Ten fun facts about Baghdad
Fact 1
Through the 11th, 12th and 13th century, Baghdad was considered to be the largest city in the world and possibly the first to reach over one million residents.
Fact 2
Baghdad was first the capital of the British Mandate of Mesopotamia from 1920, and then became the capital of the Kingdom of Iraq after 1932.
Fact 3
The largest zoo in the Middle East is the Baghdad Zoo, which once housed 650 animals but was left with 35 after the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Fact 4Because of the its subtropical climate, according to it's maximum temperatures, Baghdad is considered one of the hottest cities in the world.
Fact 5As of 2011, Baghdad was the largest city in Iraq with a population of approximately 7,216,040 people.
Fact 6The city was listed as one of the least hospitable places in the world to live in 2012.
Fact 7The original design of the city was intended to be two large semicircles, but was designed as a circle and was known as the 'Round City'.
Fact 8During the time of the Ottoman era, the city had suffered issues with the plague and cholera, wiping out at least 2/3 of its population.
Fact 9The largest university in Iraq is the University of Baghdad. It is also the second largest in the Arab world.
Fact 10In 2004, a private radio station was created call 'Dijlah', and was Iraq's first independent talk radio station.
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