Shaqlawa

Shaqlawa Kurdish: شەقڵاوە
View from a Down town
Shaqlawa Shaqlawa in Iraq
Coordinates: 36°24′20″N 44°19′15″E / 36.40556°N 44.32083°E / 36.40556; 44.32083Coordinates: 36°24′20″N 44°19′15″E / 36.40556°N 44.32083°E / 36.40556; 44.32083
Country	Iraq
Autonomous region	Kurdistan
Province	Arbil Province
Government
• Governor	Nawzad Hadi
Population
• Total	27,500

Shaqlawa (Kurdish: Şeqlawe , شەقڵاوە ‎, Arabic: شقلاوة‎‎) is a historic city and a Hill station in the Erbil Governorate in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. Shaqlawa, a city of approximately 25,000 people, lies 51 km to the northeast of Erbil, at the bottom of Safeen Mountain. Shaqlawa is situated between Safeen Mountain and Sork Mountain, and sits 1066 m above sea level. The town is inhabited mostly by Kurds, with a small Assyrian minority.

There is no mention of the town before the 12th century. It is referred to by Arab historians as Shaqlabad, Shaqlabund, Shaqabad, Shaqli.

The town lies at the foot of Mountain Safeen, which is covered by vast and dense forests, in a fertile and vast valley 50 km north of the Governorate of Erbil. To the east and north is the Sorek mountain.

Shaqlawa has a Mediterranean climate (Csa) with very hot summers and relatively cold, wet winters. Subfreezing highs are very common in the winter, which would present frost. Snowfall is not uncommon. Due to its relatively cooler summer weather, Shaqlawa is visited annually by thousands of tourists from other, hotter parts of Iraq.

Shaqlawa's citizens are Muslims and Christians, where both have been living together for more than a decade. Shaqlawa is mostly known for the grave of St. Boya, on the top of Shaqlawa's mountain. Assyrians from several Kurdish regions visit St. Boya's grave and enjoy Shaqlawa's beautiful weather. Established in 1965, Virgin Mary Church is an Assyrian church in the city.

The city has many public constructions, such as a kindergarten, a club for retirees, a guest house, Ishtar Local Centre, a large playground and a church office.