Lerik District

Last updated
Lerik District
Lerik rayonu
District
Lerik District in Azerbaijan.svg
Map of Azerbaijan showing Lerik District
Country Flag of Azerbaijan.svg  Azerbaijan
Region Lankaran-Astara
Established8 August 1930
Capital Lerik
Settlements [1] 162
Government
 •  Governor Akbar Abbasov
Area
 • Total
1,084 km2 (419 sq mi)
Population
 (2020) [2]
 • Total
87,000
 • Density80/km2 (210/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+4 (AZT)
Postal code
4300
Website lerik-ih.gov.az

Lerik District (Azerbaijani : Lerik rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the southeast of the country and belongs to the Lankaran-Astara Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Yardimli, Masally, Lankaran, Astara and the Ardabil Province of Iran. Its capital and largest city is Lerik. As of 2022, the district had a population of 87,000. [2] It is located between the Talysh Mountains and the agricultural plain of the Lankaran Lowland.

Contents

History

Lerik district was established in August 1930. It was called "Zuvand District" until January 1938. 29 municipalities operate in the district. The district includes a city and 162 villages with a total area of 1084 square kilometer. In accordance with the presidential decree dated June 13, 2008, the settlement of Lerik was granted the status of a city.

The territory of the Lerik district is one of the oldest settlements in Azerbaijan. There exist some caves which are considered to belong to the Bronze Age. These caves are located in the foothills of the mountains.

Different items belonging to the Stone Age were found in the Lerik district. The cave called “Buzeyir” is the oldest settlement in the territory of Azerbaijan. In the 18th-19th centuries, French archaeologist Jacques de Morgan, K. Schaffer and his brother Henri called this territory "archaeological paradise" during archaeological excavations. Morgan has conducted archaeological excavations at the Gizilbashlar cemetery in the village of Veri of Lerik. [3] [4]

Professor Asadulla Jafarov, head of the Archeology and Ethnography Department of the History Institute of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, conducted scientific researches in the territory of Lerik region and for the first time discovered an ancient human camp belonging to the Middle Paleolithic Age in the Buzeyir cave.

People

Ethnic groups in Lerik (2019)

   Azerbaijanis (76.58%)
   Talyshs (23.33%)
  Others (0.09%)

Lerik is mainly famous for the longevity of some of its citizens. It is known for myths of human longevity; a man named Shirali Baba Muslimov, born in the village of Barzavu, who was reported by the Guinness Book of Records to have been aged 168 when he died and was believed to have lived between 1805 and 1973. The majority of the district's population is Talysh and Azerbaijani.

Population

Population of the district by the year (at the beginning of the year, thsd. persons) [5]
Population2000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
Lerik region64,365,366,267,368,369,670,972,073,274,375,276,477,578,779,780,881,982,883,884,785,886,6
urban population6,86,86,97,07,17,27,27,27,27,37,37,57,98,08,08,18,28,38,48,58,68,7
rural population57,558,559,360,361,262,463,764,866,067,067,968,969,670,771,772,773,774,575,476,277,277,9

Travel

Located in Lerik are a local history museum and the Karabakh war memorial, located between the parade ground and the modest city hall.

Lerik can be reached from Lankaran using the A323 road. It is a very scenic route along the Lankaran river and the Hirkan National Park. Buses run regularly to Lankaran and Baku. The maximum annual precipitation in Lerik and the Talysh Mountains is between 1,600 mm to 1,800 mm, which along the Lankaran Lowland is the highest in the country.

Geographical position

The Lerik region territory is surrounded by the Talysh mountain range.  Lerik region is bordered by Yardimli in the south and south-west, in the north-east Lankaran, in the north-west Masalli, and in the south-east Astara. The Talysh mountain range extends along the border with the Islamic Republic of Iran and in the north beyond the Peshtasar and Bouravar mountain ranges. The length of the border is 49.5 kilometers with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Zuvand (Diabar) Trench is located between the Talysh and Buddhist ridges. The Komurgoy (2492 m) and Gizyurd (2433 m) are the highest peaks in the Talysh Range. It mostly consists of Paleogene volcanogenic-sedimentary rocks. The region covers  40.3 thousand hectares of forest.

