{{More citations needed|date=November 2023}}{{Short description|District in northern Azerbaijan}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Qakh District | type = District | image_skyline = | imagesize = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_map = Gakh District in Azerbaijan.svg | mapsize = | map_caption = Map of Azerbaijan showing the Qakh District | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Azerbaijan}} | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Shaki-Zagatala | parts_type = Settlements<ref name="preslib">{{cite web |url=https://files.preslib.az/projects/azerbaijan/gl2.pdf |title=İnzibati-ərazi vahidləri |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=preslib.az |publisher= |access-date=28 February 2021 |quote=}}</ref> | parts = 59 | established_title = Established | established_date = 8 August 1930 | area_magnitude = | area_total_km2 = 1490 | area_footnotes = <ref>[http://www.azerbaijan.az/_Districts/_districts_e.html Qax District] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190117104935/http://azerbaijan.az/_Districts/_districts_e.html |date=2019-01-17 }}: General information on Azerbaijan.az</ref> | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | population_as_of = 2020 | population_total = 57200 | population_footnotes = <ref name="statgov">{{cite web |url=https://www.stat.gov.az/source/demoqraphy/ap/az/population_2020.zip |title=Population of Azerbaijan |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=stat.gov.az |publisher=State Statistics Committee |access-date=22 February 2021 |quote=}}</ref> | population_density_km2 = auto | timezone = AZT | utc_offset = +4 | elevation_m = | footnotes = | postal_code_type = Postal code | postal_code = 3400 | seat_type = Capital | seat = Qakh | leader_title = Governor | leader_name = Musa Shakiliyev<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.lidertv.com/az/news/5/105133.html |title= Qax rayonu icra hakimiyyətin başçisi dəyişdirildi |trans-title=The head of executive power of Qakh rayon replaced |publisher = Lider TV |date=2010-04-13 |access-date=2010-12-30}}</ref> | website = {{URL|qax-ih.gov.az}} }}
'''Qakh District''' ({{langx|az|Qax rayonu}}; {{langx|ka|კახის რაიონი|K′akhis raioni}}; {{langx|tkr|Къахын район|Qaxın rayon}}) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the north of the country, in the Shaki-Zagatala Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Zagatala, Shaki, Samukh, Yevlakh, as well as the Kakheti region of Georgia and the Russian Republic of Dagestan. Its capital and largest city is Qakh. As of 2020, the district had a population of 57,200.<ref name="statgov" />
== Geography == The region is dominated by hot and subtropical climate. However mountainous areas are rather cold. Annual rain precipitation varies from 300mm (in the south) to 1600mm in mountain areas.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}
Meadows, water resources, forests, and fertile soils are providing space for agricultural development, especially for walnut, chestnut production.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}
Heavy rains and snowmelts from mountains often result in a flood.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}
The region also has one of the biggest Natural Reserves in Azerbaijan named “Ilisu Natural Reserve”. Reserve is located near Aghchay village.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}
Region borders with Dagestan Republic (Russia) in north east, Zagatala region in the north, Samukh region in the south, Georgia in the west.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gomap.az/Info/Cities/Gakh.aspx?lng=ru|title=Гах, Азербайджан|website=gomap.az|access-date=2019-09-21}}</ref> Gakh region accounts for 13% of water supplies of Caucasus (3873 cubic kilometers), 100 thousand cub meters of which are extracted for the administrative district, 63 000 of which used for irrigation and only 2 000 cub meters are used for agriculture. Rest is used for domestic consumption and production.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.qax-ih.gov.az/page/14.html|title=İqtisadiyyat - QAX RAYON Icra Hakimiyyəti|website=www.qax-ih.gov.az|access-date=2019-09-21}}</ref>
== Local economy == The local economy is specialized in crop production and livestock. The most common products produced here are tobacco and grain.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}
The main enterprises are canned food and vegetables. Other enterprises cover sweets, oil products, and beverages. Enterprises mainly cover domestic demand and ship products to other districts.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}
The region is also rich with minerals and building raw materials, such as rubble, sand, clay, sulfur, etc.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}
These materials are widespread in river valleys, especially in the valleys of the Kurmuk River and its branches.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}
Furthermore, mineral springs are also common in the region. Near Suskand village “Gah” mineral water is produced.<ref name=":0" />
==History== The Qakh region of Azerbaijan has a long history dating back to ancient times. Archaeological excavations the area had been populated during Eneolithic, Bronze and early Iron Ages. What remains of these early inhabitants' activities indicates they engaged largely in sedentary cultivation, animal-breeding and art. Qax (Kakhi) region was part of Kakheti-Hereti Kingdom and then part of the united Georgian kingdom.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}
In 1921 Kakhi Region became part of Azerbaijan.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}
With the spread of Christianity throughout the region during the existence of Caucasian Albania, some Churches were built in the Qakh district.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://baku.eparhia.ru/history/albania/architrave/ |title=Архитектурное наследие Албанской Церкви |trans-title=Architectural heritage of Albanian Church |access-date=2010-12-30 |archive-date=2011-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721221336/http://baku./ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the 8th century A.D., Qakh fell under Arab Umayyad occupation. Starting from the 11th century first Oghuz Turks and later Qipchaq Turks inhabited the area, the region was incorporated into the Seljuq Empire. Qakh was later a part of Atabeg and Shirvanshah states. With the invasion of Hulaguids in Azerbaijan in the 13th century, Mongolian nomadic tribes populated the region.
