District Of Rawandz

District of Rawanduz

It is the oldest District in the Governorate of Erbil, and was the capital of the Emirate of Soran, which ruled for many centuries over large areas of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. It went through many battles against the Ottoman forces and stood up to their powerful army. After the downfall of the Emirate, Rawanduz became a District dependent of the county of Kirkuk within the Ottoman State. After the erection of the Iraqi Kingdom and the creation of the division of Erbel (Erbil), Rawanduz became a District depending on the created division. Because it was capital of a Kurdish Emirate, and because its inhabitants were known for their contribution to the Kurdistan Liberation Movement, the Dictatorial regimes have fought against it by all means, such as its administrative degradation to the degree of Sub-District. It had been even decided to destroy it and displace its inhabitants, but the Uprising of the people of Kurdistan forbade that in 1991. The Kurdistan Regional Government promoted this historic city by re-classified its administration to the District related to Erbil. After the creation of the Districts of Choman, Mergasor, and Soran, in the regions that had been dependent on Rawanduz, it became smaller, and is now composed of one Sub-District: Warte, and 12 villages. Rawanduz is situated at a rocky versant and is surrounded by two deep valleys. The region in general is surrounded by high chains of mountains, meeting the clear blue sky over the area. There is a road crossing the city of Soran towards Rawanduz, and one can see Rawanduz from Soran before getting to it, as its public and private buildings draw an architectural disposition reflecting most beautifully the mountainous pattern of constructions. From Rawanduz, a tourist can keep walking past the Pank Resort to the famous summer resort and waterfall of Bekhal.