UNESCO Sites in Iraq

Iraq UNESCO has registered 6 sites on the World Heritage list and 14 on the tentative list.

Some places are so interesting that it’s relevant to keep them for future generations. This is why UNESCO has built a list of crucial classified properties in which superb places stand out for their aesthetic, natural, artistic, or cultural significance.

More than a thousand places are registered as Unesco’s World Heritage worldwide. Due to my interest in visiting World Heritage sites, I compiled the UNESCO list in Iraq and the corresponding map.

Iraq UNESCO list

1. Ashur (Qal’at Sherqat)
2. Babylon
3. Erbil Citadel
4. Hatra
5. Samarra Archaeological City
6. The Ahwar of Southern Iraq: Refuge of Biodiversity and the Relict Landscape of the Mesopotamian Cities

Iraq UNESCO Map

Click on the blue pins to view more relevant information about each World Heritage site in Iraq.

Description

1. Ashur (Qal’at Sherqat): An ancient city in northern Mesopotamia, once the capital of the Assyrian Empire, known for its well-preserved architectural remains, including temples, palaces, and defensive walls.
2. Babylon: One of the most famous cities of the ancient world, located in present-day Iraq, and known for its Hanging Gardens, ziggurat, and impressive walls and gates.
3. Erbil Citadel: A fortified settlement in the heart of Erbil, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with a history dating back over 8,000 years.
4. Hatra: An ancient city located in present-day Iraq, known for its distinctive Hellenistic and Parthian architecture, including temples, arches, and fortified walls.
5. Samarra Archaeological City: A former capital of the Abbasid Caliphate, located in present-day Iraq, with well-preserved remains of palaces, mosques, and a distinctive spiral minaret.
6. The Ahwar of Southern Iraq: A unique wetland ecosystem in the lower Mesopotamian basin, with a rich cultural heritage and important biodiversity, including several endangered species.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Iraq have protected places for their cultural and natural importance.

Sites on the Tentative List

1. Nimrud
2. The Ancient City of Nineveh
3. The Fortress of Al-Ukhaidar
4. Wasit
5. The Site of Thilkifl
6. Wadi Al-Salam Cemetery in Najaf
7. Amedy city
8. Historical Features of the Tigris River in Baghdad Rusafa, which extends from the school Al-Mustansiriya to the Abbasid Palace
9. Bestansur Neolithic settlement
10. Nippur
11. Old City of Mosul
12. Lalish Temple
13. Kirkuk Citadel
14. The Hajj Pilgrimage Routes: The Darb Zubaydah