.gif)
Astara (rayon)
Encyclopedia
Astara is the southernmost rayon in southeastern Azerbaijan
.
is a small picturesque Caspian
port town, on the Azerbaijan
-Iran
border, capital of Azerbaijan
's southernmost rayon. Coming southbound from Lankaran
, there is a giant samovar by the road welcoming visitors to the rayon.
Astara rayon is very wooded with 37000 ha (370 km²) of forests. Famous Juglans sigillata
is a commonplace in Astara woods. Astarachay and Tangarud rivers that flow through the rayon start at Talysh Mountains
which are in the western part of the rayon. Highest peaks are 200 m (656.2 ft) above sea level. The northeastern part of the rayon is lowlands. A part of the Hirkan National Park
is located in Astara rayon. Istisu, Ağ körppü, Sım, Bi, Toradi, Şeyx Nəsrullah resorts of Astara have treating mineral water. Average temperature is -1.5◦ C - 4◦C in January,15-25◦C in July. Annual rainfall is 1200-1750 mm.
or Talysh
word آهسته رو (Aste-ro or Aheste-ro), meaning "the place where the travel gets slower" (given the marshlands that surrounded the region before).The oldest theory comes from Vedic songs and writings which explains Astara as a place where the rays of lights shine from behind to light the pathways ahead.
tower among the folk, ancient tower in Nudis village, Məşədi Abutalıb bath house, Hajı Teymur and Haji Jahanbakhish mosques in Pensərvillage, tomb in Şahağac
village, Karbalayi Hamid Abdulla bath house in Ərçivan village. Ərçivan village is also rich with famous sulphur-rich springs, which if ignited lights up. In addition, ancient fortress gates, 7th century tomb, caravanserai
, stone monuments pertaining to Stone and Bronze Ages in Qapıçıməhəllə village, ruins of 8th century bridges in Sipiyəpart, Lomin
və Pəlikəş villages are a major tourist attraction.
also enters Azerbaijan in Astara.
Ethnic groups:95% Azerbaijani, 5% Talysh
Language: Azeri language
, with the Iranian half of the town, also called Astara
, on the other side of the river Astara. The Baku
to Tehran
bus stops in Astara.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
.
General information
Astara Rayon was established in 1930. In 1963, it was abolished as rayon and its territory incorporated into Lankaran Rayon and in 1965, its administrative rayon status was restored. Overall area of the rayon is 616.4 km² (238 sq mi). Its population is 95,300 people. The rayon capital, AstaraAstara, Azerbaijan
Astara, also, Azerbaycan Astarasi is a city in and the capital of the Astara Rayon of Azerbaijan. Astara is a short walk across the border from Astara, Iran.- The TV Tower :There is a 243.9 metre tall lattice steel TV tower, built in 1981...
is a small picturesque Caspian
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...
port town, on the Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
-Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
border, capital of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
's southernmost rayon. Coming southbound from Lankaran
Lankaran
-History:The city was built on a swamp along the northern bank of the river bearing the city's name. There are remains of human settlements in the area dating back to the Neolithic period as well as ruins of fortified villages from the Bronze and Iron Ages. Lankaran's history is rather recent,...
, there is a giant samovar by the road welcoming visitors to the rayon.
Astara rayon is very wooded with 37000 ha (370 km²) of forests. Famous Juglans sigillata
Juglans sigillata
Juglans sigillata, known as the Iron Walnut, is a species of walnut tree. The tree has been cultivated for its edible nuts. The nuts are oval-shaped with bumps and ridges. The tree is also use for its wood. It is commonly found in Yunnan, but are also found in Guizhou, Sichuan and Xizang in China...
is a commonplace in Astara woods. Astarachay and Tangarud rivers that flow through the rayon start at Talysh Mountains
Talysh Mountains
Talysh Mountains is a mountain chain in northwestern Iran, and southeastern Republic of Azerbaijan in the northwest section of the Elburz Mountains, extending southeastward from the Lankaran Lowland in southeast Azerbaijan to the lower part of the Sefid Rud in northwest Iran...
