Zaqatala (city)

Zaqatala (Azerbaijani: Zaqatala, Avar: Zakatala) is a city in northwest Azerbaijan. With a municipal population of 31,300 inhabitants, it is located northwest of Sheki, by the Tala River and is the main municipality of the Zaqatala rayon. The municipality consists of the city of Zaqatala and the nearby village of Qazangül.[3] The city is populated by a variety of ethnic groups, each speaking their own (linguistically unrelated) languages, including Azerbaijani and Tsakhur. The postal codes are AZ6200-AZ6205.

A plane tree in one of Zaqatala's public parks.

Zaqatala
City & Municipality
Zaqatala
Location of Zaqatala
Coordinates: 41°38′1″N 46°38′36″E
Country Azerbaijan
RayonZaqatala
Elevation518 m (1,702 ft)
Population
 (2010)[2]
 • Total31,300
Time zoneUTC+4 (GET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+5 (GET)

History

Initially this territory of modern Zaqatala was a province of Caucasian Albania,. After that, the region was a separate kingdom within Georgian cultural and political influence. During the medieval era what later became known as Saingilo was mostly controlled by the kingdom of Georgia and Shirvan.

In the Middle Ages seven Georgian schools operated in Saingilo which included the courses of theology, philosophy, orthography, church history, and the history of Georgia and for the students. These schools played an essential cultural and educational role. They put a vital contribution in establishing cultural relations among the peoples of the Caucasus.

Zaqatala has several sites of historic significance, most of which are centered on its 19th-century town centre. The main square, formerly called Lenin Square, features a pair of 700-year-old plane trees.

The city's most prominent feature is a ruined fortress, built in the 1830s by occupying Russian forces during the Caucasian War to defend the city from rebels (See Djaro-Belokani league). In the 1850s, the town was the site of battles between Russians and Dagestani leader Imam Shamil.[4] It was center of Zakatala okrug (district) of Tiflis Governorate between 1860 and 1917. It was part of Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic between 1917 and 1918 and Georgian Democratic Republic between 1918 and 1921 before passing to Azerbaijan in March 1922.

Zaqatala City Stadium

In the 20th century the town and its fortress became more famous when the fortress was used as one of the prisons for the mutinous crew of the battleship Potëmkin, whose actions in the failed 1905 Revolution were a precursor to the eventual 1917 revolution. The statue of one of the mutineers erected in the Soviet era still decorates Heydar Aliyev park not far from the fortress.[5] Currently, the fortress still houses a military garrison as well as several Soviet-style apartment buildings. Near the northern part of the ramparts and off of the main square is a beautiful, but abandoned, Georgian church.[6] The town now sports a sizable new mosque.[7]

Zagatala fortress

Overview

It is served by the A315 road coming from Mingachevir and leading to the Georgian border at Lagodekhi as well as by a small airfield. North of the town there is an important wildlife and nature preserve. The Caucasus Mountains provide it with natural protection from the north winds. The wooded mountainsides, with frequent waterfalls offer great hiking opportunities. Due to its climate the town became a mountain health resort.

There are several hotels in both Zaqatala and surrounding villages including Ashaghi Tala and Jar (also spelled Car/Djari), both about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Zaqatala.

The city has a professional football team, Simurg. Zaqatala city stadium located in Galaduzu area was inaugurated in 2008 within the Zaqatala Olimpic Sports Complex. It has a capacity of 3500.[8][9]

The abandoned Georgian church in Zaqatala.

Demographics

Azerbaijanis, Avars, Lezgins, Tsakhurs and Georgians known as Ingiloy inhabit Zaqatala and the surrounding rayon. In addition to the Azeri population, which is the majority here and in most of the rest of Azerbaijan, communities of Dagestani peoples, including the Avars, Tsakhurs, and Lezgins, live in the area. The majority of population are Sunni Muslim (predominantly among Dagestani peoples) and Orthodox Christians (among the Ingiloys (Georgians) and Russians) minorities.[10]

Historical ethnic composition of Zaqatala
Ethnic groups 1876[11] % 1926[12] % 1939[13] % 1959[14] % 1970[15] % 1979[16]
All1 1431003 3041008 59410010 25010013 37710015 195
Georgians2 2030.43 1192.94 2511.76 1131.37 2092.39 912
Azeris2321 28438.92 577305 36252.37 87758.99 678
Lezgins45539.81173.52222.982484783.6351
Avars****100.34805.62992.91 1338.51 446
Russians24020.92908.82 98634.71 87618.31 2619.4951
Tsakhurs****2136.42322.7710.78316.21 330
Armenians40034.91 18135.71 41416.51 21511.99827.3836
Ukrainians****411.21692y.********
Laks****у.**y.**y.**y.**y.
Germans****y.**470.5y.**y.**y.
Jews****y.**16**20**13**5
Tatars****y.**y.**y.**500.443
Udins****y.**y.**y.**2**3
Kurds****y.**y.**y.**1**5
others2025823073.64464.34423.34563

Transportation

Air

Zaqatala International Airport serves the city.[17][18] The airport is connected by bus to the city center. There are domestic flights to Baku, however currently it is unavailable.

