Kazakhstan Encyclopedia - User contributions [en]

Khachmaz District

2017-04-14T17:35:00Z

Boaqua:

{{unreferenced|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox settlement

| name = Khachmaz Rayon
| official_name = {{lang-az|Xaçmaz rayonu}}
| other_name = {{lang-lez|Хъачмаз район}}
| settlement_type = City

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'''[[Khachmaz (city)|Khachmaz]]''' ({{lang-az|Xaçmaz rayonu}}, {{lang-lez|Хъачмаз район}}) is a city in Northeastern [[Azerbaijan]]'s Khachmaz region. It is located about 10 km from the Caspian Sea, below [[Khudat]], and to the east of [[Quba]]. Khachmaz is 170 kilometres north of the capital Baku. The Khachmaz rayon borders the Republic of [[Dagestan]] of the [[Russian Federation]].

==Location==

The most northeastern region of Azerbaijan, Xaçmaz (or Khachmaz/Khachmas) is sandwiched between the Caucasus Mountains in [[Quba]] and Qusar (Gusar), regions to the west, and the Caspian Sea to the east. The southern border greets Devechi and the region stretches north to Russia. Khachmas city is located toward the bottom third of the region. It is about 10 km from the Caspian Sea and the border to Devechi. About half that distance to the Quba border to Khachmaz's west. It is substantially greater distance to the northern border.{{citation needed|date=May 2011}}

==Climate==

The climate is generally moderate to warm, humid temperate and subtropical, and Khachmaz sees an average yearly precipitation of 1300–1350 mm and average temperatures of 25-30 °C in July and 1-2 °C in January.{{citation needed|date=May 2011}}

==Cultural==
The Khachmaz region is rich with monuments of history, culture and architecture. Some of the most significant are Sarkartapa, the ancient city-fortress Khudat, a 4th-century Albanian mosque, the 16th-century mosque-madrasa of Shah Abbas of the 15th-16th century in Garaqurtlu, a village in Khachmaz, ancient settlements and the barrows of the Bronze Age, the famous “Iron gate” of Derbent fortress becoming a symbol of its inaccessibility. The fortifications “Baba-al-Abvat” were constructed in 8th-7th centuries B.C and protected from invasion the northern boundaries of Azerbaijan. Today Khachmaz borders with Russia here. In the village of Shykhlar the tourists can see the earliest monument of the [[mausoleum]] of the Middle Ages- a [[mosque]] of Sheikh Yusif (15th century). At the top of the mountain Galadag the ruins of Gaurgala fortress have been kept. {{citation needed|date=May 2011}}

=== Museums ===
* Regional Ethnography Museum: this museum is located in the city center. The museum is very rich with over 4,000 archaeological findings from the different periods of Khachmaz's history. Of especial interest are the original scientific works of the orientalist Abuabdullah Mahammad-bin Albukhari contained in the "Aljazaily sani" as well as the "Classification of Koran," authored by the mathematician, philosopher from Chilaqyr Hajaly Efendi.
* Veteran's Museum: 8,739 Khachmaz residents fought in World War II for the Red Army and some 2,800 of them perished. This museum also remembers 230 people who died in the ethnic conflict with [[Armenia]] during the early 1990s.{{citation needed|date=May 2011}}
* Heydar Aliyev’s Museum: [[Heydar Aliyev's cult of personality|a personality cult shrine]]` to independent Azerbaijan's first ruler.{{citation needed|date=May 2011}}
* The Museum of Prominent Figures: open-air museum in a park filled with fountains and numerous statues of prominent Azeris.{{citation needed|date=May 2011}}
* Carpet Museum: contains many ancient carpets along with carpet weaving implements, designs, dolls dressed in ancient national style, and a picture gallery.{{citation needed|date=May 2011}}

=== Parks ===

* Heydar Aliyev Park: contains trees, flowers, fountains, lights, cafes, and tea-houses. The Heydar Aliyev Museum, the Khazar Cinema-Clubare all located in this park.
* Park of Culture and Rest: contains statues of different animals, artificial ponds stocked with colorful fish, rivers, and fountains. Khachmaz city library, Carpet Museum, Post Office, and several cafes are located within the park.

== References==
{{Reflist}}
Information
{{Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan}}
{{Khachmaz Rayon}}

[[Category:Districts of Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Caspian Sea]]
[[Category:Khachmaz District| ]]

Lankaran

2017-04-14T17:33:16Z

Boaqua:

{{coord|38|45|13|N|48|51|04|E|display=title}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Lankaran
|native_name = Lənkəran
|native_name_lang = az
|image_skyline =Lankaran.jpg
|imagesize = 300px
|image_caption = Lankaran
|image_seal = Lənkəran şəhərinin gerbi.png
|seal_size = 80px
|pushpin_map =Azerbaijan
|pushpin_mapsize =300
|coordinates = {{coord|38|45|13|N|48|51|04|E|region:AZ|display=inline}}
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{flag|Azerbaijan}}
|subdivision_type1 = [[Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan|City]]
|subdivision_name1 =Lankaran
|established_title =
|established_date =
|leader_title =
|leader_name =
|area_footnotes =
|area_total_km2 = 1539.4
|elevation_m =
|population_total =223,100
|population_as_of =2016
|population_footnotes = <ref>[http://www.stat.gov.az/source/demoqraphy/az/001_15.xls Statistic: Azerbaijan] – Statistics {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622020159/http://www.stat.gov.az/source/demoqraphy/az/001_15.xls |date=June 22, 2011 }}</ref>
|population_density_km2 =
|area_code = +994 025 25
|website = [http://lankaran.org/ Official website]
|timezone =[[Azerbaijan Time|AZT]]
|utc_offset = +4
}}
'''Lankaran''' ({{lang-az|'''Lənkəran'''}}, ''Ләнкәран'', لنکران) is a city in [[Azerbaijan]], on the coast of the [[Caspian Sea]], near the southern border with [[Iran]]. It has a population of 223,100 (2016 census). It is next to but independent of [[Lankaran (rayon)|Lankaran rayon]]. The city forms a distinct first-order division of Azerbaijan.

==Etymology ==
The old form of the name was "Langarkanan" that in [[Persian language|Persian]] means "the place of pulling up the anchor(s)" : "Langar" ({{Lang-fa|'''لنگر'''}}, anchor) + "kan" ({{Lang-fa|'''کن'''}}, to pull) + "an"({{Lang-fa|'''آن'''}}, suffix of places). However, some sources state that Lankaran is said to come from the Talish words for 'Cane house', which sounds as 'Lan Karan'.<ref>[http://www.ozaramizdi.org/l%C9%99nk%C9%99ran.html lənkəran on ozaramizdi.org] {{az icon}}</ref><ref>[http://lankaranmks.jimdo.com/l%C9%99nk%C9%99ran-haqq%C4%B1nda-%C3%BCmumi-m%C9%99lumat/ Lənkəran haqqında tarixi coqrafi məlumat ] {{az icon}}</ref> Alternatively, from [[Median language|Median]] ''*Lan(a)karan-'', where *''karan-'' means 'border, region, land' and ''Lan'' is probably a name of a [[Caspians|Caspian]] tribe.<ref>А. Периханян '''(1982)''', ''Этимологические заметки // Историко-филологический журнал. Ереван. № 1, pp. 55-62''</ref>

==History==
The city was built on a swamp along the northern bank of the river bearing the city's name. There are remains of human settlements in the area dating back to the [[Neolithic period]] as well as ruins of fortified villages from the Bronze and Iron Ages.<ref name=history>[http://www.lankaran.az/content.php?lang=en&page=tarixi History of Lankaran]</ref>

