Iraq: Map Sources

Iraq: Map Sources
Hannah Fischer and Kim Walker Klarman
Information Research Specialists
Knowledge Services Group
Summary
This report identifies online sources for maps of Iraq, including government,
library, and organizational websites. These sources have been selected on the basis of
their authoritativeness and the range, quality, and uniqueness of the maps they provide.
Some sources provide up-to-the-minute maps; others have been selected for their
collection of historical maps. Maps of the Iraq, the Middle East, the state of Al Qaeda
in Iraq, and the movement of refugees in Iraq are provided. This report will be updated
as needed.
Map Sources
Links to basic static maps (non-interactive, printable image files) of Iraq and the
Middle East region are provided below. Map resources are arranged in alphabetical order,
with the exception of the Perry-Castañeda Library website. The Perry-Castañeda Library
website description has been placed first because of the exceptional breadth of Iraq maps
and links to Iraq maps offered by the Library’s website.
Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection: Iraq Maps
[ http://www.lib.utex as.edu/maps/iraq.html]
The University of Texas Website offers a variety of maps, including many maps
from the CIA. It has many historical maps and provides links to Iraq maps on other
websites.
Center for Strategic and International Studies
[ h ttp://www.csis.org/media/cs is/pubs/071005_iraqoverview.pdf]
The Center for Strategic and International Studies report, Political, Military and
Economic Dynamics in Iraq: A Graphic Overview, includes such maps as “Ethno-
Sectarian Violence” in Baghdad (page 12) and “Sunni Response in Anbar” (page 17).
Central Intelligence Agency Maps
[ h ttps://www.cia.gov/library/publica tions/cia-maps-publications/Iraq.html]
The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) creates maps of various parts of the world
and makes some available for viewing by the general public on the Internet. Purchase
information is provided at this site.



Global Security
[ h ttp://www.gl obalsecurity.org/military/world/iraq/maps.htm]
Global Security is an online resource that provides background information and news
on defense, space, intelligence, WMD, and homeland security issues. Maps found on this
website cover administrative, demographic, political, and military topics (including many
maps from Department of Defense briefings in 2003 of early Operation Iraqi Freedom
military operations).
HIC Humanitarian Information Center for Iraq: Security Maps
[ h ttp://www.uniraq.org/library/maps.asp]
These U.N. maps are arranged into two sections — Geographic and Thematic — and
can be searched for specific products through the Map Catalogue.
National Geographic Map Machine
[ h ttp://www3.nationalgeographic.co m/places/countries/country_iraq.html]
National Geographic has created a wide array of thematic maps, including satellite,
weather, population density, and weather maps. This website offers a large variety of
geographic information on nations of the world.
New York Times
[ http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/09 / 0 6 / w o r l d / m i d d l eeas t / 20070907_BUILD
UP_MAIN_GRAPHIC.html#]
The New York Times has put together an interactive map of post-surge Baghdad
neighborhoods, with information on the makeup and outlook of various neighborhoods.
ReliefWeb
[ h ttp://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.ns f/doc404? OpenForm&cc=irq&rc=3]
The Relief Website is a project of the United Nations Office for the Coordination
of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and offers information and maps on areas of the world
requiring humanitarian relief. Maps of Iraq located on this website, dated 2001 through
2007, include “Health Implications of the Influx of Displaced Persons From Iraq,” “Iraq
Situation Map,” and other maps of general interest.
Report to Congress on the Situation in Iraq
[ h ttp://foreign affairs .house.gov/110/pet091007.pdf]
General Petraeus’ September 2007 report to Congress includes a number of maps
of Iraq, including “State of Al Qaeda Iraq” on page 20.
Special Report: War in Iraq
[ http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/iraq/maps/index .html]
This Cable News Network (CNN) website offers many maps on Iraq, including
former weapons of mass destruction (WMD) sites, Iraqi military sites, Iraqi regional
divisions map, terrain, population, oil fields, a regional map of the Middle East, palace
sites, and a map showing the positions of U.S. and coalition forces before the start of the
Iraq War.
United Nations
[ h ttp://www.un.org/ Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/iraq.pdf]
This website provides the UN reference maps of Iraq in a one-page PDF.



Figure 1. Map of Iraq


Source: CIA maps, provided by the Perry-Casteda Library, at
[ h t t p : / / www. l i b . u t e x a s . e d u / ma p s / m i d d l e _ e a s t _ a n d _ a s i a / i r a q_pol_2004.pdf].

Figure 2. Map of Middle East


Source: CIA maps, provided by the Perry-Casteda Library, at
[ h t t p : / / www. l i b . u t e x a s . e d u / ma p s / m i d d l e _ e a s t _ a n d _ a s i a / mi d d l e _ e a s t _pol_2003.pdf].

Figure 3. State of Al Qaeda Iraq


Source: General Petraeus, September 2007, “Report to Congress on the Situation in Iraq,” pg. 20, at
[http://foreignaffairs.ho use.go v/110/pet091007.pdf].

Figure 4. Iraq Situation Map


Source: ReliefWeb at [http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/
LPAA-75TP82?OpenDocument&rc=3&cc=irq], posted August 6, 2007 and reflects the situation as of July
2007. This map shows Iraqi refugee movement in Iraq and its neighboring countries.