Al-Qurnah
| al-Qurnah Arabic: القرنة | ||
|---|---|---|
| Village | ||
| ||
| Coordinates: 31°0′57″N 47°25′50″E / 31.01583°N 47.43056°ECoordinates: 31°0′57″N 47°25′50″E / 31.01583°N 47.43056°E | ||
| Country | Iraq | |
| Governorate muhafazat (Arabic: محافظة) | Basra Governorate (Arabic: البصرة) | |
| Elevation[1] | 16 ft (4 m) | |
| Population (2014) | ||
| • Total | 450,000 | |
| District total | ||
| Time zone | GMT +3 (UTC+3) | |
| • Summer (DST) | +4 (UTC) | |
Al-Qurnah (Qurna) is a small town in southern Iraq about 74 km northwest of Basra, within the town of Nahairat.[2] Qurna (Arabic for connection/joint) is located at the confluence point of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers join to form the Shatt al-Arab.[2] Local folklore holds Qurna to have been the site of the Garden of Eden. An ancient jujube tree (recently dead) is locally celebrated and shown to the tourists as the actual Tree of Knowledge of the Bible.
History
The town experienced the Battle of Qurna during the Mesopotamian Campaign of World War I, when the British defeated Ottoman troops who had retreated from Basra.
Current conditions
The small Qurna Tourist Hotel was built during the Ba'athist period to encourage tourism for the region. However it is most likely not in use now.[3] As of the start of the 2003 Iraq War, conditions at the site were reportedly woeful.[4] Cracked pavement and bullet holes along with the poor condition of the tree itself made future tourism seem out of the question.[5] However, the area's natural beauty and Western presence make it viable for development for tourism.[2]
Gallery
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Basra area map.
See also
References
External links
- Iraq Image - Al-Qurnah Satellite Observation
- Page about ancient Mesopotamia with more info about Al-Qurnah
- The Capture of Qurna in 1914 - about the Battle of Qurna
- Article concerning the poor conditions at the site
- GNS official page - United States Board on Geographic Names