SULAYMANIYAH, AS-

town and muhafazah (governorate), northeastern Iraq, one of three muhafazat (governorates) making up the Kurdish Autonomous Region. The town, which is the capital of the muhafazah, lies on the Av-i (Kurdish: river) Tanjero and on the lower slopes of the Azmar Dagh range; it experiences severe temperature extremes in summer and winter. The town was founded in 1781 by a local ruler, who named it after the then pasha of Baghdad. As-Sulaymaniyah is a trade centre for local farm products, and through it passes trade between Baghdad and Tabriz, Iran. Most of the inhabitants are Kurds, and it is a centre of Kurdish nationalism. As-Sulaymaniyah muhafazah is 6,083 sq mi (15,756 sq km) in area; entirely mountainous, it lies on the Iranian border and is part of the historic region of Kurdistan. Tobacco, fruit, and cereals are grown, and livestock raising is important. There is a new tobacco-processing plant in as-Sulaymaniyah built since the 1974 Law of Autonomy. The University of Sulaymaniyah opened in 1968 with instruction in Kurdish, Arabic, and English. It has faculties in engineering, agriculture, the arts, science, and medicine. A technical institute for medical technology was founded in 1973. In the late 1970s the muhafazah had several hospitals, health centres, and branch health clinics. There has been a construction boom in tourist housing for visitors to enjoy the cool summer mountain air. The area was long disputed by Persia and the Ottoman Empire. Pop. (1970 est.) town, 98,063; (1977) muhafazah, 690,557.