| al-Qurnah Al Qurna, Qurnah, Qurna (English: Corner) |
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| — Village — | |||
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File:Qurna.jpg
Overlook of Al-Qurna where the Tigris and Euphrates meet |
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| Coordinates: 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 (2004)[1] | |||
| - Total | 13,237 in 7 km radius | ||
| Approximate figures | |||
| Time zone | GMT +3 (UTC+3) | ||
| - Summer (DST) | +4 (UTC) | ||
Al-Qurnah (Qurna) is a small village in southern Iraq about 74 km northwest of Basra, within the town of Nahairat.[2] Qurna (Arabic for corner) is located at the point where the Tigris and Euphrates rivers join to form the Shatt al-Arab.[2]
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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.[3]
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.[4] As of the start of the Iraq War in 2003, conditions at the site were reportedly woeful.[5]. Cracked pavement and bullet holes along with the poor condition of the tree itself made future tourism seem out of the question.[6] However, photographic evidence seen below and a certain amount of western presence has made it a viable tourist destination once again.[2]
See 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
 Basra area map. |
External links
- [1] Iraq Image - Al-Qurnah Satellite Observation
- [2] Page about ancient Mesopotamia with more info about Al-Qurnah
- [3] The Capture of Qurna in 1914
- [4] Article concerning the poor conditions at the site
- [5] GNS official page United States Board on Geographic Names
References
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