Al-Faw

Summary

Al-Fāw (Arabic: ٱلْفَاو; sometimes transliterated as Fao) is a port town on Al-Faw Peninsula in Iraq near the Shatt al-Arab and the Persian Gulf. The Al Faw Peninsula is part of the Basra Governorate.

Al-Faw
ٱلْفَاو
Fao
The Shatt al-Arab
South-East Iraq with Al-Faw in the lower right corner of the map
South-East Iraq with Al-Faw in the lower right corner of the map
Al-Faw is located in Iraq
Al-Faw
Al-Faw
Al-Faw is located in Persian Gulf
Al-Faw
Al-Faw
Coordinates: 29°58′33″N 48°28′20″E / 29.97583°N 48.47222°E / 29.97583; 48.47222
Country Iraq
GovernorateAl-Basrah
DistrictAl-Faw District
Population
 (2005)
 • Total105,080
Time zoneUTC+3 (GMT +3)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+4

History edit

 
Landing the Persian Gulf Telegraphic Cable in the mud at Fao, in 1865

The town lies at the south-east end of the Al-Faw Peninsula on the right bank of the Shatt al-Arab, a few kilometres away from the Persian Gulf.

 
U.S. Marines patrolling the streets of Al-Faw in October 2003

The town, as well as the whole Faw Peninsula, was the scene of armed conflict during World War I, the Iran–Iraq War, the Persian Gulf War, and the Iraq War due to its strategic position at the entrance of the Shatt al-Arab.

The city was extensively damaged during the Iraq-Iran war, but in 1989 it was rebuilt in four months to a completely new city plan.[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Barakat, S. Analysis on Findings from the Post-War Reconstruction Campaigns at Basrah and Fao, Irak. ICOMOS Scientific Journal, 3, 1994, 102-112

External links edit

  • Iraq Image - Al-Faw Satellite Observation