Lankaran's history is rather recent, dating from the 16th century.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}} With the death of [[Nader Shah]] and his disintegrating [[Afsharid dynasty|empire]], the [[Talysh Khanate]] was founded by a certain Seyyid Abbas, whose ancestors were members of the Iranian [[Safavid dynasty]], and had moved into the Talish region during the 1720s during a turbulent period in Iranian history.<ref name="Azerbaijan">[http://www.worldstatesmen.org/Azerbaijan.html#Talysh-Mugan Azerbaijan]</ref> From the founding of the khanate, until 1828, it was ruled by subsequently by the [[Iran]]ian [[Zand dynasty|Zand]] and [[Qajar dynasty|Qajar empires]]. Following the [[Russo-Persian War (1722-1723)|Russo-Persian War of 1722-1723]], Lankaran fell in [[Imperial Russia|Russian]] hands, but in 1732 it was ceded back to Iran per the [[Treaty of Resht]]. Following about another century of being back in Iranian hands, during the [[Russo-Persian War (1804-1813)|Russo-Persian War of 1804-1813]], [[General Kotlyarevsky]] heading the southernmost Russian contingent during the war, [[Storming of Lankaran|stormed and captured Lankaran's fortress]]. Following the [[Treaty of Gulistan]] of 1813, it was returned and still remained part of Qajar Iran.<ref name="books.google.nl">Timothy C. Dowling [https://books.google.com/books?id=KTq2BQAAQBAJ&pg=PA728&dq=russo+persian+war+1804-1813&hl=en&sa=X&ei=QnOXVJXpCcz7UPevhPAK&ved=0CCcQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=russo%20persian%20war%201804-1813&f=false ''Russia at War: From the Mongol Conquest to Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Beyond''] pp 728-730 ABC-CLIO, 2 dec. 2014 ISBN 978-1598849486</ref> However, per the outcoming [[Treaty of Turkmenchay]] of 1828 that followed through the next and final war, the [[Russo-Persian War (1826-1828)|Russo-Persian War of 1826-1828]],<ref name=history /> Qajar Iran was now forced to irrevocably cede the city to Russia.<ref name="books.google.nl"/>

Once absorbed into the [[Russian empire]], it became a part of the [[Azerbaijan]] Soviet Socialist Republic after the Russian revolution in 1917, and the short time as part of the [[Azerbaijan Democratic Republic]]. In 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it became a part of independent Azerbaijan.

==Geography==
There are sandy beaches near Lankaran. Thermal [[sulphide]], [[chloride]], [[sodium]]-[[calcium]] waters of [[Andjin]] (Upper and Lower) mineral springs are situated 12 km west of the town. Also to the west are the ruins of [[Ballabur castle]], near the village with the same name.

The region has a vast area of national parks, where a variety of fauna and flora are preserved. [[Gizil-Agach State Reserve]] hosts over 250 kinds of plants, 30 species of fish and more than 220 kinds of birds. Lankaran is also known for ''[[Parrotia persica]]'', or ironwood. It is naturally grown in the region and could be seen in [[Hirkan National Park]]. Local myth has it that it is the only wood that sinks in water, hence the name (ironwood). Historically it has been used for heating, since it burns for a long time and is not easily extinguished. The [[Persian leopard]] (Panthera pardus saxicolor) subspecies of the [[leopard]], lives in the national park as well. In 1937, members of the ''[[Opilio lepidus]]'' species of [[Opiliones|harvestman]] were sited in the area.<ref>{{Cite journal|journal=Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society|title=Two New Harvestman Species from Lenkoran, Azerbaijan (Arachnida: Opiliones: Phalangiidae)|author=Nataly Y. Snegovaya|year=2007|volume=14|issue=2|pages=88–92|url=http://www.museunacional.ufrj.br/mndi/Aracnologia/pdfliteratura/Snegovaya/Snegovaya%202007%20Two%20Lenkoran.pdf}}</ref>

===Climate===
Lankaran has a [[humid subtropical climate]] (''Cfa''), which borderlines the [[Mediterranean climate]]. Lankaran has cool, wet winters and very warm, dry/highly humid summers. The maximum annual precipitation of 1,600 to 1,800 mm, and is the highest precipitation in Azerbaijan.

{{Weather box
|location = Lenkaran
|metric first = Y
|single line = Y
|Jan high C = 7.2
|Feb high C = 7.2
|Mar high C = 11.0
|Apr high C = 17.5
|May high C = 22.5
|Jun high C = 27.2
|Jul high C = 30.4
|Aug high C = 29.5
|Sep high C = 25.9
|Oct high C = 19.9
|Nov high C = 14.1
|Dec high C = 10.1
|Jan low C = 0.0
|Feb low C = 1.0
|Mar low C = 3.9
|Apr low C = 8.6
|May low C = 13.1
|Jun low C = 17.5
|Jul low C = 20.1
|Aug low C = 19.7
|Sep low C = 16.9
|Oct low C = 11.8
|Nov low C = 6.7
|Dec low C = 2.5
|Jan precipitation mm = 91
|Feb precipitation mm = 114
|Mar precipitation mm = 90
|Apr precipitation mm = 50
|May precipitation mm = 54
|Jun precipitation mm = 22
|Jul precipitation mm = 17
|Aug precipitation mm = 50
|Sep precipitation mm = 143
|Oct precipitation mm = 259
|Nov precipitation mm = 168
|Dec precipitation mm = 88
|Jan precipitation days = 10
|Feb precipitation days = 10
|Mar precipitation days = 11
|Apr precipitation days = 8
|May precipitation days = 8
|Jun precipitation days = 3
|Jul precipitation days = 2
|Aug precipitation days = 4
|Sep precipitation days = 7
|Oct precipitation days = 13
|Nov precipitation days = 12
|Dec precipitation days = 9
|Jan sun = 105.4
|Feb sun = 98.9
|Mar sun = 124.0
|Apr sun = 171.0
|May sun = 226.3
|Jun sun = 282.0
|Jul sun = 306.9
|Aug sun = 254.2
|Sep sun = 189.0
|Oct sun = 127.1
|Nov sun = 99.0
|Dec sun = 108.5
|year sun =
|source 1 = [[World Meteorological Organization]] (UN) <ref name= WMO >{{cite web
| url = http://www.worldweather.org/007/c00020.htm
| title = World Weather Information Service – Lenkaran
| accessdate = 19 January 2011
| publisher = United Nations }}</ref>
|source 2 = [[Hong Kong Observatory]](sun only)<ref name= HKO >{{cite web
| url = http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/europe/gr_tu/lankaran_e.htm
| title = Climatological Information for Lankaran, Azerbaijan
| accessdate = November 17, 2012
| publisher = Hong Kong Observatory }}</ref>
|date=January 2011
}}

== Economy ==
Dominating spheres in Lankaran economy are vegetable-growing, tea-growing, paddy cultivating, cattle-breeding, citrus plants, [[beekeeping]], [[fishing]], and grain farming.<ref>[http://lankaranbc.com/content_183_en.html Business opportunities of the region]</ref> Favourable humid subtropical climate, availability of good arable land, water and sufficient labour resources of city provides a good basis for agricultural activities as well as development of agro-processing enterprises. The city is also home of Azerbaijan's first [[tea]] plant, built in 1937.<ref>[http://www.pasha.az/en-teaworld.html Tea culture in Azerbaijan]</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Expand section|date=November 2014}}
Lankaran is home to Azerbaijan's largest [[Talysh people|Talysh]] community.

