Qakh District

Qax
Rayon

Map of Azerbaijan showing Qakh Rayon
Country  Azerbaijan
Villages 58
Capital Qakh (city)
Government
  Executive power Musa Shakiliyev[1]
Area[2]
  Total 603 km2 (233 sq mi)
Population [3]
  Total 53,900
  Density 89/km2 (230/sq mi)
Postal code 3400
Telephone code (+994) 24[4]
Website qax-ih.gov.az

Qakh, also Kakhi (Georgian: კახი, Lezgian: Ках район) or sometimes Gakh (from Russian: Гах), is a raion (district) in the north of Azerbaijan, on the border with Georgia.

Geography

The area of the region occupies 1,494 km2 (577 sq mi) and borders Russia on the north, Georgia on the west. It also shares the internal boundaries with Zaqatala Rayon in the northwest, Yevlakh and Samukh regions in the south and Shaki region in the east.[5]

History

The Qakh region of Azerbaijan has a long history dating back to ancient times. Archaeological excavations the area had been populated during Eneolithic, Bronze and early Iron Ages. What remains of these early inhabitants' activities indicates they engaged largely in sedentary cultivation, animal-breeding and art. Qax (Kakhi) region was part of Kakheti-Hereti Kingdom and than part of united Georgian kingdom. In 1921 Kakhi Region became part of Azerbaijan.

With the spread of Christianity throughout the region during the existence of Caucasian Albania, some Churches were built in the Qakh district.[6] In the 8th century A.D., Qakh fell under Arab occupation. Starting from the 11th century first Oghuz Turks and later Qipchaq Turks inhabited the area, the region was incorporated into the Seljuq Empire. Qakh was later a part of Atabeg and Shirvanshah states. With invasion of Hulaguids in Azerbaijan in the 13th century, Mongolian nomadic tribes populated the region. In 1562, by the order of the Safavid Shah Tahmasp I, Ilisu Sultanate was established in Qakh. In the 18th century, Ilisu Sultanate became so powerful that, the Ottoman Emperor conferred its ruler Ali Sultan Bey the highest title of Pasha recognizing him as the Beylerbey of Shaki.

In 1803 the sultanate of Ilisu was annexed to the Russian empire. The ruler of the sultanate, Daniyal, inspired the people to rise against Russian rule in 1844, due to a disagreement between him and the government of Russia. Sultan Daniyel was defeated near the village of İlisu and continued his struggle against Russian along with the leader of the national freedom movement, Sheykh Shamil. Russians burnt Ilisu and divided the territory of the sultanate into mahals (territorial units) and annexed them to the Jar-Balaken daire (territorial unit) converting it into a colony of tsarist Russia. With proclamation of independence of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in May 1918, Qakh was retained within Azerbaijan. During the Soviet rule, Qakh was established as raion of Azerbaijan SSR in 1930.[5]

Demographics

The overall statistics indicate the population growth fluctuates. For instance, In 2000 there were 832 newly born, in 2006 - 816, down to 753 in 2009.[7]

The Qakh District is also a center of the Georgian minority in Azerbaijan, with most of the ones in this district being of Christian origin.

Ethnic group 1999[8] 2009[9][10][11]
Population % Population %
Total 51 161 100.00 53 259 100.00
Azerbaijanis 39 355 76.92 43 946 82.51
Ingiloy (Georgians) 7 450 14.56 7 447 13.98
Tsakhurs 2 612 5.11 1 008 1.89
Lezgins 609 1.19 253 0.48
Russians 91 0.18 67 0.13
Turks 96 0.19 64 0.12
Avars 11 0.02 9 0.02
Tatars 7 0.01 7 0.01
Armenians 5 0.01 7 0.01
Ukrainians 26 0.05 5 0.01
Others 899 1.76 446 0.84

Villages

The city has 59 villages.

Almalı (Qax) Fıstıqlı Malax Qaxmuğal Süskən Çüdüllü
Amanlı Güllük Marsan Qaysarlı Tanqıt Üzümlü (Qax)
Armudlu (Qax) Keşqutan Meşəbaş Qazmalar Tasmalı İbaxlı
Ağyazı Kiçik Alatəmir Oncallı Qaşqaçay Turaclı İlisu
Ağçay (Qax) Kötüklü (Qax) Qapıçay Qımır Uzuntala (Qax) Şıxlar (Qax)
Baydarlı Ləkit Qarabaldır Qındırğa Xələftala Şotavar
Bağtala Ləkit Kötüklü Qarameşə Qıpçaq (Qax) Yeni İlisu Əlibəyli (Qax)
Böyük Alatəmir Ləkit Malax Qaratala Qorağan Zərnə Əmbərçay
Cəlayer Lələli Qaxbaş Qum (Qax) Zəyəm (Qax) Əmircan (Qax)
Dəymədağlı Lələpaşa Qaxingiloy Sarıbaş Çinarlı (Qax)

Notable people born in the city

Picture gallery

References

Coordinates: 41°25′00″N 46°55′00″E / 41.4167°N 46.9167°E / 41.4167; 46.9167

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