Qusar (city)

Qusar (also Kusary; Azerbaijani: Qusar, Lezgian: Кцlар) is the capital of Qusar Rayon, Azerbaijan. Qusar is located in foothills of Greater Caucasus, over the Qusarchay River, 35 kilometers southwest from Khudat railway station and 180 km from Baku.

Qusar
Seal
Qusar
Coordinates: 41°25′35″N 48°26′08″E
Country Azerbaijan
RayonQusar
Established1938
Elevation
667 m (2,188 ft)
Population
 (2012)[1]
 • Total17,400
Time zoneUTC+4 (AZT)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+5 (AZT)
Area code(s)+994 2338

Etymology

There are many accounts of the origin of the city, but the most likely is a version by Tamilla Khalilova. Since the 7th century, conquest of the South Caucasus by Arabs began. According to historical data the Arabs reached a territory of present Qusar Rayon. According to the historians version name of the river is originated from Arabian Al-Qausar. In translation from the Quran into English “Al Qausar – in translation means a river of abundance, that is a heaven river, water of which is whiter than milk and sweeter than honey. Its fragrance is nicer than musk and birds with beautiful long necks like necks of camels fly around it.”[2] The settlement got its name from the river – Qusar. Modern historians believe that the name Qusar derives from khisar.[3]

History

Lermontov's visit
Lermontov's house

In 1836, Mikhail Lermontov visited Qusar, where he met with scientist-philosopher Haji Ali-efendi. There he heard “Ashiq Qarib” dastan from an eminent ashiq Lazgi Ahmad; he later wrote his famous work “Ashiq Qarib” based on its motifs. A home-museum of the poet is reserved in the city with a memorial plate, inscribed with the famous lines of Lermontov:[4]

I welcome you, the hoary Caucasus!
I’m not a stranger for your mountains.
How I loved, my imposing Caucasus,
The martial dispositions of your sons.

20th century

In 1938, Qusar settlement acquired a city status.[5]

21st century

Geography

The city is located not far from Bazarduzu, Shahdagh Mountains and a border with Russia. The mountain river Qusarchay, in honor of which the city acquired its name, flows in Qusar.[6] There is also an artificial lake, Fialka.

Climate

Qusar is located in a zone of subtropical climate and the northern part of the rayon is in zone of mild climate. But because of the heights above the sea level and proximity of the mountains winter is always cold here, and summer is not hot. Temperature of air can change more than 15 degrees during a day. For instance, in summer incessant days-long rains can begin after hot weather.

Demographics

According to “The Caucasian calendar” of 1916, there lived 1203 people, primarily Russian,[7] in the territory of Qusar. In 1926, there were 120 Mountain Jews, a number which had increased to 241 by 1939.[5]

According to a census of 1959, at least 7366 people[8] lived in Qusar. According to a census of 1979, population of the city consisted of 12225 people,[9] and in 1989 it reached 14230.[10]

97% of the population consists of Lezgins.

Economy

The economy of Qusar is partially agricultural, partially tourist based, with some industries in operation. There are tinned food, milk and asphalt factories in the city.

Tourism and shopping

Qusar is home to Shahdag Winter Complex, the largest ski resort in Azerbaijan.[11]

Culture
Entrance to Nariman Narimanov Park

Local history museum was established in 1980 and moved into its current building with an area of 1652 sq.m. in 1982. There are 3700 exhibits in the museum.[12]

The Qusar State Art Gallery opened in 1986 in Hil village of Qusar raion was moved to Qusar city in 1998 . 152 works of Azerbaijani artists, including 111 paintings, 34 graphic and 7 sculptural works are on display in the gallery.[13][14]

In 1998, the State Drama Theatre of Lezgins was opened in Qusar.[15]

Heydar Aliyev Center was built in Heydar Aliyev Memorial Complex in 2012 with the aim of organizing different events and involving young people in various career and personal development activities. The Center features a memorial museum, a library, a reading hall, different conference rooms, and dance, carpet-weaving training centers.[16]

Parks and gardens

Qusar has plenty of parks and gardens, mostly well maintained. The Nariman Narimanov Park is the most scenic park in the town.

