IRAQ

Iraq

Iraq is a country of Asia  which belongs to the area of  the Middle East.

ESSENTIAL DATA

Iraq lays out only 40 km of coasts: they are located in the south of the country and give on the Arabo-Persique gulf. The remainder of the relief is dominated by  the valleys of the Tiger and Euphrate, the 2 principal rivers of the country.  Climate  of Iraq east primarily of type  arid and desert  (except for the mountainous areas).

The Iraqi population is  young  (less than 15 years represent nearly 45 % of the total population!) and  unequally distributed  (most of the country is uninhabited). The principal ethniques groups are  the Arabs  (approximately 73 % of the population) and  the Kurds  (22 %).

Iraq has significant mineral resources: the crude oil reserves   are the 2 ^E in the world while those of  natural gas  are the 7 ^E in the world. The exploitation of oil  is the principal source of income. However, the economy of the country was devastated by the 2 wars of the Gulf  (in 1991 and 2003).

Iraq
Name	Republic of Iraq
Population	26 783 383 inhabitants in 2006
Capital	Baghdad (4 797 000 inhabitants)
Surface	438 317 km²
Administrative cutting	18 gouvernorats
Principal cities	Baghdad (4 797 000 inhabitants)
	Mossoul (1 034 000 inhabitants)
	Bassora (406 296 inhabitants)
Currency	Iraqi dinar
Official language	Arabic

A HISTORIC INSIGHT

The ancient history of Iraq merges with that of  Mésopotamie. To  the vii ^E century, the country enters  the world arabo-Moslem: this period will last to  the xix ^E century. In 1920, Iraq is placed under the authority of the United Kingdom: it is  British protectorate. The country obtains independence in 1932.  The Republic of Iraq  is proclaimed in 1958.  Saddam Hussein  arrives at the capacity in 1979. The country enters then during a time marked by several wars:  the war Iran-Iraq  (1980-1988),  the first war of the Gulf  (1991) and  the second war of the Gulf  (2003).

TO GO FURTHER

? Asia
? the capital of Iraq:  Baghdad

? Mésopotamie

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IRAN

Iran

Iran is a country of Asia  which belongs to the area of  the Middle East.

ESSENTIAL DATA

The major part of the Iranian territory is occupied by  a high plateau, of an average altitude of 1 300 m of altitude. It is composed of  2 large arid deserts  (Dacht-3rd Kavir, or "Large salted Desert", in north and the Dacht-3rd Lute in south-east). It is also bordered by  chains of high mountains: in north, along the Caspian Sea, draw up  the Elbourz mounts; in south-west,  Zagros. The point low of Iran is on  the Caspian Sea, to 28 m below the sea level.  The climate  is of continental  type arid, characterized by strong variations in temperatures.

Population of Iran east in  strong growth,  young person  (less than 15 years 44 % of the population represent) and  urbanized  (65 % of the population live downtown, and this proportion in cease to increase). It is primarily made up of  Perses  and  many ethnic minorities  (Azéris, Baloutches, Turkmènes, Kurds and Arabs). Islam  is the religion practised by 99 % of the Iranian population.

Iran is the 4 ^E producing world of  oil. Even if if only 10 % of the territory are cultivated, agriculture  is an economic branch of industry significant: Iran is for example the 1 world producing ^er of  dates  and  the Iranian  caviar represents 20 % of the world production.

Iran
Name	Islamic republic of Iran
Population	68 688 433 inhabitants in 2006
Capital	Teheran (11 689 000 inhabitants)
Surface	1 648 000 km²
Administrative cutting	28 provinces
Principal cities	Teheran (11 689 000 inhabitants)
	Mechhed (1 887 405 inhabitants)
	Ispahan (1 266 072 inhabitants)
	Tabriz (1 191 043 inhabitants)
	Chiraz (1 053 025 inhabitants)
Currency	rial Iranian
Official language	Persan modern (farsi)

A HISTORIC INSIGHT

History of Iran east initially that of the Empire perse: it is founded by Cyrus the Large one to  the VI ^E century before J-C and its capital is  Persépolis. Starting from  the vii ^E century after J-C, the country is conquered by the Arabs, then by the Turks.  The Mongols  of Gengis Khan then of Tamerlan invade Perse to  the xiii ^E  and  xiv ^E centuries. Ismaïl I ^er  is  the first shah of Perse.

To the xix ^E century, the country undergoes  the domination of the Russians and the British. However, of  the nationalist movements  protest against this foreign control, and  Perse becomes Iran  in 1934. The country is one of the founder members of UNO, in 1945. Muhammad Riza is  the last shah of Iran: he is reversed in 1979 by  the Islamic Revolution  carried out by the ayatollah Khomeiny.  The Iran-Iraq war  begins in 1980 and ends in 1988. At the time of the first war of the Gulf (in 1991), Iran remains officially neutral.

TO GO FURTHER

? Asia
? the capital of Iran:  Teheran

? the old Middle East

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IRELAND

Ireland

Ireland is a country of Europe.

ESSENTIAL DATA

Ireland is at the same time  an island  of the Atlantic Ocean (located at the west of Great Britain) and  a country. Ireland as country occupies the essence of the territory of Ireland as an island; the North-East of the island is occupied by Northern Ireland (which constitutes part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland).

Ireland counts many  lakes  and  marshes  (peat bogs). Its surface is largely covered with  permanent  meadows. It practically does not comprise on the other hand forests.

Little populated, Ireland has  the density of the population lowest of Europe.  Its population lowered half in second half of  the xix ^E century following a terrible famine.

Until the medium of the xx ^E century, Ireland was one of the poorest countries of Europe. In the years 1960, it encouraged the foreign companies to be installed on its territory, it was industrialized then it adhered to European construction. One then spoke about  Irish economic miracle  so much his situation improved.

Ireland
Name	Free state of Ireland
Population	4 062 235 inhabitants in 2006
Capital	Dublin (495 781 inhabitants); agglomeration (1 015 043 inhabitants)
Surface	70 273 km²
Administrative cutting	26 counties
Principal cities	Dublin (495 781 inhabitants)
	Cork (123 062 inhabitants)
	Galway (65 832 inhabitants)
	Limerick (54 023 inhabitants)
	Waterford (44 594 inhabitants)
	Drogheda (28 333 inhabitants)
	Dundalk (27 385 inhabitants)
	Bray (26 244 inhabitants)
Currency	euro
Official languages	English Gaelic

A HISTORIC INSIGHT

Invaded by the Celts  to  the VI ^E century before J-C, the Irish territory is christianized by  Patrick saint  to  O C century after J-C Envahie by the Vikings, Ireland passes then  under English domination.  In 1541, the king of England Henri VIII receives the title of king d' Irlande. He tries to introduce the Anglicanism in Ireland, which involves wars of religion between the Irish catholics and the English Anglicans. The British domination leads to  the fastening of Ireland in Great Britain  in 1801 by the Act of Union. Between 1846 and 1848, 2 million Irishman die of  famine,  harvests of potatoes having been very bad, and 6 million people emigrate, especially towards the United States.

The fight for Irish autonomy  agitates the company and leads to a nationalist insurrection in 1916. It leads to  the partition of Ireland  in 1921: on a side the free State of Ireland; other Northern Ireland, which remains attached to Great Britain. After many disorders,  the Irish Republic  is proclaimed in 1949. It takes part in  European construction  since 1973 while the situation in Northern Ireland, where Protestant and catholic continue to be opposed, remains tended.

TO GO FURTHER

? Europe
? Celts
? European Union

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