Basra, Port settlement in Al Basrah Governorate, Iraq
Basra is a port settlement in Al Basrah Governorate in southern Iraq, positioned where the Tigris and Euphrates meet the Persian Gulf. The city extends along the Shatt al-Arab waterway, surrounded by date palm groves and industrial facilities.
A Muslim caliph founded the settlement in the seventh century as a military camp during early Islamic expansion into Persia. It later grew into a major center for Arabic grammar and Islamic theology.
The local architecture reflects Arab and Persian influences that developed through centuries of trade along the Shatt al-Arab waterway. Cafés and markets line the waterfronts, showing the daily life of a port settlement where Gulf cultures meet.
The airport connects the settlement with destinations across the Middle East and offers domestic flights to Baghdad. The seaport lies south of the city center and is mainly accessible for cargo operations.
Local fishermen still use traditional wooden boats called bellam to catch fish and shrimp in the shallow canals. These flat-bottomed vessels glide through narrow waterways that were deep enough for larger ships decades ago.
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