Lankaran Economic Region

Lankaran economic region is one of the 10 economic regions of Azerbaijan.[2] It borders Iran to the south and west, Caspian sea to the east, and Aran economic region to the north. Region consists of Astara, Jalilabad, Lerik, Lankaran, Masally and Yardymli administrative districts. Other than the 6 districts, there are 8 cities, 13 settlements, 642 villages and 182 municipalities in the economic region. Each administrative district is headed by a chief executive appointed by the president of Azerbaijan. Heads of district executive powers are responsible for the establishment of representative offices of the executive power in the respective villages and settlements situated in their respective territories and appoint their representatives. Municipalities are divided into administrative-territorial units in districts and towns divided by settlements.[3]

Lankaran Economic Region

Lənkəran iqtisadi rayonu
Economic region
Lankaran Economic Region highlighted in red
BoroughsAstara, Jalilabad, Lerik, Lankaran, Lankaran City, Masally, Yardymli
Area
 • Total6,070 km2 (2,340 sq mi)
Population
 • Total868,100[1]

Geography

The center of the region is the city of Lankaran. The region covers the area of 6,070 square kilometers, which is 14.26% of the territory of the country. 26% of the territory is covered with forests and the region is characterized by damp subtropical climate and differs from other economic regions of Azerbaijan due to its natural conditions.

The area is divided into two parts consisting of the Lankaran lowland and the Talysh mountains. The mountainous part of the economic region is composed of Talysh, Peshtasar and Burovar ranges.

Talysh Mountains in the western part and the proximity of the Lankaran lowland to the Caspian Sea provide a diverse climate in the Lankaran economic region. Summer is hot and mostly dry. The average July temperature is 24–26 °C and the absolute maximum temperature is 33–35 °C. Winter is very mild. The average January temperature is −2 to −4 °C, absolute minimum temperature is −5 to −11 °C. The number of snowy days is between 10 and 30 days. Symptoms of subtropical climate gradually disappear in the areas where the rainfalls exceed 500 mm and the precipitation rises up to 400–600 mm, dry and hot summer dominates. In mountainous areas, summer is relatively cool; the average July temperature is 19–20 °C.

The region has a dense river network. The rivers of the district are fed mainly from rainwater.  Several water reservoirs have been built on the rivers in order to supply the district with drinking and irrigation water. Khanbulanchay reservoir, which was built in 1977, is the region's largest water reservoir.

Lankaran economic region has diverse soil cover. In the Lankaran lowland, glacial-yellow soil is dominant. But the plains-foothill zone of the region is covered with forest soil. In the Talysh mountains, the brown mountain-forest and mountain meadow lands are spread. The brown mountain-forest lands are formed in dry and warm climate (total precipitation is 400 mm, average annual temperature is 12 °C). These lands are spread in the mid-mountainous and foothill zone of the economic region at altitudes of 600–1200 m.

Yellow soils in Azerbaijan are spread only in the foothills of the economic region and occupy 157,100 hectares or 1.8% of all the region's lands. These lands are formed in the Mediterranean type of humid subtropical climate with an average annual temperature of 14 °C and an annual rainfall of 1300–1900 mm (south). Most of the rainfall falls in the autumn and winter seasons. Yellow soils cover the Hirkan-type forests of chestnut oak trees.[4]

Demography

As of 1 January, 2012, the population of Lankaran economic region was 868,100. 24.9% of the population of the region lives in the cities, while 75.1% live in settlements and villages.[5][6]

Natural resources

Economic region is rich with natural resources such as sand, clay, gravel, gypsum, marble, as well as mineral water and forests. The region has a thick forest cover, with 25.3% of the forest area being in the territory of Astara, 24.4% being in Lerik and 20% being in the Lankaran administrative regions. Forests of the region are dominated Parrotia persica, chestnut oak, silk acacia (Albizia julibrissin), etc.

There are up to 20 mineral springs in the Astara district. The water temperature of these springs is 35–50 °C. The composition of the springs such as Lankaran, Ashaghi Lankaran, Havzava, Nafthoni, Meshesu, Ibadisu and others in Lankaran administrative district is rich in sulfur and minerals that are important in healing. In the territory of Masally, Lerik, Yardymli administrative districts there are many mineral springs, which are used in treatment.

