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Lankaran District

Lankaran District (Lənkəran rayonu, ) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the south-east of the country, in the Lankaran-Astara Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Astara, Lerik, Masally, and Neftchala. Its capital and largest city is Lankaran, although the city is technically not part of the district and is subordinate to the Republic. As of 2022, the district had a population of 232,000.

History
Archaeological excavations indicate that people have lived in the region since at least the Bronze Age (3rd or 2nd millennia BC). The area around Lankaran has fertile soil, rich water reserves and a humid subtropical climate with a maximum annual precipitation of 1,600 to 1,800 mm, the highest precipitation in Azerbaijan, leading to abundant agriculture, cattle-breeding, gardening, fishing, bee-keeping and silk production. Blacksmith, copper-smith, pottery and other trades have long been well established too. The area's development was also aided by its location as a point of communication between ancient empires, leading to caravan trade funnelled along the Caspian Sea coast.

Between 1747 and 1813, Lankaran was the main city of the Talysh Khanate. Following the 1813 Gulistan Treaty, the northern area of the khanate was occupied by Russia, and the remainder was seized in the final Russo-Persian war of 1826–1828. The 1828 Treaty of Turkmenchay left the area within the Russian empire and the khanate was abolished. During the 19th century, Lankaran exported rice, silk, vegetables, wood and fish to Russia. During the 20th century, the tea-cultivation and processing industry became important in the district.

The area was briefly the centre of a Bolshevik-inspired Mughan Soviet Republic during 1919. A similar separatist autonomous region was briefly created in 1993 again, with the capital being Lankaran. During the period of instability that followed Azerbaijan's 1991 independence from the USSR, Lankaran and surrounding districts were briefly declared the Talysh-Mughan Autonomous Republic, but this only survived between June and August 1993. Today the region is an integral part of the Azerbaijan Republic.

Lankaran district was established as an administrative district on August 8, 1930. The district's tea industry struggled post-independence due to increased competition from exports and the results of land redistribution: the break-up of Soviet-era collective farms into small personal plots having rendered most tea-cultivation unprofitable. The district also suffered severely from the rising level of the Caspian Sea, most notably at Narimanabad where many waterfront properties were washed away.

Geography
The region has a vast area of national parks, where a variety of fauna and flora are preserved. Gizil-Agach State Reserve hosts over 250 kinds of plants, 30 species of fish and more than 220 kinds of birds. Lankaran is also known for Parrotia persica, or ironwood. It is naturally grown in the region and could be seen in Hirkan National Park. Local myth has it that it is the only wood that sinks in water, hence the name (ironwood). Historically it has been used for heating since it burns for a long time and is not easily extinguished. The Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolous) subspecies of the leopard, lives in the national park as well.

Water and sewerage
Some measures have been undertaken to improve the drink water supply of the city and to reconstruct the city's sewage system. The reconstruction of the Lankaran water supply and sewerage system began in August 2011,1 Water Purification System, 1 water reservoir with a capacity of 10000 m3, 252 km of water lines with different diameter, 12,000 Smartcard water meters, 21 km of sewer line have been installed and 12 km of micro tunnel layout are planned in Khanbulan village of Lankaran by the company.

Power supply
10 Smartcard electricity meters, 154 electronic single-phase electricity meters were installed and 191 defective meters were changed during 3 months of 2017 in the Lankaran district. Totally 16892 Smart card electricity meters have been installed in the district. Currently, government carry out work of energy sales and exploitation to settlements and villages of the district including 47,914 individual subscribers, 46 refugees, 3052 trade and services, 891 productions, transport and construction, 155 budgets and 157 other consumer groups.

Gas supply
During the three months of 2017, some measures have been undertaken for providing residential areas and companies with gas supply in the city. Thus, 43,565 people were provided with natural gas, 252 km of water lines with different diameter were set up, 426 gas problem detected and eliminated 153 gas meters were replaced, 291 defective meters were changed with new ones. At present, 65 settlements including Lankaran and Liman city have been provided with gas, which means 90.1% of the total people of the district.

Districts

 * Separadi
 * Liman (city)
 * Narimanabad
 * Garmatuk
 * Ashagi Nuvadi
 * Hirkan
 * Haftoni
 * Isti Su
 * Balighcilar

Population

 * Total population: 232.000
 * Percentage urban population: 39%
 * Percentage rural population: 61%

The vast majority of the district's population is talysh, the rest are azerbaijanis and other nationalities. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, there were 422 Muslim homes in the city. After the Gulustan contract in 1813, the number of population of Lankaran decreased. This is related to the colonial policy of Tsardom of Russia. After the occupation of the Talysh Khanate, Armenians began to come for living here. In 1832 there were 168 Armenians living in Lankaran. In the year 1849, there were 1999 residents including 125 Bey(King), 20 Mirza, 46 Sayyids, 56 Mullahs, 92 temporary residents, 699 maafs, 168 ethnics, 66 Armenians and 114 Russians in 1849. According to official information on January 1, 2012, the population of Lankaran is 52,581 people.

According to the State Statistics Committee, as of 2018, the population of city recorded 226,900 persons, which increased by 35,600 persons (about 18.6 percent) from 191,300 persons in 2000. 113,900 of total population are men, 113,000 are women. More than 25,4 percent of the population (about 55,700 persons) consists of young people and teenagers aged 14–29.

Lankaran district is the largest Talysh region in terms of population. The total population is 230,300 people, The majority of the district's population is talysh. It includes the cities of Lankaran and Liman, as well as six other cities and eighty-five villages. These are large centers of trade and culture among the talysh.

Education
There are 51 kindergartens, 81 educational institutions, pedagogical, medical and musical schools in Lankaran. 87 clubs, 94 libraries, State Drama Theater, museum, branch of Azerbaijan Scientific Research Institute of Fisheries and Subtropical Crops operate.

Since 1992 Lankaran State University, Azerbaijan National EA Regional Science Center since 2006 have been established. Lankaran branch of Azerbaijan Research Institute of Horticulture and Subtropical Crops of ANAS, Zona Experimental Station, Lankaran branch of the Institute of Improvement of Teachers, Lankaran Humanitarian College, Medical School, Children's Art School operate in Lankaran.

Press and mass media
"Lankaran" newspaper belonging to Lankaran City Executive Authority has been operating since 1991. Independent newspapers such as "Prizma" (2004), "Şəfəq" (1992), literary magazines such as "Söz" (1994), "Məşəl" (1999), radio broadcasting editing since 1957, Lankaran television has been operating since 2004.

Culture
cultural and educational institutions in Lankaran operate under the direction of the Lankaran Regional Culture and Tourism Department. At present, there are 1 Heydar Aliyev Center, 2 museums (History Museum, H.Aslanov's house museum), 1 Central Library and its 70 branches, City Cultural Center named after Q.Valiyev and 66 cultural institutions, 2 children's music schools, 1 children's art school, 1 State Painting Gallery. Based on the No.132 Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 21 mainly archaeological monuments, 53 local architectural monuments, 2 sculpture monument are registered and protected by the government.

The Lankaran History and Ethnography Museum
The Lankaran History and Ethnography Museum consist of 3 floors and 12 rooms. The museum is located in the house of Mir Ahmed Khan, now a historical monument built in 1913. Since 1978, the Khan House has been operating as a Lankaran History and Ethnography Museum. There are more than 6500 exhibits reflecting Lankaran's ancient history, culture, national-moral values and today in the museum. The exposition of the museum consists of six sections: nature, ancient history, medieval history, new era, recent period (1917–1945), modern era (from 1945 to present).

Hazi Aslanov House Museum
The house-museum of the Hero of the Soviet Union, a prominent military commander and the major general Hazi Aslanov, was opened on May 9, 1969(on Victory Day of Azerbaijan). The first director of the museum was Khaver Aslanova who is H.Aslanov's wife. In 1983 the exposition of the museum was expanded and reconstructed. The exposition consists of five rooms. In 2011, the museum was completely renovated. The museum consists of 5 sections and rooms. The first room is the ethnographic room reflects the environment where he was born and dying. The things in this room belong to the mother of H.Aslanov. His sister Asiya Aslanova gave them to the museum. The second room is dedicated to years of education and military service. The third room is dedicated to the fights for Moscow and Stalingrad (1941–1943). The fourth room is dedicated to the fight for the Primorye and Belarus (1944–1945). The last room is a commemorative hall, Different presents to the house, the battle clothes on the day of his death, souvenirs, his albums and books are protected in this room.

Notable natives

 * Samad bey Mehmandarov
 * Hazi Aslanov
 * Allahshukur Pashazadeh, Sheikh ul-Islam and Grand Mufti of the Caucasus

title: Lankaran District


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Oghuz District

Oghuz District (Oğuz rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the north of the country in the Shaki-Zagatala Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Shaki, Qabala, Agdash, and the Russian Republic of Dagestan. Its capital and largest city is Oghuz. As of 2020, the district had a population of 44,700.

Location
Oghuz District is located on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus. The highest point of the region is Malkamud Mount (3879 m). It is the border with the Russian Federation in the north, with Qabala in the east, Shaki in the west, and with Agdash in the south.

History
The remains of a prehistoric man were found near the villages of Kerimli and Garabaghlar, based on the results of archaeological excavations. Stone figurines, various tools, and household items were found here.

The district was part of the Ganja Province, which existed from April 3, 1952, until April 23, 1953. This province was abolished by the decision of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR dated April 23, 1953. Administrative-territorial reforms were carried out in 1962–1964 in connection with the establishment of the agricultural department and the establishment of national economical boards in the territory of the USSR. As a result, industrial and agricultural districts were established on the basis of the large districts. On January 4, 1963, 31 districts and 7 cities were established in the Azerbaijan SSR in the territory of six towns with 50 districts. According to this decision, the city of Nukha (Shaki since 1968) was established and the villages of the district are included in the Vartashen district (which would later become Oghuz District). This reform was cancelled on January 6, 1965, due to inefficiency. For this reason, villages included in the Vartashen district were subordinated to Nukha. Until 1961, Vartashen village was the centre of the Vartashan district. According to the decision of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR, the name of Vartashan was renamed Oghuz in February 1991.

Population
According to the report of the State Statistics Committee, the total number of population in 2010 was 37,000. In 2018, this indicator increased by 7,000 people.

Monuments
There are 27 clubs including 1 district, 3 rural culture houses, Central Election Committee and its 31 branches, regional History-Ethnography Museum, H.Aliyev museum, children's music school, cultural park in Oghuz district. There are 39 historical and cultural monuments in the region, of which 32 were registered and taken under state protection, as well as included in the list of historical and cultural monuments approved by the decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan on August 2, 2001. 17 of these monuments (of which 15 are archaeological, 2 are sculptural) are of national importance, and 15 (of which 13 are sculptural, 2 are archaeological) are of local importance.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Oghuz District


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The Marrying Kind

The Marrying Kind is a 1952 American comedy drama film directed by George Cukor and starring Judy Holliday and Aldo Ray. Other cast members include John Alexander, Charles Bronson, Peggy Cass, Barry Curtis, Tom Farrell, Frank Ferguson, Ruth Gordon (who co-wrote the screenplay with Garson Kanin), Gordon Jones, Madge Kennedy, Nancy Kulp, Mickey Shaughnessy, and Joan Shawlee.

