Nakhchivan (city) facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Nakhchivan Naxçıvan
City
Noah's Mausoleum Momine Khatun Mausoleum Mausoleum of Huseyn Javid Jame Mosque of Nakhchivan Palace of Nakhchivan Khans Nakhchivan Center Hospital A street in Nakhchivan Yusif ibn Kuseyir Mausoleum Aerial view of Nakhchivan Nakhchivan in Azerbaijan

Country	Azerbaijan
Autonomous Republic	Nakhchivan
Area
• Total	190 km² (70 sq mi)
Elevation	873 m (2,864 ft)
Population (2020)
• Total	94,500
Demonym(s)	Nakhchivanly
Time zone	UTC+4 (AZT)

Nakhchivan (Azerbaijani: Naxçıvan) is the capital city of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. This republic is a special part of Azerbaijan. It is located about 450 kilometers (280 miles) west of Baku, Azerbaijan's main capital.

The city of Nakhchivan includes the main city area. It also has the settlement of Əliabad and several villages. These villages are Başbaşı, Bulqan, Haciniyyət, Qaraçuq, Qaraxanbəyli, Tumbul, Qarağalıq, and Daşduz. Nakhchivan is built on the hills of the Zangezur Mountains. It sits on the right side of the Nakhchivan River. The city is about 873 meters (2,864 feet) above sea level.

What's in a Name?

The official name of the city in Azerbaijani is "Naxçıvan." Its name is also spelled as Nakhjavan in Persian. In Russian, it's Nakhichevan', and in Armenian, it's Nakhijevan.

The city's name was first written down by Ptolemy. He was an ancient Greek scholar. In his book Geography, he called it Naxuana.

Some people believe the name Nakhchivan is linked to the story of Noah's Ark. They think it means "place of the first descent" or "first resting place." This is because it's believed to be where Noah landed after the great flood. He is said to have settled here after his ark landed on nearby Mount Ararat.

A Look at History

Early Times

According to Armenian stories, Nakhchivan was founded by Noah after the great flood. It is also believed to be where he died and was buried. The city was first mentioned in ancient writings as Naxuana.

In 363 AD, the city was destroyed by a Persian ruler named Shapur II. Its people were taken to Iran. Later, in 623 AD, Emperor Heraclius traveled through the city during a big war.

Medieval Period

In 650 AD, Arab armies attacked Nakhchivan. Later, in 705 AD, many local leaders were killed in churches in Nakhchivan.

Around 900 AD, Nakhchivan was briefly controlled by the Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia. But it was quickly taken over by another ruler. The city was also conquered by the Kingdom of Georgia in 1197.

In 1236, the Mongol Empire took over Nakhchivan. Later, merchants from Genoa traded in the city by 1280. The famous conqueror Timur also took the city in 1401.

Modern History

Bahruz Kangarli: Landscape with a house

View of the Armenian quarter of the city, 1910s

In 1503, a Persian ruler named Ismail I conquered Nakhchivan. Later, in 1603–1604, another Persian ruler, Abbas I of Persia, took it back from the Ottoman Empire. The city then became the capital of the Nakhichevan Khanate.

In 1828, the Russian Empire took control of the Nakhchivan Khanate. This happened after a treaty was signed. By 1896, Nakhchivan had about 7,433 people. Most of them were Azeri-speaking Muslims, and about one-third were Armenian Christians.

Nakhchivan City coat of arms under Imperial Russia (designed in 1843)

After the February Revolution in 1917, Nakhchivan saw many changes. It was controlled by different groups. In 1919, British soldiers occupied the city. It was even decided that Nakhchivan would be given to Armenia.

Nakhchivan on a 1961 stamp

However, in March 1920, Turkish forces took over Nakhchivan. Then, Soviet Russia took control in July 1920. The city became part of the new Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. Treaties in 1921 made Nakhchivan an autonomous territory. This meant it had its own rules but was protected by Azerbaijan.

When Azerbaijan became independent from the Soviet Union, Nakhchivan remained part of Azerbaijan. After a conflict in 2020, a peace agreement was signed. This agreement allows Azerbaijan to have a road to Nakhchivan through Armenia. Russian peacekeepers will help keep this road safe.

Since 2009, some villages from the Babek District have become part of Nakhchivan city. These include Bulqan, Qaraçuq, Qaraxanbəyli, Tumbul, and Haciniyyət.

Geography and Climate

Nakhchivan is located on the foothills of the Zangezur mountains. It is on the right bank of the Nakhchivan River. The city is almost 1,000 meters (3,280 feet) above sea level.

