Qazax District facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gazakh District
District
Azerbaijani: Qazax rayonu
Map of Azerbaijan showing Gazakh District
Country	Azerbaijan
Region	Gazakh-Tovuz
Established	8 August 1930
Capital	Gazakh
Settlements	35
Area
• Total	700 km2 (300 sq mi)
Population  (2020)
• Total	98,400
• Density	141/km2 (364/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+4 (AZT)
Postal code	3500

The Gazakh District (also spelled Qazax District) is one of the 66 districts in Azerbaijan. It is located in the northwest part of the country. This area is part of the Gazakh-Tovuz Economic Region. The district shares borders with the Aghstafa area in Azerbaijan and the Tavush Province in Armenia. Its main city and capital is Gazakh. In 2020, about 98,400 people lived in the district.

Gazakh District has two special areas called exclaves that are located inside Armenia. These include the villages of Yukhari Askipara, Barkhudarly, and Sofulu. During the First Nagorno-Karabakh war, Armenian forces took control of these exclaves. They also took parts of the main Gazakh District. These parts included the villages of Baghanis Ayrum, Ashaghi Eskipara, Gyzylhajily, and Kheyrimli.

History of Gazakh District

Early Times and Empires

For many centuries, different powerful groups ruled the Gazakh region. These included the Sassanid Persians, the Byzantine Empire, and the Arabs. Later, the Seljuq Turks, the Georgians, and the Mongols also took control. After them came the Timurids and two Turkoman tribes, the Qara Qoyunlu and Aq Qoyunlu. Finally, Safavid Iran ruled the area. The Ottoman Empire also controlled Gazakh for periods between 1578 and 1607, and again from 1722 to 1735.

By the late 1400s, the Kazakh Sultanate became an independent area. Even though it was part of the Karabakh principality under the Safavid Empire, its leader, Sultan Shamsaddin of Gazakh, was given the important title of Khan by Abbas the Great in 1605.

Russian Rule and Changes

After the Russo-Persian War (1804-1813), the Russian Empire gained control of Gazakh. This happened because of a peace agreement called the Treaty of Gulistan. Under Russian rule, Gazakh was first part of the Tiflis Governorate. Then, in 1868, it became the northeastern part of the Kazakh Uyezd. This was a smaller administrative area within the Elisabethpol Governorate.

After World War I

After World War I, the South Caucasus region was occupied by the British. A British official, Sir John Oliver Wardrop, tried to solve land disputes. He suggested that some areas should go to the Democratic Republic of Armenia (DRA). Other areas, like Elisabethpol and Baku, would go to the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR). However, neither Armenia nor Azerbaijan agreed with this plan. Conflicts started between the two groups. The British then left the region in mid-1919.

People and Population

Population Growth

The table below shows how the population of Gazakh region has changed over the years. You can see the total population, and how many people live in cities (urban) versus villages (rural).

Conflict and Its Impact

During the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, Armenian troops took control of several villages in the Gazakh District. Many Azerbaijani people living there were affected. Some were killed, while others had to leave their homes and flee to safety.

In July 2020, Gazakh became a place where clashes with Armenia happened.

Places to See and Learn

Gazakh region has 112 protected historical sites. These include old buildings, archaeological digs, and places important for art. Here are some of the interesting places you can visit:

Historic Buildings and Museums

• The House of the Poet Samad Vurgun in Yukhari Salahli village. It has been a museum since 1976.
• The Museum of History and Ethnography has been open since 1984.
• The Gazakh State Picture Gallery was opened in 1986 by the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan.
• The Memorial museum of Molla Panah Vagif and Molla Vali Vidadi opened in 1970. These were two important poets.
• The House of Teachers Seminary of Gazakh was built in 1910. It was a school for teachers from 1918 to 1959.
• The Bath House of Israfil Agha was built in the early 1900s. Israfil Agha Kerbelayev from Kasaman village built it.
• The Juma Mosque of Qazakh was built in 1902. Akhund Haji Zeynalabdin Mahammadli oghlu from Kasaman village built it.
• The Aslanbeyli Mosque was built in 1909 by Hamid Efendi from Aslanbeyli village.

