Sumqayit
Template:Infobox settlement Sumqayit (Template:Lang-az, Сумгајыт, سومقاییت; also transliterated as Sumgait or Sumgayit) is the third-largest city in Azerbaijan, located near the Caspian Sea, about Template:Convert 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. The city has a territory of Template:Convert. It was founded on November 22, 1949.<ref name=exe>Template:Cite web</ref> Two settlements are within the city administration: Jorat and Haji Zeynalabdin, a settlement named after oil businessman and philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev. It is home to Sumqayit State University.
Contents
Etymology
According to the local 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>Template:Cite web</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).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> So the river became known as Sumgayit, upon the city was named after.
History
Medieval era
According to historians, 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>Template:Cite web</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,<ref name=Croissant>Template:Cite book</ref> an autonomous region of the Azerbaijan SSR.
On 22–23 February 1988 violence broke out in the town on 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 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-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 Azerbaijani refugees internally displaced persons, mainly from Qubadli and Zengilan regions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1994, Heydar Aliyev initiated a large-scale Free Economic Area project on the territory of the city.<ref name=thebusinessyear/>
Geography
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>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 in 2007.<ref>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 metals. The report also mentioned cancer rates in Sumgayit were as much as 51% higher than the national average and that genetic mutations and birth defects were commonplace.<ref>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 Template:Convert during the 1990s to Template:Convert 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 waste.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Administrative divisions
The municipality of Sumqayit consists of the city of Sumqayit and the municipalities of Jorat and Haji Zeynalabdin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The mayor, presently Eldar Azizov, embodies the executive power of the city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Demographics
- 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>Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</ref> The Syrian Civil War and emergence of ISIL forced authorities to take action on crackdown of perceived religious radicals in Sumqayit.<ref name=abbasov/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Economy
| Template:Hidden |
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. 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 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 Production Plant started its operations producing ethylene obtained from 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 construction materials industrial complex, a 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>Template:Cite web</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>Template:Cite web</ref> The Template:Convert 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>Template:Cite book</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, Mozalan, and Sirr.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The regional channel Dünya TV and newspaper 365 Gün are headquartered in the city.<ref>Template:Cite web</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 Template:Convert of Sumgayit coastline in 1967. On August 17, 1978 the park was given the name of a distinguished Azerbaijani poet Imadaddin Nasimi. The same year, the city administration raised the Peace Dove monument in the middle of the park assigning the city a symbol of peace.<ref>Template:Cite news</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 Ministers of Azerbaijan dated August 2, 2001 the park was given the status of national historical importance. Its current size is 80 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-city relations between Ludwigshafen and Sumgayit. In 1999, Heydar Aliyev Park and Luna Park were built in the rapidly growing city.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sports
The city has one professional football team competing in the top-flight of Azerbaijani football – Sumgayit, currently playing in the Azerbaijan Premier League.
Transport
Public transport
Sumqayit has a large urban transport system, mostly managed by the Ministry of Transportation.
The city had a tram system that functioned from 1959 to 2003.<ref name=electrtrans>Template:Cite web</ref> Ganja's trolleybus system at its height, it consisted of eight lines and existed until 2006.<ref name=electrotrans>Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2013, Ministry of Transportation stated that city, along with Ganja and Nakhchivan will have new subway line within the framework of the 20-year subway program.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Education
Template:As of, 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
Template:Details Some of the city's many prestigious residents include: chess players Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Zeinab Mamedyarova, 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 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.
- Maxir Sukurov.jpg
Mahir Shukurov, is one of the most capped football players for Azerbaijan national football team.
- Nazim Suleymanov.jpg
Nazim Suleymanov, Alania Vladikavkaz's all-time goalscorer.
- Rafayel Agayev.jpg
Rafael Aghayev, four-time World and eight-time European champion.<ref>Рафаэль Агаев – семикратный чемпион Европы! Template:Ru icon</ref>
- Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 2013(2).jpg
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, one of the world's top chess Grandmasters.
- Ilham Zakiyev.jpg
Ilham Zakiyev, two-time world and five-time blind judo champion and two-time gold medalist in the paralympics.
International relations
Twin towns and sister cities
Sumqayit is twinned with the following cities:<ref name="Azerbaijan twinnings">Template:Cite web</ref>
|
|
See also
References
External links
- Sumqayıt Şəhər İcra Hakimiyyətinin rəsmi İnternet saytı
- Sumqayıt Təhsil Şöbəsi
- Sumqayıt Xəbər
- Sumgait foto video galereya
- Sumqayit forum
- Sumqayit Companies
- Browse hotels in Sumqayit
Template:Sumqayit Template:Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan Template:Coord
