Geographical Location

The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (Nakhchivan AR) is bordered with the Republic of Armenia in the north and east (246 km), with the Republic of Turkey in the west and south (11 km), and with the Islamic Republic of Iran in the south (204 km). Basically, the watersheds of Zangezur and Daralayaz chains are on the natural borderline of Nakhchivan AR with Armenia, and the Araz River flows along the borderlines with Turkey and Iran. Its territory extends 158 km from the north-west towards the south-east. The remotest points of the autonomous republic are the Komurlu mountain on the Saraybulag chain in Sharur region (2064 m) in the north and the Zarani railway station on the left bank of the Araz River at the height of 600 m in the south. The longest distance from the north to the south is 75 km. As result of the illegal allot of Zangazur district, the ancient Azerbaijan land, to Armenia in 1920 by "the Soviet leadership", the slip of land in 44-45 km of width extending towards the Araz River separated the Nakhchivan AR from the rest of the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Climate

The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is located far remote from the main water basins (namely the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea) and surrounded with the mountain chains (Kognur-Alangaz, Zangazur və Daralayaz). This fact has great impact on the climate of the autonomous republic. Consequently, there are 5 types of the regional climate:

2nd type: Semi desert and dry field climate with dry winter - covers the upper part of low mountainous zone and the lower part of mid-mountainous zone (1100-1600 m). The average annual temperature is 8-10oC, average annual precipitation is 300-350 mm, and average evaporation is 800-1100 mm. The average temperature of the hottest month (July) is 21-26oC, and the average temperature of the coldest month (January) is -4, -6 oC.

3rd tip: Cold semi desert and dry field climate with dry summer - embraces higher part of the mid-mountainous zone, lower part of the high mountainous zone (1600-2600 m). The average annual temperature is 6-10oC, average temperature of the hottest month (July) is 15-20oC, and average temperature of the coldest month (January) is -6, -10 oC. The volume of average annual precipitation changes between 400-800 mm; 300-400 mm of it fall during the hot half of year, 200-400 mm - during the cold half.

4th type: Cold climate with dry and cool summer - lies on the south-west plates of Zangazur chain, in the central zone of the high mountainous area, in the height of 2600-3200 m. The average annual volume of precipitation here is 600-700 mm. The average annual temperature is +1, -3oC, average temperature of the hottest month (August) is 8-12oC and average temperature of the coldest month (January) is -10, -13 oC. 5th type: Mountainous tundra climate - covers the highest mountain tops (more than 3200 m), is characterized by cold winter and summer, having less precipitation than the previous one and by extreme humidity. The average annual temperature is -3, -8oC, average temperature of the hottest month is +2, -8oC and average temperature of the coldest month is -13, -16 oC.

The common volume of Sun radiation in the territories of the 4th and the 5th climate types (150-160 k/cal sm2) is considered the maximum volume for entire South Caucasian region.

Going up to the heights the temperature of the weather becomes diminished. The lowest temperature is observed in January. Temperature begins to grow from February towards March. Temperature is 7.3-8.3oC in the west of the Gilanchay River, 6.7-6.8oC in the east (Ordubad-Bist). From March to April it increases to 7.1-7.5oC. Temperature changes more regularly in summer. The maximum temperature of the weather comes in August; beginning from September temperature intensively falls down. The absolute minimum temperature is -31oC (Darvishlar) and the absolute maximum temperature in the territory is +44oC (Julfa); these are also the lowest and the highest temperatures in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

As the territory of the autonomous republic, especially the Araz River valley, is far from the big water basins, moist air masses do not enter to this area. That is why, comparing with the other regions of Azerbaijan, this territory is characterized by the limitation of the atmosphere precipitation. Precipitation falls mainly in spring, but less in summer season; July, August and September are almost without precipitation. Very rarely one can see a heavy pouring rain. Mainly local, mountain-valley winds blow here. Their direction generally depends on the relief characteristics. The average annual speed of winds is 2-4 m/sec. In summer winds basically blow to the east and south-east, in winter - to the west.

In the mountainous part of the territory of the autonomous republic which is more than 1,500 m of height snow falls in October-November and remains on the ground up to March, and in the height of more than 2000 m it remains up to the end of April - middle of May. The density of snow cover is 0.2-1 m. In the plain area of the territory snow begins to fall in December and remains on the land up to March; the density of snow cover is 0.15-0.20 m. The density of snow cover plays an important role in growing of agricultural plants, in increasing of the surface and subsoil waters, and in rising of the humidity of the land.

