Lankaran

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Lankaran, or Lenkoran, (Azeri: Lənkəran) is a small city in Azerbaijan, on the coast of the Caspian Sea, near the southern border with Iran, with a population of 48,400 (2002), at least half of which are Talysh. It is next to the rayon of the same name.

The Talysh have preserved their old traditions and customs. They number about 30.000 in an area of about 600 km², sometimes referred as Talyshtan. The name Lankaran is said to come from the Talish words for 'Cane house', that is 'Lan Karan'. The city was built on a swampy 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.

The city is rather recent, dating from the 16th century. Lankaran was for a long time the capital of the Talysh Khanate, which enjoyed variable degrees of independence throughout history. It was first held by Russia from 1728 to 1735, but only fell definitively to Russia's General Kotlyarevsky in 1813, status confirmed by the Treaty of Turkmenchay in 1828.

The Lankaran region is an important producer of spring and winter vegetables. Rice, grapes, tobacco, citrus trees and oak woods thrive in the warm climate. However the main and most famous crop is tea, which is processed at a local tea factories. Other industries are centred around food processing, furniture, silk, wood and fine carpets.

The city has a historic museum, interesting both for the collection and the building itself, it was built on the site of the Khans palace (S.Akhundov street, near the military hospital). The main mosque, located near the bazaar, is quite beautiful and there are several other not so impressive mosques.

There are lots of tanks in Lankaran. One sits in the main square: it is made of white stone and is a memorial to Hazi Aslanov - a tank commander - another is a real tank placed on a podium in the Caspian sea. Besides the memorials Lankaran houses a tank brigade(it used to house the 60th Motor Rifle Division of the Soviet Fourth Army). The local military have had their moments of fame: twice this century Lankaran was the capital of self declared entities. The first time was in 1919 in the confusion after the end of World War I and the initial stages of the Russian civil war, the Bolshevik Mughan Soviet Republic was declared, it rejoined Azerbaijan a few months later. More recently, in the summer of 1993, a new Talysh-Mughan Autonomous Republic was declared by Alikram Humbetov, with the support of the local tank regiment. However, soon after the revolt leader was arrested and the revolt collapsed.

The local soccer field is home to Football Club Khazar.

The beaches near Lankaran are sandy and pleasant. Thermal sulphide, chloride, sodium-calcium waters of Andjin (Upper and Lower) mineral springs are situated 12 km to the West from the town. To the west are the ruins of Ballabur castle, near the village with the same name.

The region has a vast area of national parks, where a varied fauna and flora is preserved. Kizilagach national park hosts over 250 kinds of plants, 30 species of fish and more than 220 kinds of birds. Gircan national park is famous for iron-trees, "Demir-agach".

There is a nightly train from Baku, going as far as Astara. The rather decrepit airport is in the western side of the city.

[edit] See also

Talysh-Mughan Autonomous Republic

Lankaran is also known for Parrotia persica ironwood. It is naturally grown in the region. Local myth is that this is the only wood that sinks in water, hence the name (ironwood). Historically it has been used for heating, since it burns for a long time and coals don't go out easily.