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 4
Because of the its subtropical climate, according to it's maximum temperatures, Baghdad is considered one of the hottest cities in the world.

Fact 5
As of 2011, Baghdad was the largest city in Iraq with a population of approximately 7,216,040 people.

Fact 6
The city was listed as one of the least hospitable places in the world to live in 2012.

Fact 7
The 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 8
During 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 9
The largest university in Iraq is the University of Baghdad. It is also the second largest in the Arab world.

Fact 10
In 2004, a private radio station was created call 'Dijlah', and was Iraq's first independent talk radio station.