Subtropical Area of Azerbaijan

Subtropical area of Azerbaijan is situatuated in the Southern part of the country covering a lowland between Talish mountains and Caspian Sea. This region is famous for it's beatifull nature, rare, sometimes even unique flora and fauna. This rather small area gathers many natural objects, attractive for the tourists: mountains, woods, the sea, a lake, mountan rivers, springs and hot springs. Abudant rains and fruitfull ground provides rich harvey.The region is loved by the hunting and fishing fans as well as mushroomers. Rare types of mushrooms, which can be found more in the illustrated books, are met here.
The administrative center of the region is Lankaran. The city is placed at the Caspean Sea, in 270 km to the South of the capital, Baku.

The Climate

Lankaran lowland is surrounded by a plateua on the South and South-West, by the Kura-Araz plain on the North. Such combination of the factors inriches local nature and make the region unigualy splendid. The summer usually dry, in winter its moderate and warm. In spring and autumn it rains a lot. Avarage temperature in January is +5c, in July +24.5c. The Sea season lasts from June till September.

Architectural Monuments of Lankaran

Bellabur Fortress
Bellabur Fortress (Bazz fortress) is in 9 km to the Southwest from the city of Lankaran near Gurunba village. In the territory of the fortress there are the remains of clay water pipes of residential buildings. Objects found in this fortress show, that in IX-XI centuries Bellabur had trade relationships with Byzantium as among them Byzantine copper and gold samples have been revealed. Some scientists presume that the fortress was a refuge of Babek in the first part of the IX century. Bellabur Fortress used to be a protective station of Huramits in those days, and today it is considered to be a social and historical monument.

"The cemetery of Giants"
"The cemetery of Giants" is located in Bellabur village. It is difficult to assume how, who and how could put 5-8 ton stones above each tomb so many year ago, B.C. The number of such tombs reaches up to 1000.

The maiden Tower "Kinon Gala"
The maiden Tower "Kinon Gala" is behind Top Nuvedi village in Talysh Mountains. According to the legend, in IX century, when Movement of Huramits has turned to a wide scope, daughters and the wife of the commanders have been hiding here from the enemies.

Lankaran Fortress
Lankaran Fortress was built in 1726-27 years to protect the city from aggressors. The fortress has been restored by the help of English and the French architects and has the form of a wrong rectangular. The area of a fortress was approximately 35 hectares and in the sizes it surpassed the Baku fortress. Today from greater towers of a fortress, unfortunately, remains only 2. It is supposed, that the Beacon and former prison are constructed at the same time, as Lankaran fortress. They played the important role of protective station during wars. Subsequently to the top part of one of the buildings a minaret and shining lantern were attached and the building began to carry out a role of a beacon. Height of the buildings is 33,4¼.

The House of Mirahmed, The Khan of Talish
The beautiful architectural monument The House of khan of Talish Mirahmed has been constructed in 1913 by the French architects in "electrician" style, but here also the elements of national architecture are used.

Tourist Zones

Deep forests, waterfalls, rivers, picturesque landscapes, curative springs, sandy sea beaches yet, as a whole, favorable climate conditions make this region very attractive for tourism.
Curative springs of Lankaran were known at all times. Their healing features have been disclosed in XIV century. A camp site and medical sanatorium Istisu is located near the highway Lankaran - Lerik in 12 km to the West from the regional center, at the bottom of Talysh Mountains. The chemical compound of the hot springs and its curative value doesn't yield to the world famous resort Matsestra in Sochi.
Thermal hot spring Havzava is on the way Lankaran - Boradiga - Masally in 13 km to the West from the regional center at the bottom of Talysh Mountains. Waters of this spring were used for the treatment of skin diseases in XVIII-XIX centuries. Now the medical complex operates on the basis of Havzova. The sulfuric waters of the spring containing sulfate of hydrogen, are useful for nervous and skin diseases treatment.
Curative source Ibady is on Lankaran - Lerik highway in 15 km to the West from regional center. The temperature of water in the spring reaches +4200С.
Khanbulanchay water basin is on Lankaran - Astara highway in a valley of Duzdary river. Because of the beauty and similarity with other well-known lake of Azerbaijan it is called "the younger sister of the Gey-gel". Water basin Khanbulan was constructed from 1962 to 1976.
Deep forests and plains of Lankaran attracts by relic and endemic trees, and also by the rich variety of bushes. Ghirkhan and Gyzylagach reserves are known all over the world. Here you can meet well-known "iron tree". It's structure is so dense, that it drowns in water. Besides that an oak, a beech, a hornbeam, as well as various fruit trees grow here. The reserve Gyzylagach with total square of 88 th. hectares is located in 30 km to the Northwest of Lankaran. It begins with a gulf at Sarah's peninsula. It is one of the most beautiful natural corners of the country. The reserve Girkhan is a rare natural "museum" where a number of relic trees is protected.

Traditions, Customs and Holidays

Lankaran's specific geographical location predetermines originality and variety of traditions and customs of the local population. Especially traditional Lankaran wedding consisting of the long list of colorful ceremonies, accompanied with round dances, church chanting and rituals attracts the tourists.

Certainly, the brightest and entertaining holiday celebrated by local population, is Novruz. It is celebrated as New Year. On the last Tuesday before the holiday 7 fires are lighted outside and people jump through them. At home people prepare khoncha, also light candles according to the number of the family members. They set the table with khoncha, tasty Lankaran dishes and "semeni" - young sprouts of wheat, sowed on dishes and plates

Lankaran Dishes

Being an inseparable part of national Azerbaijan kitchen, Lankaran kitchen, nevertheless, differs with the special secrets and recipes.Among the great variety of plovs - in Azerbaijan more than 100 types of them are known - Lankaran is famos for the following ones: dashma plov, chilov, suzme plov, lentil plov, china plov, bean plov, borany plov (with pumpkin), sudly plov (with milk), terek-shirin plov, firny etc.
Here is the list of some dishes you can taste in Lankaran:
Meat, chicken dishes and dishes from fish and game: taskebab, levengi, syrdag, gorabich, murgutursh, musanma, fisinjan, muteljem, doyme, giyme badimjan, shamy etc.
Dishes from flour: khashil, guymakh, arishte, dushbara, umach.
Dishes from milk: bulama, keleke, chir, suzme
Dishes from vegetables: tere, kuku, numru, syrdag from eggplants
Confectionery products: khalva, umach khalva, semeni khalva, kurabiye, bamiye, shor cherek, emir badam, bishi, galet, peshmek, eyirdek, shekerbura, pakhlava, gendi Kuka, rahatlukum.