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 2020, the district had a population of 232,000.

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), a subspecies of the leopard, lives in the national park as well.

Water and sewerage

Some measures have been undertaken to improve the drinking 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. A water purification system, one 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

Ten 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.

According to the State Statistics Committee, as of 2018, the population of the city recorded 226,900 persons, which increased by 35,600 persons (about 18.6 percent) from 191,300 persons in 2000. Of the total population, 113,900 are men and 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.

{| class="wikitable"

|+The population of the district by the year (at the beginning of the year, thousand persons)

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.

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 five 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

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

See also

  • Lankaran Lowland

References

  • Official District webpage
  • (English version)