According to the legend mentioned by 19th century author I. Linevich, the city of Qakh was called ''Toraghay'' ({{Langx|az|Torağay}}) until 16th century. This word was mentioned in Mahmud Kashgari's dictionary called "Dīwān Lughāt al-Turk". According to the dictionary, it means "shelter between the mountains" in the Kipchak language. Considering the city of Qakh is located in a lowland area between the mountains, it can be said that the Kipchaks who came through the North Caucasus settled in Qakh and called the area as "Toraghay". One of the districts of the regional center of Qakh is still called ''Qakh-mughal''. This can be explained as the influence of Mongol period.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Latifova |first=Elvira |date=2023 |title=СЕВЕРО-ЗАПАДНЫЕ РЕГИОНЫ АЗЕРБАЙДЖАНА В КОНТЕКСТЕ ТЮРКО-МОНГОЛЬСКОЙ ИСТОРИИ |journal=Avrasya Uluslararası Araştırmalar Dergisi |volume=11 |issue=36 |page=227 |doi=10.33692/avrasyad.1276291|doi-access=free }}</ref>
In 1562, by the order of the Safavid Shah Tahmasp I, Ilisu Sultanate was established in Qakh. In the 18th century, Ilisu Sultanate became so powerful that, the Ottoman Emperor conferred its ruler Ali Sultan Bey the highest title of Pasha recognizing him as the Beylerbey of Shaki.{{Citation needed|date=November 2023}}
In 1803 the sultanate of Ilisu was annexed to the Russian empire. The ruler of the sultanate, Daniyal, inspired the people to rise against Russian rule in 1844, due to a disagreement between him and the government of Russia. Sultan Daniyel was defeated near the village of İlisu and continued his struggle against Russian along with the leader of the national freedom movement, Sheykh Shamil. Russians burnt Ilisu and divided the territory of the sultanate into mahals (territorial units) and annexed them to the ''Jar-Balaken'' daire (a territorial unit) converting it into a colony of tsarist Russia. With proclamation of independence of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in May 1918, Qakh became disputed between ADR and DRG. During the Soviet rule, Qakh was established as raion of Azerbaijan SSR in 1930.<ref name="IH">{{cite web |url=http://www.qax-ih.gov.az/az/4/9.html |title= Qax rayonu icra hakimiyyəti. QAX RAYONU HAQQINDA QISA MƏLUMAT |trans-title=Executive Power of Gakh Rayon. Brief information about Gakh Rayon |access-date=2010-12-30}}</ref>
== Demographics == {{Pie chart |caption=Ethnic groups in Qakh (2019) |thumb=right |ethnic groups in Qakh |label1 = Azerbaijanis |value1 = 81.87 |color1 = green |label2 = Georgians |value2 = 13.70 |color2 = blue |label3 = Tsakhurs |value3 = 3.03 |color3 = seagreen |label4 = Others |value4 = 1.4 |color4 = black }} The overall statistics indicate the population growth fluctuates. For instance, In 2000 there were 832 newly born, in 2006 - 816, down to 753 in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azstat.org/region/az/005_2.shtml |title=Azərbaycanın regionları. Demoqrafik göstəricilər |trans-title=Statistics Committee. Regions of Azerbaijan. Demographic indicators |access-date=2010-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101113152936/http://www.azstat.org/region/az/005_2.shtml |archive-date=2010-11-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
