Nahçivan Nakhchivan Naxçıvan

Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikası

Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikası
Detailed map of Nakhchivan
Capital
(and largest city) Nakhchivan City
Official languages Azerbaijani
Government
- Parliamentary Chairman Vasif Talibov
Autonomous republic
- Establishment of the Nakhchivan ASSR
February 9, 1924
- Nakhchivan
Autonomous Republic
November 17, 1990
Area
- Total 5,363 km2
2,071 sq mi
- Water (%) negligible
Population
- 2007 estimate 398,000
- Density 70.76/km2
183.3/sq mi
Currency Azerbaijani manat (AZN)
Time zone EET (UTC+4)
- Summer (DST) EEST (UTC+5)
1 GeoHive: Country Data: Azerbaijan
2 The State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan


The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (Azerbaijani: Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikası) is a landlocked exclave of Azerbaijan. The region covers 5,363 km² and borders Armenia (221 km) to the east and north, Iran (179 km) to the south and west, and Turkey (15 km) to the northwest. The capital is Nakhchivan City.
Etymology

GEOGRAPHICAL CONDITION



Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (Nakhchivan AR) is situated in the south-west end of the Lesser Caucasus. It has a complicated natural condition.

Due to annexation of Zangazur to Armenia territory in 1918, the Nakhchivan territory was separated from Azerbaijan. Nakhchivan AR is bordered on Armenia, Iran and Turkey.

The key factor of the region is to connect the West with East as it is in historical transition and located on the region. That is why it called "The door of East".

The Nakhchivan AR is a typical mountainous country. 32% of its territory (plains along the Araz river) is situated on 600-1000 metres, and 20% above 2000 metres height from the sealevel. The mountainous area is surrounded from north by Daralayaz and from by Alangaz mountains.

The top point of Alangas mountains pertaining to Lesser Caucasus is Gapyjig (3906 m), but the top of Daralayaz is Kuku mountain (3120 m).

Climate of the Autonomous Republic is severe continental and dry. On-Araz side plains and mountainous tops (1000-2500 m) are characterized by cold winter, dry and hot summer On the mountainous area (2500-3000 m), particularly Batabat plateau snowy cold winter take a special place.

There are several natural lakes in the Autonomous Republic. These lakes are 2000 m higher than the sea-level (Goy-Gol - 3065 m). As the lakes are rich in rain, snow and spring waters they are too sweet. They are in 5-10 m depth, and their area makes up 0,02-0,08 km2.

There have been built some watersheds for irrigation purpose in the Autonomous Republic. The huge watersheds arelocated on Araz (capacity - 1350 mln.m3), Sirab (12,5 mln.m3), Bananiyar (12,7 mln.m3), Uzunoba (9 mln.m3), Nehram (6 mln.m3).






General information
Territory (in km2) - 54000
Population (as of 1998) - 350266
Capital - Nakhchivan (population - 67523)
Distance from Nakhchivan to Baku - 536 kms
Number of administrative units:
Cities under subordination of the Nakchivan AR - 2
City under subordination of the region - 1
Urban settlement - 3
Rural territorial unit - 90
Villages - 208
Cities - Nakhchivan, Ordubad, Julfa, Sharur
Regional centers - Sharur, Babek, Ordubad, Julfa, Shahbuz, Sadarak
Borders - On the Islamic Republic of Iran from south (204 km), on Republic of Turkey from south-west (11 kms); on Armenia from north and north-east (246 kms)
Language - Azerbaijani
Currency - Manat
Key rivers - The Araz, Nakhchivanchay, Shargi Arpachay, Alinjachay, Gilanchay
Basic lakes - The Ganlygol, Batabatgol, Salvartygol and Goy-gol
Climate - Severe continental and temperature climate peculiar to Batabat plateau
Natural reserves - Mineral water, stone-salt, metal ores (including valuable metals), non-ore deposits
Key crops - Grapes, tobacco, fruit and berry, grain, sugar-beet
Leading industrial branches - Construction materials producing industry, food industry, textile indusrty, wine manufacturing industry and silkworn breeding industry
Key demographic, economic and social figures
Rural population (in %) - 69,8
Urban population (in %) - 30,2
Density of population (man./km2) - 63,7
Child mortality per 1000 birth (in person) - 17,3
Population growth (in %) - 2,1
Employed population (in person) - 75053 only
In industry – 11,2%
In rural economy – 40,4%
In service field – 48,4%
Foreign trade (in mln. USD) - 3,7
Import - 2,0
Export - 1,7




