Al-Qurnah

Infobox Settlement
official_name = al-Qurnah
other_name = "Al Qurna", "Qurnah", "Qurna"
( _en. Corner)
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settlement_type = Village
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imagesize = 200px
image_caption = Overlook of Al-Qurna where the Tigris and Euphrates meet

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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Iraq
subdivision_type1 = Governorate "muhafazat" ( _ar. محافظة)
subdivision_name1 = Basra Governorate ( _ar. البصرة)
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population_as_of = 2004
population_footnotes = [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IZ/2/Al_Qurnah.html Maps, Weather, and Airports for Al Qurnah, Iraq ] ]
population_note = Approximate figures
population_total = 13237 in 7 km radius
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timezone = GMT +3
utc_offset = +3
timezone_DST = +4
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latd=31 |latm=0 |lats=57 |latNS=N
longd=47 |longm=25 |longs=50 |longEW=E
elevation_footnotes = [ [http://www.fallingrain.com/world/IZ/2/Al_Qurnah.html Maps, Weather, and Airports for Al Qurnah, Iraq ] ]
elevation_m = 4
elevation_ft = 16
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Al-Qurnah (Qurna) is a small village in southern Iraq about 74 km northwest of Basra, within the town of Nahairat. [ [http://www.atlastours.net/iraq/qurna.html Qurna, Iraq ] ] Qurna (Arabic for corner) is located at the point where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers join to form the Shatt al-Arab. [ [http://www.atlastours.net/iraq/qurna.html Qurna, Iraq ] ]

Tourism

Previously, al-Qurnah attracted many tourists and pilgrims from Abrahamic religions, as it is regarded as a possible site for the Garden of Eden. A tree that stands near the riverbank has been enshrined as the Tree of Life (also known as Adam's Tree), along with a sign and a run-down enclosure. [ [http://members.tripod.com/~SPEAAA/basra.htm Basra! ] ]

Current conditions

There is the small Qurna Tourist Hotel built during Saddam Hussein's reign in order to encourage tourism for the region, however it is most likely not in use now. [ [http://www.commondreams.org/headlines03/0528-04.htm War Takes Its Toll on the Garden of Eden ] ] As of the start of the Iraq War in 2003, conditions at the site were reportedly woeful. [ [http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/recent/iraq/iraq_lost_cities_07.shtml BBC - History - The Lost Palaces of Iraq ] ] . Cracked pavement and bullet holes along with the poor condition of the tree itself made future tourism seem out of the question. [ [http://www.e-thepeople.org/article/16207/view?viewtype=best&skip=0 e.thePeople : Article : The Legendary Garden of Eden Now a Wasteland ] ] However, photographic evidence seen below and a certain amount of western presence has made it a viable tourist destination once again. [ [http://www.atlastours.net/iraq/qurna.html Qurna, Iraq ] ]

ee also

* List of places in Iraq
* Garden of Eden
* Tree of Life
* Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil
* Adam and Eve
* Book of Genesis
* Fall of Man
* Battle of Qurna (1915)
* Dancon/Irak
* Battle of Qurna (Iraq War)
* West Qurna Field

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.faculty.fairfield.edu/jmac/meso/meso.htm] Page about ancient Mesopotamia with more info about Al-Qurnah
* [http://www.1914-1918.net/meso_bat2.htm] The Capture of Qurna in 1914
* [http://www.e-thepeople.org/article/16207/view?viewtype=best&skip=0] Article concerning the poor conditions at the site
* [http://gnswww.nga.mil/geonames/Gazetteer/Search/Results.jsp?Feature__Unique_Feature_ID=-3102736&Diacritics=Yes&reload=1] GNS official page United States Board on Geographic Names

References