Because of less forest cover, the riverbanks faced floods and soil erosion. To fix this, the city started projects to plant more trees.

Weather in Nakhchivan

Nakhchivan has a continental semi-arid climate. This means it has short, cold, and snowy winters. Its summers are long, dry, and very hot.

Climate data for Nakhchivan
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	0.8 (33.4)	4.0 (39.2)	12.3 (54.1)	20.1 (68.2)	24.7 (76.5)	29.5 (85.1)	34.7 (94.5)	33.7 (92.7)	30.1 (86.2)	21.9 (71.4)	12.6 (54.7)	5.1 (41.2)	19.1 (66.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−4.0 (24.8)	−0.5 (31.1)	5.4 (41.7)	12.4 (54.3)	17.5 (63.5)	22.4 (72.3)	26.9 (80.4)	26.2 (79.2)	21.9 (71.4)	14.1 (57.4)	6.5 (43.7)	0.9 (33.6)	12.5 (54.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	−6.8 (19.8)	−4.3 (24.3)	1.0 (33.8)	7.4 (45.3)	11.5 (52.7)	15.9 (60.6)	20.0 (68.0)	18.7 (65.7)	14.7 (58.5)	8.2 (46.8)	2.3 (36.1)	−2.5 (27.5)	7.2 (45.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	19 (0.7)	18 (0.7)	29 (1.1)	38 (1.5)	36 (1.4)	30 (1.2)	17 (0.7)	8 (0.3)	11 (0.4)	26 (1.0)	20 (0.8)	15 (0.6)	267 (10.5)
Average precipitation days	5	4	6	7	9	5	2	2	2	5	4	4	55
Mean monthly sunshine hours	82.9	117.3	188.3	202.6	254.5	324.0	364.4	338.7	302.5	215.6	148.1	121.1	2,660
Mean daily sunshine hours	2.7	4.2	6.1	6.8	8.2	10.8	11.8	10.9	10.1	7	4.9	3.9	7.3
Source 1: NOAA
Source 2: Deutscher wetterdinest(Daily sunshine 1971-1990)

Population Growth

The population of Nakhchivan city has grown over the years. In 2000, there were about 63,800 people. By 2019, the population had increased to about 93,700 people.

The population of Nakhchivan (at the beginning of the year, thsd. persons)
Population	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019
Nakhchivan town	63,8	64,2	64,7	65,1	70,7	71,0	71,3	71,7	72,7	82,4	83,4	84,7	86,4	88,0	89,5	90,3	91,1	92,1	92,9	93,7
Urban population	63,8	64,2	64,7	65,1	70,7	71,0	71,3	71,7	72,7	73,7	73,8	75,4	76,8	78,3	79,5	80,2	80,9	81,8	82,6	83,2
Rural population	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	–	8,7	9,6	9,3	9,6	9,7	10,0	10,1	10,2	10,3	10,3	10,5

Economy and Jobs

In the past, Nakhchivan was known for trade, handicrafts, shoemaking, and hatmaking. Today, these industries have changed.

Now, the city's economy relies on restoring old buildings and developing new industries. Foreign trade and better customs services have helped Nakhchivan grow a lot in the last twenty years.

Culture and Fun

Nakhchivan has many cultural activities, places, and museums. The Heydar Aliyev Palace has a painting exhibition. It also has a theater for 1000 people. There is a restored Opera Theatre where plays, concerts, and operas are performed.

In 2018, Nakhchivan was named an Islamic Culture Capital. This celebrated many of the city's cultural sites.

Amazing Buildings

Momine Khatun Mausoleum is one of the most recognisable landmarks in Azerbaijan.

The city is home to several important mausoleums. These include Momine Khatun Mausoleum, Gulustan Mausoleum, and Noah's Mausoleum. Other famous ones are Garabaghlar Mausoleum, Yusif ibn Kuseyir Mausoleum, and Mausoleum of Huseyn Javid.

The most famous building is the Momine Khatun Mausoleum. It was built in the 12th century. It is a 10-sided monument with beautiful patterns and writings. It is made with turquoise bricks.

Near it is a statue of its architect, Ajami Nakhchivani. Also from the 12th century is the octagonal Yusuf Ibn Kuseir tomb.

In 1993, the white marble Mausoleum of Huseyn Javid was built. Hussein Javid was an Azerbaijani writer. This mausoleum is very important. It shows how the region can thrive despite challenges.

The mausoleums of Nakhchivan were suggested to be added to the List of World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1998.

Delicious Food

Nakhchivan has its own special foods. One famous dish is shirin plov. This is sweet rice with gravy, mutton, nuts, and dried fruits. Other dishes include dastana, komba, and galin.

