Shahbuz District

Shahbuz
Rayon
Map of Azerbaijan showing Shabuz Rayon
Country	Azerbaijan
Autonomous republic	Nakhchivan
Settlement	1
Villages	22
Capital	Şahbuz
Government
• Executive power	Quliyev N.
Area
• Total	836.58 km2 (323.01 sq mi)
Population
• Total	21,800
• Density	26/km2 (67/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+4 (AZT)
Postal code	7100
Telephone code	(+994) 36

Road sign at the entrance to Shakhbuz District

Shahbuz (Azerbaijani: Şahbuz; also known as Dereshahbuz and Shakhbuz) is a rayon of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Shahbuz district was established in August 8, 1930. In the north and east, it is bordered by the Republic of Armenia. The area of the district is 836.58 square kilometres (323.01 sq mi). There are 1 city, 1 settlement and 22 villages within the district. The district capital is Şahbuz.^[1]

General İnformation

Covering 27 villages and plateaus of the Oyuqlucaqaya, Bazaryurd, Dərəbash, Qachdash, Nərkechi and Armudlu, the region of Dərəşahbuz was established in the 16th century and functioned up to 40th years of the 19th century.^[2] In 1925, it was named Narimanov District in the administrative-territorial unit of Nakhchivan (encompassing 30 villages). Since 1930, "Shahbuz" name has been restored. In 1963, the district was abolished and given to the Nakhchivan (since 1978, Babak) region. Since 1965, it has been an independent district. In 2007, the settlement of Shahbuz was given city status.^[3] In 2013, by decree of President of Azerbaijan Republic, Qarababa village was dissolved and added into the administrative territory of the city of Shahbuz.^[4] The population of the city is up to 5000.

Shahbuz district is located in the north of NAR. It is a mountainous area. Salvarti (3162 m), Uchgardash (3156 m), and Kechaldagh (3115 m) are the highest points. Like the rest of the republic, many underground waters flow here, such as badamli, batabat, caravansarai, bichanak and other mineral waters. There are sulfur, construction materials, peat deposits. The district has the river Nakhchivanchay River and its tributaries - Kuku, Shahbuz, Salvarti - and Ganligol and Batabat Lakes. The mountains are heavily forested. "Badamli" resort was built near the Badamli mineral water plant.

Etymology and history

There are different versions of the etymology of the name of Shahbuz. Shahbuz (Շահպուզ) was historically inhabited by Armenians, dating back to the 10th century. Numerous khachkars and other signs of an Armenian past have been found in Shabuz, but the government of Azerbaijan have made recent attempts to erase any history that is associated with Armenians. At the historical sources, first time the name of "Shahbuz" can be found on the map which shows treasury of copper coins of the state of Eldiguzids and in the historical work of Sharaf ad-Din Ali Yazdi "Zafarnama", historian of Amir Timur.^[5]

Population

Notable natives

• Mammad Araz (14 October 1933, Nursu, Shahbuz District – 1 December 2004, Baku, Azerbaijan), People's poet of Azerbaijan.
• Tagi Ahmedov, (born 1 February 1948, Güney Qışlaq, Shahbuz District) Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party in Yasamal District and former chief of Baku Subway.^[6]

See also

• Shahbuz State Reserve

External links

• District of Shahbuz

References

• "Naxçıvan Ensiklopediyası" - 2 cilddə, II cild, Naxçıvan, 2005. ISBN 5-8066-1468-9

Coordinates: 39°29′N 45°40′E / 39.483°N 45.667°E / 39.483; 45.667