Plot summary
The ups and downs of marriage and commitment are realized as Florence and Chet Keefer recount their marriage to the divorce judge. As the judge attempts to decipher whether or not their love for one another is gone, key moments of their lives together are recalled.

Florence and Chet came close to making it big at various times, and suffered when those opportunities were lost. But the biggest stressor on their marriage occurred when their son drowned in a lake. They recover from his death as well as they can, and Florrie returns to work while Chet is recuperating from an injury. When Florrie's former boss leaves her a lot of money in his will, Chet is concerned about what the context might have been. They fight over the money, and though their daughter tries to stop their arguments, things boil to a head. When they go to their family for advice, it seems divorce makes the most sense.

After talking it all through with the judge, they realize that they never really wanted to get divorced in the first place. After the judge leaves, Florrie and Chet resolve to try again and not blame each other when things go wrong.

Cast

 * Judy Holliday as Florence "Florrie" Keefer
 * Aldo Ray as Chet Keefer
 * Madge Kennedy as Judge Anne B. Carroll
 * Sheila Bond as Joan Shipley
 * John Alexander as Howard Shipley
 * Rex Williams as George Bastian
 * Phyllis Povah as Mrs. Derringer
 * Mickey Shaughnessy as Pat Bundy
 * Griff Barnett as Charley
 * Peggy Cass as Emily Bundy
 * Nancy Kulp as Edie

Shooting locations
Several exteriors were shot on location in New York City, including in Central Park and in Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village.

Narration
The main way the action in this film happens is by narration, as Florence or Chet describe for the Judge different situations. However, as the viewer sees those scenes portrayed in the film, what they are seeing is different from what the narrator is describing. In the case of the story of how they met, what Chet describes is completely different from what is shown happening. '"It so happens I remember it different", Miss Holliday primly says.'

Creative process
Garson Kanin told the Los Angeles Times that he and Ruth Gordon had a different writing process for The Marrying Kind than usual - they worked on it little by little over a period of months. They'd sketch out this or that scene to make a certain point. Then on a train ride they started compiling all their ideas, and found out they had 'far too much' material. '"Sometimes we rewrite each other's stuff," Miss Gordon said, expressionlessly. "Every time I put in what I thought was a great joke, he cut it out." "It wasn't that funny," Kanin said.' Bosley Crowther of The New York Times notes that Miss Gordon and Mr. Kanin successfully convey their moral - 'that the natural and ever-hopeful chase after glittering, material ambition is a wistful and endless dream'.

Critical response
The Marrying Kind received mainly positive reviews. Mae Tinee of the Chicago Tribune described the film as having "a great many funny situations and some expert dialog," while also capturing perfectly "the frictions and frustrations which affect a middle class couple in what is aptly described as 'a nervous world.'" The Deseret News notes the film as "a heartwarming story of a young couple in love." Marjory Adams of The Boston Globe positively noted the humor of certain scenes, but stated in conclusion that "you would never wish to include Miss Holliday and Mr. Ray in your list of acquaintances. They would be too exhausting." Bosley Crowther of The New York Times remarked on the successful hilarities, and the contrast between moments and the "bittersweet comprehension of the thorniness of the way that stretches out for two young people after they have taken marriage vows."

title: The Marrying Kind


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Qabala District

Qabala District (Qəbələ rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the north of the country in the Shaki-Zagatala Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Oghuz, Shaki, Agdash, Goychay, Ismayilli, Quba, Qusar, and the Russian Republic of Dagestan. Its capital and largest city is Qabala. As of 2020, the district had a population of 107,800.

History
Qabala bears the name of the ancient Gabala, a city which was the capital of the ancient state of Caucasian Albania. The ruins of the old city are located 20 kilometres southwest of the present centre of the district. The remnants of the large buildings, city gates, tower walls and patterns of material culture indicate that Gabala was one of the most prominent cities at that time.

Ancient Gabala was founded as a city in the late 4th-early 3rd century BC and survived up to the mid 18th century AD. Many changes occurred in the life of the city through the period of existence. Due to different historical events, the city was damaged more than once.

Though the Roman troops attacked Albania in the 60s BC they were not able to occupy Gabala. During the Sassanid period, Qabala was a large trade and handicraft centre. The situation remained the same in the times of the Islamic caliphate. Though Qabala experienced a decline during the Mongolian invasion in the 13th century, it was restored later. Qabala lost its position in the mid 18th century and the population gradually declined.

The small feudal state Qutqashen Sultanate was established on the territory of Qabala in the mid 18th century. It was later included in the Shaki Khanate and was ruled by the Shaki naibs appointed by the khans of Shaki.

Following the downfall of the Shaki Khanate, the Qutqashen sultanate was included in the Shaki province. The Qutqashen district was created in 1930. The district was renamed back to Qabala in March 1991, after falling of the Soviet Union.

Geography
Most of Gabala district is composed of mountains which begin from the highlands of the South slope of the north part of the Caucasus spreading to the central part of Alazan-Haftaran (Ganikh-Ayrichay) valley, the south part spreads from frontal highlands of Ajinohur to Gabala high plateau and the south border of this high plateau substitutes orographic units of Surkhaykhan (Akhar-Bakhar) chain of mountains up to watershed. Saral, Choban baba, Muchug, Tufan and Aghbulag mountain ranges all together form branches of the watershed of Greater Caucasus which encompasses the territory of the region as a chain from the west to the east. The territory of the Gabala region is divided into three areas in geomorphological terms: the mountainous area, plains, and high plateau. The hilly relief forms in the territory of Gabala alternate one another from highlands to intermontane valleys, from deep scattered precipitous ravines to plane surfaced plateaus. The highest peaks of the Great Caucasus within Azerbaijan is also located in this region (in the northern borders of Gabala). Bazarduzu (4466 m), Tufandagh (4206 m), Bazaryurd (4126 m) and Shahdagh (4243 m) are the highest peaks located here. It is estimated that two major mountain glaciers of 6 km existing in Azerbaijan exist merely on the above peaks (excluding 0.15 km 2 glaciers on Gapichig peak (Nakhchivan).

Rivers
The mountainous relief forms and high humidity of climate in the Gabala district is the primary reason for the formation of a thick river network in this region. The length of 486 rivers out of 8359 running in Azerbaijan territory is more than 10 km and 12 of them, and also 2 of 23 having the length more than 100 km flowing from South slope of Greater Caucasus are located in Gabala. Gara, Tikanli, Bum Hamzali, Damiraparan and Vandam are considered the main rivers running in Gabala which are the branches of the Turyanchay and Goychay rivers. The water supply of these rivers consists of subsoil water (40-50%), rainwater (25-30%), and snow water (20-30%) depending on seasons.

Lakes
The most of lakes in the territory of the Gabala region formed by glaciers and located usually in mountainous areas. Tufanghol (3 277 m height from the sea level), Kulak ghol (3 380 m height from the sea level which is also the highest lake in the region), Gotur ghol, Ismayil Bey Gutgachinli lake (3 305 m height from the sea level), and Nohur lake are the major lakes mostly fed with snow and glacier waters.

Economy
Gabala district is located in Shaki-Zagatala Economic Region in the north-western part of Azerbaijan (southern hills of Great Caucasus Mountains). The main sector of the regional economy is based on agriculture. The agriculture of the region encompasses tobacco-cultivation, silkworm breeding, tea-growing, floriculture, paddy growing, fruit-growing, grain-growing, winegrowing, and sheep breeding. In 2015, over the different branches of the economy the total value of production were in the amount of 203,517 manat, compared to the same period of last year gross output in industry increased by 130 thousand AZN or 0.5%, agriculture 3.244 AZN or 5,6%, construction - 25.222 thousand AZN or 40.4%, transport - 246 thousand AZN or 7.3%, communication - 13 thousand AZN or 1.2%, trade - 457 thousand AZN or 1.97% in Gabala region. Also in 2016, construction and installation works were completed in the ski centre and the "Tufandag" hotel being part of the "Tufandag" Winter-Summer Tourism Complex.

Events
Gabala International Music Festival is the major event held annually in August in Gabala beginning from 2009 with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and organized by Azerbaijan's Culture and Tourism Ministry and Music Union. During this festival, musicians perform in the open air. The musicians participating in the festival, come from Europe, the US and Israel, as well as republics of the former Soviet Union. Jazz and mugham evenings and piano competition were held within the festival. Farhad Badalbeyli and Dmitry Yablonsky are the artistic directors of the event. Until now, Tbilisi City Hall Jazz Orchestra "BIG-BAND of Georgia, Jóvenes Clásicos Del Son of Cuba, Baku Chamber Orchestra of Azerbaijan, Budapest Gypsy Band of Hungary, and Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra of Israel have participated in this festival. Mugham, as well as classic, chamber, jazz, flamenco, and vocal music are usually performed.

International Jam Festival is another event that takes place in the Gabala district on a regular basis. It was started to be held in 2013 locally and only the 11 regions attended in that year. Since 2014, the audience of the event increased and more than 20 cities and districts of Azerbaijan and foreign countries participated in the festival. In 2015, the festival is attended by seven foreign countries (Russian Federation, Chuvashia Republic and Sakha Republic of Russian Federation, Serbia, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, Turkey) together with 30 cities and regions of Azerbaijan. In 2015, the festival is sponsored by the World Association of Culinary Organizations and the International Organization of Folk Arts. In 2016, participants from Turkey, Iran, Russia, Northern Cyprus, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, China, as well as participants from 30 cities and regions of Azerbaijan attended the festival and demonstrated jams prepared from various fruits, vegetables and even flowers such as cherry, blackberry, strawberry, quince walnut, apricot, rose, plum, violets, mint, rose hips, corn, wild green plum, cucumbers, tomatoes, carrots, yellow raspberries, aubergines, and melons. There are several competitions at the International Jam Festival including “best presentation”, “best jam”, “variety of jam types”, “the most unusual jam”, "the greatest number of species jam", etc. The 5th V International Jam Festival was attended by teams from 25 foreign countries along with companies engaged in the industrial manufacture of jams from over 35 regions of Azerbaijan.

Tourism

The natural climatic conditions, numerous historical monuments, sightseeing places and artefacts in the ancient capital of Caucasian Albania creates great tourism opportunities which have caused the rapid increase in the number of tourism-recreational complexes in the private sector. Today, more than 100 large and small tourism objects are operating in Gabala. Currently, the number of tourism objects in Gabala has increased to 18 which is 5 times more compared to the past.

