Iraq: Map Sources
Hannah Fischer
Information Research Specialist
August 5, 2010
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
RS21396
CRS Report for Congress
P
repared for Members and Committees of Congress
Iraq: Map Sources
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 Iraq, the
Middle East, significant security incidents in Iraq, and public views of security in Iraq have been
provided. This report will be updated as needed.
Congressional Research Service
Iraq: Map Sources
Contents
Map Sources ............................................................................................................................... 1
Figures
Figure 1. Map of Iraq .................................................................................................................. 3
Figure 2. Map of Middle East...................................................................................................... 4
Figure 3. Significant Security Incidents: April 15, 2010, to July 21, 2010 .................................... 5
Figure 4. Public Views of Security .............................................................................................. 6
Contacts
Author Contact Information ........................................................................................................ 6
Congressional Research Service
Iraq: Map Sources
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.utexas.edu/maps/iraq.html
The University of Texas Website offers a variety of maps, including many maps from the CIA. It
also provides some historical maps as well as links to Iraq maps on other websites.
Center for Strategic and International Studies
http://csis.org/files/publication/091001_iraq_war_update.pdf
The Center for Strategic and International Studies report, Recent Trends in the Iraq War: Maps
and Graphs, includes such maps as “Key Areas of Shi’ite Extremist Activity” (page 3), and
“Ethno-Sectarian Violence, 2006-2009” (page 15).
Central Intelligence Agency Maps
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/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
http://www.globalsecurity.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).
United Nations (U.N.) Iraq: Web Portal for U.N. Agencies Working in Iraq
http://www.uniraq.org/library/maps.asp
These U.N. maps are arranged into two sections—Geographic and Thematic—and can be
searched for specific attributes through the Map Catalogue.
Measuring Security and Stability in Iraq
http://www.defense.gov/pubs/
This Department of Defense website lists the most recent “Measuring Security and Stability in
Iraq” quarterly reports. These reports contain maps on the public views of security in Iraq and the
average daily hours of electrical power per province.
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2007/09/06/world/middleeast/
20070907_BUILDUP_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.
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Iraq: Map Sources
ReliefWeb
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/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 2010, include “Return to Iraq:
2009-2010” (a map of individuals returning to Iraq after displacement) and “Projects of Japan
ODA [Official Development Assistance] Loans in Iraq (as of 31 Mar 2010).”
Report to Congress on the Situation in Iraq
http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/110/pet091007.pdf
General Petraeus’s September 2007 report to Congress includes a number of maps of Iraq,
including “State of Al Qaeda Iraq” on page 20.
Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR)
http://www.sigir.mil/publications/quarterlyreports/index.html
SIGIR provides quarterly and semi-annual publically available reports directly to the U.S.
Congress. The April 2010 report includes such maps as “International Commitments for Iraq” and
“Significant Security Incidents by Region: January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010.”
United Nations
http://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/iraq.pdf
This website provides the UN reference map of Iraq in a one-page PDF.
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Iraq: Map Sources
Figure 1. Map of Iraq
Source: CIA maps, provided by the Perry-Castañeda Library, at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/
middle_east_and_asia/iraq_pol_2004.pdf
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Iraq: Map Sources
Figure 2. Map of Middle East
Source: CIA maps, provided by the Perry-Castañeda Library, at http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/
middle_east_and_asia/txu-oclc-192062619-middle_east_pol_2008.jpg
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Iraq: Map Sources
Figure 3. Significant Security Incidents: April 15, 2010, to July 21, 2010
Source: Special Inspector General for Iraq (SIGIR), at http://www.sigir.mil/files/quarterlyreports/July2010/
Report_-_July_2010.pdf#view=fit. SIGIR sites the Government of Iraq, U.S., and open-source documents in
Arabic and English.
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Iraq: Map Sources
Figure 4. Public Views of Security
Source: Department of Defense, “Measuring Security and Stability in Iraq,” March 2010, at
http://www.defense.gov/pubs/pdfs/March%209204%20SecDef%20signed%2029%20Apr%202010_1D80.pdf.
Author Contact Information
Hannah Fischer
Information Research Specialist
hfischer@crs.loc.gov, 7-8989
Congressional Research Service
6