Sheki-Zagatala economic-geographical region

The Sheki-Zagatala economic-geographical region is a region of Azerbaijan. It borders the Autonomous Republic of Dagestan and the Republic of Georgia (at the Mazim River) to the west, the Girdiman Valley to the east, and to the south.

Geography

Sheki-Zagatala has an area of 8,960 square kilometres (2,210,000 acres) and a population of 586,700 (2012).[1]

The territory is divided into three parts: the southern slope of Greater Caucasus, the Ganikh-Haftaran Valley, and the Central Kur Highland (Ajinohur and Turud-Sarica plain, the mountainous part of Sheki). Qabala, Oghuz, Sheki, Gakh, Zagatala and Balakan are rayons within the region. The minimum altitude of the area is 100 metres (330 ft) and the maximum 4,466 metres (14,652 ft), the peak of Mount Bazardüzü, which is the tallest mountain in Azerbaijan, the Russian Federation, and Dagestan.

Rivers and lakes

The region includes the following important rivers: Kish (33 kilometres (21 mi)), Shin (39 kilometres (24 mi)), Balakanchay (39 kilometres (24 mi)), Katekh (54 kilometres (34 mi)), Damiraparan (69 kilometres (43 mi)), Mazim (30 kilometres (19 mi)), Mukhakh (56 kilometres (35 mi)), Ganikh (413 kilometres (257 mi)), Ayrichay (46 kilometres (29 mi)), Alijan (98 kilometres (61 mi)), and Turyan (180 kilometres (110 mi)). There are rich sources of thermal and mineral waters at Oghlanbulag, Gizbulag, Hamambulag, Budusshor, Aghbulag, and Khalkhal. Nohur (Qabala) and Ajinohur (Gakh) are the major lakes of the region.

Climate

The region receives 2,200-2,400 hours of sunlight annually. According to the median temperature in the coldest months, the winters in the area vary between mild (0;-5 C), very mild (2.5 - 0 C) and extremely mild (5-2.5 C). Feasible evaporation in the warm months (April–October) is around 400–1000 mm. The number of days without precipitation ranges between 5 and 25 days in June–September. The length of the frost-free period during the year is 150–250 days or more, but the number of days with below freezing temperatures is 20-150. Days with snow cover fluctuate between 20 and 120. At 500–700 metres (1,600–2,300 ft) above sea level the climate is subtropical, while at higher elevations it is mild and cool; the climate becomes colder with increasing altitude. The region holds second place after the Lankaran-Astara zone for the range of annual rainfall amounts.

Land cover and biodiversity

The most common landscapes in this region are mountain-meadows, mountain and forest-meadows, with brown-mountain and forest, mountain, forest, meadow-brown, gray-brown mountain, chestnut mountain, chestnut, brown, meadow, forest and meadow soils. The area is characterized by a diverse landscape, with a greater forested area than other regions of Azerbaijan. Alder (Alnus sp.) Caucasian wing nut (Pterocarya pterocarpa) hybrid poplar (Populus), and long-stem oak (Quercus longipes) are dominant species of tree in flatland areas of low-lying forests. There are forests of juniper (Juniperus sp.), Turkish terebinth (Pistacia sp.) and Iberian oak (Quercus iberica) in the steppe plateau areas. The dominant flora species of the down mountain forest zone (1,000–1,100 metres (3,300–3,600 ft)) are Iberian oak and eastern hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis). The middle mountain forest zone mainly consists of beech (Fagus sp.) forests. The fauna of the region is characterized by mammals such as the brown bear (Ursus arctos).

References

  1. ↑ "Shaki-Zagatala Economic Region 2012". Government of Azerbaijan, Ministry of Economy. 2013-03-06 [2012]. Retrieved 2017-06-26.

Further reading

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