Kurdistan

Kurdistan commonly refers to the mountainous, historically Kurdish-inhabited territory across parts of Turkey, Iraq, Iran and Syria; in the context of Iraq it denotes the autonomous Kurdistan Region in the north of the country. The region is noted for its mountainous terrain and distinct cultural identity.

Attractions include historic urban centres, archaeological sites and mountain landscapes used for hiking and cultural tourism. In Iraqi Kurdistan, cities such as Erbil feature a mix of ancient heritage and modern development, including a restored citadel and expanding infrastructure.

The modern political entity in Iraq developed through 20th-century history, with Kurdish movements asserting autonomy and the establishment of the Kurdistan Regional Government; the 2005 Iraqi constitution recognises the region’s status within Iraq. The area has a long recorded history with successive empires and local principalities.

Geographically the region lies in northern Iraq along the southern foothills of the Zagros Mountains, bordering Turkey and Iran to the north and east; the landscape is mainly mountainous with intermontane plains and river valleys.

• Autonomy: The Kurdish-inhabited region spans parts of several countries; within Iraq it functions as an autonomous region with its own regional government institutions.

What to See #

• Erbil: A major city in the autonomous Kurdish region that contains an ancient citadel recognised as one of the oldest continuously inhabited settlements in the world.
• Duhok Governorate: A governorate in the northwestern part of Iraqi Kurdistan with urban centres and mountainous borderlands close to Turkey.