Quba

Quba (also Kuba, Guba or Kuwa; Lezgin: Къуба́; Judæo-Tat: Qybə / Гъуьбэ / קאובּא) is a city in and the capital of the Quba Rayon (district) of Azerbaijan. The city lies on the north-eastern slopes of Shahdag mountain, at an altitude of 600 metres above sea level, on the right bank of the Kudyal river. It has a population of 38,100 (2010).

Quba
City & Municipality
Coat of arms
Quba
Coordinates: 41°21′35″N 48°30′45″E
Country Azerbaijan
RayonQuba
Elevation
600 m (2,000 ft)
Population
 (2010)[1]
 • Total38,100
Time zoneUTC+4 (AZT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+5 (AZT)
Area code(s)+994 169

History

Quba was mentioned in works of various European geographers, in ancient Arabic and Albanian sources. The castle built by the ruler Anushiravan in the 11th century was called "Bade-Firuz Qubat", and in the Arabic sources of the XII century Quba was mentioned as "Cuba". In the 13th century, in the Dictionary of Geographical names of Arabian scientist Hamabi it was mentioned among the Azerbaijani cities as Kubba, and in the sources of 16th century Quba was referred to as "Dome".

Guba (Quba) city originated from the riverside village of Gudial. In the mid-18th century, after moving his residence from Khudat, Hussain Ali became Quba's Khan (tribal Turkic Muslim ruler) and raised fortress walls around the city.[2] He thereafter attempted to create a state separate from other Azerbaijani khanates. The position of the Quba khanate grew stronger during the reign of Fatali Khan (1758–1789), son of Hussain Ali Khan.[3]

Nevertheless, Quba Khanate, like other Transcaucasian khanates, was occupied by Czarist Russia in the early 19th century and formally annexed to the Russian Empire under the agreement of 1813. After the rehabilitation Quba was included in the Derbent province in 1840 and then in the Baku province in 1860.[3]

Alexandre Dumas, Russian orientalist Berezin, the writer Bestuzhev-Marlinsky, the Norwegian scholar and adventurer Thor Heyerdahl visited Quba at the time.

Quba is also a center of carpet weaving industry. There is located a carpet making company called "Qadim Quba". The carpet "Golu Chichi" woven here in 1712 is now exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum in New York.[4][5]

Population

Demographics

The officially registered population of Quba in 2010 was 38,150.[6]

Ethnic groups

The majority of the population is Azerbaijanis, while Tats and Lezgians constitute other minorities. The city's suburb of Qırmızı Qəsəbə (formerly in Russian: Красная Слобода, Krasnaya Sloboda; literally "Red Town") is home to the country's largest community of Mountain Jews and one of the largest Jewish populations in the former Soviet Union.[7]

Points of Interest

Juma Mosque
Juma Mosque

Juma Mosque[8] was built in the 19th century. The mosque was built from the red brick and it was erected in 1802. It is also called "Jama". This mosque was constructed in typical Quba province style mosques. The brick for the mosque were made in the village of Igryg. In appearance it resembles a faceted cylinder, and it's shaped like a regular octagon.[9] Inside of the mosque there is a big hall crowned with a huge 16 m diameter dome.[10]

Sakina-Khanum Mosque

Sakina-Khanum Mosque was built in 1854 by the widow of Abbasgulu Bakikhanov. It was erected in memory of her deceased husband. The mosque was built from red bricks and is similar to faceted cylinder. Each facet has a window in the form of a semicircular arch. The top of the facade is surrounded by an original eaves made from small bricks. From top this stately building is crowned with a big white metal dome in the shape of a multi-faceted helmet. The top of the dome is decorated by a graceful thin spike.[10]

Chuhur hamam
The Hamam

Chuhur hamam is a bathhouse. The hamam is unique in its beehive shaped dome made of brick. The building of the bathhouse was built from the red brick. Its large dome enabled it to maintain the right temperature and humidity inside the house. The house has a quadrangular shape and it has 6 rooms, 2 doors and 6 windows. Water was supplied from the well under the bath or from the city waterpipes. In his time, Alexandre Dumas bathed in this bathhouse, during his stay in Quba. 150 years later, his great-grandson visited these places. The bathhouse was the main resting place for the Quba people and it was used until 1985. The Chuhur hamam is no longer operational.[9]

The House-museum of Abbasgulu Bakikhanov
Bakikhanov house in Quba, currently a museum named after him

The Museum of Local History named after Abbasgulu Bakikhanov was founded in 1943 in Quba. The museum was opened in the building, located along Ardabil Street, in which Bakikhanov himself lived at the time. The building dates back to the 19th century. There are more than 10 thousand different exhibits on the museum territory which is 742 sq. m. in total. More than 3,000 people visit this museum every year.[9]

Portal Frame Bridge

The only bridge that has survived to this day, also called the Kudyalchay Bridge. It is one of the seven bridges that existed in the Quba district in the 17th–19th centuries. This bridge was built in 1894 on the draft of Alexander III. 14 of its spans with a total length of 275 metres and a width of 8 metres are made of burnt bricks. This design allows the bridge to remain intact even during heavy mudflows and floods. The bridge has recently been restored and is protected by the state as an architectural monument. This is the only bridge with such structure in Azerbaijan.[9]

Nizami Park

It is said that this ancient park, named after Persian poet Nizami Ganjavi, was built by captured Germans in 1946. A statue of the poet is erected in the park. There are bas-reliefs, depicting scenes from the works of Nizami around the monument along the avenues.[9]

Olympic complex

The Olympic complex, located 120 km from Baku, was opened on October 11, 2003. The area of this recreational and sports center is 16 hectares. There are conditions for the development of football, mini-football, basketball and volleyball.

