Ismailli (İsmayıllı) is a rayon of Azerbaijan.

Demographics

Azeris 84.7%, Lezgins 10.3%

Religion

Islam

Language

Azerbaijani

History

Ismailly district was created with the center in the Ismailly village on November 21, 1931. Before the establishment of the district one of its part was within the Goychay province, another one within the Shamakhy province and the smallest part within the Sheki province.

The territory of the district like all the northern lands of Azerbaijan was part of the Albanian state in the 4th century B.C. Mehran Gyrdyman from the dynasty of Sasanies even created his own kingdom at the territory. Albanian rulers Varaz Grigor and his son Djavanshir (616-681) were also from the dynasty of mehranids. The Gyrdyman state was ruled by the most prominent ruler of Albania Djavanshir in 638-670. The ruins of the residence built by him on the Aghchay river 4 kilometers away from the Talystan village is still famous the the Djavanshir tower.

The district covers an area of 2074 km2. It borders on Guba in the north, Shamakhy in the east, Aghsu in the south-east, Kurdemir in the south, Goychay in the south-west and Gabala in the west.

The district includes 1 city, 2 settlements and 106 villages. These settlements are controlled by 34 territorial representations and 67 municipalities. Its population is 75500 people (January 1, 2004). Azerbaijanis account for 84.4%, lezguins, Russians and other people for 15.2% of the entire population.

The landscape of the district is mainly composed of mountains. The height of the lands hesitates between 200 meters up to 3629 meters (Babadagh) above sea level. The area is passed by the Goychay, Gyrdyman, Akhokh, Ayrichay, Sulut and other rivers, Yekekhana and Ashygbayram artificial ponds.

The district covers an area of 215875 hectares with 22058 hectares of winter and 13555 hectares of summer pastures. The lands used in agriculture account for 96630 hectares including 36263 hectares of fertile lands.

The woodlands account for 66799 hectares of the district. The district accounts for the State Reserve of Ismayilli. The part of the district was included into the Shahdagh National Park.

The district has a rich nature. The forests are composed of oak, hornbeam, beech-tree, alder-tree, birch-tree, poplar, pear, spoke and other trees. Such representatives of animal kingdom as elk, mountain goat, chamois, deer, roe deer, bear, boar, lynx, fox, wolf, squirrel, coon, pheasant, partridge, eagle, falcon, tetra and others are found in these forests.

A number of settlements of the district especially Lahydj and Basgal settlements, Ivanovka, Galadjyg, Talystan and Diyarly villages are notable for their ancient history and special beauty. Lahidj and Basgal were declared the reserves of history and culture.

The district accounts for a number of ancient historical monuments.

Significant measures are currently taken in the district for the development of tourism.

The Ismailly city was had been a village till 1959, a settlement till 1967 and after than he was transformed into a city.

Ismayilly is a region with a special agriculture. The district which lagged behind in all spheres before 1970 experienced a significant rise due to the special attention paid to it by the national leader of the Azerbaijani people Heydar Aliyev. The three visits of the wise leader (In July of 1981, in late November of the same year and early December and in 2002) were the most important events in the history of the region. Heydar Aliyev

Tv,Radio,Newspapper

1. Sociopolitical newspaper Girdyman was established in 2002 and is issued twice or thrice a month in 500 editions. It was founded by the executive body of the district and the creative collective of the publishing house. It was registered by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Azerbaijan and has a registration No 120.

The publication of a local newspaper commenced in 1934 in the district. The newspaper was called Yeni Ismayilly from 1934 till 1966, Zehmetkesh from 1966 till 1991 and Djavanshir yurdu from 1991.

2. The radio station of the district was registered in the head department for mass media under the State Press Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan and started operating on February 10 of 1993. It aims to provide the residents of Ismayilly with daily sociopolitical news, entertaining programs and programs for children, ads, announcements and other programs. It transmits its programs thirty minutes a day except for Saturday and Sunday.

It is the executive body of the district. It has previously operated as a ten minutes news bulletin within a local newspaper.

Names of major agricultural plants

1. Wheat 2. Corn 3. Peas 4. Sun-flower 5. Beans 6. Potato 7. Tomato 8. Cucumber 9. Cabbage 10. Onion 11. Garlic Fruits

1. Grapes 2. Apple 3. Pear 4. Walnut 5. Hazelnut

Prominent persons

Hajji Agadadash Hagverdiyev

Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan
Districts	Absheron · Agdam · Agdash · Agjabadi · Agstafa · Agsu · Astara · Babek · Balakan · Barda · Beylagan · Bilasuvar · Dashkasan · Davachi · Fizuli · Gadabay · Goranboy · Goychay · Hajigabul · Imishli · Ismailli · Jabrayil · Jalilabad · Julfa · Kalbajar · Kangarli · Khachmaz · Khanlar · Khizi · Khojali · Khojavend · Kurdamir · Lachin · Lankaran · Lerik · Masally · Neftchala · Oguz · Ordubad · Qabala · Qakh · Qazakh · Qobustan · Quba · Qubadli · Qusar · Saatly · Sabirabad · Sadarak · Salyan · Samukh · Shakhbuz · Shaki · Shamakhi · Shamkir · Sharur · Shusha · Siazan · Tartar · Tovuz · Ujar · Yardymli · Yevlakh · Zangilan · Zaqatala · Zardab
Cities	Ali Bayramli · Baku · Ganja · Khankendi · Lankaran · Mingachevir · Naftalan · Nakhchivan City · Shaki · Sumqayit · Shusha · Yevlakh
Names in italics indicate parts of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic

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