Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic Naxçıvan Muxtar Respublikası
Flag Emblem
Location of Nakhchivan in the South Caucasus.
Capital and largest city	Nakhchivan
Official languages	Azerbaijani
Government	Autonomous republic

• Parliamentary Chairman	Vasif Talibov

Legislature	Supreme Assembly
Autonomy

• Establishment of the Nakhchivan ASSR	February 9, 1924
• Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic	November 17, 1990

Area
• Total	5,500 km² (2,100 sq mi)
• Water (%)	negligible
Population
• 2011 estimate	414,900
• Density	77/km² (199.4/sq mi)
HDI (2010)	0.793 high
Currency	Azerbaijani manat (AZN)
Time zone	UTC+4 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+5 (EEST)

The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is a special part of Azerbaijan. It's like an island of land, meaning it's completely surrounded by other countries and doesn't touch the sea. This area covers about 5,500 square kilometers. Nakhchivan shares borders with Armenia to the east and north, Iran to the south and west, and Turkey to the northwest. Its capital city is Nakhchivan.

A Look at Nakhchivan's History
How Nakhchivan is Divided
Famous People from Nakhchivan
Images for kids
See also

A Look at Nakhchivan's History

Nakhchivan has a very long and interesting history. People have lived here since the Neolithic period, which was a very long time ago.

Early Times and Empires

For about a thousand years, the area was part of Armenia. Later, in the 1500s, Nakhchivan became part of the Safavid dynasty of Persia.

In 1828, after a war between Russia and Persia, Nakhchivan became part of the Russian Empire. This region has seen many conflicts between Armenians and Azerbaijanis, as both groups have historical claims to the land.

Changes in Control

In June 1918, the Ottoman Empire took control of Nakhchivan. But after the Armistice of Mudros, the Ottomans agreed to leave. Then, the British took over for a short time.

In July 1920, the Soviets gained control of the region. This started about seventy years of Soviet rule.

Becoming Independent

In January 1990, Nakhchivan declared itself independent from the USSR. About a year later, it officially joined the newly independent Republic of Azerbaijan.

How Nakhchivan is Divided

Subdivisions of Nakhchivan.

Nakhchivan is divided into eight main parts. Seven of these parts are called raions, which are like districts. The capital city, Nakhchivan City, is a separate area on its own.

Famous People from Nakhchivan

Many important people have come from Nakhchivan. Here are some of them:

Political Leaders

Heydar Aliyev: He was the former President of Azerbaijan from 1993 to 2003. His son, Ilham Aliyev, is the current President.
Abulfaz Elchibey: Another former President of Azerbaijan, who served from 1992 to 1993.
Rasul Guliyev: He was the former speaker of the National Assembly of Azerbaijan.
Christapor Mikaelian: One of the people who helped start the Armenian Revolutionary Federation.
Stepan Sapah-Gulian: A leader of the Armenian Social Democrat Hunchakian Party in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Jafar Kuli Khan Nakhchivanski: He founded a short-lived state called the Republic of Aras.
Ibrahim Abilov: He was the first and only ambassador from the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic to Turkey.
Garegin Nzhdeh: A well-known Armenian revolutionary, military leader, and political thinker.

Religious Leaders

Alexander Jughaetsi: He was a very important religious leader, the Catholicos of All Armenians, from 1706 to 1714.
Hakob Jughaetsi: Another Armenian Catholicos who served from 1655 to 1680.
Azaria I Jughaetsi: An Armenian Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia from 1584 to 1601.

Military Leaders

Abdurahman Fatalibeyli: A Soviet army major who joined the German forces during World War II.
Ehsan Khan Nakhchivanski: A Russian military general.
Huseyn Khan Nakhchivanski: A Russian cavalry general. He was the only Muslim to serve as a special assistant to the Russian Tsar.
Ismail Khan Nakhchivanski: Another Russian military general.
Kelbali Khan Nakhchivanski: A Russian military general.
Jamshid Khan Nakhchivanski: A military general who served in both the Soviet and Azerbaijani armies.

Writers and Poets

M.S. Gulubekov: A writer.
Huseyn Javid: A famous poet.
Jalil Mammadguluzadeh: A writer known for his satire.
Ekmouladdin Nakhchivani: A literary figure from the medieval period.
Hindushah Nakhchivani: Another medieval literary figure.
Abdurrakhman en-Neshevi: A medieval literary figure.
Mammed Said Ordubadi: A writer.
Heyran Khanum: A poet from the late medieval period.
Elşen Hudiyev: A contemporary poet and writer.
Mammad Araz: A poet.

Other Notable People

Vladimir Makogonov: A chess International Master and Grandmaster.
Ajami Nakhchivani: A famous architect who started the Nakhchivan school of architecture.
Gaik Ovakimian: A Soviet Armenian spy.
Ibrahim Safi: A Turkish artist.
Rza Tahmasib: An Azerbaijani film director.

Images for kids

A modern mausoleum marks the place in Nakhchivan City traditionally believed to be the site of Noah's grave.
A map showing the location of Nakhchivan.
The Nakhichevan region (light purple) at the time of Armenia's Kingdom of Vaspurakan (908–1021).
Caucasus region, beginning of the 13th century.
Silver coin of Shah Suleiman I (1666–1694), made at the Nakhchivan mint in 1684/5.
Armenian cemetery in Julfa, shown in 1830 by Francis Rawdon Chesney.
Map of the Nakhchivan ASSR within the Soviet Union.
Topographic map of the region.
Examples of Armenian khachkars from Julfa.
Heydar Aliyev, former President of Azerbaijan, was born in Nakhchivan.
Momine Khatun Mausoleum in Nakhchivan City.
Close-up of brickwork and patterns on the Momine Khatun mausoleum.
Another view of the mausoleum.
Medieval-period ram-shaped grave monuments found near the Momine Khatun mausoleum.
A ram-shaped grave monument set in concrete.
The Batabat region of Shakhbuz.
A general view of Ordubad with high mountains in neighboring Iran in the distance.
Houses in Ordubad photographed near the east bank of Ordubad-chay.
Narrow streets in Ordubad.
A mosque in a quarter of Ordubad.
Aras River on the Iranian border near Julfa.
Mountainous terrain of Nakhchivan.
Armenian khachkar cemetery at Julfa.
Yusuf ibn Kuseir Mausoleum in Nakhchivan City.