In the plain lands along the Araz River annual precipitation is 200-300 mm, in the high mountainous places it is 500-800 mm.

Inland waters

The Nakhchivan AR belongs to the Araz River basin in hydrographic terms. In the central and southeast part of the territory the rivers take their beginnings from Zangazur and Daralayaz chains. The hydrographic network of the autonomous republic (rivers, lakes, etc.) had been formed during a long geological period and has been subjected to a lot of changes since then. At present, the remainders of ancient rivers' valleys running towards Nakhchivan hollow place are being pursued in the southwest plateau of Zangazur chain. There are ancient glacier relief forms (trog, kar, moren), as well as snowballs unthawed in summer, on the tops in Zangazur chain - in the upper flows of Sakkarsu and in the areas of Goygol, Gazangoldag, Gapijig, Gamigaya. Man-made water canals and water houses are also concerned to the hydrographical net. Being widely used in irrigation and in water supply, many rivers' water does not reach their mouths, getting completely dry.

Rivers. There are about 400 big and small rivers with total length of 1.8 thousand km in the territory of the autonomous republic. The length of 334 of them is nearly 5 km, 31 ones - 6-10 km, 24 ones - 11-25 km, 7 ones - 26-50 km, 3 (Nakhchivanchay, Alinjachay, Gilanchay) - 51-100 km, and 1 (Arpachay) is more than 100 km.

Different physical-geographical factors - climate, relief, geological structure, land and plant covers - influence to the development and change of the river network. The river network in the territory did not develop equally; towards the west of the Nakhchivanchay river one can see very weak, but towards the east - the rivers running down from Zangazur chain - dense network of rivers. Since running from the northwest of the territory towards the southeast, the mountains come close to the Araz River, the length of rivers, water gathering areas and flows get reduced. Rivers network in the mountainous part had developed very much owing to more precipitation. Subsoil waters and snow-rain waters feed the rivers. Main humidity reserve in river basins (35-50%) arises because of precipitation during winter period. The main characteristic feature of the rivers flowing in the territory is the precipitation of subsoil waters in their feeding (35-45%). During 6-8 months a year subsoil waters feed the rivers. There are floods in spring and summer. 33-35% of all torrents happening in Azerbaijan fall to the share of Nakhchivan. River reserves of the autonomous republic play an important role being used as irrigation and source of energy needs. The total energy strength of these rivers is 183.4 thousand kilowatt. Beginning from the origin up to their mouths all rivers are used by the purpose of irrigation. Weak development of plant cover, mountainous relief of river basins, intensive weathering of mountainous rocks by the influence of sharp continental climate, sharp ground erosion and gathering of weathered soils, and periodical heavy raining and hailing are reasons for torrents happening very often.

Lakes. Because of dry climate the territory of the autonomous republic is with small number of lakes, and their space and volume are small as well. Tectonic movements and springs had a role in the forming of lake hollow places.Natural lakes of the territory belong to the basins of the Nakhchivanchay and Gilanchay rivers. Ganligol and Salvarti lakes are situated in the beginnings of the rivers with the same names, Goygol - in the beginning of the Sakkarsu river (the left branch of the Gilanchay river) at the height of 3065 m.

There are about 20 lakes (the area of the majority is less than 10 ha) in the territory of the Nakhchivan AR. Several water houses (Arpachay, Uzunoba, Nehram, Heydar Aliyev waterhouse, Gahab, Khok, etc.) were made and irrigation canals were built. One part of the Araz River water house unit is in the territory of the Nakhchivan AR. Building of hydro-technical complex, water houses and irrigation system on Araz River and wide scaled melioration-irrigation works being conducted increased the irrigation possibilities and water-supply here.

NatureThe Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is located in the southwest of the Minor Caucasus. In the geo-morphological division of the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the territory of Nakhchivan AR is related to the Araz River-side mountains of the Minor Caucasian geo-morphological area and to Nakhchivan (Middle Araz) hollow place. The Araz-side mountains' half-area covers Daralayaz and Zangazur chains in the territory of the autonomous republic, and Nakhchivan hollow geo-morphological half-area place, mainly the Araz-side plain lands. The average height above the sea level is 1450 m. The two-third of the territory is a mountainous area above than 1000 m of height. The one-third of the territory is the Araz-side plain lands, being divided from each other by mountain chains and their branches (Sadarak, Sharur, Boyukduz, Nakhchivan, Julfa, Yayji, Kangarli, Dasta, Ordubad, etc.). The total area of these plains is about 10 thousand hectares. The largest place of the Araz-side plain lands is at the mouth of the eastern Arpachay River, which appeared as result of tectonic settle on the one hand and as the accumulation process on the other.