Climate
Qabala has a humid subtropical climate that is mild with no dry season, constantly moist (year-round rainfall). Summers are hot and muggy with thunderstorms. Winters are mild with precipitation from mid-latitude cyclones. Seasonality is moderate. (Köppen-Geiger classification: Cfa). As with other parts of northern Azerbaijan near the Caucasus mountains, rainfall is moderate to heavy throughout the year. The total annual precipitation is 795mm. According to the Holdridge life zones system of bioclimatic classification Qabala is situated in or near the warm temperate thorn steppe biome. The mean annual temperature is 10.9 degrees Celsius (51.6 degrees Fahrenheit). Average monthly temperatures vary by 22.8 °C (41 °F). This indicates a continental type of climate.

Ethnic composition
The rayon has a population of 93,770 people, 13,175 of which live in the regional town centre Qabala and 80,595 reside in the villages. The density is estimated at 60.49 people per square kilometer. An average living age is 70 years. 73,235 residents of Qabala rayon are Azerbaijanis, 16 020 are Lezgins, 4,640 are Udi, 209 are Turks and 37 are of other nationalities.

Culture
There are 16 culture houses, 31 clubs, a History culture preserve, 69 libraries, an art school, a Picture Gallery, a culture and a recreation Park, H. Aliyev Museum, Historical Ethnography Museum, Martyrs Museum and memorial house-museum of I.B. Gutgashinli which are branches of Historical Ethnography Museum according to Gabala region Culture and Tourism Sector.

The main theatre is a branch of the House of Culture and named after C. Mammadguluzada. There are performances such as “Chinar” instrumental ensembles in Region culture house, “Zop-Zopu” dance ensemble acts in the Bum settlement culture house, and “Changi” (Udi) folklore dance ensemble acts in the Nij settlement culture house.

There are 93 historical-cultural immovable monuments in the local area under state protection according to order #132 dated 02.08.2001 by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan. One of them is included in the list of Qabala city world important archaeological monuments according to its importance degree. 8 architectures, 53 archaeological monuments, include the list of country important monuments, 9 architecture monuments, 16 archaeological monuments, 2 monumental and memory monuments, 4 decorative applied art monuments is included in the list of historical-cultural monuments having local importance. There are 122 cultural institutions in the structure of the Qabala region Culture and Tourism Sector; among them are the Historical Ethnography Museum, H. Aliyev Museum, Picture Gallery, Art school, Centralized Library system, Historical-Cultural Preserve.

Population
According to the State Statistics Committee, as of 2018, the population of city recorded 105,500 persons, which increased by 21,400 persons (about 25.4 percent) from 84,100 persons in 2000. 53,700 of total population are men, 51,800 are women. More than 27,3 percent of the population (about 28,900 persons) consists of young people and teenagers aged 14–29.

Sport and leisure
Qabala has a professional football team Gabala FC who currently play in the top division of Azerbaijan.

Notable residents
Gabala is the hometown of the Azerbaijani Major General Polad Hashimov who was killed on July 14 during the Armenian-Azerbaijani clashes on the state border in Tovuz. After the instruction of President Ilham Aliyev, the street in front of the Alley of Martyrs starts from the intersection with Hazi Aslanov street and ends in the intersection with Arif Hagverdiyev Street in central Gabala was named after General Polad Hasimov on July 5.

title: Qabala District


text:
Qakh District

Qakh District (Qax rayonu; კახის რაიონი / K′akhis raioni; Tsakhur: Къахын район / Qaxın rayon) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the north of the country, in the Shaki-Zagatala Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Zagatala, Shaki, Samukh, Yevlakh, as well as the Kakheti region of Georgia and the Russian Republic of Dagestan. Its capital and largest city is Qakh. As of 2020, the district had a population of 57,200.

Geography
The region is dominated by hot and subtropical climate. However mountainous areas are rather cold. Annual rain precipitation varies from 300mm (in the south) to 1600mm in mountain areas.

Meadows, water resources, forests, and fertile soils are providing space for agricultural development, especially for walnut, chestnut production.

Heavy rains and snowmelts from mountains often result in a flood.

The region also has one of the biggest Natural Reserves in Azerbaijan named “Ilisu Natural Reserve”. Reserve is located near Aghchay village.

Region borders with Dagestan Republic (Russia) in north east, Zagatala region in the north, Samukh region in the south, Georgia in the west. Gakh region accounts for 13% of water supplies of Caucasus (3873 cubic kilometers), 100 thousand cub meters of which are extracted for the administrative district, 63 000 of which used for irrigation and only 2 000 cub meters are used for agriculture. Rest is used for domestic consumption and production.

Local economy
The local economy is specialized in crop production and livestock. The most common products produced here are tobacco and grain.

The main enterprises are canned food and vegetables. Other enterprises cover sweets, oil products, and beverages. Enterprises mainly cover domestic demand and ship products to other districts.

The region is also rich with minerals and building raw materials, such as rubble, sand, clay, sulfur, etc.

These materials are widespread in river valleys, especially in the valleys of the Kurmuk River and its branches.

Furthermore, mineral springs are also common in the region. Near Suskand village “Gah” mineral water is produced.

History
The Qakh region of Azerbaijan has a long history dating back to ancient times. Archaeological excavations the area had been populated during Eneolithic, Bronze and early Iron Ages. What remains of these early inhabitants' activities indicates they engaged largely in sedentary cultivation, animal-breeding and art. Qax (Kakhi) region was part of Kakheti-Hereti Kingdom and then part of the united Georgian kingdom.

In 1921 Kakhi Region became part of Azerbaijan.

With the spread of Christianity throughout the region during the existence of Caucasian Albania, some Churches were built in the Qakh district. In the 8th century A.D., Qakh fell under Arab Umayyad occupation. Starting from the 11th century first Oghuz Turks and later Qipchaq Turks inhabited the area, the region was incorporated into the Seljuq Empire. Qakh was later a part of Atabeg and Shirvanshah states. With the invasion of Hulaguids in Azerbaijan in the 13th century, Mongolian nomadic tribes populated the region.

According to the legend mentioned by 19th century author I. Linevich, the city of Qakh was called Toraghay (Torağay) until 16th century. This word was mentioned in Mahmud Kashgari's dictionary called "Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk". According to the dictionary, it means "shelter between the mountains" in the Kipchak language. Considering the city of Qakh is located in a lowland area between the mountains, it can be said that the Kipchaks who came through the North Caucasus settled in Qakh and called the area as "Toraghay". One of the districts of the regional center of Qakh is still called Qakh-mughal. This can be explained as the influence of Mongol period.

In 1562, by the order of the Safavid Shah Tahmasp I, Ilisu Sultanate was established in Qakh. In the 18th century, Ilisu Sultanate became so powerful that, the Ottoman Emperor conferred its ruler Ali Sultan Bey the highest title of Pasha recognizing him as the Beylerbey of Shaki.

In 1803 the sultanate of Ilisu was annexed to the Russian empire. The ruler of the sultanate, Daniyal, inspired the people to rise against Russian rule in 1844, due to a disagreement between him and the government of Russia. Sultan Daniyel was defeated near the village of İlisu and continued his struggle against Russian along with the leader of the national freedom movement, Sheykh Shamil. Russians burnt Ilisu and divided the territory of the sultanate into mahals (territorial units) and annexed them to the Jar-Balaken daire (a territorial unit) converting it into a colony of tsarist Russia. With proclamation of independence of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in May 1918, Qakh became disputed between ADR and DRG. During the Soviet rule, Qakh was established as raion of Azerbaijan SSR in 1930.

Demographics
The overall statistics indicate the population growth fluctuates. For instance, In 2000 there were 832 newly born, in 2006 - 816, down to 753 in 2009.

The Qakh District is also a centre of the Georgian minority in Azerbaijan, with most of the ones in this district being of Christian origin.

Villages
There are 59 villages in the district:

 * Ağçay
 * Ağyazı
 * Almalı
 * Amanlı
 * Armudlu
 * Bağtala
 * Baydarlı
 * Böyük Alatəmir
 * Cəlayer
 * Çinarlı
 * Çüdüllü
 * Dəymədağlı
 * Əlibəyli
 * Əmbərçay
 * Əmircan
 * Fıstıqlı
 * Güllük
 * İbaxlı
 * İlisu
 * Keşqutan
 * Kiçik Alatəmir
 * Kötüklü
 * Ləkit
 * Ləkit Kötüklü
 * Ləkit Malax
 * Lələli
 * Lələpaşa
 * Malax
 * Marsan
 * Meşəbaş
 * Oncallı
 * Qapıçay
 * Qarabaldır
 * Qarameşə
 * Qaratala
 * Qaşqaçay
 * Qaxbaş
 * Qaxingiloy
 * Qaxmuğal
 * Qaysarlı
 * Qazmalar
 * Qımır
 * Qındırğa
 * Qıpçaq
 * Qorağan
 * Qum
 * Sarıbaş
 * Şıxlar
 * Şotavar
 * Süskən
 * Tanqıt
 * Tasmalı
 * Turaclı
 * Üzümlü
 * Uzuntala
 * Xələftala
 * Yeni İlisu
 * Zərnə
 * Zəyəm

title: Qakh District


text:
Qazax District

Qazax District (Gazakh District; Qazax rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. Located in the northwest of the country, it belongs to the Gazakh-Tovuz Economic Region. The district borders the district of Aghstafa, and the Tavush Province of Armenia. Its capital and largest city is Gazakh. As of 2020, the district had a population of 98,400.

It has two exclaves inside Armenia, which include the villages of Yukhari Askipara, Barkhudarly, Sofulu. Both of the exclaves and parts of mainland Qazax District (the villages of Baghanis Ayrum, Ashaghi Eskipara, Gyzylhajily, and Kheyrimli) were captured by Armenian forces during the First Nagorno-Karabakh war.

History
The region was conquered by a succession of neighboring powers or invaders, including Armenians, Sassanid Persians, the Byzantine Empire, the Arabs, the Seljuq Turks, the Georgians, the Mongols, the Timurids, the Qara Qoyunlu and Aq Qoyunlu Turkoman tribes, and finally Safavid Iran. It was also ruled by Ottoman Empire between 1578 and 1607 and again 1722 and 1735.

By the end of the XV century, the Kazakh Sultanate was established as a sovereign geopolitical entity in the region. Though it was part of the Karabakh principality during the Safavid Empire, Sultan Shamsaddin of Gazakh was given the rank of Khan by the decree of Abbas the Great in 1605.

After the Russo-Persian War (1804–1813), the Russian Empire gained control of the area by virtue of the Treaty of Gulistan. Under Russian rule, it was part of Tiflis Governorate before forming the northeastern part of the Kazakh Uyezd of the Elisabethpol Governorate in 1868. A contemporary military historian noted the following ethnographic detail: "Abbas Mirza's route lay through the country of the great tribe of the Casaks, which is extremely strong and thickly wooded." He further notes that: "These have no connection with the Russian Cossacks. They are descended from men of the Kirgis Casaks, left by Genghis Khan. They are frequently called Karapapakh, from wearing black sheep-skin caps."

