Nineveh Plains
Nineveh Plains (Classical Syriac: ܦܩܥܬܐ ܕܢܝܢܘܐ, romanized: Pqaʿtā ḏ-Nīnwē, Modern Syriac: ܕܫܬܐ ܕܢܝܢܘܐ, romanized: Daštā d-Ninwe; Arabic: سهل نينوى, romanized: Sahl Naynawā; Kurdish: دهشتا نهینهوا, romanized: Deşta Neynewa) is a region in Nineveh Governorate in Iraq, to the north and east of the city Mosul. Control over the region is contested between Iraqi security forces, KRG security forces, Assyrian security forces, Babylon Brigade and the Shabak Militia.
Nineveh Plains سهل نينوى ܦܩܥܬܐ ܕܢܝܢܘܐ Deşta Neynewa ,دهشتا نهینهوا | |
|---|---|
Map of the three districts which constitute Nineveh plains overlaid over the Nineveh Governorate map. | |
| Largest city | Bakhdida |
| Government | |
• Governor of Hamdaniya | Nisan Karromi |
• Governor of Tel Keppe | Basim Bello |
• Governor of Al-Shikhan | Hasu Narmu |
| Area | |
• Total | 4,197 km2 (1,620 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• 2012 estimate | 500,000 |
• 1987 census | 281,829 |
• Density | 117/km2 (303.0/sq mi) |
The plains have a heterogenous population of Assyrian Syriac-Aramaic speaking Christians belonging to different Syriac Churches (Chaldean Catholic, Syriac Orthodox and Syriac Catholic), Arabs, Kurds, Yazidis, Shabaks and Turkmens, and includes ruins of ancient Assyrian cities and religious sites, such as Nimrud, Dur-Sharrukin, Mar Mattai Monastery, Rabban Hormizd Monastery and the Tomb of Nahum.