Kirkuk is a city in Iraq, serving as the capital of the Kirkuk Governorate, located 238 kilometres north of Baghdad. The city is home to a diverse population of Turkmens, Arabs and Kurds who lay conflicting claims to the city. Kirkuk sits on the ruins of the original Kirkuk Citadel which sits near the Khasa River.
Kirkuk was proclaimed the "capital of Iraqi culture" in 2010. It is claimed by the Kurdistan Regional Government as its capital. Kirkuk is also considered by Iraqi Turkmens to be their cultural and historical capital.