When the South Caucasus came under British occupation, Sir John Oliver Wardrop, British Chief Commissioner in the South Caucasus, decided that assigning the Erivan Governorate and the Kars Oblast to Democratic Republic of Armenia (DRA) and the Elisabethpol and Baku Governorates to the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) would solve the region's outstanding disputes. However, this proposal was rejected by both Armenians (who did not wish to give up their claims to Gazakh, Zangezur (today Syunik), and Nagorno-Karabakh) and Azerbaijanis (who did not wish to give up their claims to Nakhchivan). As conflict broke out between the two groups, the British left the region in mid-1919.

Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
During the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, Armenian troops took control of several villages of the Gazakh District. Several Azerbaijani inhabitants were killed during the war although some of them were able to flee.

In July 2020, Gazakh became a site for clashes with Armenia.

In April 2024, Armenia and Azerbaijan reached an agreement whereby Armenia handed over four abandoned villages within Qazax District to Azerbaijan: Bağanis Ayrum, Aşağı Əskipara, Xeyrimli, and Qızılhacılı.

List of historic and tourist sites
There are 112 protected monuments in the region of Gazakh, of which 54 are archaeological, 46 are architectural, 7 are historical, and 5 are of artistic significance. Historic and tourist sites in this region include:

 * The House of the Poet Samad Vurgun in Yukhari Salahli village, since 1976.
 * The Museum of History and Ethnography, since 1984.
 * The Gazakh State Picture Gallery by the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan, since 1986.
 * The Memorial museum of Molla Panah Vagif and Molla Vali Vidadi, since 1970.
 * The House of Teachers Seminary of Gazakh, built in 1910, functioned between 1918 and 1959.
 * The Bath House of Israfil Agha, built in the first decade of the 20th century by Israfil Agha Kerbelayev from the village of Kasaman.
 * The Damjili Caves, in the village of Dash Salahli, south-east of the mount Avey, cover an area of 360 km2 and refer to Middle and Upper Paleolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic eras.
 * Sining Korpu (The Broken Bridge) (Sınıq körpü), a 12th-century bridge built over the Ehram (Khram) river in the village Ikinji Shikhli.
 * Didevan Castle (Didəvan qalası), a 6th-7th century monument in the village of Khanliglar.
 * Mount Goyazan (Göyəzən dağı), a rare archaeological monument in the village of Abbasbeyli, rises 857.9 metres above sea level.
 * The Baba-Dervish settlement, an archaeological site in the village Demirchiler.
 * The Kazim Bridge in the village of Yukhari Askipara, allegedly built during the reign of Shamsi Khan.
 * The Juma Mosque of Qazakh, built in 1902 by Akhund Haji Zeynalabdin Mahammadli oghlu from the village of Kasaman.
 * The Aslanbeyli Mosque built in 1909 by Hamid Efendi, the native of village Aslanbeyli.
 * Santepe, an archaeological site dating to the 9th-8th centuries B.C. and the Iron Age.
 * The Gazakhbeyli Hills, an archaeological site dating from the 8th-6th centuries B.C. near the village of Gazakhbeyli.
 * The Shikhli Human Camp, an archaeological site near the village of Birinji Shikhli.
 * Shakargala, in the Gazakh region.

Prominent people from Gazakh

 * Sabir Azeri (1938-2010) - Writer, author of best-selling books.
 * Aliagha Shikhlinski - (1865–1943) general-lieutenant of the artillery, known as "God of Russian artillery".
 * Farrukh Gayibov - (1889–1916) the first Azerbaijani pilot, was awarded the 4th class order of "Saint Georgi".
 * Ibrahim agha Vekilov - (1853–1934) general, the first Azerbaijani military topographer.
 * Javad bey Shikhlinski - (1876–1940) general-mayor, the commander of the division.
 * Ibrahim bey Usubov - (1872–1920) general-mayor, the commander of the division.
 * Mirza Huseyn Afandi Qayibov - (1830–1917) the Chair of the Ecclesiastical Department of Transcaucasia.
 * Molla Vali Vidadi - (1707–1809) prominent poet of Azerbaijan.
 * Molla Panah Vagif - (1717–1797) prominent poet of Azerbaijan and social figure.
 * Mukhtar Hajiyev - (1876–1938) the first chairman of Azerbaijan Central Executive Committee in 1921
 * Samad Vurgun - (1906–1956) National Poet of Azerbaijan (the first who deserved this title)
 * Vidadi Babanli - (1927-) National Writer of Azerbaijan
 * Osman Sarivelli - (1905–1990) national poet of Azerbaijan.
 * Mehdi Huseyn - (1909–1964) National Writer of Azerbaijan. Prominent writer-dramatist, critic.
 * Mirvarid Dilbazi - (1912–2001) national poet of Azerbaijan
 * Amina Dilbazi - (1919–2010) ballet-master. National Artist of Azerbaijan.
 * Elazan Bayjan (Haji Hasanzadeh) - (1913–1989) poet-doctor. Set up private medical clinics in Freyburg, Germany.
 * Ismayil Shykhly - (1919–1995) National Writer of Azerbaijan, scientist- pedagogue, social-political figure.
 * Elmira Huseynova - (1933–1995) sculptor.
 * Fatma Vekilova - (1912–1987) professor, doctor of geology-mineralogy sciences.
 * Sayad Zeynalov - (1886–1942) deserved 4th class "Saint Georgi" order
 * Teymur Bunyadov - (1928) academician, historian-ethnographer.
 * Tahir Isayev, a.k.a. Serafino - (1922–2001)
 * Ali Mustafayev - (1952–1991) National Hero of Azerbaijan.

title: Qazax District


text:
Gobustan District

Gobustan District (Qobustan rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the east of the country, in the Mountainous Shirvan Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Shamakhi, Khizi, Absheron, and Hajigabul. Its capital and largest city is Gobustan. As of 2020, the district had a population of 47,400.

History
The name "Gobustan" originated from the word "Gobu", which means "beam" in Azerbaijani. The district's administrative centre, Gobustan was known as Maraza until 2009.

The territory of the district belonged to the neighbouring Shamakhi District from 1930 until 1943 and later again from 1960 until 1990 when it was re-established.

The ancient dwellings used to be in the area of present Gobustan which date back to the Stone Age.

Infrastructure
There are six kindergartens in the region, and 30 general education schools. There are 23 cultural centers, 3 hospitals and medical enterprises, and 6 big and middle enterprises.

Population
According to official statistics the district of Gobustan had a population of 46,100 inhabitants at the beginning of 2018; 36,700 of whom were living in rural areas.

Landscape
The territory of Gobustan ranges from the shores of the Caspian Sea to Mount Gijaki, the highest point in the eastern part of the Greater Caucasus. Peculiarities of Gobustan landscape are the rocks of lime and sandstone in the middle territory of the district, and mud volcanoes, which are located in the east part of Gobustan.

Climate
Gobustan has a semi-arid climate, with mild winters and hot summers. There are rain seasons in early spring and late autumn. The annual precipitation is 250 mm. The western part of Gobustan is more precipitated in autumn and spring than the eastern part of Gobustan since Kura lowlands cover the western part. The highest mean temperature is observed in July (32 C) and the lowest mean temperature occurs in January (-1.6 C).

Flora
Gobustan has a rich flora with 470 different plant species; in all of Azerbaijan there are 4000 different plant species. The vegetation of Gobustan has desert and semi-desert characteristics. Wild rose, Hibernian honeysuckle, wild pear, wild pomegranate, wild fig, and juniper can be found in Gobustan.

Fauna
There are approximately 110 wild bird species in the Gobustan region. 53 of them are included in special European conversation concern, 9 of them are included in the Azerbaijan Red Data Book, and 9 of them are listed by the International Union for Conversation of Nature (IUNC).

There are 28 different mammal species in Gobustan. Two of them are included in the Azerbaijan Red Book, and one species is listed in the IUCN. There are two different types of amphibians and 20 different species of reptiles. Testudo greaca is included in the Red Book Data of Azerbaijan and IUCN.

Agriculture
Agriculture is the core of the Gobustan economy. The most important agricultural product in the region is grain. The annual production of grain is approximately 1 ton per person. Other major agricultural products are potato, cabbage, tomato, grape, pea, sunflower, and melon.

Court
Gobustan District Court was established in 1990; it is called Gobustan District People's Court and is subordinate to the Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan SSR.

title: Gobustan District


text:
Antonin Proust

Antonin Proust (15 March 1832 – 20 March 1905) was a French journalist and politician.

Antonin Proust was born at Niort, Deux-Sèvres. In the 1840s, Proust attended the Collège Rollin where he met lifelong friend Édouard Manet. In September 1850, Proust and Manet joined the studio of Thomas Couture for artistic training. In 1864, Proust founded an anti-imperial journal, La Semaine hebdomadaire which appeared in Brussels. He was war correspondent for Le Temps in the early days of the Franco-Prussian War, but after the Battle of Sedan (1870) he returned to Paris, where he became secretary to Léon Gambetta and superintended the refugees in Paris.

He entered the Chamber of Deputies as representative for his native town in 1876, taking his seat on the left. In Gambetta's cabinet (1881–1882) he was minister of the fine arts, and in the Chamber of Deputies] he was regularly commissioned to draw up the budget for the fine arts, after the separate department had ceased to exist. Prosecuted in connection with the Panama scandals, he was acquitted in 1893. From this time he lived in the closest retirement. On 20 March 1905 he shot himself in the head, dying of the wound two days later.

He was not related to Marcel Proust, the famous writer.

title: Antonin Proust


text:
Qubadli District

Qubadli District (Qubadlı rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the south-west of the country and belongs to the East Zangezur Economic Region. The district borders the Lachin, Khojavend, Jabrayil and Zangilan districts, and the Syunik Province of Armenia.

Its capital and largest city is Qubadli. As of 2020, the district had a nominal population of 41,600.

History
The region was part of the Kurdistansky Uyezd and later the Kurdistan Okrug in the Azerbaijani SSR from 7 July 1923 to 23 July 1930. To its Kurdish population, it was known as Qûbadlî.

The district was established on 14 March 1933.

The district came was seized by the breakaway Republic of Artsakh in August 1993 during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. Azerbaijani forces regained control of all of the district during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.

Demographics
According to the last Soviet census of 1989, the population was 28,110. According to undated Azerbaijani data, the population was 34,100.

As of 1979, a total of 26,673 people:
 * Azerbaijanis 99,5% (26,537)
 * Russians 0,2% (45)
 * Armenians 0,1% (26)

As of 1989 a total of 28,110 people.

title: Qubadli District


text: Category:English clergy

title: Category:English clergy


text:
Sabirabad District

Sabirabad District (Sabirabad rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. Located in the centre of the country, it belongs to the Mil-Mughan Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Saatly, Imishli, Kurdamir, Hajigabul, Salyan, Bilasuvar, and the city of Shirvan. Its capital and largest city is Sabirabad. As of 2020, the district had a population of 178,800.