Tourism

In the time of the former Soviet Union Nakhchivan was a closed boundry region and tourism was not successfully developed here. However, its natural variability, plateaus, rich mineral springs, the most ancient historical monuments, valuable cultural sources make favourable conditions for development of tourism.

The attractive and magnificiant Batabat and Ordubad plateaus (around Goy-Gol) is available for plateau tourism. There is a great advantage to develop winter tourism there.

Nakhchivan, at the same time, retains rich culture and history, this promotes the development of tourism. It is sufficient to cite such a fact that "Ahsabul-Kahf" that is called in "Gur'ani Karim" is located only at 10-15 kms from Nakhchivan city. The buildings here are restored, and built automobile highways. This sacred place can be turned into a sanctuary for religious figures within the shortest time.

The nature affords an advantage to develop health tourism around more than 200 mineral water sources on Nakhchivan territory. These mineral water groups include more important and valuable sources, such as "Badamly", "Sirab", "Darydagh", "Nahajir" "Gyzylvang" "Shorsu" etc.

However one should separately touch upon the three mineral water sources which make favourable conditions to develop medical and health tourism. They are followings:

I. Establishment of health resorts on the basis of mineral water sources.

For instance, the latest investigations revealed that the Darydagh thermal waters play a paramount role in medical treatment of cardial-vessel system, skin diseases, junctions, metabolism breach, gynaecological or female disorders, etc.

Furthermore, this water is too rich as per chemical compositions. The water was chemically tested and further discovered that its main components contain up to 15 onion and catons. The water contains 8 g/I solved CO2 and 5,3 g/I CO2. These showings prove that it is available to produce liquid CO2 which is considered a valuable raw material for food-processing industry. There has been operating a unit since 1980.

II. Promotion of health tourism through application of herbs, and medical preparation manufacture:

It was established that on the territory of the Autonomous Republic grow about 1000 kinds of herb which are applicable both in the scientific and national medicine. Shahbuz is one of the advanced region in Europe and Caucasus per richness of its flora.

110 kinds of herb have been included in State pharmacopoeia, and are being broadly applied in modern medicine. These herbs can be consumed in medical treatment of numerous diseases.

The Autonomous Republic is rich in herb reserves of which are prepared largely used "Avisan", "Alanton", "Anabazin-hydrochlorid", "Astmatin", "Berberin-bisulphate" , "Vinkopan" "Glisiram", "Likviriton", "Datiskan" "Kaleflon", "Mukaltin", "Flamin", "Sistenal", "K-holosas" and other medicines.

Vitamin, alkaloid, glucosite, iodine containing herbs, also industrially important herbs largely spread on this territory and they have sufficient natural reserves.

One can make different substances and medical preparations for various medical tea, food paints, extracts, body spray, biological creams, soaps, shampoo, aromatic drinks, ethers, juices, lasyons, etc.

It should be, inter ana, noted that there is no environment polluting industrial branch in the Autonomous Republic.

The ecological cleanness which is required for collection and production of herbs is on the highest standard.

Ill. Medical treatment of bronchial tubes diseases (bronchitis, bronchial, asthma) on the base of "Duzdagh" salt field's empty mines.

This medical treatment is made by keeping the patients in the empty salt mines for several hours per a day. The salt atmosphere in the empty salt mines is one of the primary factors in medical treatment of ft patients and yields a positive result. It should be me remarked that such a medical treatment existed only in Nakhchivan in the time of the former Soviet Union and various patients used, to visit here from every corner of the Soviet Union. Due to existing up-to-date situation this medical location has faced with critical problems. Ferrux Aliyarov