Geography of Basra
Basra, Iraq, a city and the principal port of the country. It is at the head of oceangoing navigation on the Shatt al Arab, about 60 miles (95 km) from the Persian Gulf. Basra is surrounded by rich flood land, and is a market for dates and other agricultural products. The city is near oil fields and is a center for petroleum refining. Parts of the city were damaged during the Persian Gulf War (1991). Basra was founded in 638.
Population: 406,296.