* [[Azerbaijani people|Azerbaijanis]] 62.1% (31.151)
* [[Talysh people|Talysh]] 35.9% (17.935)
*Others 2% (1.024)

===Religion===
The religion with the largest community of followers is Islam. The majority of the Muslims are [[Shia Islam|Shia Muslims]], and the Republic of Azerbaijan has the second highest Shia population percentage in the world after [[Iran]].<ref>Juan Eduardo Campo,''Encyclopedia of Islam'', p.625</ref> The city's notable mosques include [[Kichik Bazar Mosque]] and [[Boyuk Bazar Mosque]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Culture in Lankaran|url=http://lenkeran-ih.gov.az/page/16.html|accessdate=13 November 2014|language=Azerbaijani}}</ref>

==Culture==
As of 2012, the city along with [[Baku]] and [[Ganja, Azerbaijan|Ganja]] participated in [[Earth Hour]] movement.<ref>{{cite web|title=Azerbaijan to join Earth Hour|url=http://www.news.az/articles/57316|website=www.news.az|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=IDEA campaign to hold Earth Hour action|url=http://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/2008366.html|website=en.trend.az|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref>

===Cuisine===
Lankaran's cuisine has largely been affected by its multicultural history, hence the large variety of food originating during [[Talysh Khanate]]. Lankaran's signature cuisine includes lavangi, Lankaran kulcha, marji plov, white plov, pumpkin plov and turshu kebab.<ref>[http://www.azmaison.fr/az/index_az.shtml?language=1;section=11;section2=10 Azerbaijani Cuisine: Şirniyyat] {{az icon}}</ref><ref name=cuisine>[http://www.lankaran.az/content.php?lang=en&page=metbex Cuisine of Lankaran]</ref><ref>[http://abqala.az/Subtropical.html Azərbaycanın subtropik zonası] {{az icon}}</ref>

===Music and media===
[[File:Nənələr folklor və rəqs ansamblı.jpg|thumbnail|The Bajilar folk and dance collective.]]
Lankaran is home to several national folk performers, including the ''Bacılar'' (The Sisters) national [[Talysh people|Talysh]] folk and dance collective.<ref>[http://lankaranmks.jimdo.com/milli-folklorumuz/ "Bacılar" talış folklor mahnı və rəqs kollektivi] {{az icon}}</ref>

The regional channel ''Janub TV'' and newspaper ''Lankaran'' are headquartered in the city.<ref>{{cite web|title=Radio-TV yayımı|url=http://www.mincom.gov.az/fealiyyet/radio-tv-yayimi/|accessdate=13 November 2014|language=Azerbaijani}}</ref>

===Sports===
[[File:Firtina face.jpg|thumb|right|Khazar Lankaran fans in [[Lankaran City Stadium]].]]
The city has one professional [[football (soccer)|football]] team competing in the top-flight of [[Azerbaijan]]i football - [[Khazar Lankaran]], currently playing in the [[Azerbaijan Premier League]]. Sporting venues in the city include the [[Lankaran City Stadium]] and Lankaran Olympic Sports Complex.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lankaran Olympic Sport Complex|url=http://www.noc-aze.org/national-olympic-academy/activities/olympic-complexes/lankaran-olympic-sport-complex?lang=en|website=www.noc-aze.org|accessdate=18 November 2014}}</ref> The stadium was one of the venues for the group stages of the [[2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|title=France end Asian domination|url=http://www.fifa.com/tournaments/archive/u17womensworldcup/azerbaijan2012/index.html|work=fifa.com|publisher=[[FIFA]]|accessdate=6 July 2013}}</ref>

In 2012, the city won to host European Masters Weightlifting Championship.<ref>{{cite web|title=Weightlifting Masters|url=http://www.lankaran2012.az/weightlifting/masters/|publisher=Official Website of European Masters Weightlifting 2012|accessdate=19 March 2011}}</ref>

==Transport==

===Public system===
Lankaran has a large urban transport system, mostly managed by the [[Ministry of Transportation (Azerbaijan)|Ministry of Transportation]].

===Air===
The [[Lankaran International Airport]] is well served with connections to domestic and international destinations. The airport's international terminal was opened in September 2008 and the airport is set on its way for becoming one of the busiest hubs in Azerbaijan.<ref>[http://www.paritet.az/eyalet/566.html Lənkəranda çay plantasiyalarının sahəsi genişləndirilir] {{az icon}}</ref>

===Rail===
The city has rail service from historic terminals in downtown to [[Baku]] in the east and [[Astara, Azerbaijan|Astara]] in the south.<ref>[http://www.yusif.us/lankaran.html History of Lankaran:Economy]</ref><ref>[http://lankaran.az/content.php?page=turizm_muessiseleri Turizm müəssisələri] {{az icon}}</ref>

==Education==
{{Expand section|date=November 2014}}
The following universities are located in Lankaran:
* [[Lankaran State University]] - Founded in 1991, [[Lankaran State University]] is Lankaran's first university to start courses.

== Notable residents ==
{{details|:Category:People from Lankaran}}
Some of the city's many prestigious residents include: [[Major-General]] of the Soviet [[armoured troops]] during [[World War II]] [[Hazi Aslanov]], [[General of the Artillery (Imperial Russia)|General of the Artillery]] in the [[Imperial Russian Army]] [[Samad bey Mehmandarov]], folk singer and theatre actress [[Jahan Talyshinskaya]], social activist [[Maryam Bayramalibeyova]], pop singer [[Ilhama Gasimova]], weightlifter [[Turan Mirzayev]], singer [[Hagigat Rzayeva]] and footballer [[Dmitriy Kramarenko]].<ref>{{az icon}} [http://www.musigi-dunya.az/new/added.asp?action=print&txt=117 The Voice of Happiness and Optimism: Jahan Talyshinskaya] by Afruz Mammadova. ''Musigi-dunya.az''</ref><ref>{{cite news | script-title=ru:Асланов Ази Ахад оглы
|publisher=Heroes of the country| url=http://www.warheroes.ru/hero/hero.asp?Hero_id=851| language=ru}}</ref>

<center>
<gallery perrow=5>
File:Həzi Aslanov.jpg|[[Hazi Aslanov]], was awarded the [[Hero of the Soviet Union]] title twice.<ref>[http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=111857 "We are heirs of victory" campaign started in Baku]</ref>
File:General Samed bey Mehmandarov.jpg|[[Samad bey Mehmandarov]], served as the [[Minister of Defense (Azerbaijan)|Minister of Defense of]] [[Azerbaijan Democratic Republic]].
File:Bayramalibeyova.jpg|[[Maryam Bayramalibeyova]], was social activist.
</gallery>
</center>

==International relations==

===Twin towns — Sister cities===
Lankaran is [[Sister cities|twinned]] with various cities.

{|class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Monterey, California|Monterey]], United States, (since 2011)<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ru:Города США и Азербайджана стали побратимами|url=http://news.day.az/politics/275438.html|accessdate=13 November 2014|language=Russian}}</ref>
|}

==Gallery==
<center>
<gallery heights="100px" perrow=5 >
File:Lankaran SV100334.jpg|The central street of Lankaran









</gallery>
</center>

==See also==
*[[Lankaran (rayon)]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Lenkoran|Lankaran}}
{{wikivoyage|Lankaran}}
*[http://www.lankaran.az/ Official city webpage] - [http://www.lankaran.az/index.php?lang=eng (English version)]
*[http://www.lsu.edu.az/ Lankaran State University]
*[http://sunsite.berkeley.edu:8085/azerbaijan/100k/J-39-038.jpg Soviet topographic map 1:100,000 (published in 1991)]
*[https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=38.758501,48.851566&spn=0.083040,0.152967&t=k&hl=en Satellite photo via Google Maps]
* [http://lankaran.aznet.org/lankaran/history_eng.htm History]
* [http://lankaran.aznet.org/lankaran/economy_eng.htm Economy]
*{{GEOnet2|32FA881505703774E0440003BA962ED3|Lankaran (as Lənkəran)}}

{{Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan}}

[[Category:Port cities in Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Districts of Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Lankaran| ]]
[[Category:Baku Governorate]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Caspian Sea]]

Sumqayit

2017-04-14T17:26:16Z

Boaqua:

{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Sumqayıt
|native_name = Sumqayıt
|settlement_type = City & Municipality
|image_skyline =
|imagesize = 300px
|image_seal = Official Sumgait Logo since 2011.png
|seal_size = 150px
|pushpin_map = Azerbaijan
|pushpin_mapsize = 300
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{flag|Azerbaijan}}
|subdivision_type1 = [[Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan|City]]
|subdivision_name1 = Sumgait
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name = Zakir Fərəcov
|established_title = Founded
|established_date = November 22, 1949
|area_total_km2 = 97,17
|area_footnotes =
|population_as_of = 2015
|population_total = 336,200
|population_density_km2 = 4,065
|timezone = [[Azerbaijan Time|AZT]]
|utc_offset = +4
|coordinates = {{coord|40|35|23|N|49|40|07|E|region:AZ|display=inline}}
|elevation_m = 26
|area_code = +994 18
|website = [http://www.sumqayit-ih.gov.az/ Official website]
}}
'''Sumqayit''' ({{lang-az|'''Sumqayıt'''}}, ''Сумгајыт'', سومقاییت; also transliterated as '''Sumgait''' or '''Sumgayit''') is the third-largest city in [[Azerbaijan]], located near the [[Caspian Sea]], about {{convert|31|km|0|abbr=off}} away from the capital, [[Baku]]. The city has a population of around 298,000, making it the third-largest [[city]] in [[Azerbaijan]] after the capital [[Baku]] and [[Ganja, Azerbaijan|Ganja]]. The city has a territory of {{convert|83|km2|0}}. It was founded on November 22, 1949.<ref name=exe>{{cite web |url=http://sumqayit-ih.gov.az/content.php?page=passport |title=Sumqayıt şəhər icra hakimiyyəti. Şəhərin pasportu |trans_title=Sumgayit Executive Power. Resume |accessdate=2010-12-29}}</ref> Two settlements are within the city administration: [[Corat|Jorat]] and [[Hacı Zeynalabdin|Haji Zeynalabdin]], a settlement named after oil businessman and philanthropist [[Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev]]. It is home to [[Sumqayit State University]].

==Etymology==
According to the local [[Azerbaijani folklore|folklore]] the city is named after the [[Sumqayit River]]. In retrospect the legend tells the tale of a hero by the name of "Sum", who is chosen by the community to fight a monster that was blocking the Sumqayit River.<ref>{{cite web|title=Əfsanələr|url=http://www.sumhistorymuseum.az/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&Itemid=75|website=www.sumhistorymuseum.az|accessdate=18 November 2014|language=Azerbaijani}}</ref> Sum eventually manages to kill the monster, but when the river is released he is swept by the waters and never seen again. After that, his beloved, Jeyran, inconsolable by Sum's disappearance, would go to the river and cry "Sum qayıt!" (which means "Sum, come back!" in [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]]).<ref>{{cite web|title=Tarixi Əfsanə|url=http://www.sumqayit-ih.gov.az/page/11.html|website=www.sumqayit-ih.gov.az|accessdate=18 November 2014|language=Azerbaijani}}</ref> So the river became known as Sumgayit, upon the city was named after.

==History==

===Medieval era===
According to historians, [[Medes|Medean tribes]] lived in the area. During the construction boom, when the foundation of the executive power building was being excavated, remains of an ancient [[caravanserai]] along with personal items and kitchenware was found at the site.

The first reports of settlements at the present site of Sumgayit were in 1580, when English traveller H. Barrow mentioned Sumgayit in his writings and in 1858, when [[Alexander Dumas]] wrote about the area in his memoirs ''Trip to Caucasus'', although nothing substantial was created on the site until the [[Soviet Union]] gained control over the area in the 1920s.<ref name=exe-2>{{cite web |url=http://sumqayit-ih.gov.az/content.php?page=passport |title=Sumqayıt şəhər icra hakimiyyəti. Yaranma tarixi |trans_title=Sumgayit Executive Power. History |accessdate=2010-12-29}}</ref>

===Soviet period===
Following the politics of ''[[glasnost]]'', initiated by [[Mikhail Gorbachev]], civil unrest and ethnic strife grew in various regions of the Soviet Union, including [[Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast|Nagorno-Karabakh]],<ref name=Croissant>{{Cite book | first = Croissant | last = Michael P. | author-link = | title = The Armenia-Azerbaijan Conflict: causes and implications | place = United States of America | publisher = Praeger Publishers | year = 1998 | pages = 36, 37 | url= https://books.google.com/?id=ZeP7OZZswtcC&pg=PP1&dq=Michael+P.+Croissant&cd=3#v=onepage&q=17000 | isbn = 0-275-96241-5 }}</ref> an autonomous region of the Azerbaijan SSR.

On 22–23 February 1988 violence broke out in the town on [[Askeran (town)|Askeran]], resulting in the death of two Azerbaijanis.<ref>The New York Times, 11 March 1988, p. A6</ref> The news of the [[Askeran clash]] along with ongoing deportation of Azerbaijanis from Armenia sparked the [[Sumgait pogrom]] against [[Armenians|Armenian]] residents of Sumgait in Azerbaijan on 27 February.<ref>Ethnic Fears and Ethnic War In Karabagh - Stuart J. Kaufman - Page 23</ref> The violence was led, to some degree, by Azerbaijani refugees from [[Armenia]], perhaps as many as 2000<ref>Tamara Dragadze, “Azerbaijan and the Azerbaijanis,” in Graham Smith, ed., The
Nationalities Question in the Soviet Union (London: Longman, 1990), p. 175.</ref> of them made even more desperate by being forced to take shelter in the appalling conditions of Sumgait's shantytown.<ref>Moskovskie novosti, 17 April 1988, tr. in CDSP vol. 40, no. 17, pp. 12–13.</ref> The pogrom resulted in the deaths of 26 Armenians and six Azerbaijanis. As a result, the entire Armenian population fled from Sumqayit. The violence during the [[Askeran clash]] and the [[Sumgait Pogrom]] marked the starting points of [[Armenian people|Armenian]]-[[Azerbaijani people|Azerbaijani]] conflict, which triggered the [[Nagorno-Karabakh War]].<ref>Modern hatreds: the symbolic politics of ethnic war - Page 63 by Stuart J. Kaufman</ref>

===Republic era===

After Nagorno-Karabakh War, the city became home to a number of [[Refugees and internally displaced persons in Azerbaijan|Azerbaijani refugees internally displaced persons]], mainly from [[Qubadli]] and [[Zengilan]] regions.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Abbasov|first1=Shahin|title=Azerbaijan: Sumgayit Becomes Font of Syria-Bound Jihadists|url=http://www.eurasianet.org/node/68341|website=www.eurasianet.org|accessdate=11 November 2014}}</ref> In 1994, [[Heydar Aliyev]] initiated a large-scale Free Economic Area project on the territory of the city.<ref name=thebusinessyear/>

==Geography==
[[File:Azerbaijan map sumqayit.png|thumb|250px|Sumqayit is located about {{convert|31|km|0|abbr=on}} (approximately 20 miles) northwest of Azerbaijan's capital Baku, near the Caspian Sea.]]

===Environment===
As a result of the Soviet planning of the industrial boom era, the city became heavily polluted. Soon after Azerbaijan's independence, the industrial sectors went into decline. The Absheron Peninsula (which consists of Sumqayit, [[Baku]] and the [[Absheron Rayon]]) was considered by scientists to be the most ecologically devastated part of Azerbaijan. The city was known for its children's cemetery, known as the "Baby Cemetery" which contains many graves of infants born with deformities and mental retardation that were further complicated by the lack of adequate medical care for the poor.<ref>[http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/23_folder/23_articles/23_sumgayit.html Sumgayit: Soviet's Pride, Azerbaijan's Hell] by Arif Islamzade at ''Azer.com'', Autumn 1994</ref> Sumgayit was named as most polluted place on Earth by the U.S.-based environmental group the [[Blacksmith Institute]] in 2006 and placed on their list of ''The World's Most Polluted Places'' by ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine in 2007.<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1661031_1661028_1661024,00.html Sumgayit, Azerbaijan – The World's Most Polluted Places] ''TIME'', September 12, 2007</ref> The report noted the former Soviet industrial base was polluting the local environment with industrial chemicals like chlorine and [[heavy metal (chemistry)|heavy metals]]. The report also mentioned [[cancer]] rates in Sumgayit were as much as 51% higher than the national average and that [[mutation|genetic mutations]] and [[congenital disorder|birth defects]] were commonplace.<ref>[http://www.blacksmithinstitute.org/site10a.php World's Worst Polluted Places] — by the Blacksmith Institute (accessed 2007-12-3)</ref>
The city administration prepared an environmental protection plan for 2003–2010 which has been steadily decreasing the levels of pollution to minimal. The program oversees 118 activities aimed at minimizing pollution at all possible levels of economic production. The program was prepared with participation of all industrial enterprises in the city and its enforcement is being regulated by the executive power of the city. For instance, the amount of waste water from industrial production went down from {{convert|600000|m3|cuft|abbr=on}} during the 1990s to {{convert|76300|m3|cuft|abbr=on}} in 2005. Solid waste went down from 300,000 to 3,868 tons a year. The [[World Bank]] has issued a loan to the Azerbaijani government for construction of a burial range for [[Mercury (element)|mercury]] waste.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sumqayit-ih.gov.az/content.php?page=tebii_servetler |title=Sumqayıt şəhər icra hakimiyyəti. Şəhərin ekoloji vəziyyəti |trans_title=Sumgayit Executive Power. Environmental conditions in the city |accessdate=2010-12-29}}</ref>

