Shakhdag National Park
Encyclopedia
Shahdag National Park — is a national park
of Azerbaijan
. It was established by the decree of the President of Azerbaijan
Ilham Aliyev
, on an area of 115900 hectares (1,159 km²) in the Quba Rayon, Qusar Rayon, İsmayıllı Rayon, Qəbələ Rayon, Oğuz Rayon and Şamaxı Rayon administrative districts on December 8, 2006. It was enlarged by presidential decree on July 8, 2010 from 115900 hectares (1,159 km²) to 130508.1 hectares (1,305.1 km²).
It is located in northern Azerbaijan, close to the border with Russia
at the Greater Caucasus Mountains
.
Mount Bazardüzü, the highest mountain of Azerbaijan is located in Shadag National Park.
The Shahdag National Park is the largest national park not only Azerbaijan but in the whole Caucasus
.
The World Bank has allocated a $17 million loan and $8 million grant for the national park's creation, while the government of Japan
has provided $8 million as a grant for the project implementation. The Shakhdag National Park will help address ecological issues and build a tourist infrastructure in the Caucasus for visitors.
), Caucasian Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa), European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), Oriental Hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis
), Oriental Beech (Fagus orientalis), Silver Birch (Betula pendula), White Birch (Betula pubescens), Common Yew (Taxus baccata
), White Willow (Salix alba), Common Walnut (Juglans regia), Wild Cherry (Prunus avium
), Caucasian Pear (Pyrus communis subsp. caucasica), etc.
Shrub species occurring in the area include Various-Leaved Hawthorn (Crataegus heterophylla), Dog Rose (Rosa canina), Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), Common Medlar (Mespilus germanica), European Barberry (Berberis vulgaris
), etc.
found only in the eastern half of the Caucasus Mountains
. Other large mammals found here are the Caucasian chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra subsp. caucasica), Bezoar ibex (Capra aegagrus aegagrus), domestic goat (Capra aegagrus hircus), lynx (Lynx lynx), brown bear (Ursus arctos), wild boar (Sus scrofa), wolf (Canis lupus), golden jackal (Canis aureus), jungle cat (Felis chaus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), badger (Meles meles), and otter (Lutra lutra), etc.
National Parks of Azerbaijan
National Parks of Azerbaijan refers to the situation and the listing of national parks in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The national parks of Azerbaijan are run by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. The first national park that was established in Azerbaijan, is the Zangezur National Park...
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...
. It was established by the decree of the President of Azerbaijan
President of Azerbaijan
The country of Azerbaijan is a presidential republic, with the President of Azerbaijan as the head of state, and the Prime Minister of Azerbaijan as head of government...
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev is the President of Azerbaijan since 2003. He also functions as the Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party and the head of the National Olympic Committee...
, on an area of 115900 hectares (1,159 km²) in the Quba Rayon, Qusar Rayon, İsmayıllı Rayon, Qəbələ Rayon, Oğuz Rayon and Şamaxı Rayon administrative districts on December 8, 2006. It was enlarged by presidential decree on July 8, 2010 from 115900 hectares (1,159 km²) to 130508.1 hectares (1,305.1 km²).
It is located in northern Azerbaijan, close to the border with Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
at the Greater Caucasus Mountains
Greater Caucasus
Greater Caucasus , sometimes translated as "Caucasus Major", "Big Caucasus" or "Large Caucasus") is the major mountain range of the Caucasus Mountains....
.
Mount Bazardüzü, the highest mountain of Azerbaijan is located in Shadag National Park.
The Shahdag National Park is the largest national park not only Azerbaijan but in the whole Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
.
The World Bank has allocated a $17 million loan and $8 million grant for the national park's creation, while the government of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
has provided $8 million as a grant for the project implementation. The Shakhdag National Park will help address ecological issues and build a tourist infrastructure in the Caucasus for visitors.