Ancient Sites and Nature

• The Damjili Caves are near Dash Salahli village. They cover a large area and show signs of human life from very old times. These include the Middle and Upper Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic eras.
• Sining Korpu (The Broken Bridge) (Azerbaijani: Sınıq körpü) is a 12th-century bridge. It was built over the Ehram (Khram) river in Ikinji Shikhli village.
• Didevan Castle (Azerbaijani: Didəvan qalası) is a monument from the 6th-7th century. It is located in Khanliglar village.
• Mount Goyazan (Azerbaijani: Göyəzən dağı) is a special archaeological site in Abbasbeyli village. It is 857.9 meters tall.
• The Baba Dervish Habitation is an archaeological site in Demirchiler village.
• The Kazim Bridge in Yukhari Askipara village. People believe it was built when Shamsi Khan was in charge.
• Santepe is an archaeological site. It dates back to the 9th-8th centuries B.C. and the Iron Age.
• The Gazakhbeyli Hills are an archaeological site near Gazakhbeyli village. They date from the 8th-6th centuries B.C.
• The Shikhli Human Camp is an archaeological site near Birinji Shikhli village.
• Shakargala is another important site in the Gazakh region.

Famous People from Gazakh

Many talented people come from Gazakh. Here are some of them:

• Sabir Azeri (1938-2010) - A writer known for his popular books.
• Aliagha Shikhlinski (1865–1943) - A general in the artillery, called "God of Russian artillery."
• Farrukh Gayibov (1889–1916) - The first Azerbaijani pilot. He received a special award.
• Ibrahim agha Vekilov (1853–1934) - A general and the first Azerbaijani military mapmaker.
• Javad bey Shikhlinski (1876–1940) - A general-major and a division commander.
• Ibrahim bey Usubov (1872–1920) - A general-major and a division commander.
• Mirza Huseyn Afandi Qayibov (1830–1917) - A religious leader in Transcaucasia.
• Molla Vali Vidadi (1707–1809) - A famous poet of Azerbaijan.
• Molla Panah Vagif (1717–1797) - A famous poet and public figure in Azerbaijan.
• Mukhtar Hajiyev (1876–1938) - The first chairman of Azerbaijan Central Executive Committee in 1921.
• Samad Vurgun (1906–1956) - The first person to be named National Poet of Azerbaijan.
• Vidadi Babanli (1927-) - A National Writer of Azerbaijan.
• Osman Sarivelli (1905–1990) - A national poet of Azerbaijan.
• Mehdi Huseyn (1909–1964) - A National Writer of Azerbaijan, known for his plays and criticism.
• Mirvarid Dilbazi (1912–2001) - A national poet of Azerbaijan.
• Amina Dilbazi (1919–2010) - A ballet-master and National Artist of Azerbaijan.
• Elazan Bayjan (Haji Hasanzadeh) (1913–1989) - A poet and doctor who set up clinics in Germany.
• Ismayil Shykhly (1919–1995) - A National Writer of Azerbaijan, scientist, teacher, and public figure.
• Elmira Huseynova (1933–1995) - A sculptor.
• Fatma Vekilova (1912–1987) - A professor and doctor in geology and mineralogy.
• Sayad Zeynalov (1886–1942) - Received a special military award.
• Teymur Bunyadov (1928) - An academician, historian, and ethnographer.
• Tahir Isayev, also known as Serafino (1922–2001).
• Ali Mustafayev (1952–1991) - A National Hero of Azerbaijan.

Villages in Gazakh District

Here is a list of villages located in the Gazakh District:

Images for kids

• 

  Map showing the situation in western Gazakh after the First Nagorno-Karabakh war.

See also

In Spanish: Raión de Qazaj para niños