Zaqatala Bus station- There are two bus stations in Zaqatala. One is in the center, nearby the Farmer's Market. This bus station serves for only to the villages of Zaqatala.

The second bus station is out of center, and this station serves for the other cities and capital. Customers can buy the tickets directly in the bus station. Reaching this Bus station passengers can either take public transports or taxi.

Zaqatala Railway station- There is a railway station to Zaqatala and it connects Baku (the capital) to Zaqatala with 12 hour ride.

Climate

Zaqatala has a humid subtropical climate.

Climate data for Zakataly (1961–1990, extremes 1952–1994)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 20.0
(68.0)		 23.9
(75.0)		 27.8
(82.0)		 31.1
(88.0)		 36.1
(97.0)		 36.1
(97.0)		 38.9
(102.0)		 38.9
(102.0)		 37.2
(99.0)		 32.8
(91.0)		 25.0
(77.0)		 22.8
(73.0)		 38.9
(102.0)
Average high °C (°F) 5.3
(41.5)		 6.3
(43.3)		 11.2
(52.2)		 18.8
(65.8)		 22.2
(72.0)		 26.8
(80.2)		 30.5
(86.9)		 29.3
(84.7)		 25.7
(78.3)		 18.8
(65.8)		 12.5
(54.5)		 7.9
(46.2)		 17.9
(64.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 1.1
(34.0)		 2.3
(36.1)		 5.8
(42.4)		 12.7
(54.9)		 17.0
(62.6)		 20.9
(69.6)		 24.6
(76.3)		 23.7
(74.7)		 19.8
(67.6)		 13.5
(56.3)		 7.9
(46.2)		 3.2
(37.8)		 12.7
(54.9)
Average low °C (°F) −1.9
(28.6)		 −1.1
(30.0)		 2.7
(36.9)		 8.0
(46.4)		 12.0
(53.6)		 16.1
(61.0)		 19.4
(66.9)		 18.6
(65.5)		 15.0
(59.0)		 9.4
(48.9)		 4.6
(40.3)		 0.4
(32.7)		 8.6
(47.5)
Record low °C (°F) −22.8
(−9.0)		 −13.9
(7.0)		 −12.2
(10.0)		 −3.9
(25.0)		 1.1
(34.0)		 6.1
(43.0)		 8.9
(48.0)		 7.8
(46.0)		 2.2
(36.0)		 −5.0
(23.0)		 −7.8
(18.0)		 −18.9
(−2.0)		 −22.8
(−9.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 35
(1.4)		 52
(2.0)		 67
(2.6)		 78
(3.1)		 115
(4.5)		 129
(5.1)		 64
(2.5)		 75
(3.0)		 65
(2.6)		 106
(4.2)		 72
(2.8)		 33
(1.3)		 891
(35.1)
Average precipitation days 7 8 11 12 13 10 7 7 7 9 8 7 106
Mean monthly sunshine hours 114.3 103.8 130.0 176.7 215.6 261.0 274.8 255.3 220.2 157.8 130.5 110.2 2,150.2
Source 1: NOAA[19]
Source 2: Sistema de Clasificación Bioclimática Mundial[20]
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References
  1. "Zaqatala, Azerbaijan page". Retrieved 2008-07-03.
  2. The State Statistical Committee of the Azerbaijan Archived November 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  3. "Belediyye Informasiya Sistemi" (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on September 24, 2008.
  4. Elliott, Mark (2010). "Azerbaijan with excursions to Georgia" (4th edition). p. 237.
  5. Nicas, Peter. "Azerbaijan Things to See & Do Guide". ProfessionalTravelGuide.com. Retrieved 2008-06-17.
  6. Torres Curado, L.M. "Zaqatala (Zakataly)". Azerb.com. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
  7. Elliott, Mark (2010). "Azerbaijan with excursions to Georgia" (4th edition). p. 234.
  8. "Sport in Zaqatala". Executive Power of Zaqatala. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  9. "ZAQATALA ŞƏHƏR STADİONU UEFA STANDARTLARINA CAVAB VERİR". azertag.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 2019-04-30.
  10. Clifton, John M. (2005). "The Sociolinguistic Situation of the Tsakhur in Azerbaijan" (PDF). SIL International. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
  11. Кавказский календарь на 1886 год. стр. 142
  12. Ethno-Caucasus :Zaqatala Uyezd, 1926
  13. Ethno-Caucasus :Zaqatala District, 1939
  14. Ethno-Caucasus :Zaqatala District, 1959
  15. Ethno-Caucasus :Zaqatala District, 1970
  16. Ethno-Caucasus :Zaqatala District, 1979
  17. "Zaqatala Airport". Azerbaijan Airlines. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  18. "Zaqatala beynəlxalq hava limanı yenidən fəaliyyətə başlayıb" (in Azerbaijani). milli.az. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  19. "Zagatala Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  20. "Zakataly (Azerbaijan)" (PDF). Centro de Investigaciones Fitosociológicas. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
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