Governorate of Anbar

Historical Background

Anbar is regarded as the biggest Iraqi Governorate with its center Ramadi. It is situated in the western side of Iraq, 100 km from the capital, Baghdad. It had been known before 1961 as (Liwa Ul- Dileim).

Natural resources

Industrial raw materials are available at Anbar Governorate which can be extracted through mine methods like that of natural gas and oil in (Ukaz) gas field westward Anbar which reserves is estimated to be (50) b. cubic feet and (Reesha) gas field, oil experts estimates refers to the availability of oil reservoirs in the Governorate of Anbar which need more exploring processes so as to estimate the quantities of the reserves and its economic feasibility. Anbar has approximately 53 Trillion cubic feet of natural gas in addition to the natural mineral fortunes, such as gold, phosphate, iron, uranium, sulfur, and silver. There are water resources embodied in the River Euphrates which runs (450 km), from the western north to the eastern south of the Governorate. In addition, there are four big water surfaces, the lakes of (Habbaniyah, lake of dam of Hadeethah, lake of Thirthar, and Razaza Lake).

There are reservoirs of groundwater suitable for irrigation in the western desert and arable fertile soil.

Area

The area of the Governorate is approximately 137.723 sq km.

Main cities:

- Ramadi Constituency - Faluja Constituency - Heet Constituency - Hadeethah Constituency - Ana Constituency - Rawa Constituency - Qaim Constituency - Rutbah Constituency

Population

(1.587.114) person

Main activities

Planting grains Cattle breading Dates production Fertilizers production cement Manufacturing ceramics Manufacturing glass Manufacturing

Infrastructures

There is only one railway in the governorate. It starts from the capital, Baghdad, to end at the mines' area at Ukashat, having the length of (522) km. This railway is used to carry passengers and goods. Anbar has (24) stations for passengers and (5) for goods.

The highway is regarded as the longest of the main roads in the Governorate of Anbar, as it is (596) km. It stretches from Baghdad- Faluja- Ramadi- Turaibeel- Tunuf at the Iraqi- Syrian borders.

Another way has the length of (219) km linking Qaim – Ukashat- Rutbah constituency.

Qaim- Hadeethah road, (156) km Nikhaib- 'Ar'ar outlet (160) km on the borders of Saudi Arabia.

Governorate of Anbar has borders with three states: Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia Kingdom.

The Governorate has (4) outlets:

- Turaibeel outlet with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. - Tunuf outlet with Syria. - Qaim outlet with Syria. - 'Ar'ar outlet with Saudi Arabia Kingdom.

Education:

The Governorate has two Universities, Anbar University and Faluja University, in addition to technical institutes, a number of private colleges and the College of Al-Imam Al-'Aadham-

Branch of Anbar. There are almost 1.046 primary schools; 469 secondary schools, 4 Teachers Qualifying Institutes and many professional institutes and schools.

Health

Governorate of Anbar has (11) hospitals and almost 17 medical centers.

Tourist sites

Lake of Thirthar: One of the most beautiful Men made lakes in Iraq. It has formed after the Dam of Samara had been built for irrigation purposes and to control floods of the Rivers Tigris and Euphrates. The lake can be attained at from Baghdad via Faluja and Ramadi, or via Samara.

Lake of Habbaniyah: This is a pan located to the south of the city of Ramadi, used to store 3.3 b. c m and to return 2.7 b. c m to the River of Euphrates at the season of draught. The lake is controlled by the Dam of Ramadi. The lake is linked southward to a river which connects it to the lake of Thirthar to drain the surplus water from Habbaniyah Lake to the Lake of Razaza whose capacity is 26 b. c m. A resort has been established on the banks of this lake.