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F
LORA AND
F
AUNA
There is little vegetation in most of Iraq. In the Zagros Mountains,
forests of oak, maple, and hawthorn trees still exist, although in
recent years the size of these forests has been reduced because of
overcutting. The rest of the country contains few trees, except for the
date palm and the poplar, which grow along the rivers.
Although millennia of human habitation have reduced the
amount of wildlife living in Iraq, many animals still make this land
their home. Mammals that can be seen in Iraq include cheetahs,
gazelles, antelopes, wild asses, hyenas, wolves, jackals, wild pigs,
and rabbits. Many birds of prey, such as vultures, buzzards,
ravens, and hawks, continue to soar above the landscape. Other
birds common to Iraq include ducks, geese, and partridges. Closer
to the ground, numerous types of reptiles and lizards can be found.
There are many domesticated animals, such as camels, oxen, water
buffalo, and horses, and flocks of sheep and goats can be found on
mountainsides.
T
HE
C
LIMATE AND THE
W
INDS
The climate of Iraq is fairly similar throughout the country, with the
exception of the north. Mosul’s January temperature averages 44°
Fahrenheit (6° Celsius); in July, the average temperature in Mosul
is about 90°F (32°C). Winter and summer temperatures are much
lower in the high elevations of the Zagros Mountains. Baghdad’s
average temperature is about 50°F (10°C) in January and about
95°F (35°C) in July. Temperatures in the southern alluvial plain,
however, can reach 123°F (51°C) in the summer.
There are two wind patterns in the country. The eastern wind,
called
sharki
, is hot, dry, and dusty; it can gust at up to 50 miles
per hour (81 km per hour) and create massive dust storms. The
sharki
winds can occur throughout the year, although they are
I
RAQ
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