==Administrative divisions==
[[File:Sumqayıt şəhər İcra Hakimiyyəti.jpg|thumb|City Hall of Sumqayit.]]
The municipality of Sumqayit consists of the city of Sumqayit and the municipalities of [[Corat|Jorat]] and [[Hacı Zeynalabdin|Haji Zeynalabdin]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Sumqayıt İnzibati-İqtisadi Məhkəməsinin yeni binası|url=http://courts.gov.az/sumgayiteconomic/|website=courts.gov.az|accessdate=12 November 2014|language=Azerbaijani}}</ref> The mayor, presently [[Eldar Azizov]], embodies the executive power of the city.<ref>{{cite web|title=İcra hakimiyyətinin başçısı|url=http://www.sumqayit-ih.gov.az/page/20.html|website=www.sumqayit-ih.gov.az|accessdate=12 November 2014|language=Azerbaijani}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Expand section|date=November 2014}}
*Population: 240,000 inhabitants
*Density of population, per km²: 3621<ref name=exe/>
*Annual population upsurge (pers): 1944
*Average lifetime: 70 years

===Ethnic composition===
Azerbaijans 97.74%, Lezgin 1.13%, Russians 0.69%, Talysh 0.15%, Turkish 0.06%, others 0.23%

Until the events of the dissolution of the Soviet Union it was home to 20.000 Armenians, who as a result of tensions and war were displaced as refugees.

===Religion===
Sumqayit did not have a mosque until after the collapse of the Soviet Union.<ref name=abbasov>{{cite web|last1=Abbasov|first1=Shahin|title=Azerbaijan: Sumgayit Becomes Font of Syria-Bound Jihadists|url=http://www.eurasianet.org/node/68341|website=www.eurasianet.org|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> In the 2010s, the city has emerged as a center for [[Salafism]] in Azerbaijan, a form of Sunni Islam that advocates a return to Islam’s earliest practices.<ref name=abbasov/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Howard|first1=Glen E.|last2=Aslanova|first2=Leyla|title=Azerbaijani City of Sumgait Emerges as Recruitment Center for Syrian Fighters|url=http://www.jamestown.org/regions/thecaucasus/single/?tx_ttnews%5Bpointer%5D=1&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=41923&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=642&cHash=3522e8a951772ad04a8343fc89c78bf1#.VGoxhvl_uR8|website=www.jamestown.org|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> The [[Syrian Civil War]] and emergence of [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIL]] forced authorities to take action on crackdown of perceived religious radicals in Sumqayit.<ref name=abbasov/><ref>{{cite web|title=Azerbaijani government's measures to counter terrorism and civil unrest risks expected to ensure stability in three-year outlook|url=http://www.ihs.com/products/global-insight/industry-economic-report.aspx?id=1065996171|website=www.ihs.com|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Lomsadze|first1=Giorgi|title=Azerbaijan Arrests Alleged ISIS and Other Islamic Fighters|url=http://www.eurasianet.org/node/70141|website=www.eurasianet.org|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref>

==Economy==
{| style="float:right;"
| {{hidden
| headercss = width: 325px; background: #B5B5B5;
| contentcss =
| header = Sumgayit's Economy Soviet Period Timeline<ref name="timeline">{{ru icon}} [http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/russian/news/newsid_3681000/3681079.stm Karabakh: Timeline of the Conflict]. ''BBC Russian''</ref>
| content =
    '''Year'''   '''Event'''
*1938 Baracks for workers were created in place of Thermal Power Station. Architects begin the construction for settlers of the Sumqayit Thermal Power Station.
*1939 Foundations were built for synthetic rubber and chemical plants.
*1940 All construction activities suspended with the start of the [[Great Patriotic War]].
*1941 Thermal Power Station is launched and Baku's oil industries received its first electricity.
*1944 The construction of chemical and metallurgical plants.
*1945 Sumqayit chemical plant produced its first production and the great construction wave has been started.
*1949 Settlement awarded city status by Presidium of Supreme Soviet of [[Azerbaijan SSR]]
*1955 Sumgayit Aluminum plant established
*1957 Construction of scientific-research institutes and cultural centers, the city infrastructure is being developed.
*1960 Europe's largest petrol-chemical plant construction has started
*1970 The development of light and machine-building industries in the city.
}}
|}
In 1935, the Soviet government decided to develop heavy industry in the [[Absheron Peninsula]], and the future location of Sumgayit was chosen based on its proximity to [[Baku]] and its key position on existing railroad lines.

Between 1938–1941, a [[thermal power station]] was constructed to power Baku's growing [[Petroleum industry in Azerbaijan|petroleum industry]]. This was soon followed by more heavy industries. Due to [[World War II]] the construction of the area stopped and resumed in 1944, when [[metallurgical]] and [[chemical industry|chemical plants]] were constructed and put into operation. The first production of ''Sumgayit Chemical Plant'' led to a rapid growth and construction boom, creating a new job market, and a need for a resident population. In 1949, Sumgayit gained official city status according to resolution of the [[Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan SSR]]. In 1952, a tube-rolling plant delivered its first produce thus developing black metallurgy production in Azerbaijan. The same year, another new [[Synthetic rubber|Synthetic Rubber]] Production Plant started its operations producing [[ethylene]] obtained from [[petroleum|oil]]. Operations at ''Sumgayit Steel Processing Plant'' and ''Sumgayit Aluminium Plant'' were commenced in 1953 and 1955, respectively. In 1957–1955, a number of scientific research facilities and cultural centers were built, leading to further development of the city infrastructure. In 1960, authorities started building the Petroleum Chemical Factory, the largest in [[Europe]] at the time. From 1961 through 1968, a [[brick]]-producing factory, a [[polymer|polymer construction materials]] industrial complex, a [[Phosphor#Materials|phosphor]] production plant were built. In 1970–'80s, [[light industry]] and mechanical engineering facilities were added to the industrial base of the city. By the end of the 1980s, Sumgayit was already the center of the chemical industry of the USSR.<ref name=exe-2/>

After the [[dissolution of the Soviet Union]], Sumgayit has remained Azerbaijan's second-biggest industrial center after Baku.<ref name=thebusinessyear>{{cite web|title=Renewed Dreams|url=http://www.thebusinessyear.com/publication/article/43/3639/azerbaijan-2014/renewed-dreams|website=www.thebusinessyear.com|accessdate=11 November 2014}}</ref> Some of the most significant companies operating in the city are Azerpipe, Azeraluminium, Sumqayit Aluminium, Sumqayit Superphosphate, glass producer Khazar OJSC, Sumqayit Knitted Goods Factory, and Sumqayit Compressors, many of which have been privatized.<ref name=thebusinessyear/>

In 2011, the development of Sumgayit Technology Park (STP) and Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park (SCIP) started to receive investor attention.<ref name=thebusinessyear/><ref>{{cite web|last1=Barron|first1=Lisa|title=Azerbaijan’s Sumgayit industrial park may spur new job growth|url=http://cistranfinance.com/news/azerbaijans-sumgayit-industrial-park-may-spur-new-job-growth/3830/|website=cistranfinance.com|accessdate=11 November 2014}}</ref> The {{convert|167|ha|acre|adj=on}} complex will host pharmaceutical, construction, and agricultural businesses, in addition to chemical, automotive, and electronics producers.<ref name=thebusinessyear/> It is meant as a self-sufficient complex, which will include residential facilities, an exhibition center, laboratories, sports center, schools, and hospitals. SCIP aims to attract domestic and foreign investors, and its management has already received proposals for 20 investment projects in the complex.<ref name=thebusinessyear/>

==Culture==
===Architecture===
The first studies in architecture and urban planning of the city of Sumgait were carried out by Azerbaijani and Soviet scientist, academician of the International Academy of Architecture of the Eastern Countries, honored architect of Azerbaijan SSR [[Kamal Mammadbeyov]]. The result of years of research were numerous scientific publications and a book about architectural and planning development of the city of Sumgait.<ref name=SumgayitBook>{{cite book | last = Mamedbekov | first = Kamal | authorlink = | year = 1988 | location = Baku | title = Sumgait: Architectural and planning development | pages = 119 | edition = | publisher = Elm, Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan SSR | url = https://books.google.com/books/about/Сумгаит.html?id=pqO0AAAAIAAJ | accessdate = 2013-01-03}}</ref> Mammadbeyov donated a large number of graphics and illustrations made by him to the archives of The City Museum.

