Zaqatala (city)
Coordinates: 41°38′01″N 46°38′36″E / 41.63361°N 46.64333°E
Zagatala
Zaqatala | |
|---|---|
City & Municipality | |
 Nature of Zagatala | |
  Zagatala Location of Zagatala | |
| Coordinates: 41°38′1″N 46°38′36″E / 41.63361°N 46.64333°E | |
| Country |  Azerbaijan |
| District | Zaqatala |
| Elevation | 518 m (1,702 ft) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 32,171 |
| Time zone | UTC+4 (AZT) |
| Website | zaqatala-ih |
Zagatala (Azerbaijani: Zaqatala; Avar: Zakatala, Georgian: ზაქათალა, romanized: zakatala) is a city in northwestern Azerbaijan and the administrative center of the Zagatala District. It has a municipal population of 31,300 inhabitants and is located on the Tala River. The municipality consists of the city of Zagatala and the nearby village of Qazangül.[3]
The city is populated mostly by Azerbaijanis, but with significant minorities of the indigenous Avar, Lezgin, Tsakhur and Ingiloy peoples.
History[]
The territory of modern Zagatala was once 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.
Zagatala has several sites of historic significance, most of which are centred 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. 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]
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.[citation needed]
There are several hotels in both Zagatala and surrounding villages including Ashaghi Tala and Jar, both about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Zagatala.
Sports[]
The city has 2 professional football teams, Simurg and Zagatala PFK. Zaqatala City Stadium located in Galaduzu area was inaugurated in 2008 within the Zagatala Olimpic Sports Complex. It has a capacity of 3,500 people.[8][9]
Demographics[]
Majority of the city and the district are ethnic Azerbaijanis with significant minorities of Avars, Lezgins, Tsakhurs and Ingiloys. The majority of population are Sunni Muslim, with Orthodox Christians (mostly Ingiloys) minorities.[10]
| Ethnic groups | 1876[11] | % | 1926[12] | % | 1939[13] | % | 1959[14] | % | 1970[15] | % | 1979[16] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All | 1 143 | 100 | 3 304 | 100 | 8 594 | 100 | 10 250 | 100 | 13 377 | 100 | 15 195 |
| Georgians | 2 203 | 0.4 | 3 119 | 2.9 | 4 251 | 1.7 | 6 113 | 1.3 | 7 209 | 2.3 | 9 912 |
| Azeris | 23 | 2 | 1 284 | 38.9 | 2 577 | 30 | 5 362 | 52.3 | 7 877 | 58.9 | 9 678 |
| Lezgins | 455 | 39.8 | 117 | 3.5 | 222 | 2.9 | 824 | 8 | 478 | 3.6 | 351 |
| Avars | ** | ** | 10 | 0.3 | 480 | 5.6 | 299 | 2.9 | 1 133 | 8.5 | 1 446 |
| Russians | 240 | 20.9 | 290 | 8.8 | 2 986 | 34.7 | 1 876 | 18.3 | 1 261 | 9.4 | 951 |
| Tsakhurs | ** | ** | 213 | 6.4 | 232 | 2.7 | 71 | 0.7 | 831 | 6.2 | 1 330 |
| Armenians | 400 | 34.9 | 1 181 | 35.7 | 1 414 | 16.5 | 1 215 | 11.9 | 982 | 7.3 | 836 |
| Ukrainians | ** | ** | 41 | 1.2 | 169 | 2 | y. | ** | ** | ** | ** |
| Laks | ** | ** | у. | ** | y. | ** | y. | ** | y. | ** | y. |
| Germans | ** | ** | y. | ** | 47 | 0.5 | y. | ** | y. | ** | y. |
| Jews | ** | ** | y. | ** | 16 | ** | 20 | ** | 13 | ** | 5 |
| Tatars | ** | ** | y. | ** | y. | ** | y. | ** | 50 | 0.4 | 43 |
| Udins | ** | ** | y. | ** | y. | ** | y. | ** | 2 | ** | 3 |
| Kurds | ** | ** | y. | ** | y. | ** | y. | ** | 1 | ** | 5 |
| others | 20 | 258 | 2 | 307 | 3.6 | 446 | 4.3 | 442 | 3.3 | 456 | 3 |
Transportation[]
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.
Zagatala Bus station- There are two bus stations in Zagatala. One is in the centre, near the Farmer's Market. This bus station serves only the villages of Zagatala.
The second bus station is out of the centre, and this station serves the other cities and capital. Customers can buy the tickets directly at the bus station. Reaching this Bus station passengers can either take public transports or taxi.
Zagatala Railway station- There is a railway station to Zagatala and it connects Baku (the capital) to Zagatala with a 12-hour ride.
Climate[]
Zagatala has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa) according to the Köppen climate classification.
| hideClimate 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] | |||||||||||||
Gallery[]
Park in Zagatala
Zagatala Fortress
The abandoned Georgian church in Zagatala
References[]
- ^ Zaqatala Official Website
- ^ "Zaqatala, Azerbaijan page". Retrieved 2008-07-03.
- ^ "Belediyye Informasiya Sistemi" (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on September 24, 2008.
- ^ Elliott, Mark (2010). "Azerbaijan with excursions to Georgia" (4th edition). p. 237.
- ^ Nicas, Peter. "Azerbaijan Things to See & Do Guide". ProfessionalTravelGuide.com. Retrieved 2008-06-17.[dead link]
- ^ Torres Curado, L.M. "Zaqatala (Zakataly)". Azerb.com. Retrieved 2008-01-03.
- ^ Elliott, Mark (2010). "Azerbaijan with excursions to Georgia" (4th edition). p. 234.
- ^ "Sport in Zaqatala". Executive Power of Zaqatala. Retrieved 2019-04-30.
- ^ "ZAQATALA ŞƏHƏR STADİONU UEFA STANDARTLARINA CAVAB VERİR". azertag.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 2019-04-30.
- ^ Clifton, John M. (2005). "The Sociolinguistic Situation of the Tsakhur in Azerbaijan" (PDF). SIL International. Retrieved 2008-06-02.
- ^ Кавказский календарь на 1886 год. стр. 142
- ^ Ethno-Caucasus :Zagatala Uyezd, 1926
- ^ Ethno-Caucasus :Zagatala District, 1939
- ^ Ethno-Caucasus :Zagatala District, 1959
- ^ Ethno-Caucasus :Zagatala District, 1970
- ^ Ethno-Caucasus :Zagatala District, 1979
- ^ "Zaqatala Airport". Azerbaijan Airlines. Archived from the original on 23 August 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ "Zaqatala beynəlxalq hava limanı yenidən fəaliyyətə başlayıb" (in Azerbaijani). milli.az. Archived from the original on 7 September 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ "Zagatala Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
- ^ "Zakataly (Azerbaijan)" (PDF). Centro de Investigaciones Fitosociológicas. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zaqatala (city). |
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Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Zaqatala. |
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- Populated places in Zaqatala District
- Avar-speaking countries and territories