Kur-Araz Lowland

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[[Image:Azerbaijan 1995 CIA map.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Azerbaijan]]
The '''Kura-Aras Lowland''', '''Kura-Aras Depression''' or '''Kura-Aras Basin'''<ref>The name of Aras may also be variously transliterates as Araz, Arax, or Araxes.</ref> ({{lang-az|Kür-Araz ovalığı}}) is a vast [[Depression (geology)|depression]] in central-southern [[Azerbaijan]] defined by the valleys of the [[Kura (Caspian Sea)|Kura River]] and [[Aras River]]. It is situated by the West shore of the [[Caspian Sea]] and is part of the [[Aral-Caspian Depression]]. It is delimited by the [[Greater Caucasus]] from the North, [[Lesser Caucasus]] from the West and the [[Talysh Mountains]] from the South. <ref>[http://www-wds.worldbank.org/servlet/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2003/04/11/000094946_03040304034344/Rendered/INDEX/multi0page.txt Profile of Azerbaijan], a 2003 [[World Bank]] document</ref>

Its extension is the [[Lenkoran Lowland]], which reaches [[Iran]] at [[Astara, Iran|Astara]].

==References and notes ==
{{reflist}}

{{Azerbaijan-geo-stub}}

{{coord|41.1667|N|45.8333|E|source:wikidata|display=title}}

[[Category:Landforms of Azerbaijan]]
[[Category:Caspian Sea]]
[[Category:Depressions of Europe]]
[[Category:Endorheic basins of Asia]]

Barbel (fish)

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[[Image:barbel.jpg|thumb|Barbel]]'''Barbels''' are group of small [[carp]]-like [[freshwater]] fish, almost all of the genus ''[[Barbus]]''. They are usually found in gravel and rocky-bottomed slow-flowing waters with high dissolved oxygen content. A typical adult barbel will range from 25 to 100 cm in length and weight anywhere between 200 g and 10 kg, although weights of 200 g are more common. Babies weigh 100–150 g.

Barbel [[roe]] is poisonous and causes vomiting and diarrhoea in some people.

The name barbel derived from the Latin ''barba'', meaning beard,<ref name="barbel">{{cite web| url= http://www.thefreedictionary.com/barbel |title = barbel| publisher = thefreedictionary.com}}</ref> a reference to the two pairs of [[barbel (anatomy)|barbs]]—a longer pair pointing forwards and slightly down positioned—on the side of the mouth.

Fish described as barbels by English-speaking people may not be known as barbels in their native country, although the root of the word may be similar. For instance, the Mediterranean barbel, ''Barbus meridionalis'' is known as ''barbeau méridional'' or ''barbeau truité'' in France, but also as ''drogan'', ''durgan'', ''tourgan'', ''turquan'' and ''truitat''.<ref name="common">{{cite web | url=http://fishbase.sinica.edu.tw/comnames/CommonNamesList.cfm?ID=5424&GenusName=Barbus&SpeciesName=meridionalis&StockCode=5686 | title=Common Names of ''Barbus meridionalis'' |publisher = FishBase}}</ref>

==Europe==
[[Barbus barbus]], the barbel native to Britain is known simply as the barbel and is a popular sport fish. Subspecies of ''B. barbus'' are recognised; namely ''B. barbus bocagei'', ''B. barbus sclateri'', ''B. barbus thessalus'' and ''B. barbus plebejus''.

The Mediterranean barbel ''Barbus meridionalis'' is actually found in [[Spain]], [[France]], [[Poland]], [[Romania]], and [[Ukraine]]. It is a much smaller fish than B. barbus.

Other barbel in Europe include ''Barbus sclateri'' – sometimes known as the European barbel; the Italian barbel ''Barbus tyberinus'';
the Albanian barbel ''Barbus albanicus''; the Iberian barbel is found in Spain and Portugal and is eaten by many European duck species

==Asia==
The Crimean barbel ''Barbus tauricus'' is found in the Salgir River in the [[Crimean Peninsula|Crimea]]n peninsular. A subspecies, the Kuban barbel ''Barbus tauricus kubanicus'' is found in the upper and middle [[Kuban River]] in Russia.

