Gobustan District

Gobustan
Gobustan
	Rayon
	Map of Azerbaijan showing Gobustan Rayon
	Coordinates: 40°32′06″N 48°55′16″E
Country	Azerbaijan
Capital	Qobustan
Area
• Total	1,369.4 km2 (528.7 sq mi)
Population
• Total	46.1 thousand
Time zone	UTC+4 (AZT)
Postal code	3700
Telephone code	(+994) 20[1]

Gobustan is an administrative district, or rayon, of Azerbaijan. Area 1,369.4 km²; population 37,137; population density 27 persons/km². Its administrative centre, Qobustan (not to be confused with Qobustan, Baku) was known as Maraza until 2009, and is located about 80 km (50 mi) west of Baku. From 1930 until 1943 and again from 1960 until 1990 the territory belonged to Shamakhi administrative district.

History

The name of Gobustan was originated from the word “Gobu”, which means “beam” in Azerbaijani.[2]

The ancient dwellings used to be in the area of present Gobustan which date back to the Stone Age.[2]

Divisions

There are 34 villages and 1 settlement – Settlement Maraza. Number of infant schools is 6 and general education schools is 30 in Gobustan district. There are 23 cultural centers, 3 hospitals and medical enterprises, and 6 big and middle enterprises as well.[3]

The district is bordered with Hajigabul, Khizi, Shamakhi, and Absheron districts.[3]

Population

Statistics for the beginning of 2018 show that the number of population in Gobustan district is 46.1 thousand people, of which 9.4 thousand live in urban areas, while 36.7 thousand people live in rural areas.[4]

Population	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Gobustan region	40.5	41.1	41.8	42.5	43.2	44.0	44.8	45.4	46.1
urban areas	8.2	8.3	8.5	8.6	8.8	9.0	9.1	9.3	9.4
rural areas	32.3	32.8	33.3	33.9	34.4	35.0	35.7	36.1	36.7

Geography

Landscape

The territory of Gobustan ranges from the shores of the Caspian Sea to Mount Gijaki, the highest point in eastern part the Greater Caucasus. Peculiarities of Gobustan landscape are the rocks of lime and sandstone in the middle territory of the district, and mud volcanoes, which are located in the east part of Gobustan.[5]

Climate

Semi-arid climate is specific to Gobustan. Winters are mild, and summers are hot in there. Rain periods are early spring and late autumn. The annual precipitation is 250 mm. The western part of Gobustan is more precipitated in autumn and spring than eastern part of Gobustan since Kura lowlands covers the western part. The highest mean temperature is observed in July (32 C) and the lowest mean temperature occurs in January (-1.6 C).[5]

Flora

Flora of Gobustan is rich with 470 species of plants out of 4000 species in Azerbaijan.[6] The vegetation of Gobustan has desert and semi-desert characteristics. Wild rose, Hibernian honeysuckle, wild pear, wild pomegranate, wild fig, and juniper can be found in Gobustan.[7]

Fauna

There are approximately 110 wild bird species in Gobustan region. 53 of them are included in special European conversation concern, 9 of them are included in the Azerbaijan Red Data Book, and 9 of them are listed by the International Union for Conversation of Nature (IUNC).[5]

Number of mammal species in Gobustan reaches to 28. Two of them are included in the Azerbaijan Red Book and one species is listed in the IUCN.[5] There are 2 species of amphibians and 20 species of reptiles in Gobustan. Testudo greaca is included in the Red Book Data of Azerbaijan and IUCN.[7]

Economy

Agriculture

Agriculture is the core of the Gobustan economy. The most important agricultural product in the region is grain. Approximately, the annual production of grain is 1 ton per person.[8] Other major agricultural products are potato, cabbage, tomato, grape, pea, sunflower, and melon.[3]