which are in the western part of the rayon. Highest peaks are 200 m (656.2 ft) above sea level. The northeastern part of the rayon is lowlands. A part of the Hirkan National Park
Hirkan National Park
Hirkan National Park — is a national park of Azerbaijan. It was established by the decree of the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, in an area in Lankaran Rayon and Astara Rayon administrative districts on February 9, 2004 on the basis of the former "Hirkan State Reserve" which it superseded,...
is located in Astara rayon. Istisu, Ağ körppü, Sım, Bi, Toradi, Şeyx Nəsrullah resorts of Astara have treating mineral water. Average temperature is -1.5◦ C - 4◦C in January,15-25◦C in July. Annual rainfall is 1200-1750 mm.
Etymology
There are two main theories for the etymology of the city's name. One is that it derived from the PersianPersian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
or Talysh
Talysh language
The Talyshi language is a Northwestern Iranian language spoken in the northern regions of the Iranian provinces of Gilan and Ardabil and the southern regions of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Historically, the language and its people can be traced through the middle Iranian period back to the ancient...
word آهسته رو (Aste-ro or Aheste-ro), meaning "the place where the travel gets slower" (given the marshlands that surrounded the region before).The oldest theory comes from Vedic songs and writings which explains Astara as a place where the rays of lights shine from behind to light the pathways ahead.
Architectural monuments
There are over 400 historical and architectural monuments in the rayon, among them a tower in Şindan village often called BabekBabek
Babek is modern Azerbaijani Turkish pronunciation of the Persian word Babak. It may refer to:* Babek , capital of Babek Rayon*Babek , 1979 Azerbaijani film* Babek Rayon, an administrative division of Azerbaijan...
tower among the folk, ancient tower in Nudis village, Məşədi Abutalıb bath house, Hajı Teymur and Haji Jahanbakhish mosques in Pensərvillage, tomb in Şahağac
Sahagac
Şahağac is a village and municipality in the Astara Rayon of Azerbaijan. It has a population of 4,300....
village, Karbalayi Hamid Abdulla bath house in Ərçivan village. Ərçivan village is also rich with famous sulphur-rich springs, which if ignited lights up. In addition, ancient fortress gates, 7th century tomb, caravanserai
Caravanserai
A caravanserai, or khan, also known as caravansary, caravansera, or caravansara in English was a roadside inn where travelers could rest and recover from the day's journey...
, stone monuments pertaining to Stone and Bronze Ages in Qapıçıməhəllə village, ruins of 8th century bridges in Sipiyəpart, Lomin
Lomin
Lomin is a village and municipality in the Astara Rayon of Azerbaijan. It has a population of 549. The municipality consists of the villages of Lomin and Vovlada....
və Pəlikəş villages are a major tourist attraction.
Economy
Astara is a major source for Azerbaijan's fishing industry. Having a long coastline and inner access to rivers, the rayon has access to many types of marketable fish. It is an important transit point for all kinds of goods, as the numerous lorries at the border well illustrate. The pipeline coming from AbadanAbadan
Abadan is a city in and the capital of Abadan County, Khuzestan Province, Iran. It lies on Abadan Island , from the Persian Gulf, near the Iraqi-Iran border. The civilian population of the city dropped to near zero during the eight-years Iran–Iraq War. In 1992, only 84,774 had returned to live...
also enters Azerbaijan in Astara.
People
Religion: Mostly Islam Shi'a IslamEthnic groups:95% Azerbaijani, 5% Talysh
Language: Azeri language
Travelling
The town has a border crossing into IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, with the Iranian half of the town, also called Astara
Astara, Iran
- People :* Religion: Mostly Islam Shi'a Islam* Ethnic groups:90% Azerbaijani, 5% Talysh, 5% other:Persian, Kurd, Russian * Language: Azeri, Persian, Talysh language- Famous people from Astara :* Ebrahim Nabavi - Iranian journalist...
, on the other side of the river Astara. The Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
to Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
bus stops in Astara.