Relief

Main part of the territory of the autonomous republic is Zangazur and Daralayaz chains of the Minor Caucasus Mountains and their branches with middle and small heights running towards the Araz River valley. Zangazur chain is one of the highest chains of the Minor Caucasus; its highest top is Gapijig Mountain (3906 m), which is the highest peak of the Minor Caucasus in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan and it is 41 m above the constant snow line. High tops: Yaglidara - 3827 m, Gazangoldag - 3814 m, Saridara - 3754 m, Davaboynu - 3560 m, etc. The absolute height of mountain passes is between 2346 m (Bichanak pass) and 3362 m (Aychongal pass).Daralayaz chain is situated in the northwest part of the territory of the autonomous republic and is lower than Zangazur chain (the highest top is Kukudag). The part of the chain to the right-side of the Jahri River falls down as an arch, running towards the south. The highest top here is Kechaltapa Mountain (2740 m). The part of the chain in the territory of the autonomous republic has a complicated surface structure. This complexity of the relief is clearly seen especially in the south of Kechaltapa Mountain. Garangush, Jahri, Garaultapa, Ramlar and Buzgov branches are separated from this chain. The main part of Daralayaz chain in the south of the Jahri River runs towards the south and southwest. The absolute height here is 2900-3110 m (Sipar Mountain 3117 m, Kechaldag 3118 m, Kukudag 3120 m). The watershed of the chain is at times narrow, but sometimes large and plane. The northeast end of Daralayaz chain joins with Zangazur chain near a nameless top with the height of 3087 m. The southwest part of the chain runs between the Jahri and Nakhchivan rivers.

The northwest end of the territory of the autonomous republic has a complex surface structure. The height of the mountain tops here is not higher than 2000-2100 m (Komurlu 2064 m, Ardij 2034 m, Mehridag 1869 m, Gabagyal 1824 m); they are mainly low and middle highlands. Moissen and Sub-Ploissen-aged rises (Aggaya, Daridag, Garaguzey) and hollow places (Paradag, Nurs, Tirkesh) reflecting in the middle and low highland zones of the republic have developed.

Natural Resources

There are more than 100 ore and more than 80 non-ore deposits in the territory of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Apart from the natural resources as molybdenum, copper, zinc, lead, antimony-arsenic, mercury, cobalt, tungsten, titan, manganese, rock-salt, dolomite, sulphur, travertine, black marble, the autonomous republic is essentially famous with its mineral waters.

More than 250 mineral water sources have been registered in Nakhchivan which is dubbed as "the museum of mineral waters".

The majority of these springs are in the valleys of the Eastern Arpachay, Nakhchivanchay, Alinjachay, Gilanchay, Ordubadchay, Garadara and Aylis rivers and nearby territories. According to their chemical composition they are of different kind and are being used in economy, industry, and for drinkable water supply and treatment.

Nakhchivan's mineral waters have 6 types, 16 classes and 33 different kinds. 98 percent of these waters are with carbon dioxide and are concerned to waters of hydro-carbonate type. The majority of mineral waters have 8-22oC of temperature.

There are waters with treatment use, also being used as drinkable ones - Badamli, Sirab, Vaykhir, Daridagh, Gizilvang, Nahajir, Gahab, and "Narzan" kind spring of Ordubad among mineral waters.

Badamli and Daridagh balneology clinics are operating on the base of the springs. Industry-mode mineral water production was begun since 1947. Currently, there are 2 mineral water plants, "Badamli" and "Sirab", in the autonomous republic. They are near the water sources.

Badamli: This mineral water spring is allocated in almond forest and covered grapevine splendid valley at 1400 m height over sea level. It is placed in 30 km from Nakhchivan city in similar named purlieus village (Shahbuz region, Nakhchivan AR). This place has widely been known thanks to 2,5 mln litre daily debit carbonated water-narzan spring. Inside composition of the water there are iodine, bromine, copper, borate acid. There is the biggest mineral water filling plant on the basis of current springs in the Caucasus. "Badamli-5" water is known as wonderful table drink water, which makes appetite increasable, improves digestive processes and makes dehydration process calm. This sort of water presents unchangeable remedy for treatment of patients with digestive problems.

