Neftchala city

Neftchala region is located in a southeast part of the Azerbaijan Republic, in territory where the Kur river runs into Caspian sea, on an ancient caravan track, in the east of Kur-Araz lowland. It is covered by Caspian sea from the east. It was founded as an administrative region in 1940. Neftchala region had been formed as exclusively industrial region. "Neftchala" toponym consists of words «Neft» (oil) and «Chala» (hole) and means « oily hole» matters. The region has border with Shirvan State Preserve in the north, Gilizagaj State Preserve in the south and mainly gazelle and birds are protected in these Preserves. The area territory has a flat surface. It is located in southeast Shirvan and Salyan plain, and partially Mugan plain. The territory is located 22 meters below the sea-level. Anthropogenesis adjournment spread, widely. Rise and fall of level of Caspian Sea directly affects the region, due to locating below the sea level. The island Kurkosa located in territory of area, sometimes turns to peninsula when the sea level falls.There are some mud volcanoes in the territory of the region,. Besides, there is a Kur Stone island in the Caspian Sea, near Neftchala Region. This island was formed at the result of mud volcanoes. There is a salty lake under the name of Duzdagh in the border with Salyan, between Babazenen and Durovdagh heights. It has the mild hot semi dessert and dry steppe climates being dry in summers. Being windy of the territory causes sharp changing of climate. Semi dessert steppe and salty soils spread widely. The Kur River flows into Caspian Sea making delta in the territory of the region. Its plant cover is dessert and semi dessert-type. Mint, dog-rose, liquorice, chamomiles and the other herbs grow in the territory of the region. Extra-ordinary scene is observed such as separating the water of the Kur from the water of the sea in the direction of right line in the place where the Kura flows into Caspian Sea, 10 kilometers apart from the centre of the region. Kurkosa Island which is considered as a territory of the region is very suitable place for the fishing. Neftchala region is one of 18 regions belonging to Aran economic region. Netchala is known with its oil, gas and fishing. However, cotton-crowing, grain growing, fodder growing and cattle-breeding is the base of economy of region. The first oil well in Neftchala, was drilled in 1872. But the interest to the most systematic and efficient oil investigation and oil production mostly coincides with soviet authority years. The Palace of Culture with 750 seats, Historical-Ethnographic museum, administrative building of group of fish enterprise belonging to XIX century in Banke settlement are located in the region There are 34 mosques in the regions. Fatimei-Zahra mosque belonging to XIX century in Khilli settlement, the church belonging to XIX century (Z.O.Koltuk), Haydar Almazov tomb belonging to 1894 (in the town graveyard), the monument (2004) in Banke graveyard which was erected in the honor of Turkish soldiers who was killed in 1918, are reserved as historical monuments. Besides, there are monumental complex (1985) of Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) in Neftchala, Mother monument in Banke, monumental complexes devoted to the Great Patriotic War in Asagi Garamanli, Khol Garabujag, Tatarmakhla villages, the monument in the centre of the city devoted to the honor of martyrs of 20th January (1998) , the monuments that were erected to the honor of the martyrs of the region.There is an urban ruin in the South-East Shirvan steppe, near the outfall of the Kur, between Bandovan cape (it is also called by the local people as Babduan or Bandyuyan) and former Nord-Ost Koltuk village. . A lot of material and cultural survival models (glazed and unglazed earthenware crockery pieces covered its surface with geometrical and plant patterns) related to IX-XI centuries were found both on land and sea in ruin. Besides, there was another city existed, which is situated in the distance of 10-12 kilometers from Bandovan. According to the results of investigations and excavations of scientists, a great deal of survivals was found from both cities. These survivals were extracted from the water and some parts are reserved in the museum of the National Park territory. There is much information about being of a great city concerning to ancient Parfians and Azeris in the territory of the outfall of Kur. Spite of many considerations, no one could find the place of that city which is called “Ruin city” or “Greek City”. It’s said that, once, the Kur used to separate another branch near the current Jangan village. That branch bent towards Shirvan steppe and going rather towards to the north used to flow into Caspian Sea going round surrounding Dirov Mountain after forming southern foot of Babazanan Mountain. There had been a greater city in this island.Large settlements are: Neftchala city, Hasanabad, Khilly and Banke city type settlements, Ashagi Surra, Khol Garabujag, Girmizikend, Ashagi Garamanly villages.