History
The area of Sabirabad is rich with ancient monuments and settlements. As a result of the excavation in the district, ancient necropolis as well as settlements which belong to V-I, V-II, and I B.C were found in Surra, Javad, Abdulyan, Garatepe, Guruzma, Garagashil, Bulagli, Zangana and Galagayin. Materials that were found in the “Shahargah” place of the village show that the ancient findings belong to the 11th-12th centuries. Historically, some nations attacked Mughan lands known as “Khaver Zemin”, “Guneshli land”. However, all those pressures were overcome. Since that time, “Khaver Zamin” replaced with Galagayin. Currently, the Sabirabad district has Galagayin village.

The biggest village in the district is Javad which has been a historical city and the centre of the Javad Khanate. Javad became part of Quba Khanate in 1768. When Azerbaijan became a part of Russia, a number of Russians were settled in Javad. The district was named Petropavlovka in 1988.

Sabirabad district was organized on August 8, 1930. On October 7, 1931, Petropavlokva was renamed after the famous Azerbaijani satirical poet M.A.Sabir with the decree of the Azerbaijan Central Executive Committee. On May 25, 1943, Saatli District turned into an integral part of Sabirabad. The Saatli district was joined to Sabirabad on January 4, 1963, and it continued until January 14, 1965. The downtown was renamed a town-type settlement on November 7, 1952, and since December 4, 1959, the district has been called Sabirabad.

Geography
The district is located in the south of Mugan plain. Rayon borders upon Kurdamir Rayon in the north for a distance of 30 km, Shamakhi Rayon in the north-west for a distance of 5 km, Shirvan city in the south for a distance of 24 km, Salyan Rayon in the south-west for a distance of 48 km, Bilasuvar Rayon in the south for a distance of 18 km, Saatly Rayon in the east for a distance of 136 km and Imishli Rayon for a distance of 8 km. Its length from the north to the south is 66 km, and from the east to the west is 24 km. A part of the rayon's territory is on the right coast of the Kura River, in Shirvan plain.

The low-lying area is dependent on canals and dams whose damage during 2010 caused waters from Lake Sarisu to flood several of the region's villages.

Population
According to the State Statistics Committee, as of 2018, the population of city recorded 174,800 persons, which increased by 36400 persons (about 26 percent) from 138,400 persons in 2000. 87,800 of total population are men, 87000 are women. More than 13 percent of the population (about 46,6 persons) consists of young people and teenagers aged 14–29.

Population distribution by ethnicity according to 2009 census:

Transport

There are 3rd and 4th category railways in the district. The roads lengthen 522 km. The country indicator is 7.9 percent. The republican significance motorway lengthens 243 km. The country indicator is 8.6%. The highway lengthens 279 km. The country indicator is 7.8 percent. Rail transport is also widely used in the region.

Historical monuments
One of the oldest monuments on Sabirabad is Bad Samid's tomb, which was built in the 16th century. Another old monument is Mosque Galayagin which belongs to the 17th century, the Shemakha Mosque which was built in 1903.

Notable natives

 * Hasan Khan Shahseven
 * Lutfiyar Imanov
 * Azad Asgarov
 * Yavar Jamalov
 * Elvin Aliyev
 * Murad Mirzayev - a National Hero of Azerbaijan

Economy
2018 wheat production: In 2018, the economic growth was equal to 39,221 thousand manats. The main sector in this region is primary. GDP of this region is 437244 manat. Production of production is equal to 18169,4 tones.
 * Wheat - 15215 hectares
 * Barley - 9430 hectares
 * Grain - 24645 hectares

title: Sabirabad District


text:
Shaki District

Shaki District (Şəki rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. Located in the north of the country, it belongs to the Shaki-Zagatala Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Qakh, Oghuz, Agdash, Yevlakh, and the Russian Republic of Dagestan. Its capital and largest city is Shaki. As of 2020, the district had a population of 188,100.

History
Shaki is one of the oldest cities in Azerbaijan. In medieval sources, its name is called Shaki, Shaki or Shakki. The city of Sheki was called "Nuxa" for a long time. The Greek geographer Ptolemy, noted that there was a settlement called "Niga" among the ethnic Albanian cities.

Christianity reached here as early as the 1st century CE, and Islam later in the 7th century.

After the Ilkhanate collapsed, along with the Shirvanshahs state, Shaki gained autonomy and the Orlat nobility came to power, in the first half of the 14th century. In 1551 Shaki's autonomy ended by Shah Tahmasib when Sheki came under control of the Safavid Empire. In 1743, Shaki Khanate was established.

In 1772, due to the overflow of the Kish River, the historical city of Shaki was completely destroyed, some parts of the city's population was destabilised, some people had moved to other places, and some had settled in the present site of the city.

Historical monuments
The region contains the Palace of Shaki Khans (inscribed in UNESCO's World Heritage List) which dates back to the 18th century. The city was located along important trading routes, as such the city houses several opulent merchant houses with architecture influenced by Safavid, Qadar and Russian building traditions.

Demographics
Shaki has 65 settlements, with the majority of residents living in the cities (66,900) and a minority in villages (32,600). The official languages are Azerbaijani.

According to the State Statistics Committee, as of 2018, the population of city was 185,400 persons, which increased by 26,700 persons (about 16.8 percent) from 158,700 persons in 2000. 92,700 of total population are men, 92,700 are women. More than 25.1 percent of the population (about 46,600 persons) consists of young people and teenagers aged 14–29.

Economy
There are 1 city, 2 settlements, 68 villages, and 31 rural executive offices, 1 city municipality and 39 rural municipalities in the district. There are 343 managerial and organizational departments, 17 bank branches, 14 hotels, 1 communication and 1 post office. The largest enterprise according to the number of employees is Shaki-Ipek OJSC.

Shaki is part of the Shaki-Zaqatala Economic Region. The Shaki region, one of the largest agricultural and industrial districts of the Republic, has a total area of 2.43 thousand km2 and a population of 184,172. At present 29 industrial enterprises operate in the region, of which 21 are small enterprises.

Population
Alternative according to the data of Lezgins ~ 40,000.

Climate
The annual sum of sunny hours is 2350 hours. Approximately 40 percent of sunny hours are observed in summer. The climate in Shaki is influenced by various air masses, cyclones and anticyclones, and local winds. The Arctic and mild air masses enter Shaki with causing the temperature rise in the winter. Mountain winds form local winds in Sheki in the summer. It is because of a contrast in pressure between the mountain and the valley. The cold winds are moderated by the Great Caucasus from the north. Thus, the temperature in Sheki is 0.5 C in January. The average annual temperature is 12 C in Sheki. The average temperature ranges from 20 to 25 C in June and August.

In Sheki solid winds (over 15m / s) are hardly ever seen, with as 10–12 days a solid wind. Less than 1 meter per second the speed of the wind in Sheki is often observed. The average sum of rainfall is 730 mm. 50% of it falls in May, June, September and October. In Kish village the least precipitation is in August (35 mm), January (29 mm) and February (36 mm), 775 mm, over 1000 mm rainfall in Khan Lowland. Floods, storm, and hail are characteristic of the mountain and the fields encompassing Sheki and its urban places.

The flood event is observed frequently. The Kish Waterway basin is located in the western portion of the city and it is considered one of the most powerful flood areas in the world. In the place called Guruchay were collected sand, stone, and mud from the mountains for a long time and its middle part is higher than the city Dodo settlement. The atmosphere events such as the storm and the hail have a great deal of effect here. High relief, strong heat in the summer and high evaporation are the essential reasons for hail in Shaki.

The elevation of 500–850 m above sea level, the mountain woodlands encompassing it prevents the city from overheating. The city is secured from floods by mountain woodlands. The mountainous grassland, brown mountain woodlands, meadow-forest, grey-brown soils cover the city. Oak, peanuts, hornbeam trees are spacious in the woodlands. The animal world is rich.

The main streams of the city are Kish and Gurcana rivers. Kish is the right arm of Eyrichay, it is 33 km long, and the basin area is 265 km2. It starts at 2900 meters above the southern slope of the main Caucasian Range. It is one of the most flooded rivers of Transcaucasia. The upper axis is called Damarchin.

Notable persons

 * Mirza Fatali Akhundov - writer, public figure
 * Bakhtiyar Vahabzadeh - poet
 * Ahmadiyya Jabrayilov - World War II participant, partisan

title: Shaki District


text:
Qusar District

Qusar District (Gusar District; Qusar rayonu; КцIар район) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the northeast of the country, in the Guba-Khachmaz Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Quba, Qabala, Khachmaz, and the Russian Republic of Dagestan. Its capital and largest city is Qusar. As of 2020, the district had a population of 99,000.

Toponymy
There are several theories about the origin of the word "Qusar". One of them is that the word "qusar" comes from the Russian language, meaning "cavalry warrior". "Qusar" regiment was organized in this territory in 1783–1784. The district was probably named "Qusar" after the name of the regiment.

There is another theory that the word "qusar" derived from an ancient Turkish tribe called "qus/ quz" with the prefix "ar" meaning male.

Abbasgulu Bakikhanov used the word "qusar" in his book Golestan-i Iram to refer to a village.

History
The earliest sediments in the district belong to the Jurassic Period, 135–145 million years old. It is estimated that life in the Qusar district has been existing since the 2nd millennium B.C. Mahmudtapa, the hills of Monsar, the Govdushan hills, the hills of Hafla belonging to the Bronze Age, the hills of Kyzylgul and Agahan, the Halakhur hills belonging to the Middle Ages are ancient dwellings dating back to the 1st millennium B.C.

The district was originated in 1930 and called Gil District with a centre in Gil village. In 1934, the centre of the district was moved to Qusar, and in 1938 it was renamed Qusar District.

Administrative structure:
 * Qullar village
 * Urva village

Geography
Qusar is located in Eurasian continent, in the north-eastern inclination of the main Caucasus Mountain ridge. It is located between 41°11’ – 41°45’ latitude North and 47°52’ – 48°41’ longitude East. Mountains, among which is also Shahdagh Mount, take the great part of the rayon. The territory of the rayon occupies the northeastern part of Azerbaijan. Qusar is a unique gate of the republic. Even in ancient times, the territory of the rayon took a good position on a junction of the main trade roads. It is 179 km from Qusar to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

The local relief within Qusar district consists of mountains and valleys. Mineral sources such as limestone, chalcopyrite, limonite, and marble are common in the district. Qusar and Samur are main rivers of the Qusar District.

Qusar rayon is located far from sea routes. The most nearest seas to it are the Caspian Sea (15 km) and the Black Sea (550 km). Area of the rayon consists of 1542 km2, occupying 1.7% of the area of Azerbaijan. Qusar is the 14th largest rayon in Azerbaijan. The Qusar rayon spans 84 km east-west, by 35 km north-south.

