Sinjar Mountains

Quick Facts

• Type: Mountain range
• Length: About 100 km
• Elevation: Up to 1,463 m
• Location: Nineveh Governorate, Iraq (with an extension into Syria)

Overview

The Sinjar Mountains form a long limestone ridge rising from the plains of northwestern Iraq. The range stretches roughly 100 kilometers and reaches elevations above 1,400 meters, providing a cooler refuge above the surrounding lowlands.

Sinjar is central to Yazidi religious and cultural life, and many villages on the slopes and plains identify the mountain as a sacred homeland.

Landscape and Culture

The ridge supports small-scale farming, grazing, and seasonal springs. The mountain has been a place of refuge in times of conflict and a symbol of endurance for the communities that live around it.

Notes

The range’s western end extends into northeastern Syria.