Welcome to the “Cradle of Civilization”—welcome to Iraq, the land where writing, the wheel, and the first cities in human history were born. There are around 47 million people living here, and the capital is Baghdad, a city that was once the intellectual center of the world during the Islamic Golden Age. The official languages are Arabic and Kurdish.

Iraq covers about 438,317 square kilometers (169,235 square miles). The country is roughly the same size as the state of California in the U.S., or about the same size as Sweden. The landscape is defined by the great Tigris and Euphrates rivers, which flow through the center of the country, creating a fertile valley surrounded by desert.

The most popular sport is Football, and the national team’s victory in the 2007 Asian Cup remains one of the most celebrated moments in the country’s modern history. Their national animal is the Chukar Partridge, though the Lion of Babylon is the most iconic historical symbol of the nation.

The flag consists of three horizontal stripes of red, white, and black with the phrase “Allahu Akbar” (God is Greatest) written in green Kufic script in the center, where the red symbolizes courage, the white represents generosity, and the black stands for the many battles of the past.

The food is ancient and incredibly savory. You must try Masgouf, the national dish, which is a seasoned carp grilled sideways over an open fire. Another favorite is Dolma, where vegetables like onions, eggplants, and vine leaves are stuffed with a spiced meat and rice mixture. Iraq is also one of the world’s top producers of Dates, with hundreds of varieties that are famous for their sweetness.

Iraq is home to Mesopotamia, where you can find the ruins of Babylon and the Ziggurat of Ur, a massive stepped pyramid dating back to the 21st century BCE. In the south, you can visit the Iraqi Marshes, a unique wetland ecosystem where the “Marsh Arabs” live in houses made entirely of reeds, a lifestyle that has remained largely unchanged for millennia. In the north, the Kurdistan Region offers stunning green mountains and waterfalls that look nothing like the desert imagery often associated with the country. Iraq also holds the Holy Shrines of Najaf and Karbala, which are among the most important pilgrimage sites in the world for Shia Muslims.

From the palm groves of Basra to the ancient citadels of Erbil, Iraq is a land of deep roots and enduring resilience. Shukran! That means “Thank you!”