Extreme points of the district are:
 * In North – Suduroba
 * In South – Tufan dagh
 * In East – Guzun gishlag
 * In West – Bazarduzu summit

Length of the district's borders is 225 km. Extension of the borders in kilometres:
 * 1) Dagestan Republic (with Akhtin, Dokuzpara and Mahammadkend rayons) 95 km.
 * 2) Qabala District 25 km.
 * 3) Quba District 70 km.
 * 4) Khachmaz District 65 km.

Flora and fauna
Oak, peanut and hornbeam are often found in the forest areas. Natural herbs such as cranberry, sumac, hawthorn, wild grapes and blackberries are also grown in the forests.

Wolf, fox, bear, boar, mountain goat and rabbit are particular for forests of the district. There are wild pigeons, quails, green ducks and partridge birds in the fields and lakes.

On the territory of the district, Qusar State Nature Sanctuary was established according to the resolution of the Council of Ministers of Azerbaijan SSR dated February 24, 1964, on an area of 15,000 hectares with the purpose of preserving and increasing the number of animals and birds (pheasant, quail, roe, wild boar, rabbit) inhabiting here.

Population
According to data of 2007, the population of the rayon consists of $85,899$ people; 90.63% are Lezgins and 9.06% are the Azerbaijanis. According to the data of 2009, Lezgins are 90.5%, Azerbaijanis are 9.1%, and other nationalities comprise 0.4%. As of 2016, the population of the rayon grew to $96,199$ people. Lezgins constituted 2% of the total population of Azerbaijan in 2009 who commonly settled in Qusar district. National composition was indicated below in accordance with statistics in 2009.

The urban population in 2017 accounted for 21% and 79% of the district's population lives in the village.

According to the State Statistics Committee, as of 2018, the population of city recorded 97,200 persons, which increased by 15,400 persons (about 18.8 percent) from 81,800 persons in 2000. 48,600 of total population are men, 48,600 are women. More than 26,9 percent of the population (about 26,200 persons) consists of young people and teenagers aged 14–29.

Religion

 * Muslims 98%

Sports and tourism
Qusar is home to Shahdag Mountain Resort, one of the biggest ski resorts in Caucasus and Azerbaijan's first and largest winter resort. Tourist facilities also include such recreational areas as "Alpine Gusar", "Star Gusar", "Gayi Bulak", mountain tourism recreation area "Suvar" and Olympic Sports Complex.

Sightseeing
There are 2 architectural and 46 archaeological monuments in Qusar. The remains of the 13th century fortress in the village of Anigh, the Shaykh Junayd Mausoleum built in 1544 in the village of Hazra (Yargun), are protected by the government as significant architectural monuments of the country. There are also Kohne Khudat and Huray mosques, belonging to the 18th century, Gil, Gyunduzgala and Hasangala mosques, belonging to the 19th century. There is a museum named after Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov.

Education
There are 48 secondary schools, 86 general-education schools, 4 non-formal and 13 pre-school education facilities.

In addition, 3 large sports facilities are functioning in Gusar district: Olympic Sports Complex, Central Stadium named after Shovkat Ordukhanov, Children and Youth Sports School.

Economy
Agriculture is a basis of the region's economy. Sown area comprises 34,403 ha (42.2%) of the 81460 ha of land suitable for agriculture. The area of irrigated lands is 29,398 ha. Agriculture of this region is based on two main fields – crop production and animal husbandry.

Wheat, barley, corn, beans, potatoes, apples, pears, nuts, tomatoes and cabbage are the main crops grown in Qusar. There are more than 5000 hectares of fruit gardens. Nearly 68% of these gardens constitute apple gardens. In order to keep the fruits, cold storage rooms in Chubuglu village (capacity of 4000 tons), Samur settlement (800 tons) and in Yeni Hayat village (2000 tons) were built with governmental support.

Health-care
There are 3 hospital establishments, 19 health posts, 38 medical centres and 61 medical institutions in the Qusar district.

Honorable residents
Heroes of the Soviet Union:
 * Mirza Valiyev
 * Adil Guliyev

Administrative structure
There is 1 city (Qusar), 1 settlement (Samur) and 88 villages in the district which has a territory of 1542 km2. Some of the villages are Anig, Laza, Uzdenoba, Gyunduzkala, Duztahir, Zindanmurug, Suvadzhal, Hiloba, Urva, Chilegir and Yukhary Leger.

The current head of the raion's executive power is Shair Alkhanov since 2007. Under the head of the executive authority, there is acted Council consisted of thirteen members. Villages are controlled by overall 29 municipalities.

title: Qusar District


text:
Saatly District

Saatly District (Saatlı rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the centre of the country, belonging to the Central Aran Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Imishli, Sabirabad, and Bilasuvar. Its capital and largest city is Saatly. As of 2020, the district had a population of 109,100.

History
There are several findings relating to ancient settlements in the Saatly District. Archaeological monuments, as well as pottery materials of the 2nd and 3rd millennials B.C, were excavated in villages of Azadkend, Fatalikend, Jafarkhan, Varkhan and Alisoltanly.

The Saatly region was formed on 25 May 1943. During World War II, 1600 residents of Saatly were sent to the front lines and 533 of them died in the war. In 1949, part of the Azerbaijanis expelled from Armenian SSR, Meskhetian Turks from Central Asia in 1958–59, and Azerbaijanis who became displaced due to First Nagorno-Karabakh war settled in the Saatly District.

Saatly has 19 school buildings, a central hospital for 390 people, a cultural centre, 11 medical points in villages, a music school, kindergarten for 450 children, two five-storey buildings with 35 apartments, two-storey mall, other administrative buildings, cotton-cleaning and milk plant, bread making plant as well as other industrial, transportation and service institutions were created in the region during the 1970s-80s.

Geography
The region is situated in low-land and 28 meters lower above sea level. The region has dry summer with a semi-arid and dry climate. The average temperature is 1.4 °C in January and 26,2 °C in summer. The annual precipitation is 300 mm.

Saatly is mainly an agricultural region. Cotton planting, farming and vegetable production are the main agriculture in the region.

Population
According to the State Statistics Committee, as of 2018, the population of region recorded 106,5 thousand persons, which increased by 23 thousand persons (27 percent) from 83.5 thousand persons in 2000. 53,9 thousand of total population are men, 52,6 thousand are women. The region has a significant ethnic Turkish minority, which makes up about 17% of the total population.

title: Saatly District


text:
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Salyan District (Azerbaijan)

Salyan District (Salyan rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. Located in the east of the country, it belongs to the Shirvan-Salyan Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Bilasuvar, Sabirabad, Hajigabul, Baku, Neftchala, and the city of Shirvan. Its capital and largest city is Salyan. As of 2020, the district had a population of 139,900.

History
Salyan was a large, populated area and attracted the attention of the invaders in the XIII century. The approximate time of settlement is the 15th century. Trade relations of Shirvanshahs with Mugan, Tabriz and Iran were passing through Salyan. For a long time in the XVII-XVII century trade routes with Iran, the North Caucasus, Turkestan and Russia passed through Salyan. Fish and caviar from Salyan were transported to these cities for sale. In the 18th century silver, copper money was minted in the district.

In 1795 Agha Mohammad Khan Qajar attacked Shamakhi and completely ruined Salyan because of the confrontation he showed.

In February 1868, the Javad district was established within the Baku province, including Salyan as an administrative unit. Thus Salyan transformed into a cultural centre.

At the beginning of the 20th century, 3 small cotton ginning enterprises with a capacity of 3-4 tons, small heating power stations, 4 elementary schools and a library were founded here. At that time in the city, there were 20 small knitting enterprises, 200 shops, 3 caravan-sheds, 5 trading banks, a ship bridge, a post station, a quarantine station and 11 madrasahs.

In the year 1894, the meteorological station was opened in Salyan for the first time in the whole of Southern Russia and the Caucasus.

Salyan was also the centre of trade, which was located on the Silk Road. Back in the II century AD. merchants from China and India, passing through the current Turkmenbashi (Krasnovodsk) along the sea route, passed through the Caspian depression into the Kura River, the lands of all Azerbaijan, as well as the territory of Salyan, crossed the Rioni River in Georgia, then reached the Poti port on the Black Sea, crossed the Black Sea and fell into the Sea of Azov.

Salyan for a long time was the educational, cultural centre of Mugan and the southeast of Mugan. In 1881 the area of the whole city was 800 acres.

Since 1916, Salyan is officially considered a city.

Etymology
There are many assumptions and theories about the etymology of the word "Salyan". According to scientific research, the tribe "sal" existed among the Turkic tribes. At first, they lived on the bank of the Volga River, on the plain of the "Sal" area.

In addition, one of the currents of the Don River, which flows from the plains of Eastern Europe, is called the Sal River. In the past Salyan settlements lived on this territory and were called tribes "sal".

Historian Memandr, referring to the events of 558, highlights the fact of the war of the Sal tribes in the meadows of Southern Russia with the Turkic tribal association called Avar.

According to the assumptions, part of the saloons along with the Avars moved to Azerbaijan. This is indicated by the historian of the XIV century, Hamdullah Gazvi, confirming his words by the fact of the existence of the city of "Abar" on the bank of the river Kura.

Geography
Salyan region is located on the Kura-Araks lowland, in the Mugan steppe. The region is located in the southeast of Azerbaijan. Highway and the railway linking all of Azerbaijan with its southern regions, as well as the countries of the Middle East, are situated in this region. One of the main rivers of the country Kura flows through the territory of the Salyan region. There is the national park "Shirvan" in this district.

Grey-brown, grey-grass, meadow-wetlands, saline soils are spread. The vegetation cover is composed of desert and semi-deserted, mountainous and hilly areas and is rich in mud volcanoes. The main volcanoes are Durovdag, Aghzıbir, Rabbit-Dag, Babazanen, Duzdag, Galmas, Qirivdağ, Miashovdag, Khidirli, Kursangi, Hamam-mountain, Bandovan mud volcanoes. The flora is semi-desert and desert type. These are mostly cypress, cypress, wildflower, algae, vulture, blackberries, adjacent, ordinary, winter, Caspian. The sword of the arms, the Russian herd, the aches, the sharp spells, the quails, the sable, the common figs, the rarest species of Hirkan figs have been spread.

Climate
The dominant climate here is considered a local steppe climate. A small amount of precipitation falls throughout the year. The average annual temperature is 15.2 °C. The average annual rainfall is 288 mm.

Population
According to the State Statistics Committee, as of 2019, the population of city recorded 138,600 persons, which increased by 25,600 persons (about 22.6 percent) from 113,000 persons in 2000. 69,300 of total population are men, 69,300 are women. In 2018, more than 25,1 percent of the population (about 34,500 persons) consists of young people and teenagers aged 14–29.

Economics
The Salyan region is rich in fish. For example, Beluga, sturgeon, stellate sturgeon, salmon, catfish, pike perch. Also, the Salyan region is connected by a post road and a railway. The population of the district is mainly engaged in agriculture. The region is developing grain growing, cotton growing and livestock. Also, melon and vegetables are grown in the area. The population is also engaged in viticulture (table varieties) and gardening.

