Naftalan, Azerbaijan
Naftalan | |
---|---|
City Subordinate to the Republic | |
Naftalan | |
Coordinates: 40°30′24″N 46°49′30″E / 40.50667°N 46.82500°ECoordinates: 40°30′24″N 46°49′30″E / 40.50667°N 46.82500°E | |
Country | Azerbaijan |
Region | Ganja-Gazakh |
Founded | 28 April 1967 |
Area | |
• Total | 40 km2 (20 sq mi) |
Population | |
• Total | 10,200 |
Time zone | UTC+4 (AZT) |
Website | naftalan-ih |
Naftalan is a city in Azerbaijan, surrounded by the district of Goranboy. It's located on an agricultural plain near the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. The word naftalan also means a petroleum product that can be obtained there. It is the centre of a unique petroleum industry, with a grade of oil referred to as "Naftalan".[2]
Etymology[]
The word Naftalan, can be traced to the Greek word "naphtha" ("νάφθα"), meaning pertaining to oil, and the Azerbaijani suffix "-alan", which is of the verb "to take" (and literally meaning "oil buyer").[3]
History[]
Archaeological findings in the region date to the 12th century AD. Naftalan city was functioning as a settlement within the Goranboy and Yevlakh districts until 1967. On April 28, 1967, Naftalan was granted the status of the subordinate city. The city of Naftalan consists of a city and two villages. The base of Naftalan city is Sanatorium - Resort infrastructure. Naftalan Resort has been operating since 1933. In 1938, the Naftalan Experimental Laboratory was established in the Azerbaijan Scientific-Research Institute of Medical Rehabilitation. The biological and therapeutic effects of the Naftalan oil began to be studied there. Also, in 1965, Scientific Research Laboratory was established in Naftalan.[4]
In the 2010s, the number of hotels increased in the city after the Azerbaijani government's tourism policy.[5]
Geography[]
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Naftalan city is located 330 km west of Baku, 50 km from Ganja in the foothills of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. It's located at an altitude of 225 m above sea level. The spring is warm, the winter is soft here. The average annual temperature is +14.8 degrees. The wind in Naftalan is mainly monsoon. The city's territory is 35.73 km2.[6]
Demographics[]
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According to the 1999 census, the population in Naftalan was 7,551. As of 2017, the population of the city is 8718 persons.
Ethnic Groups Population (1979 census)
- Azerbaijanis 3,245 (90,6%)
- Tatars 6 (0.2%)
- Russians 136 (3.8%)
- Armenians 182 (5.1%)
- Lezgins 7 (0.2%)
Economy[]
Petroleum spas[]
The area is home to petroleum spas (or "oil spas"), that were popular vacation spots of the Soviet Union.[7] At the height of their Soviet-era popularity, the spas in Naftalan had 75,000 visitors a year. The combination of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War and the end of Soviet-sponsored free trips brought the industry to its knees in the late-1980s.[7] All but one of the older spas were converted into refugee housing. The remaining spa, the Naftalan Therapeutic Center, had 1,000-beds.[3]
The number of domestic and foreign tourists coming to Naftalan, which has a capacity of about 2200 tourists a day, has increased by 5-6 times in 2016 and counted 30,000.[8]
Culture[]
There are two Houses of Culture that promote national traditions. Also, there is the Naftalan Museum and Music School. There are four parks in the city of Naftalan.[8]
Education[]
There are three general education schools and one Children's Creative Center in the city.[9]
Transport[]
Naftalan resort city can be reached by car or train from Baku and Ganja cities. The closest route for foreign visitors is the flight to Ganja International Airport.[6]
Twin towns[]
Naftalan is twinned with:
- Yessentuki, Russia (since 2014)[10]
References[]
- ^ "Population of Azerbaijan". stat.gov.az. State Statistics Committee. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ Dr. D. Y. Huseinov and Dr. A. I. Rustamov, Naftalan: The Oil that Heals, Azerbaijan International, (3.4) Winter 1995, Accessed on December 4, 2006
- ^ a b Eldar Abbasov, Naftalan - The Miracle Oil: Azerbaijan's Therapeutic Oil, Azerbaijan International, (10.2) Summer 2002, Accessed on December 4, 2006
- ^ "İCRA HAKİMİYYƏTİ". naftalan-ih.gov.az.
- ^ "President Aliyev, first lady review conditions at new block of Naftalan Hotel by Rixos". en.trend.az. Retrieved 14 November 2014.
- ^ a b "Naftalan. Coğrafi mövqeyi".
- ^ a b Andrew E. Kramer, Bathing in Black Gold for Health and Profit in Azerbaijan, The New York Times, December 4, 2006.
- ^ a b "İCRA HAKİMİYYƏTİ. Naftalan".
- ^ "Təhsil. Naftalan". naftalan-ih.gov.az.
- ^ "Ессентуки и Нафталан стали городами-побратимами". vesti.az.
External links[]
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Naftalan. |
- Naftalan, Azerbaijan at GEOnet Names Server
- World Gazetteer: Azerbaijan[dead link] – World-Gazetteer.com
- Naftalan, Azerbaijan
- Populated places in Goranboy District
- Nagorno-Karabakh
- Resorts in Azerbaijan
- 1967 establishments in Azerbaijan