Lavash is a very thin bread made from flour, water, and salt. It's a key part of any meal in Nakhchivan. Sometimes, sesame or poppy seeds are sprinkled on it. There are different types of bread like galin (thick) and komba (ash cake).

People often make sandwiches called durmek with lavash. Children take these rolls to school or when they play. They are filled with butter and jam, cheese, or potatoes.

Ashabi-Kahf Sanctuary

Ashabi-Kahf in Nakhchivan Ashabi-Kahf is a special cave that is considered a holy place. It is located east of Nakhchivan city. It sits between the Ilandag and Nahajir mountains.

Many thousands of people visit this sacred place every year. It is known not only in Nakhchivan but also in other parts of Azerbaijan and the Middle East.

Museums and Art

The city has many historical museums. There is a literature museum and a State History Museum. You can also visit the Nakhchivan State Carpet Museum. There are house museums for famous people like Jamshid Nakhchivanski and Bahruz Kangarli.

An archaeological museum is on Istiqlal street. The city also has interesting mosques, like the Juma mosque with its large dome.

Modern museums include the Museum under Open Air and the Heydar Aliyev Museum. There is also a Memorial Museum. This museum remembers the conflicts between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Music and News

Nakhchivan has its own TV channels, like Nakhchivan TV. The newspaper Sharg Gapisi is also based in the city.

Sports and Games

Araz Naxçivan is a top futsal club. Futsal is a type of indoor football. This club often plays in the UEFA Futsal Cup.

Nakhchivan also had a professional football team called Araz-Naxçıvan PFK. They played in Azerbaijan's top football league.

In 2014, the city hosted the Masters Weightlifting World Cup. This was a big event for weightlifting.

Fun Festivals

Nakhchivan is famous for its "Goyja" fruit. This fruit is like a cherry-plum. The city holds a traditional Goyja festival. At this festival, you can see products made from goyja. These include jam, drinks, pickles, and dried fruit.

Another yearly festival in Nakhchivan is about kata. This is a flat pie filled with greens. It is cooked in a special oven called a tandir. The Kata festival shows how different types of kata are made in the region. It happens in April at the "Nakhchivangala" museum complex.

Learning and Schools

Nakhchivan has many schools for different ages. There are 3 professional schools, 6 musical schools, and 22 secondary schools. There is also a military cadet school.

Universities and Colleges

Nakhchivan is home to several universities:

Nakhchivan State University
Nakhchivan Private University
Nakhchivan Teachers Institute

Getting Around

Public Transportation

Nakhchivan used to have a trolleybus system. It had three lines but stopped running in 2004.

By Air

Nakhchivan International Airport

Nakhchivan International Airport is the only airport for the city. You can take a bus from the airport to the city center. There are flights to Baku and other countries like Russia and Turkey.

By Train

Currently, a light rail line runs from Nakhchivan. It goes southeast to Ordubad and northwest to Sharur.

Famous People from Nakhchivan

Many notable people have come from Nakhchivan. These include:

Heydar Aliyev: A former president of Azerbaijan.
Huseyn Javid: A poet and playwright who started a new style of writing in Azerbaijan.
Jalil Mammadguluzadeh: A famous Azerbaijani writer.
Azer Zeynalov: An opera singer.
Rza Tahmasib: A film director and actor.
Huseyn Khan Nakhchivanski and Jamshid Nakhchivanski: Generals.
Bahruz Kangarli: An artist who started realistic painting in Azerbaijan.
Ajami Nakhchivani: A famous architect.

Heydar Aliyev, was the longest serving political leader in Azerbaijan.
Huseyn Javid, was the founder of the progressive romanticism in Azerbaijani literature.
Jalil Mammadguluzadeh, was an Azerbaijani satirist and writer.
Abdurrahman Fatalibeyli, was a Soviet army major who defected to the German forces during World War II.
Khetcho, Armenian activist, combatant and one of key supporter of the Iranian Constitutional Revolution
Jamshid Nakhchivanski, was a Russian Imperial, Azerbaijani and Soviet military commander.
Memar Ajami, the founder of the Nakhchivan school of architecture
Bahruz Kangarli, the founder of realistic easel painting of Azerbaijan.
Rza Tahmasib, film director and actor.
Huseyn Khan Nakhchivanski, was the only Muslim to serve as General-Adjutant of the Russian Emperor.
Nazli Najafova, pioneering educator of women and girls.
Ali M. Hasanov, served as the National Adviser to the President of Azerbaijan.