Beylagan District | |
|---|---|
 Map ofAzerbaijan showing Beylagan District | |
| Country |  Azerbaijan |
| Region | Mil-Mughan |
| Established | 24 November 1939 |
| Capital | Beylagan |
| Settlements[1] | 42 |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Aziz Azizov |
| Area | |
• Total | 1,130 km2 (440 sq mi) |
| Population | |
• Total | 99,500 |
| • Density | 88.1/km2 (228/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+4 (AZT) |
| Postal code | 1200 |
| Website | beyleqan-ih |
Beylagan District (Azerbaijani:Beyləqan rayonu) is one of the 67districts ofAzerbaijan. It is located in the centre of the country and belongs to theMil-Mughan Economic Region. It borders the districts ofFuzuli,Aghjabadi,Zardab,Imishli, and theArdabil Province ofIran. Its capital and largest city isBeylagan. As of 2020, the district had a population of 99,500.[2]
The name Beylagan historically used in different forms particularly, Paytakaran, Balasakan, Bilgan, Millar and Beylagan. A number of considerations are associated with the toponymy of Beylagan. In accordance with the historical name "Beylagan" derived from the words "pila" (valley) and "gan" (place) and corresponds to the meaning of field orvalley.
Another view claims that Beylagan was historically situated on the Barda–Ardabil trade way. Because of that reason, the city became one of the main trade centres in the 9th – 12th centuries. The toponymy "Beylagan" interrelated to that historical base, which means trade way or the place where trading took place. According to the other statements, the toponymy is related to the name of the "bel" tribe who lived there at that time. "Beylagan" thus means the place where "bel" tribes are settled, according to that view.[3]
There is mention of the name of the district in varioushistorical books. One of the "Roads and Countries" is written by Naila Valikhanli. Dimensions of the main historical trade ways are indicated in that book. At the same time, an indication of the route fromGreece to Beylagan shows the significance of the city. According to the sources, the north–south line (Derbent – Ardabil road) of theSilk Road passed through Beylagan. Traders of the city built relations withChina,India,Iran,Georgia andByzantium through thanks to this geophysical condition.
In accordance with the historical sources, Beylagan was founded in the 5th century. In the 13th century, the city was completely destroyed byMongol invasions. Reconstruction of Beylagan started byAmir Teymur in the 14th century but after his death works in that territory stopped. Ancient Beylagan city was ruined in the 16th century and has never been restored again.[3]
Beylagan district was founded on November 24, 1939, and was called Zhanov from 1939 to 1963. In 1963, the Beylagan District was liquidated and merged with theImishli district. The name of the district was renamed Beylagan with regard to the 1989 dated decree of the Supreme Council ofAzerbaijan SSR. The Center of the district is Beylagan city where got city status in 1966.
Beylagan is one of the southwestern districts of Azerbaijan and situated in the Mil valley of theKur – Araz lowland and in the middle of the Kur andAraz rivers. Geographical coordinates are 39°45’ North latitude and 47°30’ West longitude and borderingAgchabadi,Zardab,Imishli,Fuzuli districts and Iran Islamic Republic in the south-east. Some parts of the Harami plain belong to the district and the northeast part is below the ocean level. More than 40% of the territory is 0 – 100 meters, 25% is 100 – 200 meters and 35% is below 0 meters. Absolute altitude changes between 200 – 250 meters towardsHarami plain. Generally, Beylagan is considered a seismic active zone.
The territory is completely plain. Relief is covered bysand,gravel and othersedimentary rocks belong to the Anthropogenic period of theCenozoic era. 4th-period sedimentary rocks are widespread in the district. At the same time, all sedimentary minerals are found in the territory. There is found gravel, sand in the Harami and Arazboyu plains. Researches reveal that there are a lot of potablewater resources in theHarami plain and they are partly used. Furthermore, the territory is used as a pasture.[4]
In the Köppen climate classification, Beylagan has asemi – arid climate with hot summers and mild winters. Geophysical location plays the main role in the formation of the climate. Thus, the area is constantly affected by cyclones and air flows come from tropics andCentral Asia. The average annual temperature is 14 °C. January is characterized by an average 1,8 °C and the average temperature is 26 °C in July.