===Music and media===
[[Sumgayit]] was credited as the main regional driving force behind rock bands of the 1990s including [[Yuxu]], [[Miraj (band)|Miraj]], [[Mozalan]], and [[Sirr (band)|Sirr]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Yenə də Sumqayıt…|url=http://sumqayitxeber.com/aktual/yen%C9%99-d%C9%99-sumqayit.html|website=sumqayitxeber.com|accessdate=30 June 2014|language=Azerbaijani}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sumqayıt rok ənənələrini bərpa edir|url=http://www.inradio.tv/index.php?lang=az&menu=1&cid=c7b11909de826c5b7decab63b427c780&newsID=3d8d5725f7981fe23779964ecc42eecc|website=www.inradiotv.|accessdate=30 June 2014|language=Azerbaijani}}</ref>

The regional channel ''Dünya TV'' and newspaper ''365 Gün'' are headquartered in the city.<ref>{{cite web|title=Radio-TV yayımı|url=http://www.mincom.gov.az/fealiyyet/radio-tv-yayimi/|accessdate=13 November 2014|language=Azerbaijani}}</ref>

===Parks and gardens===
During the Soviet rule of Azerbaijan, Sumgayit was believed to have the longest and cleanest [[boulevard]] in the republic. The ''Culture and Leisure Park'' was laid on {{convert|23|ha|acre|abbr=off}} of Sumgayit coastline in 1967. On August 17, 1978 the park was given the name of a distinguished [[Azerbaijani people|Azerbaijani]] poet [[Imadaddin Nasimi]]. The same year, the city administration raised the [[Peace Dove (Sumgayit)|Peace Dove]] monument in the middle of the park assigning the city a symbol of peace.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://az.trend.az/news/politics/1761904.html |title=Sumqayıt nümayəndə heyəti Mogilyovda səfərdədir |trans_title= Sumgayit delegation is visiting Mogilev |publisher=[[Trend News Agency]] |author=K. Zarbaliyeva |date= 2010-10-06 |accessdate=2010-12-29}}</ref>

The flora of the park includes 39 types of trees. Events of the 1990s such as the [[Black January]] tragedy and [[Nagorno-Karabakh War]], led to establishment of ''Stars'' (Ulduzlar) and ''20 January Monument'' monuments in the park. In the eastern section of the park, ''Shehidler Khiyabani'' similar to [[Martyrs' Lane]] in Baku was established as burial ground for thousands of soldiers from Sumgayit who died during the war. According to the Decree No. 132 of the [[Cabinet of Azerbaijan|Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan]] dated August 2, 2001 the park was given the status of national historical importance. Its current size is 80 [[hectare|ha]].

In addition to Nasimi Culture and Leisure Park, the city administration built ''Ludwigshafen Park'' in 1997 in celebration of the 20th anniversary of [[Twin towns and sister cities|twin-city]] relations between [[Ludwigshafen]] and Sumgayit. In 1999, ''Heydar Aliyev Park'' and ''Luna Park'' were built in the rapidly growing city.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sumqayit-ih.gov.az/content.php?page=parklar |title=Sumqayıt şəhər icra hakimiyyəti. Parklar və istirahət bağları |trans_title=Sumgayit Executive Power. Parks and Leisure facilities |accessdate=2010-12-29}}</ref>

===Sports===
The city has one professional [[football (soccer)|football]] team competing in the top-flight of [[Azerbaijan]]i football – [[Sumgayit FK|Sumgayit]], currently playing in the [[Azerbaijan Premier League]].

==Transport==

===Public transport===
[[File:Koroghlu avenue, Sumgait.JPG|thumb|right|The city's Koroghlu avenue.]]
Sumqayit has a large urban transport system, mostly managed by the [[Ministry of Transportation (Azerbaijan)|Ministry of Transportation]].

The city had a [[Trams in Sumqayit|tram system]] that functioned from 1959 to 2003.<ref name=electrtrans>{{cite web|title=16. Сумгаит (трамвай) |trans_title=16. Sumqayit (tram)|url=http://transit.parovoz.com/masstransit/index.php?ID=16|work=Горэлектротранс (Electrotrans) website|publisher=Дмитрий Зиновьев (Dmitry Zinoviev)|accessdate=23 September 2012|archivedate=31 January 2013|language=ru}}</ref> Ganja's [[Trolleybuses in Sumqayit|trolleybus system]] at its height, it consisted of eight lines and existed until 2006.<ref name=electrotrans>{{cite web|title=17. Сумгаит (троллейбус) |trans_title=17. Sumqayit (trolleybus)|url=http://transit.parovoz.com/masstransit/index.php?ID=17|work=Горэлектротранс (Electrotrans) website|publisher=Дмитрий Зиновьев (Dmitry Zinoviev)|accessdate=23 September 2012|archivedate=4 January 2013|language=ru}}</ref>

In 2013, [[Ministry of Transportation (Azerbaijan)|Ministry of Transportation]] stated that city, along with [[Ganja, Azerbaijan|Ganja]] and [[Nakhchivan (city)|Nakhchivan]] will have new [[Rapid transit|subway]] line within the framework of the 20-year subway program.<ref>{{cite web|title=Subway to be constructed in Sumgayit, Nakhchivan and Ganja|url=http://en.apa.az/news_subway_to_be_constructed_in_sumgayit__na_192507.html|website=en.apa.az|accessdate=10 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Subways to open in major Azerbaijani cities|url=http://www.azernews.az/azerbaijan/53594.html|website=www.azernews.az|accessdate=10 November 2014}}</ref>

==Education==
{{As of|2011}}, Sumgayit boasted 49 schools, 13 vocational and music schools, [[Sumgait Private Turkish High School]] and a teachers' institute.<ref name=thebusinessyear/>

The only university in the city is [[Sumqayit State University]]. The university has seven departments and approximately 4000 students.

==Notable residents==
{{details|:Category:People from Sumgayit}}
Some of the city's many prestigious residents include: chess players [[Shakhriyar Mamedyarov]] and [[Zeinab Mamedyarova]], [[balaban (instrument)|balaban]] player [[Alihan Samedov]], footballers [[Nazim Suleymanov]], [[Kamal Guliyev]] and [[Mahir Shukurov]], [[Ilham Zakiyev]], two-time world and five-time blind judo champion and two-time gold medalist in the [[Paralympic Judo|paralympics]] and karateka [[Rafael Aghayev]].

Archbishop [[Pargev Martirosyan]] the current Primate of the [[Diocese of Artsakh]] of the [[Armenian Apostolic Church]] is also from Sumqayit.

