Lankaran, Lankaran-Astara Region, Azerbaijan

🇦🇿 Lankaran (Lənkəran, Lankon) is a city in Azerbaijan, on the coast of the Caspian Sea, near the southern border with Iran. It is next to, but independent of, Lankaran District. The city forms a distinct first-order division of Azerbaijan. The city is mostly populated by the Talysh people, and serves as the main urban centre of this people and its ethnic homeland, Talyshstan.

History It is unknown when the town of Lankaran was actually established. The French archaeologist Jacques de Morgan (died 1924) discovered extremely ancient remains in Lankaran, such as dolmens, graves, and instances of bodies seemingly exposed in a Zoroastrian manner.

With the death of Nader Shah (r. 1736–1747), the Talysh Khanate was founded by a certain Seyyed Abbas, whose ancestors were members of the Iranian Safavid dynasty, and had moved into the Talish region in the 1720s during a turbulent period in Iranian history. From the founding of the khanate until 1828, it was under the suzerainty of the Iranian Zand and Qajar dynasties. In the first half of the 18th century, the Russians gained control over it for a few years during the Russo-Persian War of 1722–1723; in 1732 it was ceded back to Iran by the Treaty of Resht. During the Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813, General Kotlyarevsky, heading the southernmost Russian contingent during the war, stormed and captured Lankaran's fortress. Following the Treaty of Gulistan of 1813, it was ceded to Russia. Qajar Iran would later retake the city during the Russo-Persian War of 1826–1828, but was forced to return it following the Treaty of Turkmenchay (1828), which saw the definite end of Persian influence in the South Caucasus.

Under Russian rule, Lankaran, known as Lenkoran (Ленкорань) in Russian, was the centre of the Lenkoran Uyezd of the Baku Governorate. Following the collapse of the Russian Empire, it was a part of the short-lived Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918–1920), then became a part of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic following the sovietization of Azerbaijan. In 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it became a part of independent Azerbaijan.

Geography There are sandy beaches near Lankaran. Thermal sulphide, chloride, sodium-calcium waters of Andjin (Upper and Lower) mineral springs are situated 12 km west of the town. Also to the west are the ruins of Ballabur castle, near the village with the same name.

The region has a vast area of national parks, where a variety of fauna and flora are preserved. Gizil-Agach State Reserve hosts over 250 kinds of plants, 30 species of fish and more than 220 kinds of birds. Lankaran is also known for Parrotia, or ironwood. It is naturally grown in the region and could be seen in Hirkan National Park. Local myth has it that it is the only wood that sinks in water, hence the name (ironwood). Historically it has been used for heating since it burns for a long time and is not easily extinguished. The Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolous) subspecies of the leopard, lives in the national park as well. In 1937, members of the Opilio lepidus species of harvestman were sighted in the area.

Water and sewerage Some measures have been undertaken to improve the drink water supply of the city and to reconstruct the city's sewage system. The reconstruction of the Lankaran water supply and sewerage system began in August 2011,1 Water Purification System, 1 water reservoir with a capacity of 10000 m3, 252 km of water lines with different diameter, 12,000 Smartcard water meters, 21 km of sewer line have been installed and 12 km of micro tunnel layout are planned in Khanbulan village of Lankaran by the company.

Power supply 10 Smartcard electricity meters, 154 electronic single-phase electricity meters were installed and 191 defective meters were changed during 3 months of 2017 in the Lankaran district. Totally 16892 Smart card electricity meters have been installed in the district. Currently[data unknown/missing], government carry out work of energy sales and exploitation to settlements and villages of the district including 47,914 individual subscribers, 46 refugees, 3052 trade and services, 891 productions, transport and construction, 155 budgets and 157 other consumer groups.

Gas supply During the three months of 2017, some measures have been undertaken for providing residential areas and companies with gas supply in the city. Thus, 43,565 people were provided with natural gas, 252 km of water lines with different diameter were set up, 426 gas problem detected and eliminated 153 gas meters were replaced, 291 defective meters were changed with new ones. At present, 65 settlements including Lankaran and Liman city have been provided with gas, which means 90.1% of the total people of the district.

