North-western route: Balakan

BALAKAN DISTRICT is located in the north-west of Azerbaijan, bordering Georgia to the south and west, and Russia to the north and east. The district's terrain is full of contrasts, with mountains giving way to plains. On the plains the climate is moderately warm with dry winters; in the foothills it is moderately warm with evenly distributed precipitation; in the mountains it is cold with humid winters (average annual humidity above 40%).

There are many mountain rivers here and a beautiful lake near Mount KATEKH, and in the north the area is covered with forests. More than half of the ZAGATALA Reserve lies within Balakan District. The reserve was established in 1929 and stretches across the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus range, at altitudes from 650 to 3946 m above sea level, over an area of 23843 ha. By vegetation cover, the reserve's territory can be divided into mountain forest (67.4%) and mountain meadow. The flora numbers more than a thousand species, including rare ones (hornbeam, alder, oak, walnut, chestnut, acacia, more than 30 species of medicinal plants). The fauna is rich; of particular note is the presence of the Caucasian black grouse in this region.

Many historical and architectural monuments have survived in the district. Archaeologists have discovered many ancient sites from the Early Iron Age. For example, nearby, two kilometres from the village of MAHAMALLAR, by the GUBEK rock, there is the NOKHO cave with traces of an Early Iron Age site; a JUG burial (2nd–1st centuries BC); a PIR and the ruins of DWELLINGS (5th–8th centuries), an 18th-century MOSQUE, a 19th-century TOWER and FORTRESS walls, all in the same place near MAHAMALLAR.

An underground RESERVOIR and an 18th-century MOSQUE in the village of GULLAR; a 14th-century MAUSOLEUM in the village of TULU; a 14th-century TEMPLE in the village of HANIFA; a 16th-century MOSQUE in the village of KHALATALA; ALBANIAN TEMPLES in the villages of HANIFA and MAZIMCHAY; the PERI tower (12th century) in the village of GULLAR, on the bank of the GUMBAZ river. On Mount MEKLAKAN, an early medieval SETTLEMENT has survived.

THE TOWN OF BALAKAN is the administrative centre of Balakan District. Population: 85300; distance from Baku: 394 km. The town has an interesting 17th–19th-century mosque with an unusually tall minaret. The local history museum houses traditional crafts of the region, various archaeological finds showing that it was already inhabited in the Neolithic era, and other exhibits that trace the region's eventful history.

Crafts such as copperware, shebeke (openwork wooden window lattices), woodcarving and pottery developed here. There is also a distinctive type of embroidery that is rare for Azerbaijan: TEKELDUZ ("chain stitch"), with bright, fantastical patterns in silk thread on a dark background.

Balakan has a large city park covering 7.5 ha, where you can rest after a walk around the town.