There are two-storey cottages, spacious apartments, as well as a conference hall with a capacity of 200 people on the territory of the complex.

The largest of 5 halls in this complex is designed for 2000 spectators. One of the two small training halls is equipped with simulators, and the other with a boxing ring. The wrestlers can use the auxiliary room.

The football field, which accommodates 5,100 spectators, is equipped with all the amenities that meet the requirements of this sport. The 50-meter pool is suitable for both training and competition. There are 3 stands, accommodating 1010 people.[11]

Climate
Climate data for Quba[12]
Season Autumn Winter Spring Summer Year
Month Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug
Average high °C 24 20 14 11 8 8 12 14 21 27 30 29 18
Daily mean °C 19 12 7 3 0 0 4 11 16 20 24 23 12
Average low °C 14 10 3 1 −3 −1 2 5 11 16 18 16 8
Average precipitation mm 49 59 43 36 29 31 37 45 47 29 26 29 460
Day length hrs 13 12 10 10 10 11 12 12 15 16 15 14 13
Average relative humidity (%) 69 77 72 74 78 82 77 69 66 60 58 61 70
Wind speed km/h 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 9 9 9 9 9 8
Mean monthly sunshine hours 230 199 160 149 153 157 184 194 238 258 270 259 2450

Economy

Quba has enjoyed strong economic growth over the last decade, much of it spurred by tourism and the construction industry.[13]

Tourism

Quba is attractive with its green nature, forests and mountain areas which is a part of range of Caucasus Mountains. A village of Khinalig considered as one of the highest (more than 2000 metres above sea level) and isolated areas are located in Quba region and frequently visited by tourists. Popular waterfall Afurdja which's height is 75 meters is also located in Quba. The Kudyal River which takes its sources from high altitudes of Caucasus mountains flows through the territory of Quba.

Transportation

Main transports to Quba are buses from Baku International Bus Terminal. The buses start to travel at 8:00 a.m every day in 1 hour intervals. Taxi is also available from Baku to Quba anytime. Shamakhinka area of the Baku city is known to be the point for regular taxi drivers to Quba.. There are also buses from neighbour towns (Khachmaz, Qusar, Shabran, Khudat, Sumqayit). Transportation inside Guba from center to villages and different regions is performed by buses, minibuses and taxi, which are available every day.

Education

There are 155 educational facilities in Quba. 135 high schools, 15 preschool and 5 out of school child education training facility. Out of 135 schools 27 are primary schools, 43 are high school which provide 9 years education, 65 provides eleven year education. In January 2017 these schools hosted 24620 students.[14] There are also private schools in Quba the most well known of which is Quba İstek High School which is successor of previous Private Turkish High School. Most villages have their own schools. There are also regional branch of Azerbaijan Pedagogical University, Quba State Social-Economic College, Medical College, Vocational liseum and Special vocational school in Quba.

Cuisine
Sac is one of traditional meals in Quba's cuisine

Quba's cuisine has largely been affected by its multicultural history. Quba's signature cuisine includes Quba tıxması, spicy kebab, sac, Quba baklava and tandir kebab.[15]

International relations

Twin cities

Quba is twinned with the following cities:

Notable locals
  • Kamal Mamedbekov (20 March 1924 – 2 September 1997), Azerbaijani and Soviet scientist, academician of the International Academy of Architecture of the Eastern Countries, honored architect of Azerbaijan SSR, PhD in theory and history of architecture and restoration of architectural monuments.
  • Leyla Mamedbekova (12 May 1922 – 23 May 2006), Azerbaijani and Soviet scientist, pathologist, honored scientist of Azerbaijan SSR, professor. She was the first female professor in Azerbaijan in the field of pathology, the first female forensic medical expert, and the first female chief pathologist of Azerbaijan.
  • Mir Jafar Baghirov (5 September 1895 – 26 May 1956), politician, the communist leader of the Azerbaijani SSR.
  • Farhad Veliyev (1 November 1980), footballer.
  • Zulfiyya Khanbabayeva (16 October 1967), Azerbaijani singer and performer.

See also

References
  1. Population by economic and administrative regions of the Azerbaijan Republic, The State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan Archived 14 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Quba şəhəri (in Azerbaijani)
  3. "History of Quba".
  4. "Неизвестный Азербайджан: Губа".
  5. "КУБА".
  6. http://www.stat.gov.az/source/regions/az/007_3.xls
  7. Minahan, James B. (2014). Ethnic Groups of North, East, and Central Asia: An Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 124. ISBN 1610690184.
  8. Гюльнара Мехмандарова, "Джума мечеть в Кубе." Баку: Элм. – 1986. – 8,[1] с.: ил.- На рус.яз. – Российская Федерация. (in Russian)
  9. "8 туристических достопримечательностей Губы".
  10. "Guba". azerbaijan24.com. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  11. "Quba Olimpiya İdman Kompleksi". azsport.az. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
  12. "Погода, климат, температура по месяцам в Quba".
  13. "Qubaya turizm marşurutu açılıb" (in Azerbaijani). olaylar.az. Retrieved 17 October 2010.
  14. "Təhsil – QUBA RAYON Icra Hakimiyyəti". www.quba-ih.gov.az. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  15. Azerbaijani Cuisine: Şirniyyat Archived 20 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine (in Azerbaijani)
  16. "Города Губа и Эрзин стали побратимами". vesti.az. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2011.
  17. "Azərbaycanın Quba və Qırğıstanın Kant şəhər rəhbərləri bir sıra sahələr üzrə sazişlər imzalayacaq".
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