Time Zone |
Asia/Baghdad |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+3 |
Daylight Saving Time |
Daylight saving time is not observed in the current region. |
Time Zone |
Europe/Chisinau |
Standard Time GMT / UTC |
UTC+2 |
Daylight Saving Time |
UTC+3 |
Located on the banks of the Tigris River, about 125 kilometers north of the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, Samarra is one of the most important Shiite holy places in Iraq and a UNESCO World Heritage City. The city was founded in the 9th century AD during the Abbasid period and served as the capital of the dynasty, and still retains a large number of architectural masterpieces from the Islamic Golden Age. The most famous landmark is the Al-Askari Mosque, whose golden-domed vault is famous for being inlaid with 24 tons of pure gold, and which houses the mausoleum of Muhammad Ibn Hassan, the twelfth Shia Imam, and attracts millions of worshippers from around the globe for pilgrimage every year. In addition, the Great Mosque of Samarra (Spiral Minaret), with its 52-meter-high spiral minaret, is a unique symbol of Islamic architectural art. After the war, Samarra is gradually restoring its historical monuments and has become an important showcase of Iraq's cultural heritage and religious diversity.
Benderi is a city in eastern Moldova, located on the left bank of the Dniester River, historically an important fortress in the Bisarabia region. As one of the cities under the de facto control of the Transnistrian Republic of Moldavia (not widely recognized internationally), it is strategically located on the border between Moldova and Ukraine. The city's industry is based on machine building, metal processing and food processing, and with its railroad and highway hubs, it is an important node in the regional economy. With its multi-ethnic culture and a mix of Soviet-era and modern architecture, the city has maintained a unique regional dynamism and industrial base despite geopolitical complexities.