North-Western Route: Zagatala

ZAGATALA DISTRICT is located on the spurs of the Greater Caucasus, in the north-west of the republic. The border between Azerbaijan and Russia runs along the north-eastern boundary of the district. The terrain is mountainous and lowland, the climate is cold in the mountains and warm on the plains. There are many forests in the district, but they are mostly located in the mountains and foothills. The flora is rich in various valuable tree species - chestnut, walnut, hazelnut, oak, hornbeam, elm and others. The fauna includes deer, mountain goat, wild boar, bear, wolf, hare, and many birds - pheasants, partridges, mountain eagles, hawks, francolins, thrushes and nightingales.

In 1929, here, on the southern slope of the Main Caucasus Range, the State Reserve "ZAGATALA" was established; its area is now 23843 ha. It lies at an altitude of 650-3646 m above sea level and covers not only the territory of Zagatala but also Balakan District. Here, within the reserve, there are places where tourists can rest and stay overnight. Around the village of GAS there is a lot of snow in winter.

Besides Azerbaijanis, the Zagatala District is also home to representatives of other nationalities and ethnic groups: Russians, Avars, Lezgins, Tsakhurs, Tatars, Ingiloys - about 20 peoples in all.

The historical monuments of the district are located in villages that have survived to this day since ancient times. In the villages of GEZBARAKH and GALAL there are 18th-century mosques; in the village of KEBELOBA - two 14th-century towers; in the village of MAZYKH - a 12th-century tower; in the village of YUKHARY CHARDAKHLAR - the grotto fortress PERI-GALA, 5th century; in the village of JAR - the JINGEZ tower, 14th century, and this village is also home to a museum of history and local lore; in the village of PASHAN - an Albanian tower of the 13th century, and a 12th-century Albanian tower in the village of AKHAKHDERE; in various villages of the district, for example ALIABAD and MOSUL, 19th-century mosques have survived.

Tourists love to visit the village of JAR, which is located 6 km north-east of Zagatala. It is not just a beautiful corner of local nature - here they have managed to preserve the original architectural and building traditions and way of life specific to this region.

THE TOWN OF ZAGATALA is the administrative center of Zagatala District. It is located on the bank of the TALA-CHAY river, at an altitude of 535 m above sea level. Population - 109300 people, distance from Baku - 372 km.

In terms of its climate and the beauty of its nature, this town can be called a real resort. Here, on an area of 14 ha, a park of culture and recreation has been laid out, and there is also an interesting natural monument - a plane tree that is 800 years old.

Zagatala has an old FORTRESS (1830). It is interesting not only in itself but also because it was here that the sailors from the mutinous battleship "POTEMKIN" were imprisoned, and a monument to one of the participants in the ship's mutiny - S.Demashko - stands in the local park. Also of interest is the monument to Sevil Gaziyeva - the first woman machine operator, an Azerbaijani woman who took the wheel of a cotton-picking machine.

Zagatala has a museum of history and local lore with a rich collection of medieval manuscripts.