Geographic Locations
Iraq is a country in Western Asia. The capital, Baghdad, is in the centre of the country and its largest city. Iraq is the birthplace of many of the Earth's oldest civilizations, including the Babylonians and the Assyrians. A part of the Ottoman Empire from 1534, the Treaty of Sèvres brought the area under British control in 1918. A Muslim-majority country, it is known primarily for its rich maqam heritage which has been passed down orally by the masters of the maqam in an unbroken chain of transmission leading up to the present.
Iran is an Islamic republic on the Persian (Arabian) Gulf with historical sites dating to the Persian Empire. Comprising a land area of 1,648,195 km2 (636,372 sq mi), it is the second-largest country in the Middle East and the 18th-largest in the world. It is heir to one of the world's oldest civilizations, beginning with the formation of the Proto-Elamite and Elamite kingdoms in 3200–2800 BC.
Boasting spectacular landscapes and rich tapestry of ancient cultures and religions, Iran is highly welcoming and easy on the wallet (though you can only use cash), offering plenty of bang for your buck. Its treasure chest of attractions include ancient Persian monuments, lavish Qajar mansions, Silk Road caravanserais, world-renowned museums and art galleries in the bustling capital of Tehran, and the magnificent Safavid gardens in Esfahan that encircle some of the world’s most hauntingly beautiful mosques, adorned with mesmerizing turquoise tile-work.
Iowa is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States, bordered by the Mississippi River on the east and the Missouri River and the Big Sioux River on the west. In colonial times, Iowa was a part of French Louisiana and Spanish Louisiana; its state flag is patterned after the flag of France. After the Louisiana Purchase, people laid the foundation for an agriculture-based economy in the heart of the Corn Belt.
In the latter half of the 20th century, Iowa's agricultural economy made the transition to a diversified economy of advanced manufacturing, processing, financial services, information technology, biotechnology, and green energy production. It is the 26th most extensive in land area and the 30th most populous of the 50 United States. Its capital and largest city by population is Des Moines. Nicknamed the Hawkeye State, Iowa has been listed as one of the safest states in which to live.
Ios is a Greek island in the Cyclades group in the Aegean Sea. It is a hilly island with cliffs down to the sea on most sides, situated halfway between Naxos and Santorini. Ios is part of the Thira regional unit. It was the setting for the movie Ginger and Cinnamon (Dillo con parole mie). Also, scenes from the film Big Blue (Le Grand Bleu) were shot in Manganari.
Ios attracts a large number of young tourists, many of whom used to sleep on their sleeping bags during the 1970s on the popular beach of Mylopotas after partying through the night. Today Mylopotas beach has been developed to an equivalent mass package tourism resort like Platys Gialos and Paradise Beach of Mykonos.
Interlaken is a town and municipality in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district in the Swiss canton of Bern. It is an important and well-known tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps, and the main transport gateway to the mountains and lakes of that region.
Located between two Alpine Lakes (Brienzersee and Thunersee), Interlaken is a popular base camp for outdoor sports and travel in the surrounding Bernese Oberland Alps. While Interlaken itself is not that scenic it serves as a good base to discover the neighbouring valleys, mountains and lakes, since it holds all the infrastructure and can be reached quickly from major Swiss cities by train and car.
Innsbruck is the capital city of the federal state of Tyrol in western Austria. It is located in the Inn valley, at its junction with the Wipp valley, which provides access to the Brenner Pass some 30 km (18.6 mi) to the south. The city lies about half way between Munich (Germany) and Verona (Italy). Innsbruck is an internationally renowned winter sports centre, and hosted the 1964 and 1976 Winter Olympics as well as the 1984 and 1988 Winter Paralympics. It also hosted the first Winter Youth Olympics in 2012. The word bruck comes from the same root as the modern German word "Brücke" meaning "bridge" which leads to "the bridge over the Inn".
Indore is the the most populous city of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh. The city was described by the Economic Times as the commercial capital of the state. It is also considered as an education hub of the state and houses campuses of both, Indian Institute of Technology and Indian Institute of Management. Located on the southern edge of Malwa Plateau, it comes under Tier 2 cities in India.
Indore traces its roots to its 16th century founding as a trading hub between the Deccan and Delhi. It is home to the Madhya Pradesh Stock Exchange, India's third oldest stock exchange. Indore's real estate market is among the most expensive and fastest growing in India .
The city has been selected as one of the 100 Indian cities to be developed as a smart city under Narendra Modi's flagship Smart Cities Mission, it is an urban development vision to integrate multiple information and communication technology. It has also qualified the first round of Smart Cities Mission and has been selected as one of the first twenty cities to be developed as Smart Cities.
Indonesia, a beautiful Southeast Asian nation made up of thousands of volcanic islands, is home to hundreds of ethnic groups speaking many different language. Indonesian rich history has been influenced by foreign powers drawn to its natural resources. With an abundant of green forests on all of its islands and half way between the poles, Indonesia was nicknamed ''The Emerald of the Equator''. It is famed for its beaches, volcanoes and jungles sheltering elephants, tigers and Komodo dragons.
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. It is Indiana's largest city and is the 14th largest city in the U.S., the third largest city in the Midwest (behind Chicago and Detroit), the second most populous state capital (after Phoenix, Arizona), and the most populous state capital east of the Mississippi River. The city is also known as the "Racing Capital of the World" due to the proximity of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500 and Allstate 400 at the Brickyard (formerly known as the "Brickyard 400").
Indiana is a U.S. state located in the midwestern and Great Lakes regions of North America. Indiana is the 38th largest by area and the 16th most populousof the 50 United States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Before becoming a territory, varying cultures of indigenous peoples and historic Native Americans inhabited Indiana for thousands of years.
The city’s Downtown is home to the iconic Soldiers and Sailors Monument, the Canal Walk promenade and the Indianapolis Museum of Art and its wide-ranging collections. Adjoining Lake Michigan to the north, Indiana features deep valleys, cornfields that extend from horizon to horizon, foothills and vast farmlands. The state is also home to peaceful Amish communities, covered bridges, Indian mounds and the famous Indy 500 motor-racing legend.