Guba

Located in the northeast of Azerbaijan, the region of Guba-Khachmaz comprises the administrative districts of Shabran, Guba, Gusar, Khachmaz, and Siyazan. Historically the area was a part of the Azerbaijani states of Albania (the 4th century B.C. to the 8th century A.D.), the Shirvanshahs (861-1538), the Azerbaijani State of Safavis (1538-1736), and the Khanate of Guba (1748-1810). The takeover of Guba by Russia in 1806 was followed by the revolt against the Imperial administration in 1837. The region’s true altitude ranges from 27 meters below sea level at the Caspian coast to 4466 meters above sea level at the peak of Bazarduzu. Rich in historical landmarks and monuments, the region is one of earliest places of human inhabitation in Azerbaijan. Remnants of the ancient settlement of Shabran in Shabran District are a unique example of the deep roots of the town-planning culture in the country. Founded in the 6th century A.D., Shabran grew into a substantial cultural, commercial and administrative center. An urban area second only to Tabriz in the Orient, Shabran was completely destroyed by an earthquake in the 18th century. The Gilgilchay Defensive Wall constructed in the 5th-6th centuries A.D. is another significant archaeological site in the District of Shabran. With an original length of 135 kilometers, the Wall consisted of four parts. Five to seven meters in height up to the crest of Babadagh, it used to elevate up to eleven meters in certain sections, with several fortresses along the defense line, including Chyraqgala Castle dating back to the 5th-6th centuries. What makes Chyraqgala even more interesting besides its age is the therapeutic spring with mineral water located within the fortress. Having many resorts and recreation areas, the landscape of Guba-Khachmaz region features a diverse climate, fragrant apple orchards, beautiful beaches, seacoasts covered with forested mountains and mineral waters. Thermal springs of Khaltan and Jimi villages in Guba District together with the therapeutic waters in Galaalty village, Shabran District, and the resort nearby are available throughout the year. Some truly miraculous mountain lakes are found in the vicinity of Shabran’s Nohurlar village known for a set of seven lakes located 1000 meters above sea level. The coastal zone of Nabran-Yalama stretching for 35-40 kilometers along the Caspian Sea in the District of Khachmaz is one of the most popular summer recreation areas in Azerbaijan. Interchanging strips of sandy beaches and thick forests make the place absolutely gorgeous. The forested area of Gasrash in Guba District is known for its Tangaalty Gorge with breathtaking canyons, some of them 400-600 meters deep, a magnificent 80-meter-high waterfall near Afurja village, as well as the famous Pirbanovsha Falls. All together they create a fascinating landscape. Another feature of the region is its eternally snow-capped and glacier covered mountain peaks. This makes the place so attractive for ice and rock climbers, as well as downhill skiers. Khynalyg village of Guba Dustrict is the highest rural settlement in Europe. Located 65 kilometers away from the district center, it has an elevation of 2200 meters above sea level. The village community, amounting to some 2,5 thousand, still speaks a unique language of its own – the Khynalyg language - and is known for a very specific lifestyle. Ethnically diverse population of the Guba-Khachmaz region includes the Lezghis, the Mountain Jews, and the Tartars to mention a few. Since times immemorial, Guba was famous for its carpets, highly valued due to their unique geometrical designs, vegetal ornaments and sometimes symbolic animal images. The most famous rug patterns and compositions of the Guba carpets include Kohne Guba, Gadim Minare, Gymyl, Alpan, Gollu Chichi, Khyrda Gulchichi, Pirebedil, Yerfi, Hajigayib, Gryz, Gonagkend,etc. The carpets from Guba are among the precious exhibits in a number of world famous museums and private collections.