Place:Sheki-Zagatala economic-geographical region

The Shaki-Zagatala economic-geographical region is a region of Azerbaijan. It borders Dagestan, Russia , in the north, and Georgia (at the Mazim River) to the west, and the Girdiman Valley to the east and south.

Geography

Shaki-Zagatala has an area of 8,960 square kilometres (2,210,000 acres) and a population of 586,700 (2012).

The territory is divided into three parts: the southern slope of Greater Caucasus, the Ganikh-Haftaran Valley and the Central Kur Highland (Ajinohur and Turud-Sarica plain, the mountainous part of Shaki). Qabala, Oghuz, Shaki, Gakh, Zagatala and Balakan are rayons within the region. The altitude ranges from 100–466 metres (328–1,529 ft), the peak of Mount Bazardüzü, which is the tallest mountain in Azerbaijan and Russia .

Rivers and lakes

The region includes the following important rivers: Kish, Shin, Balakanchay, Katekh, Damiraparan, Mazim, Mukhakh, Ganikh, Ayrichay, Alijan and Turyan. Rich sources of thermal and mineral waters are available at Oghlanbulag, Gizbulag, Hamambulag, Budusshor, Aghbulag and Khalkhal. Nohur (Qabala) and Ajinohur (Gakh) are the major lakes.

Climate

The region gets 2,200-2,400 hours of sunlight annually. According to the median temperature in the coldest months, the winters in the area vary between mild (0;-5 C) and extremely mild (5-2.5 C). Feasible evaporation in the warm months (April–October) is around 400–1000 mm. The number of days without precipitation ranges between 5 and 25 days in June–September. The frost-free period extends for 150–250 days or more, while the number of days with below freezing temperatures is 20-150. Days with snow cover fluctuate between 20 and 120. At altitudes of 500–700 metres (1,600–2,300 ft) the climate is subtropical, while at higher elevations it is mild and cool; the climate becomes colder with increasing altitude. The region holds second place after the Lankaran-Astara zone for the range of annual rainfall amounts.

Land cover and biodiversity

The most common landscapes in this region are meadows, mountains and forest areas, with a range of forest and mountain soils. The area is characterized by a diverse landscape, more densely forested than other regions of Azerbaijan. Alder (Alnus sp.) Caucasian wing nut (Pterocarya pterocarpa), hybrid poplar (Populus), and long-stem oak (Quercus longipes) are all dominant species of trees in flatland forests. Forests of juniper (Juniperus sp.), Turkish terebinth (Pistacia sp.) and Iberian oak (Quercus iberica) occupy the steppe plateau areas. The dominant flora of the down mountain forest zone (1,000–1,100 metres (3,300–3,600 ft)) are Iberian oak and eastern hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis). The middle mountain forest zone mainly consists of beech (Fagus sp.) forests. The fauna of the region is characterized by mammals such as the brown bear (Ursus arctos).

Further reading

• Abutalibov M.H., Hajiyev V.J. Vegetation of Azerbaijan. Baku, 1976.
• Yusifov, E. Hajiyev, V. Hyrcan. Biospher Rezervation. Baku, 2004
• Azerbaijan: ecotourism potential. Baku, 2012.
• Əliyev H.Ə. Həyəcan təbili. Baku, 2002.

External links

• Economic-Geographical Region of Shaki-Zaqatala, Azerbaijan Geographic Society