Districts • Separadi • Liman (city) • Narimanabad • Garmatuk • Ashagi Nuvadi • Hirkan • Haftoni • Isti Su • Balighcilar

Population • Percentage urban population: 39% • Percentage rural population: 61%

The vast majority of the district's population is talysh, the rest are azerbaijanis and other nationalities. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, there were 422 Muslim homes in the city. After the Gulustan contract in 1813, the number of population of Lankaran decreased. This is related to the colonial policy of Tsardom of Russia. After the occupation of the Talysh Khanate, Armenians began to come for living here. In 1832 there were 168 Armenians living in Lankaran. In the year 1849, there were 1999 residents including 125 Bey(King), 20 Mirza, 46 Sayyids, 56 Mullahs, 92 temporary residents, 699 maafs, 168 ethnics, 66 Armenians and 114 Russians in 1849.

More than 25 percent of the population consists of young people and teenagers aged 14–29.

Lankaran district is the largest Talysh region in terms of population. The total population is 230,300 people, The majority of the district's population is talysh. It includes the cities of Lankaran and Liman, as well as six other cities and eighty-five villages. These are large centres of trade and culture among the talysh.

Education There are 51 kindergartens, 81 educational institutions, pedagogical, medical and musical schools in Lankaran. 87 clubs, 94 libraries, State Drama Theater, museum, branch of Azerbaijan Scientific Research Institute of Fisheries and Subtropical Crops operate.

Since 1992 Lankaran State University, Azerbaijan National EA Regional Science Center since 2006 have been established. Lankaran branch of Azerbaijan Research Institute of Horticulture and Subtropical Crops of ANAS, Zona Experimental Station, Lankaran branch of the Institute of Improvement of Teachers, Lankaran Humanitarian College, Medical School, Children's Art School operate in Lankaran.

Press and mass media "Lankaran" newspaper belonging to Lankaran City Executive Authority has been operating since 1991. Independent newspapers such as "Prizma" (2004), "Şəfəq" (1992), literary magazines such as "Söz" (1994), "Məşəl" (1999), radio broadcasting editing since 1957, Lankaran television has been operating since 2004.

Culture cultural and educational institutions in Lankaran operate under the direction of the Lankaran Regional Culture and Tourism Department. At present, there are 1 Heydar Aliyev Center, 2 museums (History Museum, H.Aslanov's house museum), 1 Central Library and its 70 branches, City Cultural Center named after Q.Valiyev and 66 cultural institutions, 2 children's music schools, 1 children's art school, 1 State Painting Gallery. Based on the No.132 Decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 21 mainly archaeological monuments, 53 local architectural monuments, 2 sculpture monument are registered and protected by the government.

The Lankaran History and Ethnography Museum The Lankaran History and Ethnography Museum consist of 3 floors and 12 rooms. The museum is located in the house of Mir Ahmed Khan, now a historical monument built in 1913. Since 1978, the Khan House has been operating as a Lankaran History and Ethnography Museum. There are more than 6500 exhibits reflecting Lankaran's ancient history, culture, national-moral values and today in the museum. The exposition of the museum consists of six sections: nature, ancient history, medieval history, new era, recent period (1917-1945), modern era (from 1945 to present).

Hazi Aslanov House Museum The house-museum of the Hero of the Soviet Union, a prominent military commander and the major general Hazi Aslanov, was opened on May 9, 1969(on Victory Day of Azerbaijan). The first director of the museum was Khaver Aslanova who is H.Aslanov's wife. In 1983 the exposition of the museum was expanded and reconstructed. The exposition consists of five rooms. In 2011, the museum was completely renovated. The museum consists of 5 sections and rooms. The first room is the ethnographic room reflects the environment where he was born and dying. The things in this room belong to the mother of H.Aslanov. His sister Asiya Aslanova gave them to the museum. The second room is dedicated to years of education and military service. The third room is dedicated to the fights for Moscow and Stalingrad (1941-1943). The fourth room is dedicated to the fight for the Primorye and Belarus (1944-1945). The last room is a commemorative hall, Different presents to the house, the battle clothes on the day of his death, souvenirs, his albums and books are protected in this room.