Qakh District

Qax is a rayon (district) in the north of Azerbaijan. The capital of the district is the city Qax.

Geography

Qax has an area of 1,494 km ². The district is situated on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus and bordered to the north Dagestan, on the southwest by Georgia. In the south the climate is warm subtropical and cold in the north in the mountains.

History

The region has been controversial for a long time between Georgian and Azerbaijani states. 1562 founded the Safawide Tahmasib I. the Sultanate of Ilisu, which had its center in this area. This reigned in the 18th century for a while via the Sheki Khanate. 1803, the region was annexed by Russia. After the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1918, the region only Azerbaijan and 1919 belonged briefly to Georgia. In 1920 the area was part of the Azerbaijan SSR. 1930 Rayon Qax was founded.

Population

In rayon over 53,100 people living in 60 settlements.

Economy

The economy is dominated by agriculture. There are especially cultivated nuts, cereals and tobacco.

Culture and sights

In the district there are, among others, the sanctuary of Kurmuk, the grave of Hadji -Murat and the remains of the fortress Gasankhan. Furthermore, there are several old towers and caravanserais. The Ilisu village was once the capital of a sultanate today are the remains of the castle and a mosque. In the village of Qum there is a fortress and a basilica from the time of the state Albania. At the village Ləkit ( Lekit ) are the remains of a rare early medieval round church with an inner Tetrakonchos. Which belongs to a larger plant walled church of the Caucasian Albanians represents a smaller successor building of the cathedrals of Zvartnots and Bana

Traffic

The capital Qax is connected to the bus and rail networks of Azerbaijan.