The Zuvand State Reserve is located in Zuvand. The Botanical Research Center of the National Academy of Sciences studies of the Fauna and Flora is operating here. [6]

Climate

Climate data for Lerik
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)4.5
(40.1)		5.2
(41.4)		9.2
(48.6)		13.4
(56.1)		18.3
(64.9)		22.5
(72.5)		25.4
(77.7)		25.8
(78.4)		21
(70)		16.1
(61.0)		10.2
(50.4)		6.4
(43.5)		14.8
(58.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)−5.1
(22.8)		−4
(25)		−0.5
(31.1)		4
(39)		9.5
(49.1)		13.5
(56.3)		16.4
(61.5)		16.3
(61.3)		13.1
(55.6)		8.6
(47.5)		2
(36)		−2.8
(27.0)		5.9
(42.7)
Average precipitation mm (inches)75
(3.0)		89
(3.5)		99
(3.9)		107
(4.2)		106
(4.2)		56
(2.2)		33
(1.3)		48
(1.9)		122
(4.8)		166
(6.5)		119
(4.7)		80
(3.1)		1,100
(43.3)
Source: Climate-Data.org(1991-2021) [7]

Economy

The district is mainly occupied by mountainous relief, where the population is mainly engaged in agriculture. Annually 2790 tons of grains from 1454 hectares are planted in the region.

Education

There are 107 secondary schools in the district. About 1269 teachers work in schools. 

Health

Lerik Region Central Hospital provides medical care to 82 thousand people.

Cultural heritage

There are 27 architectural monuments of local importance, memorial monuments, and 78 decorative monuments in the territory of the Lerik district. A historical museum, as well as the museum of “Longevity”, and an art gallery operates in the city. [8]

Ancient mansion "Qizyurdu"l, Baba Isa tomb in the village of Mondigah, Mausoleum of Khalifa Zechariah, Mosque in Lulekaran village (19th century) Jabir Mausoleum (12th–14th centuries) and so on are the most famous monuments in the region.

Among historical places, the Boy and Girl castles are very famous in the territory. These castles were constructed with the purpose of defense. In one legend it is said that these castles were the houses of ancient Albanians. There are still Albanian cemeteries near the castles.

During the Safavid rule, Shah Ismayil also sent his faithful people to the Lerik region. The Babagil mausoleum, which turned into a sanctuary, is the hallmark of those times.

There are 11 cultural centers, 64 libraries (one central library in the city, one children's library), 55 clubs, 1 painting gallery, 2 primary music schools in the district.

303700 copies of the political, artistic and scientific literature have been collected in the branches of the centralized library system of the district. 24 thousand people benefit from this fund.

Notable people

See also

Related Research Articles

Talish-i Gushtasbi is the historical name of the northern Talish area, presently a part of the Republic of Azerbaijan. During the Abbasid Caliphate, there was a region called Gushtasfi. People of northern Talysh are of Iranian stock and speak a northwestern Iranian language called Talysh. The chief cities of the mentioned area are Lankaran, Lerik, Masally and Astara. Talysh language speaking people lives mainly in Astara, Lerik, Lankaran, and in Masally constitutes only small part of population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talysh people</span> Iranian ethnic group

The Talysh people or Talyshis, Talyshes, Talyshs, Talishis, Talishes, Talishs, Talesh are an Iranian ethnic group, with the majority residing in Azerbaijan and a minority in Iran. They are the indigenous people of the Talish, a region on the western shore of the Caspian Sea shared between Azerbaijan and Iran. The main city of the Talysh people and their homeland is Lankaran, the majority of the population of which is ethnically Talysh. They speak the Talysh language, one of the Northwestern Iranian languages. The majority of Talyshis are Shiite Muslims.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Astara District</span> District of Azerbaijan

Astara District is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the southeast of the country, in the Lankaran-Astara Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Lankaran and Lerik, as well as the Ardabil and Gilan provinces of Iran. Its capital and largest city is Astara. As of 2020, the district had a population of 110,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balakan District</span> District of Azerbaijan

Balakan District 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 district of Zagatala, as well as the Kakheti region of Georgia and the Russian Republic of Dagestan. Its capital and largest city is Balakan. As of 2020, the district had a population of 99,100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jalilabad District (Azerbaijan)</span> District of Azerbaijan

Jalilabad District is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the southeast of the country and belongs to the Lankaran-Astara Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Masally, Yardimli, Bilasuvar, and Neftchala. Its capital and largest city is Jalilabad. As of 2020, the district had a population of 225,300.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masally District</span> District of Azerbaijan

Masally District is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the southeast of the country and belongs to the Lankaran-Astara Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Lankaran, Lerik, Yardimli, Jalilabad, and Neftchala. Its capital and largest city is Masally. As of 2020, the district had a population of 227,700.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lankaran District</span> District of Azerbaijan

Lankaran District 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zangilan District</span> District of Azerbaijan