Sirab: This Borjomi-sort water is the famous mineral-table water. The total mineralizing rate of water is 2,0-2,7 g/l including carbonate and hydrocarbonate-sodium-calcium elements. In "Sirab" mineral water iron, bromine and silisium acids, lithium and strontium elements were revealed. On the basis of springs there is "Sirab-12" water filling plant with palatable delicious taste. This water is utilized for the diseases regarding digestion and urine secretion ways and it is used while metabolic process does not regularly work. The water source is placed near Sirab village which is popular with "Dashgala" memorial complex of Bronze Age period.

Vaykhir: It is quite rich field of Yesentki-sort carbonate, salt-alkali water. It is placed on the 17 km north of Nakhchivan city at 1400 m height above sea level. The daily debit of excavated wells is more than 2 million liters. The water composition comprises carbonate, chlorine-hydrocarbonate-sodium elements with total mineralizing rate of 6,5g/l. The Vaykhir water is used for curing digestive diseases, chronic gastritis, diseases connected with metabolism processes (diabetes, gastritis, diathesis, oxlantury).

Nakhajir: It is considered important treatment health-resort place and located in north of Nakhchivan city. Nakhajir is placed on patches of the mountain. Being based on health-resort stock reserves, water springs containing carbonate (1,3 g/l free carbonate), iron-hydrocarbonate-sodium elements with mineralizing rate of 6 g/l are being utilized. The water shows unbelievable effects whilst taking it for anaemic diseases treatment. As economy of the autonomous republic is developed, the obstacles stemming from the blockade conditions and transition period and disaffecting the work of mineral water plants are being overcome; the plants are being reestablished and provided with new equipments.

Flora

The territory of the Nakhchivan AR, situated in the south-west of the Caucasus, is one of the floristically richest regions of Azerbaijan. Namely, 3013 of 4500 kinds of plants of Azerbaijan flora, that is 66,96 percent, grow in Nakhchivan, which makes 43,04 percent of the entire Caucasus flora. The medicinal plants are dominant in biological diversity of Nakhchivan. In the first place this is associated with the soil and climate peculiarities of the region. Hence, high radiation in the region paves the way for more bioactive substances to gather within the plants through evolution process. In the wake of researches conducted, it was revealed that there are 436 kinds and 722 sorts of medicinal plants of 106 families in the autonomous republic. 704 sorts of them are cultivated wildly and 18 sorts are cultured plants. 19 sorts of medicinal plants are endemic for the Caucasus, 2 types - for Azerbaijan, and 1 sort is cultivated relict plant. 51 sorts of medicinal plants are unique. Most of these plants (496 sorts) are of 16 families. Among them there are composite-flowered (78 sorts), nonstingings (59 sorts), cabbage-flowered (47 sorts), moth-flowered (46 sorts), parasol-flowered (35 sorts), grain (29 sorts) and etc. families. 49,58 percent of these plants are perennial, 23,13 percent are annual grass plants, 8,17 percent are biennial grass plants, 1,94 percent are semi-shrubs and 0,83 percent are shrubs.

The medicinal plants are basically wide-spread in Batabat, Kechili, Daraboghaz, Shahbulag, Nahajir, Goynuk, Haznadara, Nurgut, Bilav, Goy-gol regions of the autonomous republic. There are sufficient scientific academic materials regarding this field. In those materials, the instruction guidelines for the mixture of medicinal plants being prepared rest upon checked receipts with special experiences are indicated.

Fauna

The territory of the autonomous republic sharply differs from the other regions of Azerbaijan because of its natural conditions and it is reflected in the richness of its animal world. The variety of kinds and the number of animals here compose 60-80% of all fauna of Azerbaijan. The autonomous republic can be called as endemic and the place of new kinds; there are variety of endemic and relict, even new animal kinds for science being typical only for this territory. Such multi-numbered animals can be observed in all animal groups being met in the territory. This is why the territory of the Nakhchivan AR has attracted the attention of local and foreign scientists since the ancient times.