The Aral barbel ''Barbus brachycephalus'' is found in Central Asia, and the sub-species ''B. brachycephalus caspius'' (the [[Caspian Barbel]]) is found in the [[Caspian Sea]].

The Bulatmai barbel ''Barbus capito carpito'' (''Cyprinus capito'') is found in the [[Kura (Caspian Sea)|Kura river]] in Trans-caucasia.

The Terek barbel ''Barbus ciscaucasicus'' is found in the [[Kuma River, Russia]].

The Turkestan barbel ''Barbus conocephalus'' is found in the [[Zeravshan]] river.

The Gokcha barbel ''Barbus goktschaicus'' is found in the [[Lake Sevan]] in Armenia...

The Kura barbel ''Barbus lacerta'' (Mtkvari barbel) is found in Syria.

The Himri barbel ''Barbus Luteus'' is native to Mesopotamian rivers.

The Amur barbel or Barbel steed (''Hemibarbus labeo'') is found in the Amur basin and elsewhere in east and south-east Asia, including southeast Siberia.

==Africa==
''Barbus callensis'' is found in Tunisia.

The Ripon barbel ''Barbus altianalis'' is found in the [[African Great Lakes]].

''Barbus bynni bynni'', a barbel, is found in the [[Nile]] and lakes that have been connected to that river. The subspecies ''Barbus bynni occidentalis'' is known as the Niger barb.

==Other==
Occasionally non-cyprinid fish are called barbels such as ''Austroglanis gilli'', or ''Schilbe mystus'', both are [[catfish]]. Some species of the genus ''[[Sinocyclocheilus]]'' a cave dwelling fish found in China have made use of the term barbel in their English common name.

==Trivia==
The barbel is mentioned in [[Nostradamus]] ''Les Prophéties'', century VII, 24 :

<blockquote>He who was buried will come out of the tomb,<br>
he will make the strong one out of the bridge to be bound with chains. <br>
Poisoned with the roe of a barbel, <br>
the great one from Lorraine by the Marquis du Pont.</blockquote>

==Fishing for barbel==

Barbel, although often found in still waters are predominantly a river dwelling fish and are very sought after by many anglers. They may not be the most elusive fish in the river; in fact, in the right conditions they are fairly easy to catch. They are, however, very hardy fish who will fight right until you slip your landing net under them. Despite this hardy nature in the water they do not cope well out of the water and must be returned safely and quickly. It is good custom to support the fish in the water until it is fully recovered and swims away on its own accord.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sicm.org/anglingdiary/Thebeginnersguidetobarbel...thespecies.html |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2011-04-19 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313010502/http://www.sicm.org/anglingdiary/Thebeginnersguidetobarbel...thespecies.html |archivedate=2012-03-13 |df= }}</ref>

Some of the best barbel fishing venues are along the Loddon near Reading. The Severn at Bewdley being a particular hotspot where there are different day ticket and club stretches on both sides of the bank. The current record on the river Severn is 16lb 11oz, taken by Kevin Gittins, in November 2014.

The most effective baits to use when barbel fishing are maggots, worms, luncheon meat, halibut pellets and any fish meal based boilie.

The most common way to fish for barbel is to cast out a ledger to the desired area in your swim. The ledger will hold the bait firmly where you want it to be. The bite indication for this type of fishing would be the tip of the rod bending over as the barbel takes off with your bait. Other exciting methods of fishing for barbel are float fishing or free lining your bait down the flow of the river.

Barbel will feed all year round but much more vigorously in the summer and autumn; this is the time of year that most anglers fish for them. Nighttime is a good time to fish.
The good baits to use for barbel are maggots, worms, and hemp, but a lot of the time it is a hard fish to catch.

==See also==
{{Wikisource1911Enc|Barbel}}
*Genus ''[[Barbus]]'' All barbels are of the genus ''Barbus'' but not all ''Barbus'' species are barbels.
*''[[Barbus barbus]]'' The barbel native to England and parts of Europe.
*[[Barbel (anatomy)]] The whiskerlike structures that give the barbel its name.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Barbel (Fish)}}
[[Category:Freshwater fish of Europe]]
[[Category:Fish of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Fish of Central Asia]]
[[Category:Fish common names]]

[[es:Barbo]]

Kazakhstan Encyclopedia - User contributions [en]

Kur-Araz Lowland

Barbel (fish)