Flora
The major types of trees are Caucasian Oak (Quercus macrantheraQuercus macranthera
Quercus macranthera, commonly called the Caucasian Oak, or the Persian Oak, is a species of deciduous tree native to Western Asia Quercus macranthera, commonly called the Caucasian Oak, or the Persian Oak, is a species of deciduous tree native to Western Asia Quercus macranthera, commonly called...
), Caucasian Ash (Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa), European Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), Oriental Hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis
Carpinus orientalis
Carpinus orientalis is a hornbeam native from southeastern Europe to northern Iran and occurs usually on hot dry sites at lower altitudes than European Hornbeam....
), Oriental Beech (Fagus orientalis), Silver Birch (Betula pendula), White Birch (Betula pubescens), Common Yew (Taxus baccata
Taxus baccata
Taxus baccata is a conifer native to western, central and southern Europe, northwest Africa, northern Iran and southwest Asia. It is the tree originally known as yew, though with other related trees becoming known, it may be now known as the English yew, or European yew.-Description:It is a small-...
), White Willow (Salix alba), Common Walnut (Juglans regia), Wild Cherry (Prunus avium
Prunus avium
Prunus avium, commonly called wild cherry, sweet cherry, bird cherry, or gean, is a species of cherry, native to Europe, west Turkey, northwest Africa, and western Asia, from the British Isles south to Morocco and Tunisia, north to the Trondheimsfjord region in Norway and east to the Caucasus, and...
), Caucasian Pear (Pyrus communis subsp. caucasica), etc.
Shrub species occurring in the area include Various-Leaved Hawthorn (Crataegus heterophylla), Dog Rose (Rosa canina), Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), Common Medlar (Mespilus germanica), European Barberry (Berberis vulgaris
Berberis vulgaris
Berberis vulgaris /// is a shrub in the family Berberidaceae, native to central and southern Europe, northwest Africa and western Asia; it is also naturalised in northern Europe, including the British Isles and Scandinavia, and North America.It is a deciduous shrub growing up to 4 m high...
), etc.
Fauna
The national park is home to the rare East Caucasian tur (Capra cylindricornis), a mountain dwelling goat antelopeGoat antelope
A goat-antelope or caprid is any of the species of mostly medium-sized bovids that make up the subfamily Caprinae , part of the Bovidae family of ruminants...
found only in the eastern half of the Caucasus Mountains
Caucasus Mountains
The Caucasus Mountains is a mountain system in Eurasia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in the Caucasus region .The Caucasus Mountains includes:* the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range and* the Lesser Caucasus Mountains....
. Other large mammals found here are the Caucasian chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra subsp. caucasica), Bezoar ibex (Capra aegagrus aegagrus), domestic goat (Capra aegagrus hircus), lynx (Lynx lynx), brown bear (Ursus arctos), wild boar (Sus scrofa), wolf (Canis lupus), golden jackal (Canis aureus), jungle cat (Felis chaus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), badger (Meles meles), and otter (Lutra lutra), etc.
See also
- Nature of AzerbaijanNature of AzerbaijanThe environment of Azerbaijan includes a wide diversity of climates, animals, plants, and habitats.-National protection:Due to the tapping of oil reserves in the early 20th century, Azerbaijan has had sufficient resources to develop an industrial sector, which in turn led to a significant increase...
- National Parks of AzerbaijanNational Parks of AzerbaijanNational Parks of Azerbaijan refers to the situation and the listing of national parks in the Republic of Azerbaijan. The national parks of Azerbaijan are run by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. The first national park that was established in Azerbaijan, is the Zangezur National Park...
- State Reserves of AzerbaijanState Reserves of AzerbaijanState Reserves of Azerbaijan refers to the state reserves in Azerbaijan, which preserve the fauna, flora and their ecosystems.State Reserves bear the status of governmental establishments aimed at environmental protection and scientific researches. They are particularly designed for the protection...
- List of protected areas of Azerbaijan