In addition to small deposits of salt, coal, gypsum, and sulfur, the country is well endowed with petroleum resources and has areas of rich soil. C. Plants and Animals Vegetation is scanty throughout Iraq. The southern and southwestern parts of the country are desert areas. The country has few trees, except for the cultivated date palm and the poplar. Among the fauna are the cheetah, gazelle, antelope, wild ass, lion, hyena, wolf, jackal, wild pig, hare, jerboa, and bat.
Lizards are fairly common.
The soils of Iraq are of two different kinds. Heavy alluvial deposits, containing a significant amount of humus and clay, make up one type and are useful for construction. The lighter soils, lacking in humus and clay content, contain wind-deposited nutrients. A high saline content mars the otherwise rich composition of the soils. Irrigation and flood-control projects on the Tigris and Euphrates rivers help increase the agricultural production of this area.