Sheki - Zagatala economic-geographical region print

Sheki-Zagatala economic-geographical region borders with Dagestan Republic in the North, with the Republic of Georgia (Mazim River) in the West, with Girdiman valley in the East and wiıh Ganikh-Ayrichay in the South. According to natural conditions the territory is divided to 3 parts: the Southern slope of Great Caucasus, Ganikh-Haftaran valley and Middle Kur highland (Ajinohur and Turud-Sarija plain, the mountainous part of Sheki). Gabala, Oghuz, Sheki, Gakh, Zagatala and Balakan are concerning as administrative regions of this territory. The minimum altitude of the area is 100 m and the maximum height is 4466 m on the Mountain Bazardyuzu. Mountain Bazardyuzu is not only concerning to be the highest peak of Azerbaijan and Sheki-Zagatala economic-geographical region, as well as the southern point of the Russian Federation and the highest peak of the Autonomous Republic of Dagestan.

Climate: Annual amount of solar luster is 2200-2400 hours. According to the middle temperature of the coldest month, the winters in the area pass mild (0; -5°C), much milder (2.5-0°C) and the mildest (5-2.5°C), Feasible evaporation for warm periods (April-October) is around 400-1000 mms. The number of arid days is ranging between 5-25 days between June and September months and the middle annual rate of the wind changes around 2 m/second and less. Continental climate changes around weak, moderate continental and middle continental types. The length of nonfrost period during the year is 150-250 days or more, but the amount of days with temperature below 0° C is 20-150 days. The days with snow cover fluctuates between 20-120 days, 500-700 m above sea level the climate is subtropical while higecr it is mild, cool and cold climates are becoming superior. Region holds second place after Lankaran-Astara zone for the scope of rainfalls. The most arid and humid areas of the territory consecutively are Ajinohur (300-350 mm) as well as medium and high mountain areas.

Rivers and lakes: The most tumultuous and streamed rivers of the region are following: Kish (33 km long), Shin (39 km), Balakanchay (39 km), Katekh (54 km), Damiraparan (69 km), Mazim (30 km), Mukhakh (56 km), Ganikh (413 km), Ayrichav (46 km), Alijan (98 knı), Turian (180 km) and etc. The region is surrounded with a very rich deposits of thermal and mineral waters such as Oghlanbulag, Gizbuiag, Hamambulag, Budusshor, Aghbulag and Khalkhal. Nohurgol (Gabala) and Ajinohur (Gakh) are the main lakes of the rcglon.

Land cover and biodiversity: The landscapes widely spread in this region are mountain-meadow, mountain and forest-meadow, brown-mountain forest, mountain, forest, meadow brown, gray-brown mountain, chestnut mountain, chestnut, brown, meadow, forest and meadow soils. The area owns extraordinary landscape. Compared to other regions forests cover considerable part of the area. Alder (Alnus sp.), wing nut (Pterocarya pterocarpa), hybrid poplar (Populus hybrida), long-stern oak (Quercus longipes) are particular spccics availablc in plain areas of low-Iying forests. There are juniper (Juniperus sp.), Turkish terebinth (Pistacia sp.) and Iberian oak (Quercus iberica) forests in stcppe placcu areas. The dominant flora of the down mountain forest zone (1000-1100 m) of the region are iberia oak (Q.iberica) and eastern hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis). Moreover, middle mountain forest zone mainly consists of beech (Fagus sp.) forests. The fauna of the region is characterized by the mammals like brown bear (Ursus arctos), wolf (Canis lupus), hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor) and etc. The upper mountain zone consists of East oak (Q.macranthera), trautvetter birch (Acer trautvetteri) and birch (Betula sp.) forests. The fauna patterns of upper mountain forest zone are presented by wild boar (Sus scrofa), noble deer (Cervus elaphus) and Europeao roe (Capreolus capreolus). Subalpine zone (2000-2600 m) consists of subalpine-meadows. The prime fauna demonstrates one year plants as Caucasian birdpear (Sorbus caucasigena), giant scabious (Cephalaria sp.), daphne (Daphne glomerata), rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.), Oriental trunk-flower (Rhynchocorys orientalis), cow-parsnip (Heradeum sp.), mountain onagra (Epilohium montanum), orchis (Orchis sp.) and spotted dead-nettle (Lamium tomentosum).