Baghdad, Capital city on Tigris River, Iraq
Baghdad is the capital along the Tigris in Iraq and extends across both banks, connected by several large bridges. Parks and walkways follow sections of the riverfront, where residents walk during the cooler evening hours.
The city was founded in 762 as capital of the Abbasid Caliphate and quickly became a center for learning and trade. Over the following centuries, it went through several cycles of destruction and rebuilding.
Throughout the neighborhoods, people meet in cafés for tea and backgammon and spend hours talking together. Markets remain open late when families come out to shop and socialize as temperatures cool down.
Summer heat can reach 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit), so outdoor activities work best in early morning or late evening. The river divides the city into eastern and western sections, making orientation easier once you understand this layout.
The original plan from the 8th century formed a perfect circle, with the palace and main mosque at the center and four gates equally spaced around the edge. Today almost nothing of this design remains, as the city has grown far beyond its original walls.
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