
  6. Religions: Shia Islam, Sunni Islam, Christian
  7. Runs along the Tigris River
  8. Largest city in Iraq
  9. Second-largest city in the Arab World
  10. Oil boom of the 1970s brought wealth to the city
  11. City was heavily damaged by U.S. bombing during the 2003 invasion

• Reconstruction

  After the 2003 U.S. invasion, Baghdad received considerable damage to its infrastructure. As of March 2008, electricity and running water had not been fully restored. The city also has a sewage problem, which has contaminated drinking water.

  As part of the rebuilding process, Coalition Forces and the Iraqi Government have created the Joint Reconstruction Operations Center to help expedite the rebuilding process.GlobalSecurity.org: Joint Reconstruction Office Addresses Baghdad’s Infrastructure

• Culture

  Not only is Baghdad the capital city of Iraq, but it is also the cultural center of the country. It's home to the National Museum of Iraq, which was only open to Saddam Hussein and his close friends during Saddam's presidency, and the Iraq National Library and Archive and Baghdad Zoo.

  Baghdad is also home to several popular Iraqi football teams including Al Quwa Al Jawiya and Al Zawra, Al Shurta.

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Baghdad Wall | Iraq | Iraq Reconstruction | Basra | Iraq War | Baghdad Pet Market Bombing | Baghdad Karada District Bombs | Baghdad High | Snow In Baghdad | Baghdad Car Bomb | Iranians Detained in Baghdad Hotel Raid | Alive in Baghdad | Baghdad Torture Mosque | Green Zone | Hadil Emad | Michel Jamil

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