Historical monuments
In the Salyan district, there are a number of archaeological objects from the Bronze Age to the Early Middle Ages. Among them is the necropolis of Marimly, the necropolis of pitchers' graves in the village of Gursangya, the ruins of ancient settlements in the villages of Nokhudlu and Mahmudabad.

Points of interests
Numerous mud volcanoes of Azerbaijan are situated not far from the regional center. among which volcano Babazanan attracts local residents with the curative properties of its muds. There is also a reserve "Dashgil" - a place for hunting waterfowl and fishing for kutum, carp and other Caspian fish.

Shirvan National Park
By the decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev, on July 5, 2003, the Shirvan National Park of the Republic of Azerbaijan was established for 54373.5 hectares of administrative units of the districts. The main goal of the National Park was to preserve the gazelles entered in the "Red Book" of the Republic of Azerbaijan, conduct ecological monitoring, educate the population from an ecological point of view, create all conditions for the development of tourism and recreation.

title: Salyan District (Azerbaijan)


text:
Shamakhi District

Shamakhi District (Şamaxı rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the east of the country and belongs to the Mountainous Shirvan Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Quba, Khizi, Gobustan, Hajigabul, Agsu, and Ismayilli. Its capital and largest city is Shamakhi. As of 2020, the district had a population of 106,400.

In its history, eleven major earthquakes have rocked Shamakhi, but each time it was reconstructed by its inhabitants due to its role as the economic and administrative capital of Shirvan and one of the key towns on the way of the Silk Road. The only building to have survived eight of the eleven earthquakes is the landmark Juma Mosque (8th century CE).

History
Shamakhi was first mentioned as Kamachia by ancient Greco-Roman geographer Claudius Ptolemaeus in the 1st to 2nd century CE. It was an important town during the Middle Ages and served as the capital of the Shirvanshah state from the 8th to 15th centuries and capital of the independent Shirvan Khanate, also known as khanate of Shamakhi. The Catholic friar, missionary and explorer William of Rubruck passed there on his return journey from the Mongol Great Khan's court.

In the middle of the 16th century it was the seat of an English commercial factory, under the traveller Anthony Jenkinson, afterwards envoy extraordinary of the khan of Shirvan to Tsar Ivan IV the Terrible of Russia. Adam Olearius, who visited Shamakhi in 1637, wrote: "Its inhabitants are in part Armenians and Georgians, who have their particular language; they would not understand each other if they did not use Turkish, which is common to all and very familiar, not only in Shirvan but also everywhere in Persia." The Russians first entered Shirvan in 1723 but soon retired leaving it to Ottomans who possessed it in 1723–35. In 1742 Shamakhi was taken and destroyed by Nadir Shah of Persia, who, to punish the inhabitants for their Sunnite creed, built a new town under the same name about 26 km to the west, at the foot of the main chain of the Caucasus Mountains. The new Shamakhi was at different times a residence of the Shirvan Khanate, but it was finally abandoned, and the old town rebuilt. In the mid-1700s, the population of Shamakhi was about 60,000, most of whom were Armenians. The Shirvan Khanate was finally annexed by Russia in 1805.

The British Penny Cyclopaedia stated in 1833 that "The bulk of the population of Shirvan consists of the Tatar, or, to speak more correctly, Turkish race, with some admixture of Arabs and Persians. . . . Besides the Mohammedans, who form the mass of the population, there are many Armenians, some Jews, and a few Gipsies. According to the official returns of 1831, the number of males belonging to the Mohammedan population was 62.934; Armenians, 6,375; Jews, 332; total males 69,641. The prevalent language of Shirvan is what is there called Toorkee or Turkish, which is also used in Azerbijan." The same source also states that according to the official returns of 1832, the city of Shamakhi was inhabited by only 2,233 families, as a result of the devastation from the sack of the city "in the most barbarous manner by the highlanders of Daghestan" in 1717. The Encyclopædia Britannica stated that in 1873 the city had 25,087 inhabitants, "of which 18680 were Tartars and Shachsevans, 5177 were Armenians, and 1230 Russians." Silk production continued to be the main output, with 130 silk-winding establishments, owned mostly by Armenians, although the industry had considerably declined since 1864.

Shamakhi was the capital of the Shamakhi Governorate of the Russian Empire until the devastating earthquake of 1859, when the capital of the province was transferred to Baku. The importance of the city declined sharply afterwards. According to the Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary (vol. 77, p. 460, published in 1903), Shamakhi had 20008 inhabitants (10450 males and 9558 females), of which 3% were Russians, 18% were Armenians, and 79% "Azerbaijani Tatars." With regard to religion, 79% of the population was Muslim, of which 22% was Sunni and the rest Shiite; the remaining 21% was "Armeno-Gregorian" (members of the Armenian Apostolic Church) and "Pravoslav" (Orthodox).

The "Queen of Shemakha" is a major protagonist in the poem "The Tale of the Golden Cockerel" by Alexander Pushkin, on which the opera "The Golden Cockerel" by Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov was based. The character, however, is totally fictional and bears no actual relation to the city.

Demographics
According to the State Statistics Committee, as of 2018, the population of city recorded 103,900 persons, which increased by 22,500 persons (about 27.6 percent) from 81,400 persons in 2000. 52,100 of total population are men, 51,800 are women. More than 28 percent of the population (about 29,000 persons) consists of young people and teenagers aged 14–29.

Earthquakes

 * The 1191 earthquake was so destructive that the capital of Shirvan was transferred to Baku.
 * The 1667 earthquake is considered to have been the deadliest for the city, with a death toll of 80,000; one-third of the city collapsed, according to the Persian merchants' reports.
 * The 1859 Shamakhi earthquake on 2 December caused the shifting of the same-named government centre to Baku.
 * The 1872 earthquake triggered emigration to Baku, where oil production had started in industrial proportions.
 * The 1902 earthquake, a devastating earthquake destroyed the 10th-century Juma Mosque.

Nature
The productivity of lands in Shamakhi has always attracted people. The district has beautiful nature with a mild climate and mineral wells. The weather is not too cold and hot here. There are more than 50 medicinal plants in Shamakhi. The rich nature of the district allows various animals and birds to settle here. The fauna of the city has different animals such as roe, boars, bears and wild cats. 40–80 days of a year snow in this place. This district attracts tourists in summer and winter. Babadagh peak is also in Shamakhi. Rivers of Garachay, Valvalachay and Girdmanchay begin here in Babadagh.

Education
Not only Azerbaijan but also the Middle East, Central Asia, Turkey and from the other countries had studied science in madrassah of Juma mosque since the end of the 19th century. Some of them such as Khagani Shirvani, Feleki Shirvani, Muslim Shirvani, Imadeddin Nasimi, Nishat Shirvani, Mir Nazim Shirvani, Seyid Azim Shirvani, Mirza Nasrulla bey Dede, Mahmud Aga, Habib Efendi, Seyid Ünsizade and others. was prominent intelligent educators.

In the Middle Ages, many madrasahs of large mosques functioned in several cities of Azerbaijan. In the 10th–13th centuries, many cities of Azerbaijan, including Tabriz, Maragha, Ganja, Nakhchivan, Shamakhi and Ardabil, were known as the centres of science, education, art and culture in the East.

According to 17th-century famous Turkish traveller E. Chalabi, there were 40 schools, 7 madrassas in Shamakhi.

Nowadays, there are 72 secondary schools in the region, Shamakhi branch of the Azerbaijan Teachers Institute, Shamakhi Humanitarian College, Shamakhi State Industrial Economic College and Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences.

Culture
As one of the largest wine-growing regions of Azerbaijan, Shamakhi hosted the Grape and Wine Festival in August 2019 in Meysari village with the support of Heydar Aliyev Foundation. The festival was aimed to encourage local grape and wine production, as well as, to promote the history of wine-producing in Azerbaijan. The festival featured a wine exhibition, a parade of wine producers, an exhibition of different types of folk art of Azerbaijani districts including copper craft, carpet weaving and pottery.

Twin cities

 * 🇹🇷 Iğdır, Turkey

Notable natives

 * Falaki Shirvani, poet, (1107, (Shamakhi – 1157, Shamakhi)
 * Khagani Shirvani, poet, (1121/1122, Shamakhi – 1190, Tabriz)
 * Imadaddin Nasimi, poet, (1369, Shamakhi – 1417, Aleppo)
 * Zeynalabdin Shirvani, geographer, historian, ethnographer, philosopher and poet (16 August 1780, Shamakhi – 1838, near Jeddah)
 * Seyid Azim Shirvani, poet, (10 July 1835 – 1 Iyun 1888)
 * Alexander Shirvanzade (Movsisyan), novelist, playwright (18 April 1858, Shamakhi – 7 August 1935, Kislovodsk)
 * Mirza Alakbar Sabir, poet (30 May 1862, Shamakhi – 12 July 1911, Shamakhi)
 * Hovhannes Abelian, actor (23 October 1865, Shamakhi – 1 July 1936, Yerevan)
 * Abbas Sahhat, poet (1874, Shamakhi – 11 July 1918, Ganja)
 * Muhammed hadi, poet  (1879, Shamakhi – 1920 Ganja)
 * Zivar bey Ahmadbeyov, architect (1873 Shamakhi – 1925 Baku)
 * Sultan Mejid Qanizade, teacher, writer
 * Kostan Zarian, writer (2 February 1885, Shamakhi – 11 December 1969, Yerevan)
 * Armen Ohanian, dancer, actress, writer, political activist (1887, Shamakhi – 1976, Mexico)

title: Shamakhi District


text:
Shamkir District

Shamkir District (Şəmkir rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the north-west of the country and belongs to the Gazakh-Tovuz Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Gadabay, Tovuz, Samukh, Goygol, and Dashkasan. Its capital and largest city is Shamkir. As of 2020, the district had a population of 219,500.

Overview
The district includes one city, Shamkir city; seven city-type settlements, which include Chinarlı settlement, Dallar settlement, Zayam settlement, and Kura settlement; and 58 villages.

There are 59 large and middle-size schools, 53 pre-schools, 81 secondary education schools, 1 technical vocational establishments, 22 hospitals and healthcare offices, and 156 cultural establishments in the raion.

Population
The population of the district is 192,900 people with 33.49% being urban and 66.51% living in the country. An estimated population density 113.49 person/km2. Men constitute 49.58% of the population, and women 50.42%. Children make up 11.26% of the population, while 33.18% of overall district population are residents below the age of 18, 57.86% are from 18 to 60 years of age. 5.79% have higher education, 56.1% have secondary education only. The number of refugees and IDPs from Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is 12,240 and 1,897, respectively.

History
In the Middle Ages, Arab and Persian sources mentioned the city name as Şəmkür (Shamkur), Turkish sources varied from Şəmkür (Shamkur) to Şəmkir (Shamkir). In his book on the history of Azerbaijan published in 1924 while he was in Istanbul, Zeynaloğlu argued that name of the city was translated as Şəms (Sun) - Kür (Rayed).