<center>
<gallery perrow=5>
File:Maxir Sukurov.jpg|[[Mahir Shukurov]], is one of the most capped football players for [[Azerbaijan national football team]].
File:Nazim Suleymanov.jpg|[[Nazim Suleymanov]], [[FC Alania Vladikavkaz|Alania Vladikavkaz]]'s all-time goalscorer.
File:Rafayel Agayev.jpg|[[Rafael Aghayev]], four-time World and eight-time European champion.<ref>[http://azerisport.com/karate/20100508120155704.html Рафаэль Агаев – семикратный чемпион Европы!] {{ru icon}}</ref>
File:Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 2013(2).jpg|[[Shakhriyar Mamedyarov]], one of the world's top chess [[Grandmaster (chess)|Grandmasters]].
File:Ilham Zakiyev.jpg|[[Ilham Zakiyev]], two-time world and five-time blind judo champion and two-time gold medalist in the [[Paralympic Judo|paralympics]].
</gallery>
</center>

==International relations==
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Asia#Azerbaijan|l1=List of twin towns and sister cities in Azerbaijan}}

===Twin towns and sister cities===
Sumqayit is [[Town twinning|twinned]] with the following cities:<ref name="Azerbaijan twinnings">{{cite web|url=http://www.azerbaijans.com/content_1719_en.html|title=Twin-cities of Azerbaijan|accessdate=2013-08-09|work=Azerbaijans.com}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
*{{flagicon|GEO}} [[Rustavi]], Georgia, (since 1952)<ref name=sumtwinz>{{cite web|title=Sumqayit's history|url=http://www.sumhistorymuseum.az/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=52&Itemid=90|website=www.sumhistorymuseum.az|accessdate=13 November 2014|language=Azerbaijani}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Cherkasy]], Ukraine, (since 1972)<ref name=sumtwinz/>
*{{flagicon|ROU}} [[Piteşti]], Romania, (since 1971)<ref name=sumtwinz/>
*{{flagicon|GER}} [[Ludwigshafen]], Germany, (since 1977)<ref name=sumtwinz/>
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Bari]], Italy, (since 2004)<ref>{{cite web|title=EXECUTIVE ORDER OF PRESIDENT OF THE AZERBAIJAN REPUBLIC|url=http://azertag.az/en/xeber/EXECUTIVE_ORDER_OF_PRESIDENT_OF_THE_AZERBAIJAN_REPUBLIC-555113|website=azertag.az|accessdate=13 November 2014}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|KAZ}} [[Aktau]], Kazakhstan, (since 2009)<ref>{{cite web|title="Sumqayıt şəhəri (Azərbaycan Respublikası) və Aktau şəhəri (Qazaxıstan Respublikası) arasında qardaşlaşmış şəhər münasibətlərinin yaradılması haqqında Birgə Bəyannamə"ni imzalamaq səlahiyyətinin verilməsi barədə|url=http://e-qanun.az/files/framework/data/19/f_19141.htm|website=e-qanun.az|accessdate=13 November 2014|language=Azerbaijani}}</ref>
||
*{{flagicon|AUT}} [[Linz]], Austria, (since 2009)<ref>{{cite web|title=SUMGAIT TO BE TWINNED WITH AUSTRIA`S LINZ.|url=http://www.oananews.org/node/69304|website=www.oananews.org|accessdate=13 November 2014}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|BLR}} [[Mogilev]], Belarus, (since 2009)<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ru:Могилев и азербайджанский Сумгаит подписали договор о побратимстве|url=http://gorki.gov.by/news/region-news/2798-1.html|website=gorki.gov.by|accessdate=13 November 2014|language=Russian}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Nevinnomyssk]], Russia, (since 2011)<ref>{{cite web|script-title=ru:У Сумгайыта появился город-побратим|url=http://news.day.az/society/291631.html|website=news.day.az|accessdate=13 November 2014|language=Russian}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Genoa]], Italy, (since 2013)<ref>{{cite web|title=Siglato il memorandum d'intenti tra Genova e Sumqayit, città azera|url=http://www.comune.genova.it/content/siglato-oggi-il-memorandum-dintenti-tra-genova-e-sumqayit-citt%C3%A0-azera|website=www.comune.genova.it|accessdate=13 November 2014|language=Italian}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|PRC}} [[Zhuzhou]], China<ref name="Azerbaijan twinnings"/>
*{{flagicon|TUR}} [[Ceyhan]], Turkey<ref name="Azerbaijan twinnings"/>
|}

==See also==
* [[Shaki, Azerbaijan|Shaki]]
* [[Lankaran]]
* [[Nakhchivan (city)|Nakchivan]]
* [[Mingachevir]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://sumqayit-ih.gov.az/ Sumqayıt Şəhər İcra Hakimiyyətinin rəsmi İnternet saytı]
*[http://sumqayit.edu.az/ Sumqayıt Təhsil Şöbəsi ]
*[http://sumqayitxeber.com/ Sumqayıt Xəbər ]
*[http://www.sumqayit.su/ Sumgait foto video galereya]
*[http://www.sumqayit.ru/ Sumqayit forum]
*[http://www.axtaraq.biz/directory Sumqayit Companies]
*[http://www.axtaraq.biz/directory/tourism/hotels Browse hotels in Sumqayit]

{{Sumqayit}}
{{Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan}}
{{coord|40|35|23|N|49|40|07|E|type:city|display=title}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Districts of Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Sumqayit| ]]
[[Category:Port cities in Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Cities and towns built in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Caspian Sea]]
[[Category:1949 establishments in Azerbaijan]]

Neft Daşları

2017-04-11T20:11:59Z

Boaqua:

{{redirect-distinguish|Oil Rocks|rock oil (disambiguation){{!}}rock oil|shale oil}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name =
| native_name = Neft Daşları
| image_skyline =
| imagesize =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| pushpin_map = Caspian Sea
| pushpin_mapsize = 300
| pushpin_label_position = left
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Azerbaijan}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan|City]]
| subdivision_name1 = [[Baku]]
| subdivision_type2 = Raion
| subdivision_name2 = [[Khazar raion|Khazar]]
| subdivision_type3 = Municipality
| subdivision_name3 = [[Çilov-Neft Daşları]]
| leader_title =
| leader_name =
| established_title =
| established_date =
| area_total_km2 =
| area_footnotes =
| population_as_of =2008
| population_total = 2000
| population_footnotes = <ref>[http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&des=wg&geo=-26&srt=npan&col=abcdefghinoq&msz=1500&pt=c&va=x World Gazetteer: Azerbaijan] – World-Gazetteer.com</ref>
| population_density_km2 =
| timezone =[[Azerbaijan Time|AZT]]
| utc_offset = +4
| timezone_DST =
| utc_offset_DST =
| coordinates = {{coord|40|12|N|50|48|E|region:AZ|display=inline,title}}
| elevation_m =
| area_code =
| website =
}}
'''Neft Daşları''' ({{lang-az|Neft Daşları}}, {{lang-ru|Нефтяные Камни}}, also known as the '''Oil Rocks''') is an industrial settlement in [[Baku]], [[Azerbaijan]]. The settlement forms part of the municipality of [[Çilov-Neft Daşları]] in the [[Khazar raion]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.belediyye.org/index.php?con=qanun&bkod=3637 |title=Belediyye Informasiya Sistemi |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924083213/http://www.belediyye.org/index.php?con=qanun&bkod=3637 |archivedate=September 24, 2008 |language=Azerbaijani}}</ref> It lies {{convert|100|km|abbr=on}} away from the Azerbaijani capital [[Baku]], and {{convert|55|km|abbr=on}} from the nearest shore in the [[Caspian Sea]]. A full town on the sea, it was the first [[oil platform]] in [[Azerbaijan]], and the first operating offshore oil platform in the world, incorporating numerous [[drilling platform]]s. It is featured in the [[Guinness World Records|Guinness Book]] as the world's first offshore oil platform.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oldest offshore oil platform|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/oldest-offshore-oil-platform-/|publisher=Guinness World Records|accessdate=29 July 2016}}</ref>

