Kirkuk Province

Kirkuk Province
It is located at the north of Iraq,it is about 9679 km2 and about 250 km away from Baghdad its capital is (Kirkuk) ,among oldest Iraqi provinces returns to Sumerians civilization .The province has four districts Kirkuk,Al-Hawija Dakok,and Al-Dibs it is famous for oil production ,because it has six oil wells the biggest one is located in Kirkuk city .It characterized with fair climate in Sumer and cold in winter the Zab and Tigris rivers pass through it,it is also famous for cultivation of olives ,sunflower ,chrome, citrus fruits, Dakok District which is famous for pottery. The famous and popular meals in the province are (Kara-Karman,Burgil Belawi,and Jel-Frai)

The Religious sites in The Province

The Shrine of Prophet Daniel
It is located in Kirkuk castle ,one of Jewish temples ,according to historians, its building time returns to 2700 years BC ,it contains three shrines of prophets (Honain,Uzair ,Mishael),it is important to the people who live around it especially prophet Daniel ,so that people bury their dead in a cemetery located near the shrine, which considered the oldest one in Kirkuk .

The Shrine of Imam Ismail
It is located in Al-Hawija district ,it returns to the Fifth Century AH,the beginning of the six century AH to the era of the Abbasid ,it was built by Abbasid architects who built Baghdad city.
Mohammed Ismail was born in 128 Hij,746 AD in the life of his grandfather Jaafar Al-Sadiq, and he spent his childhood in the care of his grandfather.

The Shrine and Mosque of Imam Al- Qassim
It is one of the oldest archeological mosques in Iraq,it is located in Kirkuk city ,it was built in Ottoman era in 1023 Hij, 1614 AD in Imam Qassim Township, it has a big importance in Kirkuk city ,because of many religious scholars graduated from it.

Churches in the province
Many churches are located in the province one of the most important one is (the heart of Jesus )church for Catholics , which is located in Al-Tairan Square, MarAfram church for Orthodox in Al-Umal Square, Mar Korkeis church and finally, Mar Yousif church for Catholics in Kirkuk city .

The Archeological and heritage Sites in
The Province

Kirkuk Castle
It is located in the center of Kirkuk ,It is one of the four main gates located in the western faced of Kirkuk, and is considered the oldest part of the city, overlooking Kasa river, it is the only remaining gate of the four main gates, it is the only one that has remained preserved its current form dates back to more than 150 years.

Kirkuk Qishleh
It is located in the center of city ,one of the archeological landmarks of Kirkuk that is still standing ,it is an old building that served as the military headquarters of the Ottoman forces, It was built according to the Ottoman books in 1863, with an area of 24,282 square meter, and now the Qishleh is used as a cultural center and as a museum.

Kirkuk Qaisaria
It is an old market ,close to Kirkuk Castle in Kirkuk city, The market was built in 1855 AD during the ruling of Ottomans ,it was rebuilt in 1978 AD.

Dakok Minaret
It is located in the Southwest corner of the old mosque in Dakok ,it is an archeological site located at the south of the city its height about 23 m,it is the third mosque, about 17.80 m on the roof of the archaeological hill

Tourist Sites in The Province

Shirin Dam (jemen)
It is located in Lailan township it is about 14 km away from the center of city ,many farmers and animals get benefits of it ,and it is used for tourism ,its capacity reaches one million cubic meters, there are many tourist sites attract tourists like Kara nawa ,toon kobri.

Al-Dibs Forests
It is located in the northwest of the city, its popular name is (shanaga) it is the only natural tourist attraction in Kirkuk ,It is frequented by tourists all year round.