Assur
Iraq UNESCO World Heritage Site
Assur is an ancient city, archaeological site, and human settlement located in the Saladin Governorate of Iraq. Spanning an area of 0.7 square kilometres and dating back to its inception in -2500, it is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It stands as one of the most looked-up sights in the country on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The site experiences high temperatures reaching 43 °C in July and August, while winter months see daily lows drop to 3 °C in January alongside moderate rainfall of 45 mm across about 8 days. Spring and autumn offer milder daily highs, such as 20 °C in March and 30 °C in October.
The nearest airport is Kirkuk International Airport in Kirkuk, situated 98 km away. The ancient city is located 259 km from the capital, Baghdad.
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 43 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 13 | 15 | 20 | 27 | 34 | 40 | 43 | 42 | 38 | 31 | 21 | 14 |
| Average low, °C | 3 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 20 | 25 | 28 | 28 | 23 | 17 | 10 | 5 |
| Rainfall, mm | 45 | 42 | 39 | 26 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 33 | 38 |
| Rainy days | 8 | 6 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 7 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
