Duhok

Quick Facts

• Region: Kurdistan Region of Iraq
• Governorate/Province: Duhok Governorate
• Elevation: 565 m
• Population (year): 340,871 (2018 est.)

Overview

Duhok is a city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and the capital of Duhok Governorate. It is home to a diverse population, with Kurds forming the majority alongside Assyrians, Yazidis, Armenians, and Arabs.

The city functions as a regional administrative hub near the Turkey-Iraq border and has grown steadily as a service and education center.

History and Culture

One of the earliest written references to Duhok appears in a late 15th-century Persian chronicle. The city later joined the Kurdish principality of Badinan and developed as a regional center with a mix of communities.

Sites and Landmarks

The Duhok Dam lies just north of the city on the Duhok River. Nearby, the Maltai reliefs are Assyrian rock carvings associated with the ancient canal system of King Sennacherib.

Notable People

Kurdish musician and composer Dalshad Said was born in Duhok.

Population

Population (2018 est.): 340,871.