The settlement began with a single path out over the water and grew into a system of paths and platforms built on the back of ships sunk to serve as the Neft Daşları's foundation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gale|first=Timothy|title=OIL ROCKS: AN INFRASTRUCTURED SOVIET CITY|url=http://liquidinfrastructure.info/archives/725|accessdate=26 December 2010}}</ref> The most distinctive feature of Neft Daşları is that it is actually a functional city with a population of about 2,000 and over {{convert|300|km|abbr=on}} of streets built on piles of dirt and [[landfill]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Theroux|first=Marcel|title=The Rock of Ages|url=http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/the-rock-of-ages/1|accessdate=26 December 2010}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The settlement was originally named as ''Chernie Kamni'' ("Black Stones"), but was later renamed to ''Neft Daşları'' ("Oily Rocks"), replacing the allusion to the black colour of oil with a reference to the substance itself.<ref>{{cite web|last=Abbasov|first=Mehti|title=НЕФТЯНЫЕ КАМНИ — 60|url=http://br.az/index.php?newsid=2963|publisher=Bakinskiy Rabochiy Newspaper|accessdate=26 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ibrahimov|first=Seyyad|title=THE EARLY DAYS|url=http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/52_folder/52_articles/52_oily.html|publisher=Azerbaijan International Magazine|accessdate=26 December 2010}}</ref>

==History==

===Construction of the settlement===
[[File:The Soviet Union 1971 CPA 4086 stamp (Oil Platforms on Causeway in Caspian Sea).jpg|thumb|125px|left|Soviet 1971 stamp, featuring Oil Rocks.]]
The first large-scale geological study of the area was conducted in 1945-1948.<ref name="Oilrocks">{{cite web|title=Baku and Oil. The Soviet Period|url=http://www.window2baku.com/eng/9oil3.htm|publisher=window2baku.com|accessdate=25 December 2010}}</ref> The settlement of Neft Daşları was built in 1949 after oil was discovered there at 1,100 meters beneath the [[Caspian Sea]] and it became the world's first offshore [[oil platform]].<ref>{{cite web|title=OIL PLATFORMS|url=http://www.solarnavigator.net/oil_rigs.htm|accessdate=25 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Blair|first=Betty|title=Oil Rocks in the Caspian|url=http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/ai142_folder/142_articles/142_salahov_oil_rocks.html|publisher=azer.com|accessdate=25 December 2010}}</ref>

By 1951, the Neft Daşları was ready for production, equipped with all of the infrastructure needed at the time. Drilling platforms were erected, oil tanks installed, and docks with enclosures for ships were built. The first oil from the Neft Daşları was loaded into a tanker in same year.<ref name="Igors">{{cite web|last=Igorev|first=Vladimir|title=A MAN-MADE ISLAND OF OIL TREASURES|url=http://www.oilru.com/or/44/925/|publisher=www.oilru.com|accessdate=25 December 2010}}</ref>

In 1952, the systematic construction of [[trestle bridge]]s connecting the artificial islands was begun. A number of Soviet factories constructed crane assemblies especially for use on the Neft Daşları, along with a crane barge that could carry up to 100 tons of oil. The assemblies were equipped with diesel hammers used to drive piles into the sea floor.<ref name="Igors" />

Large-scale construction started on the settlement in 1958, which included nine-story hostels, hotels, cultural palaces, bakery factories and lemonade workshops.<ref name="Oilrocks" /> The mass development of Neft Daşları continued during 1976-1978 with the building of a five-story dormitory and two oil-gas compressor stations, the installation of a drinking water facility, and the construction of two underwater pipelines to the [[Dubendi]] terminal, each with a diameter of {{convert|350|mm|in}}.<ref name="Oilrocks" /> In addition, a flyover for vehicular traffic was created.<ref name="Oilrocks" /> As a result, the area of the settlement grew to around 7 ha in the 1960s, with the length of the steel trestle bridges joining the man-made islands exceeding {{convert|200|km|mi}}.<ref name="Igors" />

===Post-independence===
In November 2009, the settlement celebrated its 60th anniversary.<ref>{{cite web|title=Городу в Каспийском море уже 60 лет|url=http://www.lifenews.ru/news/11508|publisher=[[LifeNews|Lifenews.ru]]|accessdate=25 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Oil Rocks is essential value for Azerbaijani people: president - UPDATE |url=http://today.az/news/society/57230.html|publisher=today.az|accessdate=25 December 2010}}</ref> Over the last 60 years, the oilfields of Neft Daşları have produced more than 170 million tons of oil and 15 billion m³ of associated natural gas.<ref name="Igors" /> According to present-day estimates by geologists, the volume of recoverable reserves is as high as 30 million tons.<ref name="Igors" />

== Demography ==
The population varies from time to time in the settlement. As of 2008 the platforms have a combined population of about 2,000 men and women, who work in week-long offshore shifts. At one point 5000 worked there.<ref>{{cite news|last=Frank|first=Arno|title=Forbidden City of Oil Platforms: The Rise and Fall of Stalin's Atlantis|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/exploring-the-crumbling-soviet-oil-platform-city-of-neft-dashlari-a-867055.html|accessdate=27 February 2014|newspaper=[[Der Spiegel]]|date=14 November 2012}}</ref>

==Oil extraction==
The [[oil extraction]] is carried out from the shallow water portion of the [[Absheron geological trend]].

==Accidents==
On 4 December 2015, three workers of [[SOCAR]] were reported missing after part of the living quarters fell into the sea due to a heavy storm.<ref name=upstream041215>
{{cite news
| url = http://www.upstreamonline.com/live/1418610/oil-workers-missing-at-socar-platform
| title = Oil workers 'missing' at Socar platform
| newspaper = [[Upstream (newspaper)|Upstream Online]]
| publisher = [[NHST Media Group]]
| date=2015-12-04
| accessdate=2015-12-05}}
</ref>

==In popular culture==
* In 2008, a Swiss documentary crew led by film director Marc Wolfensberger filmed "La Cité du Pétrole / Oil Rocks - City above the Sea" in the settlement, which was released in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oil Rocks: City Above the Sea|url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1528788/|publisher=[[IMDB]]}}</ref>
* Neft Daşları is featured in a scene in the [[James Bond]] film ''[[The World Is Not Enough]]'' (1999).<ref name=turnb>{{cite web|last=Turnbull|first=James|title=Oil Rocks|url=http://googlesightseeing.com/2008/08/oil-rocks/|accessdate=26 December 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Patterson|first=Jean|title=Agent 007 Movie Scenes Shot in Baku|url=http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/73_folder/73_articles/73_bond.html|publisher=Azerbaijan International Magazine|accessdate=26 December 2010}}</ref>
* Neft Daşları is on the list in the [[Guinness World Records|Guinness Book]] as the oldest offshore oil platforms.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oldest offshore oil platform|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/oldest-offshore-oil-platform-/|publisher=Guinness World Records|accessdate=29 July 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Azerbaijan|Energy}}
{{commons category|Neft Daşları}}
* [http://mapk39.narod.ru/map1/ik39138.html Map of the area]
* [http://www.panoramio.com/user/472658/tags/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D1%84%D1%82%D1%8F%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B5%20%D0%9A%D0%B0%D0%BC%D0%BD%D0%B8 Photos of Oil Rocks taken in 2013]
* [http://www.travel-images.com/az-oilrocks.html Travel guide for Oil Rocks]
* [http://englishrussia.com/index.php/2010/02/02/oil-stones-a-soviet-city-in-the-middle-of-the-sea/ English Russia: Oil Stones, A Soviet City in the Middle of the Sea]
* [http://thin-line.net/thinline/Documentaries.html Link to the film trailer Oil Rocks - City above the Sea]
*{{GEOnet2|32FA881500853774E0440003BA962ED3}}

==Further reading==
* Mir-Babayev M.F. The role of Azerbaijan in the World’s oil industry – “Oil-Industry History” (USA), 2011, v. 12, no. 1, p. 109-123.
* Mir-Babayev M.F. Oil Rocks: the first city on the Caspian Sea – “Reservoir”, Canada, 2012, Volume 39, Issue 4, April, p.33-36.

{{Baku}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neft Daslari}}
[[Category:Oil platforms]]
[[Category:Coastal construction]]
[[Category:Geography of Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Energy in the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Populated places in Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Baku]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Caspian Sea]]
[[Category:Seasteading]]
[[Category:Energy infrastructure in Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Petroleum industry in Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Azerbaijani inventions]]