Photo: serkan senturk/Shutterstock

Tourism in Iraq may sound like an oxymoron to some, but millions of visitors descend upon the country every year, largely for one reason: religion.

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Some of the world's most oft-recognized religious sites lie in Iraq, such as the ruins of the mythical city of Babylon - once home to the eponymous Hanging Gardens - and the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf, with remains of Adam and Noah according to Shi'a belief. There's also the former palace of Saddam Hussein, monuments and ruins in Baghdad and Mosul, and thousands of years of history to explore, wherever you are.

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