Lankaran, Hirkan National Park

The Gizilaghaj Reserve where different birds winter, the Hirkan National Park and Zuvand Reserve, which are rich in relic plants are located in the territory of Lankaran economic region. The Ghizilaghaj State Reserve was established in 1929 and its area is 88,000 hectares. Different birds such as swans, geese, ducks, spoonbill, golden goose, heron are protected in this reserve. The Hirkan National Park was established in 1936 and its area is 2,900 hectares. There are mostly relic plants in the reserve – ironwood, chestnut oak, Caspian locust, azat tree, etc. The Zuvand Reserve is located in the territory of the Yardymli administrative district. The area of this reserve is 15,000 hectares, where the mountain goat is protected.[7]

Economy

Labor

Analysis of the main socio-economic indicators of the labor market in the Lankaran economic region shows that the number of employees in the region in the Lankaran economic region was 67,500 people. This is 6.1% more than in 2003.[8]

Industry

The industry has a weaker position compared to agriculture in the Lankaran economic region. It is based on especially processing of local agricultural products. Food industry produces 90% of industrial products of the region. There are some enterprises involved in the production of meat, milk, cheese, and bread. There are enterprises including construction material, furniture production, vehicle repair, instrument-making, maintenance and repair of agricultural machinery. Poultry keeping industry is developed in Lankaran.

89.7% of the industrial output of the Lankaran economic region is produced in the Masally, Lankaran and Astara regions.[8]

Agriculture

The region has potential (humid subtropical climate, water for irrigation, fertile soil and labor force) to improve agriculture. Tea-growing is the main agricultural field in the region. Beside it, grain-growing, vegetable-growing, and vine-growing are the main sectors of the agriculture. Lankaran economic region produces 99% of tea produced in the country. 27% of vegetable, 15% of grain, 24% of potato, 13% grape, 10% of the total amount of fruits in Azerbaijan is produced Lankaran. Plain areas of Lankaran, Masally, and Astara are specialized in growing tea, and vegetable, as well as melon plantations. Jalilabad region is famous for its vine-growing. Grain-growing, tea-growing and cattle-breeding are the main agricultural fields in Yardymli and Lerik. Especially growing citrus fruits is very improved in the region.[9][10]

Investment

In the economic region, the volume of investments into fixed capital in 2012 was 222,8 million manats. Between 2003 and 2010, the volume of the capital investments increased by 10,1 times compared to the previous years. Most of the investments in fixed capital (84.8%) were spent on construction works.[5]

Transportation

Cargo and passenger transportation is carried out by Baku-Astara railway and Baku-Astara motorway. These ways also play important role in economic relations Azerbaijan and Iran.

In 2010 cargo turnover by motorway was 784.3 million tons, which is 14 times more than in 2003. The similar trend was observed in passenger turnover too.[3]

Health

1,300 doctors and 3422 mid-level healthcare workers in all health care facilities are serving the population in the Lankaran economic region. 39 hospitals with 1846 beds, 181 outpatient clinics, as well as private stomatological polyclinics render service to the population.

Education

124616 pupils are enrolled in 566 schools operating in Lankaran economic region. A higher education institution in the region is Lankaran State University. A network of secondary schools, dramatic theatre, an ethnographic museum, and other social facilities operate in the region.

See also

References
  1. "Şəki-Zaqatala iqtisadi rayonu 2018". www.economy.gov.az.
  2. Matteo Verda (2014). Azerbaijan: An introduction to the Country. 9788898014361: Edizioni Epoké.CS1 maint: location (link)
  3. "Lankaran natural-economic zone. Lankaran-Astara economic region". International Geographer.
  4. "About regions".
  5. "Lankaran Economic Region 2012".
  6. "Demographic situation in Azerbaijan".
  7. "Modern Vacation of Economic Development Indicators of Caspian Regions in Azerbaijan".
  8. "State Program on Social-Economic Development of Regions" (PDF).
  9. "Trends of improving the competitiveness of regional economy (An example of Lankaran economic region)" (PDF).
  10. "Azerbaijan".
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