Aghstafa District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aghstafa District
District
Map of Azerbaijan showing Aghstafa District
Country	Azerbaijan
Region	Gazakh-Tovuz
Established	24 April 1990
Capital	Aghstafa
Settlements	39
Area
• Total	1,500 km2 (600 sq mi)
Population  (2020)
• Total	88,500
• Density	59.0/km2 (153/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+4 (AZT)
Postal code	0500

Aghstafa District (Azerbaijani: Ağstafa rayonu) is one of the 66 districts in Azerbaijan. It is located in the north-west of the country. This district is part of the Gazakh-Tovuz Economic Region. Aghstafa District shares borders with the Qazakh and Tovuz districts. It also borders the Kakheti and Kvemo Kartli regions of Georgia. The main city and capital of the district is Aghstafa. In 2020, about 88,500 people lived in the district.

About Aghstafa District

Aghstafa District was first created on January 24, 1939. It was an independent area, separated from the larger Qazakh region of Azerbaijan. Later, on December 4, 1959, it became part of Qazakh District. But on April 14, 1990, it was made a separate district again. This happened by a decision from the Council of Deputies of Azerbaijan SSR.

The district is in the northwestern part of Azerbaijan. It lies between the Qabirri basin and the Lesser Caucasus mountains. It also includes parts of the Ganja-Gazakh lowlands and the Ceyrançöl highlands. To its west is Qazakh District, and to its east is Tovuz District. It borders Armenia to the south and Georgia to the north.

The total area of Aghstafa District is about 1,504 square kilometers. There are 36 villages in the district. The district has many schools, including 39 secondary schools and a music school. There are also 2 museums, 38 cultural clubs, and a State Arts Gallery. People can visit 49 libraries. For healthcare, there are 3 city hospitals and 10 village hospitals. Most of the district is made up of lowlands like Ganja, Qazakh, and Qarayazi. Some smaller mountain areas are in the southwest and northeast.

What Does "Aghstafa" Mean?

The name "Aghstafa" comes from the Oghuz Turks. These are a group of people who make up most of the population in Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Turkmenistan.

Some people believe "Aghstafa" is a mix of two words: Oğuz (the name of the people) and tayfa (meaning "tribe"). So, it could mean "Oghuz tribe." Others think it comes from Oğuz and təpə (meaning "hill"). This would mean "Oghuz hill."

Economy and Resources

Aghstafa District has many natural resources. These include bentonite clay, sand, and materials for making cement, like volcanic ash. These resources are very important for the district's economy.

The Kura River, a major river, flows through the region. Smaller rivers like the Aghstafa and Həsənsu also pass through the district.

Aghstafa has always been important for trade. The historic Silk Way used to pass through this area. Caravans traveling between Georgia and Iran would often stop in Aghstafa. Because of this, it was sometimes called the "Camel route." In the 1990s, this trade route became important again with the TRACECA project.

Aghstafa also became a key point for railways. The Baku-Tbilisi railroad, built in 1881, goes through here. A railway junction was built in Aghstafa in 1914, which helped the city grow. Today, the district's location is even more important due to gas pipelines. These include the Baku-Gazakh-Tbilisi gas pipeline, the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline, and the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline.

The economy of Aghstafa District has been growing. For example, in the first nine months of 2017, the total value of goods produced in the region increased by 43.6 percent. This shows strong growth in areas like industry, agriculture, transport, and construction.

People of Aghstafa

The population of Aghstafa district is about 78,983 people. The largest villages are Dağ Kəsəmən, Köçəsgər, Muğanlı, and Aşağı Kəsəmən. The town of Aghstafa is also a major population center.

Most of the people living here are Azerbaijanis, making up 98.7% of the population. There are also Meskhetian Turks (0.6%) and other smaller groups (0.7%).

Population Growth Over Time

As of October 1, 2013, the population of Aghstafa district was about 83.3 thousand people. By January 1, 2017, it had grown to 86,529 people. About 21,205 people lived in the city, and 65,324 lived in the villages.

The population is almost evenly split between men and women. There are 42,651 thousand men and 43,878 thousand women. Many people in the district have jobs, with about 43,481 people employed. A large number work in agriculture (17,856 people) and education (3,726 people).

Aghstafa District has also welcomed families who had to leave their homes. About 77 families (223 people) from Nagorno-Karabakh and other areas have settled here. In total, 457 families, or 1,698 people, who are refugees, live in the region.

According to the State Statistics Committee, the population of the city grew from 74,500 in 2000 to 87,200 in 2018. This is an increase of about 17 percent. Young people and teenagers aged 14–29 make up more than 26.4 percent of the population.

Education and Culture

Aghstafa District has a strong focus on education and culture. There are 39 libraries where people can read and learn. The district also has 13 culture houses and 25 clubs for community activities. For those interested in music, there is 1 musical school. History and art lovers can visit 3 museums and 1 painting gallery.

Healthcare is also important, with a Central Hospital, 1 rural hospital, and 15 rural health posts serving the people.

For younger children, there are 4 pre-school centers and 34 kindergartens. In total, the district has 39 schools for students of all ages.

Geography of Aghstafa

Aghstafa District was formed on January 24, 1939. Its area is 1,504 square kilometers, which is about 1.74% of Azerbaijan's total land. The district was briefly joined with Gazakh district from December 4, 1959, but became a separate administrative district again on April 14, 1990.

The district includes one main town, Aghstafa. There are also 9 settlements: Vurgun, Poylu, Shakarli, Jeyranchol, Saloglu, Soyuqbulag, Soyuqbulaglar, Hazi Aslanov, and Garajazi. In addition, 29 villages are part of the district.