Indigenous flora is characterized by semi-arid plants. The coastal area of the Kur river is covered bypoplars,mulberry,cypress trees and tugai forests in a small area.
Gazelle,fox,boar,wolf,grey rabbit are characteristic animals for the district. In the Tugai forests and swamp areas, hedgehogs, wolves, boars, snakes, owls and woodpeckers are found. There are ducks, vessels and seagulls in the ponds.
Several indigenous species of plants and animals are protected in theAg-Gol National Reserve where located in both Agchabadi and Beylagan districts. There are reserved especially migratory birds.[4]
Archaeological investigations in the district prove that people lived there more than six thousand years ago. There are several monuments registered by theMinistry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan. They are Orangala (relicts of the ancient Beylagan city), Chardakli, Kultapa, Qaratapa, Saritapa, Chataltapa, Garaytapa, Tazakand, the first and second Sultanbud settlements, Saritapa, Sultanbud cemeteries and Beylagan tower.
Beylagan is the only district in Azerbaijan where the tomb of Prophet Charchis is situated. The tomb was built in the 17th – 18th centuries. Nowadays the tomb of Prophet Charchis is used as a religioussanctuary and people come there from various countries especially,Iran,Georgia andMiddle East countries. There is also a mosque named after Prophet Charchis. Other mosques are Dunyamallar, Amina Khatun and Turkish mosques in the district.
Furthermore, there are some sanctuaries ofsayyids such as Sayyid Aga, Sayyid Khirda, Sayyid Miryusif and Sayyid Ali Aga in Beylagan.[3]
There are a lot of statues in the district. Most of these statues are historical and notable people; Akif Akberov (National Hero of Azerbaijan),Garay Asedov (Hero of the Soviet Union),Hazi Aslanov (Hero of the Soviet Union),Nariman Narimanov (politician), Ilham Guliyev, Ilqar Gurbanov, Gadim Aliyev, Mehdi Mehdizadeh, Namig Allahverdiyev, Nazim Guliyev and Sevil Gaziyeva.
A list of important monuments of Beylagan includes the Labor Union monument, the March 31, Genocide monument complex of Azerbaijanis, the monument complex in memory ofKarabakh war, the monument in memory of the Hero of Soviet Union Garay Asadov and the monument ofHeydar Aliyev.[3]
Economy of Beylagan is characterized by agricultural activities especiallycotton,vine,grain growing fields.
According to the statistics in 2017, the population is 96.4 thousand people. The population of the district includes various nationalities.
| Nationalities | Percent |
| Azerbaijanis | 97,53 |
| Turkish people | 2,36 |
| Russians | 0,05 |
| Tatars | 0,03 |
| Talishes | 0,01 |
| Ukrainians | 0,00 |
| Other nations | 0,02 |
People's settlement in urban areas is less than villages, respectively 42.16% and 57.84%.[5]
According to theState Statistics Committee, as of 2018, the population of the city recorded 97,500 persons, which increased by 18,700 persons (about 18.9 percent) from 79,000 persons in 2000.[6] Of the total population, 49,400 are men and 48,100 are women.[7]
| Region | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beylagan region | 79,0 | 79,5 | 79,9 | 80,3 | 80,9 | 81,7 | 82,4 | 83,6 | 84,7 | 85,9 | 87,1 | 87,9 | 89,7 | 91,1 | 92,4 | 93,7 | 95,0 | 96,4 | 97,5 | 98,6 | 99,5 | 100,0 |
| urban population | 15,8 | 15,9 | 15,9 | 16,0 | 21,6 | 22,4 | 25,8 | 25,9 | 35,8 | 36,3 | 36,7 | 36,9 | 37,3 | 37,8 | 38,3 | 38,7 | 39,3 | 39,8 | 40,2 | 40,6 | 41,0 | 41,1 |
| rural population | 63,2 | 63,6 | 64,0 | 64,3 | 59,3 | 59,3 | 56,6 | 57,7 | 48,9 | 49,6 | 50,4 | 51,0 | 52,4 | 53,3 | 54,1 | 55,0 | 55,7 | 56,6 | 57,3 | 58,0 | 58,5 | 58,9 |
Some of the district's notable residents include:[3]
