Sulaymaniyah
Sulaymaniyah (in Kurdish: پاریزگای سلمیمانی) is located in the northeast of Iraq and is the fourth most populous Iraqi province with a population of two and a half million. It is bordered to the east by the Iranian border, to the south by the Diyala Governorate, to the west by the oil-rich Kirkuk Governorate, and to the north by the Iranian border and Erbil Governorate.
There is a difference of opinion about the reason for the name. Some believe that a ring was found during the excavation to build the city, with the name Sulayman engraved on it. However, Pasha Babani informed Sulayman Pasha, the governor of Baghdad at the time, that the name was attributed to him, i.e. to the Ottoman Sultan, while others believe that Ibrahim Pasha Babani named the city after his father Sulayman Pasha.
Sulaymaniyah includes several districts, the most important of which is the border district of Penjwin, which is considered an outlet to Iran, and the district of Chamchamal, among others. There are summer resorts in the province, including the resorts of Ahmadawa, Sarjnar, Dokan, the area of Sartak, Konmasi, and the famous Azmar Mountain in the city. And others. The province also has two large dams built in the fifties of the last century, namely Dokan Dam and Darbandikhan Dam. It is famous for the Grand Mosque located in the middle of the city (its center), which contains the shrine of Sheikh Mahmoud Al-Hafid, and the shrine of Kak Ahmed Sheikh. It is also famous for its cultural character, as it includes one of the largest universities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which is the University of Sulaymaniyah. Sulaymaniyah is considered a summer resort due to its many summer resorts and a promising country for tourism.
Among the most famous people in the field of art and culture are Pir Merd Sherko Bekas, Mahmoudi, Nali, Ahmed Salar, Anwar Qardaghi, Karim Kaban, Ali Jula, Fuad Majid Masri, Badia Dartash, Qadirdilan, Kazal Ahmed and others.
Penjwin District is one of the districts of Sulaymaniyah Governorate and is located 96 km from the city of Sulaymaniyah, near the Iranian border. Penjwin occupies a strategic location as one of the important border crossings between the Kurdistan Region and Iran. It is also famous for the availability of large quantities of minerals such as iron and marble on its mountains, in addition to archaeological sites dating back thousands of years such as (Kaji Castle) and others.
Penjwin enjoys a moderate climate, picturesque views and many water springs, so it can be used as one of the important tourist sites.
Penjwin is famous for agriculture, especially fruits, as well as livestock grazing, due to the abundance of pastures in it. As well as many other districts such as Qara Dagh, Qala Diza, Kalar, Raniya, Qara Hanjir, Bani Mahqan, Chamchamal and Tanial.
It was also burned in 1963 during the September Revolution.
In 1946, Penjwin was exposed to a strong earthquake that led to its complete destruction. There are many Kurdish tribes in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, the most important of which are the Jaf, Zangana, Qardaghi, Sinkawi, Talabani, and Zand tribes. The Jaf tribe is one of the largest Kurdish tribes in Sulaymaniyah Governorate, and the people of Jaf extend from the city of Kalar, south of the governorate, to the city of Sayyid Sadiq. This city has developed in the present era and is considered one of the most important cities in Iraqi Kurdistan.
