Page "Geography of Iraq" Paragraph 41

The combination of rain shortage and extreme heat makes much of Iraq a desert.

Because of very high rates of evaporation, soil and plants rapidly lose the little moisture obtained from the rain, and vegetation could not survive without extensive irrigation.

Some areas, however, although arid, do have natural vegetation in contrast to the desert.

For example, in the Zagros Mountains in northeastern Iraq there is permanent vegetation, such as oak trees, and date palms are found in the south.