• Nakhchivan economic-geographical region
• Babek region

The region was called Nakhchivan till 1978. Babak region is one of the ancient settlements. Archeological findings referring to eneolit, bronze and iron ages and ancient period, ancient Duzdagh field, old residences, necropolises and other material and cultural relics were discovered in the territory of the region. The area abounds with medieval fortresses (Chalkhangala, Vaykhir, Aznaburt, Abbasabad and etc).
Relief. The landscape of the region is mountainous in the North and Eastern parts. So as the Northern part is composed by Duzdagh (Anabad Gadik Mountain, 2081 m), Daralayaz ridge (Buzgov Mountain, 2475m) and Gizilboghaz Mountains (Gizilboghaz Mountain, 1179 m). The Eastern part consists of tributaries and rifts of Zangazur chain (Nahajir Mountain, 1807 m). Gulustan plain (Nokhuddagh, 1677m) is located in the Southern part of the region. Moreover, the Western part of the region is occupied by Nakhchivan plain. There are sloping plains in central, South and South Western areas.
Geological structure. Anthropogenic sedimnets stretched along plain areas while mountainous areas were under by Neocene sedimentary rocks.
Landscapes and biodiversity. The soil of the region is gray and meadow gray, mountain chestnut in northern areas. The climate is cold semi desert with dry summers and dry steppe in the southern areas and cold climate with dry summers in the northern areas. The summer is hot and the winter is cold in the region.
The vegetation species of the region are desert, semi-desert, mountain xerophytes (frigana), mountain steppe, shrubbery, hole meadow and flood land meadow, petrofil (rock-reel) types. The flora of the region was represented by orange fruited Persian asparagus (Asparagus persicus), Isayev's grass (Stipa issaevii), Karyagin’s Feateher-grass (Stipa karjaginii), common hornwort (Ceratophyllum demersum), Allochrusa (Allochrusa versicolor), mediterranean medlar (Crataegus pontica), pale cranesbill (Biebersteinia niulti- fida), Dorema (Dorema glahrum), ferula (Ferula oopoda) and other endemic and rare plants.
Fauna: Persian leopard (Panthera pardus), lynx (Lynx lynx), wildcat, wolf (Canis lupus), jackal (Canis aureus), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), badger (Meles meles), rocky squirrel, Bezoar Goat (Capra aegagrus), Cyprian wild sheep (Ovis orientalis), Wild boar (Sus scrofa), brown hare (Lepus europaeus), Southern white breasted hedgehog (Erinaceus concolor), Indian Crested Porcupine (Hystrix indica), brown lop eared bat (Plecotus auritus), Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), Shorteared Owl (Asio flammeus), Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Upcher’s Uarbler (Hippolais languidae), Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar), Little Bustard (Otis tarda), Eastern and Western rock nuthatch (Sitta tephronota, S.neumayer), bustard (Otis tetrax), twite (Acanthis flavirostris), racers (Coluber sp., Hierofis sp.), Grass Snakes (Natrix natrix), scorpions (Androctanus crassicauda, A.australis), solpugs (Rhagodes caucasicus, Gluviopsis nigrocinctus), and fish species in the water reservoir of Araz water junction are the fauna species of the territory.

Geological nature monuments: Dashgala cave near Sirab village. Gachag Aghbaba cave near Gahab village. “Ashabi-Kahf (cave people) cave sanctuary between Ilandagh and Nahajir mountains and mineral water spring with the same name near Nakhchivan city. There are areas in Turkey and Syria with the same name. There is information about this legend in Christian and Islamic sources (“Koran”, “Al-Kahf” sura). Accroding to Christian legends when Roman Emperor Trajan (249-251) Detsiy came to Ephesus (now Izmir, Turkey) ordered to offer up sacrifice in honor of idols. One group of young Ephesus aristocrates refused to do it. It became clear that they worship to Christianity. Following their beliefs 7 young left secretly the city and hid in mountainous cave (Kheshisdagh, Uludagh). Angry emperor commmanded to wattle the entrance of the cave. The youth fell asleep for 200 years and slept in an ordinary way. One of the friends (Diomed) was arrested when he came out for a bread.
He was arrested for hiding the treasure and brought to the Christian Emperor Feosiy. Youth announced that they would sleep again untill the day of wrath. In accordance with Islamic legends, the young people who believed in Allah hid in the cave and were lulled by Allah and woken up 300 years later. After waking they saw unknown changed world and fell to eternal asleep.
Salakhana karst cave in the western slopes of Gazan upland. It is possible to keep 1000 sheep in the cave. Nehram cave (Kand darasinin kuhulu) with 180 m2 area in 1230 m height of village valley near Nehram village. Dashgala cave with 350 m2 area, 1480 m above sea level in the southern slopes of Dashgala mountain near Sirab village. The cave was formed by dolomit shaped rocks. The territory abounds in springs. There are more than 80 Kahrizs, springs. Kahriz is the underground hydaulic system consisting of sloping sewer for collecting ground water and bring them to the surface.
Accroding to legends the ship of the Prophet Moah anchor in Gamigaya in the upper flow of Gilanmchay river. The legends run that the remains of the ship are still in “Ayi Chukhuru” area. According to other legends Noah and his wife's graves are in the territory.
The remains of ancient “Nuhdaban” village, Nahajir (Nuhajir) mounatin and village. A number of eastern travellers (Hamdullah Kazvini, Khatib Chalabi, Ovliya Chalabi) called Nakhchivan city “Nagshi-Jahan" in their notes. “Nagsh” means paintings, drawings, decoration in Arabian while “Jahan” means the whole world in Persian. The word Nakhchivan means “beautiful place of the world". The city was the capital of Eldanizs Empire in XII-XIII centuries.
Archeological monuments: Nakhchivan necropolises of brozne, Antic and Medieval Periods in the edge of the Nakhchivan city. Kultapa residence of early Eneolit Iron Age (IV-I millenium B.C.) in Kultapa village. Gavurgala residence of Bronze Age (III-II milleniums B.C.) on the left bank of Araz River nera Nakhchivan city. Naringala tower locates in the central part. The local population was engaged with agriculture, cattle breeding, pottery and metallurgy fields.
Chalkhangala residence of Bronze Age near Chalkhangala village. A residence and necropolis of Bronze and Iron Ages and necropolis near Boyukduz village. Kultapa monument of Bronze Age in Yukhari Uzunoba village. Gizilvang temple of middle ages near Gizilburun necropolis in Nakhchivan city. The temple was built with well cutted stone and baked brick. There are 18 religious pictures in the main church building. Chalkhangal Tower of Bronze Age nera Nakhchivan village. The tower was built by large rock stones without any sticking materials. The tower referring siclopes buildings of Bronze Age with 450 m length and 3 m width. Garagala residence of Bronze and early Iron Age and Garagala necropolis of middle ages near Garagala village. Buzgov necropolis of II millenium B.C. near Buzgov village. Vaykhur necropolis of II millenium B.C., Gavurgala near Vaykhur village.
Historical and cultural monuments: Nehram-Imamzadeh complex of tomb, mosque, tekye and other buildings in Nehram village. According to legends, the seventh Imam of Shia’s the son of Musa-Al-Kazim, Seyid Agil was buried in the region. Ishiglar residence (III-XVIII centuries) near Jahri village. Abbasabad tower of military fortification on the bank of Araz River near Nakhchivan city. Five pointed, with strong hold building was constructed with the design of the French specialists (1810). Araz water intake was under the sea during the construction. Shikhmahmud necropolis of antic period is situated near Shikhmahmud village.