Most of Iraq has a hot arid climate with subtropical influence.
Traditional Iraqi drinks include coffee, akar and mint tea. Arabic coffee is strong and bitter, served before or after a meal and often accompanied by cream and sugar. Arak is a national alcoholic drink made from aniseed.
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. Located along the Tigris River, the city was founded in the 8th century and became the capital of the Abbasid Caliphate.