The Qakh District is also a centre of the Georgian minority in Azerbaijan, with most of the ones in this district being of Christian origin.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: right;" |- style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! rowspan="2" | Ethnic group ! colspan="2" | 1999<ref name="Ethnic composition of Azerbaijan by 1999 census">{{Cite web|url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/azerbaijan-ethnic1999.htm|title=Ethnic composition of Azerbaijan 1999|website=pop-stat.mashke.org}}</ref> ! colspan="2" | 2009<ref name="Qax rayonu">{{Cite web|url=http://www.stat.gov.az/source/regions/az/005_2.xls|title=Qax rayonu}}</ref><ref name="Ethnic composition of Azerbaijan by 2009 census">{{Cite web|url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/azerbaijan-ethnic2009.htm|title=Ethnic composition of Azerbaijan 2009|website=pop-stat.mashke.org}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://qax-ih.gov.az/page/12.html |work= Əhalisi |title= Qax Rayon İcra Hakimiyyəti |access-date= 24 August 2015}} {{in lang|az}}</ref> |- style="background:#e0e0e0;" ! Population ! % ! Population ! % |- | style="text-align:left;"| '''Total''' | 51 161 | 100.00 | 53 259 | 100.00 |- | style="text-align:left;"| '''Azerbaijanis''' | 39 355 | 76.92 | 43 946 | 82.51 |- | style="text-align:left;"| '''Ingiloy (Georgians)''' | 7 450 | 14.56 | 7 447 | 13.98 |- | style="text-align:left;"| '''Tsakhurs''' | 2 612 | 5.11 | 1 008 | 1.89 |- | style="text-align:left;"| '''Lezgins''' | 609 | 1.19 | 253 | 0.48 |- | style="text-align:left;"| '''Russians''' | 91 | 0.18 | 67 | 0.13 |- | style="text-align:left;"| '''Turks''' | 96 | 0.19 | 64 | 0.12 |- | style="text-align:left;"| '''Avars''' | 11 | 0.02 | 9 | 0.02 |- | style="text-align:left;"| '''Tatars''' | 7 | 0.01 | 7 | 0.01 |- | style="text-align:left;"| '''Armenians''' | 5 | 0.01 | 7 | 0.01 |- | style="text-align:left;"| '''Ukrainians''' | 26 | 0.05 | 5 | 0.01 |- | style="text-align:left;"| '''Others''' | 899 | 1.76 | 446 | 0.84 |- |}
== Villages == There are 59 villages in the district: {{div col|colwidth=15em}} * Ağçay * Ağyazı * Almalı * Amanlı * Armudlu * Bağtala * Baydarlı * Böyük Alatəmir * Cəlayer * Çinarlı * Çüdüllü * Dəymədağlı * Əlibəyli * Əmbərçay * Əmircan * Fıstıqlı * Güllük * İbaxlı * İlisu * Keşqutan * Kiçik Alatəmir * Kötüklü * Ləkit * Ləkit Kötüklü * Ləkit Malax * Lələli * Lələpaşa * Malax * Marsan * Meşəbaş * Oncallı * Qapıçay * Qarabaldır * Qarameşə * Qaratala * Qaşqaçay * Qaxbaş * Qaxingiloy * Qaxmuğal * Qaysarlı * Qazmalar * Qımır * Qındırğa * Qıpçaq * Qorağan * Qum * Sarıbaş * Şıxlar * Şotavar * Süskən * Tanqıt * Tasmalı * Turaclı * Üzümlü * Uzuntala * Xələftala * Yeni İlisu * Zərnə * Zəyəm {{Div col end}}
==Gallery== <gallery class="center" caption="Nature and historical monuments in Qakh District" perrow="5" widths="155px" heights="120px"> Image: Qalacha.jpg Image: Qalaça.jpg Image: Sumuqala1.jpg Image: İçəri bazar8.jpg Image: Ala qapı.jpg Image: Burc.jpg Image: Frescos in St. Georges church in Qax, Azerbaijan 3.jpg|Fresco in St. George's Church Image: Cinli qala10.JPG Image: Cinli qala4.JPG Image: Cinli qala9.JPG Image: Qala kompleksi.jpg Image: St. Georges church in Qax, Saingilo 005.jpg|St.George's Church Image: İçəri bazar4.jpg Image:İçəri bazar2.jpg </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Azerbaijan topics}} {{Qakh Rayon}} {{Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan}} {{Authority control}}
{{Coord|41.4167|N|46.9167|E|source:wikidata-and-enwiki-cat-tree_region:AZ|display=title}}
Category:Qakh District Category:Districts of Azerbaijan