Sports
Qusar Olympic Sports Complex

The city has one professional football team, Shahdag Qusar, currently competing in the second-flight of Azerbaijani football, the Azerbaijan First Division.[17]

Transport
RAF-2203 minibuses used by public as fixed-run taxis

Qusar's urban transport system is managed by the Ministry of Transportation.

Education

In 2008, 6 secondary schools, one of which functions in Azerbaijani and 5 in Russian language, were operating in the city. There are also two state run preschools and one private preschool, Panda School, as well as Azerbaijan State Pedagogical College, which trains future teachers of Azerbaijani, English, and elementary school. As of 2016 there are three language schools in the city. The most popular one, Apex English Language School, has been operating in Qusar since 2013.

Notable residents
Gavriil Ilizarov
gollark: Anyway, some argue that with the lottery, you're really paying for the excitement of maybe (low-probability) winning lots of money.
gollark: Sell for less money, possibly.
gollark: I mean, obviously speaking you pay £2 or so for a tiny probability of lots more money, but the expected value is negative still.
gollark: Playing the lottery is mostly stupid, though.
gollark: Hmm, that reminds me, I should find more videos to pointlessly upload to ZedShare™.

References
  1. The State Statistical Committee of the Azerbaijan Republic
  2. Смысловой перевод священного Корана на русский язык Кулиева Эльмира
  3. The Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan: Gusar city
  4. Кусары 60. Azerbaijan: Communist. 1990. p. 48.
  5. Российская еврейская энциклопедия. 5. Российская академия естественных наук. p. 248.
  6. «Чай» на конце названия рек означает «река»: Кусарчай — «Кусарская река»
  7. Кавказский календарь на 1916 год. Отдел статистический. Tbilisi. p. 24.
  8. "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1959 г. Численность городского населения союзных республик (кроме РСФСР), их территориальных единиц, городских поселений и городских районов по полу". Демоскоп Weekly.
  9. "Всесоюзная перепись населения 1979 г. Численность городского населения союзных республик (кроме РСФСР), их территориальных единиц, городских поселений и городских районов по полу". Демоскоп Weekly.
  10. Демоскоп Weekly - Электронная версия бюллетеня Население и общество. Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989 г. (in Russian). Институт демографии Государственного университета - Высшей школы экономики. Archived from the original on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2010-09-22.
  11. "Shahdag Tourism Complex". Retrieved 11 July 2011.
  12. "Qusar Local History Museum". Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan - Khachmaz Regional Culture Office. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
  13. Кусарская Государственная Картинная Галерея. kycap.com
  14. "Qusar State Art Gallery". Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan - Khachmaz Regional Office. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
  15. Расим МУСАБЕКОВ. "Становление независимого азербайджанского государства и этнические меньшинства". sakharov-center.ru. Archived from the original on 2012-02-03.
  16. "Heydar Aliyev Center in Qusar". Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan - Khachmaz Regional Culture Office. Retrieved 2019-06-25.
  17. ФК "Шахдаг" объявляет конкурс. 1News.az (in Russian). Retrieved 12 August 2013.
  18. А. М. Бабаев. Славный боевой путь генерала Махмуда Абилова (к 110-летию со дня его рождения). Махачкалинские известия, №36 (838) 16 (in Russian). Web version
  19. Кто руководил НКВД, 1934-1941: справочник. Zvenʹi︠a︡. 1999. p. 114. ISBN 9785787000320.
  20. Svetlana Ilizarov (2006). "The Ilizarov Method: History and Scope". In S. Robert Rozbruch; Svetlana Ilizarov (eds.). Limb Lengthening and Reconstruction Surgery. CRC Press. pp. 3–6. ISBN 0849340519.
  21. Biography, Sedaget Kerimova website (in Russian)
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