Shahrizor Plain

Quick Facts

• Type: Plain and valley basin
• Location: Sulaymaniyah Governorate, Iraq
• Watershed: Tanjaro River system
• Notable for: Agriculture and archaeological mounds

Overview

The Shahrizor Plain (also spelled Sharazur) is a fertile basin in northeastern Iraq near Sulaymaniyah. Its agricultural lands have supported settlement for millennia, and the plain is dotted with ancient mounds.

The plain forms a natural corridor between the high Zagros and the lower plains, making it a strategic route throughout history.

Landscape and Culture

The Shahrizor region is known for farming, orchards, and traditional villages. Archaeological sites across the plain reflect long-term habitation and trade routes linking Mesopotamia and the Iranian plateau.

Notes

The plain’s fertile soils are fed by tributaries of the Tanjaro River.