Zangilan District 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 districts of Qubadli, Jabrayil, the Syunik Province of Armenia and the East Azerbaijan Province of Iran. Its capital and largest city is Zangilan. As of 2020, the district had a nominal population of 45,200.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yardimli District</span> District of Azerbaijan

Yardimli District is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the south-east of the country and is part of the Lankaran-Astara Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Jalilabad, Masally, Lerik, and the Ardabil Province of Iran. Its capital and largest city is Yardimli. As of 2020, the district had a population of 68,000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lankaran</span> City in Lankaran-Astara, Azerbaijan

Lankaran is a city in Azerbaijan, on the coast of the Caspian Sea, near the southern border with Iran. As of 2021, the city had a population of 89,300. It is next to, but independent of, Lankaran District. The city forms a distinct first-order division of Azerbaijan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Talysh Khanate</span> 18th–19th century Iranian Khanate

The Talysh Khanate or Talish Khanate was an Iranian khanate of Talysh origin that was established in Afsharid Persia and existed from the middle of the 18th century till the beginning of the 19th century, located in the south-west coast of the Caspian Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lerik, Azerbaijan</span> Place in Lerik, Azerbaijan

Lerik is the capital city of Lerik District in the southern area of Azerbaijan not far from the Iran border. It is located in the Talysh Mountains, a northwestern subrange of the Alborz (Elburz) mountain range. The majority of the population is Talysh.

Gizilkend(Azerbaijani: Qızılkənd) is a village and municipality in the Imishli Rayon of Azerbaijan. It has a population of about 5000.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buzeyir cave</span> Cave and archaeological site in Azerbaijan

Buzeyir cave – is an archaeological site and Paleolithic place of human habitation. The cave is located on the left bank of the Zuvandchay River, at the top of Delikli-Dash Mountain, 3 km (1.9 mi) at an altitude of 1,640 m (5,380 ft) above sea level and to the east of Büzeyir village in Lerik Rayon, Azerbaijan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lankaran-Astara Economic Region</span> Economic region of Azerbaijan

Lankaran-Astara Economic Region is one of the 14 economic regions of Azerbaijan. It borders Iran to the south and west, Caspian Sea to the east and Shirvan-Salyan Economic Region to the north. The region consists of the districts of Jalilabad, Astara, Lerik, Lankaran, Masally and Yardimli. It has an area of 6,070 square kilometres (2,340 sq mi). Its population was estimated to be at 953.6 thousand people in January 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tea growing in Azerbaijan</span>

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Tālīsh is a region in the southwestern coast of the Caspian Sea. It is a homeland of the indigenous Talysh people, who inhabit the region and speak the Talysh language. The territory and the language set apart Talish from its neighbors.

The Lankaran Uprisings were a series of several armed uprisings in the southern districts of Azerbaijan against the Soviet regime starting from July 1920. The early attempts of rebellion were successful, bringing crushing blows upon the local Soviet forces and taking control of many districts in the southernmost districts of the Azerbaijani SSR. But additional Soviet forces were sent to the region via Baku in 1921 and the guerillas couldn't compete with the Soviet naval support from the Caspian Sea. Two more uprisings were commended until 1922, when the Soviet authority finally got full control of the region.

The Deportation of the Talysh people was Stalin's deportations with the aim of ethnic cleansing of the Talysh population from areas bordering Iran, as well as with the aim of internal changes in the ethnic composition of certain areas. It was carried out in Central Asia and in the Kura-Araks zone of the Azerbaijan SSR.

References

  1. ↑ "İnzibati-ərazi vahidləri" (PDF). preslib.az. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  2. 1 2 "Population of Azerbaijan". stat.gov.az. State Statistics Committee . Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  3. ↑ Azärbaycan arxeologiyası: Daş dövrü. Şärq-Qärb. 2008. ISBN   9789952498080.
  4. ↑ "LATE BRONZE AND IRON AGE STONE BOX, KURGAN GRAVES AND SETTLEMENTS OF SOUTHEAST REGION OF AZERBAIJAN".
  5. ↑ Political division, population size and structure: Population by towns and regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan. "Population | The State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan". The State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
  6. ↑ "Coğrafi mövqeyi - LERİK RAYON Icra Hakimiyyəti". lerik-ih.gov.az. Retrieved 2018-11-21.
  7. ↑ "Climate: Lerik" . Retrieved 2020-04-14.
  8. ↑ "Visions of Azerbaijan Magazine ::: Lerik's Unique Museum of Longevity". Visions of Azerbaijan Magazine.

38°47′00″N48°25′00″E / 38.78333°N 48.41667°E / 38.78333; 48.41667

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