Aghstafa town is the administrative center. It became a city in 1941. In 2017, the city had 86,529 people. It is located about 300 meters above sea level, on the right bank of the Aghstafa River. The distance from Aghstafa to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is about 450 kilometers.

Forests cover about 3,510 hectares of the district. Most of these are Tugai forests. The Garayazi State Reserve, also covering 3,510 hectares, protects many plants and birds. Some of these species are listed in the IUCN Red List, meaning they are rare or endangered.

The region is in western Azerbaijan, bordering Georgia and Armenia. The Kur River, the longest river in Azerbaijan, flows through here. Its branch, Aghstafachay, and several other small rivers are also in the region. Candargol Lake is another important water body. The district's surface is mostly flat, with plains like Ganja-Gazakh and Garayazi. The ground contains different types of rocks from ancient times. You can find minerals like saw stone, bentonite clay, pebbles, sand, and materials for cement.

Exploring History and Tourism

Aghstafa District is home to many historical sites, from ancient times to more recent periods.

Prehistoric Sites

These sites show how people lived thousands of years ago:

• Paleolithic tent settlement in Kochesker village (Stone Age)
• Toyratepe settlement in Ashagi Goychali village (late Stone Age to Bronze Age)
• 1st Shomutepe settlement in Aghstafa city (Stone Age)
• Molla Nagi hill in Kochesker village (Stone Age)
• Kichik tepe settlement in Ashagi Goyjali village (Stone Age and Bronze Age)
• Chinlitepe settlement in Tatli village (Copper Age)
• Ancient settlement and graveyard (choban dashi) in Dagkesemen village (Bronze Age to Early Iron Age)
• Jantepe settlement in Aghstafa city (Bronze Age)
• Sari gaznag graveyard in Kochesker village (Bronze Age)
• Alchagtepe settlement in Tatli village (Bronze Age to Iron Age)
• Gabagtepe settlement in Pirili village (Bronze Age to Iron Age)
• Yastitepe settlement in Aghstafa city (late Bronze Age)
• Durnatepe settlement in Kochesker village (late Bronze Age to early Iron Age)
• Boyuktepe settlement in Kochesker village (late Bronze Age to early Iron Age)
• Hasarlitepe settlement in Yukhari Goyjali village (late Bronze Age to early Iron Age)
• Saritepe settlement in Yukhari Goyjali village (late Bronze Age to early Iron Age)
• Goshatepe settlement in Yukhari Goyjali village (late Bronze Age to Iron Age)
• Hasarligala ancient settlement in Tatli village (late Bronze Age to Iron Age)
• 2nd Shomutepe settlement in Yukhari Goyjali village (Bronze Age to early Iron Age)
• Nadir bey hill settlement in Hasansu village (late Bronze Age)
• Agalig tepesi settlement along the Aghstafa-Gazakh highway (late Bronze Age to early Iron Age)
• Aranchi hill settlement along the Aghstafa-Dagkesemen highway (late Bronze Age to Iron Age)
• Deyirmantepe settlement along the Dagkesemen highway (late Bronze Age to early Middle Age)
• Agtepe settlement in Ashagi Goyjali village (late Bronze Age to ancient period)
• Maraltepe settlement in Ashagi Goyjali village (late Bronze Age to ancient period)
• Shish Guzey sacred place in Kochesker village (Iron Age)

Ancient to Modern Monuments

These sites cover a long period of history:

• The David Gareja monastery complex (called Keşiş Dağ in Azerbaijani) is partly in this region. Visiting can be difficult due to unpaved roads and a border discussion between Georgia and Azerbaijan.
• Nekropol in Pirili village (ancient period)
• Tatli Albanian temple between Yukhari Goychali and Tatli villages (early Middle Ages)
• Construction forked mountain air in Kochesker village (Middle Ages)
• Settlement in Dagkesemen village (4th-7th centuries)
• Underground water-supply system in Kolkhalafli village (19th century)

Famous People from Aghstafa

Many notable individuals have come from Aghstafa District:

• Sabir Azeri (1938-2010) - A well-known writer.
• Aslan Aslanov (1926–1995) - A doctor of philosophy and a respected scientist. He was also a rector of Azerbaijan State University of Arts and a vice-president of the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences.
• Baba Mirzayev (1940-2006) - A National artist of Azerbaijan.
• Bayram Bayramov (born 1935) - An expert in technical sciences and a recognized innovator in Azerbaijan.
• Huseyn Arif (1924-1992) - A famous poet.
• Ibrahim Rahimov (1849–1927) - Azerbaijan's first psychiatrist.
• Ilyas Abdullayev (1913) - An academician and a former Minister of Agriculture. He held several high positions in the government of Azerbaijan SSR.
• Isa Huseynov (born 1928) - A writer.
• Museyib Allahverdiyev (1909–1969) - A Hero of the Soviet Union and a military commander.
• Nariman Hasanzade (born 1931) - A poet.
• Nizami Jafarov (born 1954) - A philologist, who studies language and literature.
• Nusrat Kasamanli (1946-2003) - A poet.
• Samed aga Agamalioglu (1867–1930) - A well-known revolutionary and a former chairman of the Central Executive Committee of Azerbaijan SSR.
• Suleyman Tatliyev (1925) - Held many important government roles, including chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Council of the Republic.
• Vidadi Babanli (born 1927) - A writer.

See also

In Spanish: Raión de Agstafa para niños