Jahangirov explained otherwise referring to Şəm (Bank of) - Kür (Kür river), i.e. on the bank of the Kura River. The ruins of ancient Shamkir city which was in the form of a fortress and was 20 ha big is located on the right bank of the Kura river. The city had two bridges over Kura. In the 7th century the city was occupied by the Arabian Caliphate and was named Mütəvəkkilliyə. It was renamed back to its original name later. The times of prosperity of Shamkir are attributed to 9th-12th centuries when it was conquered by Seljuqs. In the 12th century when Shamkir was a part of Atabek Empire, special attention was given to the city. In the 13th century Shamkir was one of the main points of resistance to Mongol invasion. In the 16th century, the leader of local Zülqədəz tribe took the power. Later, Shamkir was part of Ganja khanate. In 1803, Shamkir was occupied by and annexed to the Russian Empire. During the Russo-Persian War of 1826-1828, Shamkir was one of the frontlines where Russian troops defeated the Persian army on September 3, 1826. In the first half of the 19th century, Russian Tsar relocated a large number of German colonists to Caucasus, placing a big community in Shamkir. From that time on until 1938, Shamkir was called Anino, after which it was renamed Shamkhor. It was renamed again to Shamkir in 1991.

Architecture monuments

Historic architectural monuments include 9th-12th century Shamkir city ruins, 9th-12th Shamkir bridge, 11th-12th century Shamkir fortress in Muxtariyyət village, Baydar city ruins in Bayramlı village, 9th-12th century Maiden Tower in Seyfali village, 16th-17th-century mosque in Abbaslı village, 11th century Maiden Tower in Tatarlı village, 16th-17th-century bridge in Tahnalı village, 16th-17th century Koroglu fortress in Şəmkir, Qalaboynu Fortress in Atabəy village, Pir monument from early Middle Ages pertaining to Caucasian Albania in Daşbulaq village, a church built in 1909 by German settlers in Şəmkir, 11th-12th century Oghuz cemetery in Yeni Seyfali village, 16th-18th-century bridge over Zəyəm River.

During archaeological excavations carried out by a joint Azerbaijani-German expedition since 2006, ruins of an ancient Achaemenid palace were discovered near Qaracəmirli.

Among the modern built monuments are the Victory Complex built in 1975 in Şəmkir city, mosque in Düyərli village, Victory Complex in Çinarlı settlement built in 1980, memorials to Black January in Sərxan and Naxırçılar neighborhoods of Şəmkir city unveiled in 1990, Ashig Huseyn Shamkirli monument unveiled in 1991, Ali-Agha Shikhlinski bust, mosque built in 1992 in Keçili village, a 1993 Koroglu monument in Muxtariyyə village, bust of Azerbaijani National Hero, Zaur Sarıyev, Alley of Martyrs to people who died from Armenian occupation. mosque built in 1998 in İrmaşlı village, Heydar Aliyev spring built in 1998, a Memorial to Azerbaijani Genocide of March 31, 1918 built in 2001, mosque built in Əliyaqublu village in 1998, Memorial to Azerbaijani Genocide victims in Qapanlı village, a 2001 monument to Yəhyabəy Dilqəm in Dəllər Cırdaxan village, monument to Ashig Alasgar, unveiled in 1997 in Çənlibel village.

Government and economy
The Shamkir district is one of the largest agrarian districts of the Republic of Azerbaijan, covers 1660.00 km2, and the population is estimated at 213400 according to the official registration data in 2017. The major part of the employed population works in agriculture, industry, construction, trade, and public services. The basis of the economy Shamkir is dependent on agriculture. Poultry raising, cattlebreeding and silkworm breeding are major branches of agriculture. Agricultural machinery production, grape processing plants, construction plants constitute a big part of the economy. Wheat, barley, corn, grapes, onion, cabbage, tomato, cucumber, aubergine, sunflower, potato, viniculture, and livestock provide the main agricultural output. Electricity is received through power generation at Shamkir Hydroelectric Power Station on Shamkir reservoir which processes water from Kura River and also provides Shamkir and surrounding rayons with irrigation water. The new reservoir in the rayon will double that capacity and will come online in 2012. 2nd Shamkir Winery was established and operated in 1860-1896 by Christo Forer brothers and is active at the present. The total value of output in the economy of district during the first half of 2017 was around 219747 thousand AZN, and industrial products alone 22149 thousand AZN. During the first half of 2017, the volume of trade in goods amounted to 65,341 thousand AZN, and the volume of trade turnover increased by 17% compared to the same period of 2016 and amounted to 197030 thousand AZN. Total volume of gross product per person amounted to 315 AZN. “Sharg Ulduzu” Limited Liability Company owns a wine plant with 2000 tons of grape processing capacity, “Shamkir Poultry” farm producing 300,000 eggs per day, bread factory producing 55 tons of flour in a day, and “AzAqro” LLC which specialized in cultivation of Dutch cut rose varieties are the main industrial enterprises operating within the city. During the first period of 2017, through the National Fund for Entrepreneurship Support, 112,000 AZN state loans were issued to Shamkir region, creating 17 new jobs at the expense of these loans. According to statistics of 2017, 3149 jobs were created, of which 1984 were permanent and 1165 were temporary jobs. Shamkir Hydroelectric Power Station on Shamkir reservoir provides Shamkir and surrounding rayons with electricity and irrigation water. Municipality government was established in 1999. There are 57 municipalities in 64 populated settlements. One city, four settlements and 52 village municipalities function as regional governments The role of the municipalities expands as the renovation and city, village development, laying roads and development of social infrastructure continue.

Industry
The industry of Shamkir region includes food, electricity and production of construction materials. The 8 out of 13 industrial enterprises were small businesses in 2016. “Sharg Ulduzu” LLC which has a capacity of 2000 tons of grape processing capacity, processes 9 varieties of wine products and also produces cognac alcohol from wine products. In the Shamkir district “AzAqro” LLC, a greenhouse complex, grows over two million roses in a year over 2.5 hectares land. Currently, the portfolio is composed of 14 varieties: Red Naomi, Myrna, Peach Avalanche, Avalanche, Candy Avalanche, WoW, Hot bubble, Be-bubble, White bubble, Alegria, Pany Lane, Luxor, Jumilia and Sweet Dolomite. Shamkirchay hydroelectric power station has 25 Megawatt power capacity and built in order to meet local electricity and irrigation water demands.

Agriculture

Viticulture, grain growing, vegetable growing and livestock constitutes the basis of agriculture in Shamkir district.8. For the current year's harvest, in 14129 hectares of area grain were planted during autumn and spring in 2016. Its 8304 hectares were used to plant wheat, and 5777 hectares were for barley. High-quality vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers have been grown over the 906.7 ha greenhouse area in the district. There are total 5791 greenhouses which are heated by different sources: 285 natural gas, 637 of oil products, 2254 firewood and coal, 2811 are non-heated.

Sport
As of 2014, the city is hosting Shamkir Chess tournament in honour of the memory of the chess grandmaster Vugar Gashimov.

Notable natives

 * Ahmad Javad, writer, poet, author of National Anthem of Azerbaijan
 * Farman Salmanov, famous Azerbaijani and Soviet geologist
 * Fazil Mammadov, former Minister of Taxes of Azerbaijan Republic
 * Mubariz Gurbanli, deputy chief of Yeni Azerbaijan Party.
 * Tajaddin Mehdiyev, former Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan

title: Shamkir District


text:
Samukh District

Samukh District (Samux rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the north-west of the country and belongs to the Ganja-Dashkasan Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Goranboy, Goygol, Shamkir, Tovuz, Qakh, Yevlakh, city of Ganja and the Kakheti region of Georgia. Its capital and largest city is Samukh. As of 2020, the district had a population of 58,800.

History
The name "Samukh" comes from a Caucasian Albanian word for 'Forest Hunting Place'. A related term, Samonis, is used to mark this area on Ptolemy's 2nd-century BC map of the Caucasus. There are Bronze Age burial mounds around Samux Town.

As an administrative unit, an entity known as Samukh Rayon was formed in 1930, centred on Garachayly settlement. However, in 1954, the construction of Mingechevir Hydro Power Plant rendered the region impractical as an administrative unit and Samukh Rayon was abolished, its territory thereafter falling within an expanded Safaraliyev Rayon. Safaraliyev Rayon had itself been detached from the Ganjabasar on January 24, 1940, by Decree No.11 of the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijan SSR. In 1959, Safaraliyev Rayon was itself abolished. However, after Azerbaijan's independence, the entity was recreated albeit under the name Samukh Rayon according to Decree No.72 of National Soviet of the Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan on February 18, 1992. Its administrative center, Safaraliyev settlement, was renamed Nəbiağalı on December 31, 1992, then renamed again as Samux during 2008.

Population
By the beginning of 2017, the population of the region was 57.1 thousand, of which 21.4 thousand were urban population and 35.5 thousand were rural population. In 2018, total population increased by 0.6 thousand people and was 57,7. By the beginning of 2018, 28.9 thousand or 49.6% of the total population are men, 28.8 thousand or 50.4% are women.

Also, 1860 refugees are displaced in the region. Census states that 97.88 percent of the population are Azerbaijanis, 0.07-Russians, 0.54-Turkish, 1.40-Kurds and the remaining belong to other ethnic groups.

Geography
There are such rare trees as Eldar pear and Gum-tree, which grow right on rocks, not saline lands. The tree grows only on an area of 392 hectares in Samukh. The Eldar pine-tree emits a lot of oxygen, therefore, it is good for those suffering from asthma.

Historical monuments and heritage
Many famous kurgans are found in Samukh. They belong to Bronze/Stone ages. Also, there is a famous natural monuments-old trees the age of which can be more than a millennium (1000 years). One of the trees has been named as Düldül, in honor of Imam Ali's horse. One of the historical sightseeing of the region includes the Imamzadeh Tomb (8th century), the height of this tower reaches 12m and “Koroglu Tower”.

Other exhibits can be found in the Heydar Aliev Center built in 2007. Center consists of 12 cultural houses, 14 clubs, 34 libraries, and 3 children's music schools.

National reservation
Reservation named “Eldar Shamy” is created to protect the unique and endemic population of rare Eldar Pine trees.

Main sectors of region
Samukh region has a well developed first sector (farming). This region is fertile for grains, livestock, and fruit growing. There are over 200 greenhouses, which cover 61.3 hectares of regions area. Over 5 000 000 kg of fruits and vegetables are cultivated and imported to former soviet union countries (now known as CIS)

Also, factories and agro entities are built in this area. Such as: "AQRO DAIRY" Limited Liability Company, "Boz mountain" livestock complex, "Ulduz 2011" LLC, "Garabagh Region MKT" LLC, "Region Agro" LLC.

title: Samukh District