Zangilan District

Zəngilan is a rayon of Azerbaijan in the southwest. The capital of the district is the city Zəngilan. The district is bounded on the east by Iran, on the west by Armenia. The rayon is occupied by the Armenian army and is administered by the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh as part of the province Kaschatach.

History

In the Middle Ages, the region was known by the fortress Grham who later gave her the name and was of greater strategic importance. 1930, the district Zəngilan was created, occupied in 1993 during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict by the Armenian army. Since then Zəngilan is administered by the internationally unrecognized Republic of Nagorno Karabakh as part of the province Kaschatach.

Geography

The district has an area of 707 km ² and is home to the Basutchay National Park. The region is part of the Lesser Caucasus. There are deposits of molybdenum, gold and granite. Through the region, the rivers flow Voghdji, Tzav and Hakari, the western part is forested.

Population

According to the Azerbaijani rayon had 2009 39.100 inhabitants. Prior to 1992, there were mainly Azeris and Kurds. The proportion of Armenians declined since 1950 to nearly zero. After the occupation of a part of the population fled to other parts of Azerbaijan.

Economy

The region is dominated by agriculture. It is cultivated tobacco, potatoes, fruit and cereals. There are also wineries and dairies. The railway line through the district, which connects Baku and Nakhichevan, is out of operation since the occupation.

Culture

In the settlements Bartaz and Kechikli are towers from the 16th century. There are some Armenian churches and monasteries, as well as an old fortress in the southwest of the district.