Is Iraq the same as Kurdistan?

Is Iraq the same as Kurdistan?

Iraqi Kurdistan or Southern Kurdistan (Kurdish: باشووری کوردستان, romanized: Başûrê Kurdistanê) refers to the Kurdish-populated part of northern Iraq. Much of the geographical and cultural region of Iraqi Kurdistan is part of the Kurdistan Region (KRI), an autonomous region recognized by the Constitution of Iraq.

Is Kurdistan a part of Iraq?

Kurdistan Region (Kurdish: هه‌رێمی کوردستان / Herêmî Kurdistan) is an autonomous region in Northern Iraq. It borders the Kurdish regions of Iran to the east, Turkey to the north, and Syria to the west, along with the rest of Iraq to the south. The regional capital is Erbil, known in Kurdish as Hewlêr.

Is Kurdistan Iraq Safe?

Stay safe. Iraqi Kurdistan is much safer than the rest of Iraq. Crime rates tend to be low, and people can travel independently without any worries. This said, there is still high risk of terrorist activity in certain areas, and cities near the Syrian, Turkish, and Iranian borders are unsafe.

Can Americans visit Iraqi Kurdistan?

Citizens of the European Union, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zeeland, UK, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Kuwait, Qatar, South Korea, Iran, Turkey and Brazil can get a visa on arrival upon entering Iraqi Kurdistan both by land and air. The price of the visa on arrival is generally 75 USD and it is valid for 30 days.

What is the size of Kurdistan?

15,692 mi²
Kurdistan Region/Area

How many Kurds are in Iraq?

Kurds

Total population
30–40 million (The World Factbook, 2015 estimate) 36.4–45.6 million (Kurdish Institute of Paris, 2017 estimate)
Turkey est. 14.3–20 million
Iran est. 8.2–12 million
Iraq est. 5.6–8.5 million

Is Kurdistan in Iraq or Iran?

Iraqi Kurdistan first gained autonomous status in a 1970 agreement with the Iraqi government, and its status was re-confirmed as the autonomous Kurdistan Region within the federal Iraqi republic in 2005. There is also a Kurdistan Province in Iran, but it is not self-ruled.

Can you drink alcohol in Kurdistan?

Good news: Alcohol is widely available in Kurdistan You can buy fresh, cold beer, wine and any type of liquor. In Erbil and Sulaymaniyah you can find plenty of bars, as well.

What should I wear in Kurdistan?

Kurdistan can get extremely hot during the day, but at times can get pretty chilly at night so pack plenty of long pants and loose fitting t-shirts. Ideally, skirts should cover your ankles but covering just your knees would be fine too. T-Shirts – Bring plenty of t-shirts.

Are Kurds Arab or Persian?

Kurds (Kurdish: کورد ,Kurd) or Kurdish people are an Iranian ethnic group native to the mountainous region of Kurdistan in Western Asia, which spans southeastern Turkey, northwestern Iran, northern Iraq, and northern Syria.

Is Kurdish difficult?

Learning Kurdish can be hard in terms of grammar and learning resources, especially if you don’t speak any middle-eastern language. The Kurmanji dialect can be easier for speakers of European languages because it uses the Latin alphabet, while the Surani dialect uses the Arabic script.

What is the Kurdistan Region of Iraq?

The Kurdistan Region encompasses most of Iraqi Kurdistan but excludes Kurdish areas which Iraq has been preventing the Kurds from governing since Kurdish autonomy was realized in 1992 with the first Kurdish elections in the aftermath of the Gulf War.

How to get to Iraqi Kurdistan?

Iraqi Kurdistan has two border gates with Iran, the Haji Omaran border gate and the Bashmeg border gate near the city of Sulaymaniyah. Iraqi Kurdistan has also a border gate with Syria known as the Faysh Khabur border gate. From within Iraq, the Kurdistan Region can be reached by land from multiple roads.

What areas did the Kurds take over from the Iraqi government?

Due to the Iraqi withdrawal, Kurdish Peshmerga took control of most disputed areas, including Kirkuk, Khanaqin, Jalawla, Bashiqa, Sinjar and Makhmur. The strategically important Mosul Dam was also captured by Kurdish forces.

How did Iraqi Kurdistan recover from Saddam Hussein?

After the 1991 safe haven was established, the Kurdistan Regional Government began projects to reconstruct the Kurdistan Region. Since then, of all the 4,500 villages that were destroyed by Saddam Husseins’ regime, 65% have been reconstructed by the KRG. Iraqi Kurdistan can be reached by land and air.