The animal world of the autonomous republic has been investigated since the second half of the XIX century. In the investigations being related to insects of the South Caucasus carried out by many foreign and Russian scientists, great attention was given to Nakhchivan region, especially to Ordubad district. Later on, in 1911 a German scientist Y.Miller gathered a lot of butterfly species from Ordubad district. Those scientists discovered 117 kinds of butterflies and Azerbaijani scholars discovered 813 kinds in addition; 150 kinds of these animals are typical only for the territory of Nakhchivan AR. Noting that 134 species of sovka from 716 kinds in all Azerbaijan spread in Nakhchivan territory, S.A.Aliyev introduced their large scientific analysis (1975). Furthermore, 4 kinds of ear-entering, 3 kinds of swift-footed (1 kind being new for the science), 4 kinds of praying mantis, 67 kinds of sharp-winged (4 kinds being new for science), 75 kinds of grasshopper, and 480 kinds of semifirm-winged (7 kinds being endemic) have been noted in the territory. 25 kinds of 2250 insect kinds being spread here are endemic for the Southern Caucasus, 51 kinds - for Nakhchivan territory. 39 kinds of parabuzan among 46 useful insects are met in Nakhchivan territory. 42 kinds of humidity flies spreading a lot of dreadful diseases to agricultural animals and people were noted; 5 kinds of them are new for the science, 10 kinds are endemic in the territory. Z.M.Mammadov studied natural balance of useful insects in the territory and their role in biological struggle against pests, and discovered about 120 kinds of useful insects (1969); 8 kinds of them are new for science, and 6 kinds were advised for using in biological struggle against agricultural pests.

23 kinds of fish were discovered in the rivers and lakes of the autonomous republic: Kur six-mouthed, Kur sandy, Araz khramulya, Kur shirbit, South Caucasian silver, black-browed, East fernhunter, South Caucasian flat-abdomened, angor nuder, golden-spotted, chub, sazan, sheat, etc.

They noted 5 kinds of amphibians (green dry frog, Shelkovnikov's frog, lake frog, short-trailed frog, and Minor Asia frog), 19 kinds of reptiles (Caspian tortoise, dry tortoise, Caucasian pangolin, wormwood grove round-headed, striped lizard, snake-eyed lizard, straukh, South Caucasian lizard, grass-snake, ordinary water snake, Iranian water snake, water snake, collared contiya, pangolin snake, adder and Nakhchivan adder) in the territory.

More than half of birds being noted in Azerbaijan, 190 kinds of 343, are met in the territory of the autonomous republic. Having got such rich air-fauna, most of all is because of its motley structure of landscape scenery, that is its connected with the existence of semi desert, mountainous desert, forest, rocky areas and valleys, dry field and the Araz River-side bushy places, gardens and oases, sub-alp and Alp meadows. Here can be shown a redheaded tomtit, a pale mockingbird, a singing silva, a bustard, a freckled, a Syrian woodpecker, a partridge, a Caspian ular and other birds in the territory.

53 kinds of mammals are known in the region. They are divided into 5 groups: mammals feeding insects - ordinary hedgehog, small brow-tooth, white-bellied white-tooth, long-tailed white-tooth, small white-tooth, water cutor; bats - big iron-tipped nose, iron-tipped nose, blazaus, long-winged bat, lop-eared bat, dwarf bat, autumn lop-eared; mammals of beasts of prey - jackal, wolf, fox, brown bear, boar, white-tooth squirrel, leopard, badger, cane cat, manul, lynx; pairhoofed mammals - deer, bezoar goat, moufflon, mountain sheep; rodent mammals - gray hare, forest suleysin, little Arabian hair, black rat, gray rat, desert rat, Caucasian rat, forest rat, Asian mountain mouse, Vinogradov's sand mouse, ordinary korja, mountain korja, water-lake mouse.

One of the crucial commitments of the modern world is the protection of the environment. Ecological problems are not concerned just to one nation or country; they are in fact of great international importance. Azerbaijan has close cooperation with relevant international organizations in this field. The ecological act has been accepted so as to protect ecology and nature, and the legal basis, moreover, has been established in order to attain achievements in this field. Significant steps have been pursued in Nakhchivan AR as well. One of the most important measures implemented is the preparation of "Red Book" with the aim to increase rich flora and fauna rations, to protect the kinds which are rare, relict and under threat of destruction. These kinds of animals and plants included in the "Red Book" by the initiative of Nakhchivan AR Supreme Assembly are specially protected. The natural places with rich biological diversity have been specially protected - Zangazur National Park named after Academician Hasan Aliyev and "Arpachay" State Nature Reserve were established.

71 kinds of fauna and over 100 kinds of flora included into the "Red Book" of Nakhchivan AR are protected as result of implementation of special protection regime in those places.