Qandil Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Qandil Mountains are a mountain
ous area of northern Iraq
near the Iraq
–Iran
border, and approximately 50 km south of the Turkey
–Iraq
–Iran
tripoint
. The region belongs to the Zagros mountain range and is difficult to access. Its highest peaks reach up to 3,000m and more.
The territory derives most of its meaning from its function as a sanctuary for the Kurdistan Workers' Party
, which is listed as a terrorist organization internationally by the United Nations
, the European Union
, NATO, and its Iranian complement, the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan. These organizations control an area of roughly 50 km², which has been bombarded by Turkish air force and shelled by Iranian artillery for several years.
Mountain
Image:Himalaya_annotated.jpg|thumb|right|The Himalayan mountain range with Mount Everestrect 58 14 160 49 Chomo Lonzorect 200 28 335 52 Makalurect 378 24 566 45 Mount Everestrect 188 581 920 656 Tibetan Plateaurect 250 406 340 427 Rong River...
ous area of northern Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
near the Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
–Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
border, and approximately 50 km south of the Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
–Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
–Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
tripoint
Tripoint
A tripoint, or trijunction , is a geographical point at which the borders of three countries or subnational entities meet....
. The region belongs to the Zagros mountain range and is difficult to access. Its highest peaks reach up to 3,000m and more.
The territory derives most of its meaning from its function as a sanctuary for the Kurdistan Workers' Party
Kurdistan Workers' Party
The Kurdistan Workers' Party , commonly known as PKK, also known as KGK and formerly known as KADEK or KONGRA-GEL , is a Kurdish organization which has since 1984 been fighting an armed struggle against the Turkish state for an autonomous Kurdistan and greater cultural and political rights...
, which is listed as a terrorist organization internationally by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, NATO, and its Iranian complement, the Party of Free Life of Kurdistan. These organizations control an area of roughly 50 km², which has been bombarded by Turkish air force and shelled by Iranian artillery for several years.