Lankaran (lĭn'kărăn') or Lenkoran (lyĕn'kərän'yə), city (1989 pop. 45,020), SE Azerbaijan, near the Iranian border, on the Caspian Sea. It is a port and an important food-processing center for fish and tea. Its inhabitants are mostly Talysh, an Iranian-speaking people who are Shiite Muslims. Lankaran, known since the 17th cent., was the capital of the Talysh khanate under Persia in the 18th cent. and was ceded to Russia by Persia in 1813. The Lankaran Lowland, a coastal strip c.40 mi (60 km) long, has a humid, subtropical climate. Citrus fruit, tea, and rice are grown here.
Lankaran
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Coordinates: 38°45′13″N 48°51′04″E / 38.75361°N 48.85111°E
| Lənkəran | |
|---|---|
  Lənkəran
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| Coordinates: 38°45′13″N 48°51′04″E / 38.75361°N 48.85111°E | |
| Country |  Azerbaijan |
| City | Lankaran |
| Area | |
| - Total | 70 km2 (27 sq mi) |
| Population (2008)[1] | |
| - Total | 50,244 |
| Time zone | AZT (UTC+4) |
| - Summer (DST) | AZT (UTC+5) |
Lankaran (Azerbaijani: Lənkəran; also, Länkäran, Lencoran, and Lenkoran’) is a city in Azerbaijan, on the coast of the Caspian Sea, near the southern border with Iran. Has a population of 50,244 (2008, up from 48,400 in 2002), at least half of which are Talysh. It is next to, but independent of Lankaran rayon. The city forms a distinct first order division of Azerbaijan.
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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.[2] Lankaran's history is rather recent, dating from the 16th century. Lankaran was for a long time the capital of the Talysh Khanate, which enjoyed variable degrees of independence throughout history. It was first held by Russia from 1728 to 1735, but only fell definitively to Russia's General Kotlyarevsky in 1813, that status having been confirmed by the Treaty of Turkmenchay in 1828.[2]
Etymology
The old form of the name was "Langarkanan" that in Persian means "the place of pulling up the anchor(s)" : "Langar" (Persian: لنگر, anchor) + "kan" (Persian: کن, to pull) + "an"(Persian: 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'.
Economy
The Lankaran region is an important producer of spring and winter vegetables. Rice, grapes, tobacco, citrus trees and oak woods thrive in the warm climate. However the main and most famous crop is tea, which is processed at a local tea factories. Other industries are centered around food processing, furniture, silk, wood and fine carpets.
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. Kizilagach national park 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.
Main sights
- Lankaran Fortress - built in 18th century.[3]
- Kichik Bazar Mosque
Education
The following universities are located in Lankaran:
- Lankaran State University - Founded in 1991, Lankaran State University is Lankaran's first university to start courses.
Cuisine of Lankaran
Lankaran's cuisine has largely been affected by its multicultural history, hence the large variety of food originating during Talysh Khanate. Lavangi is Azerbaijani meal associated with Lankaran.[4]
Sports
The city has one professional football team competing in the top-flight of Azerbaijani football - Khazar Lankaran, currently playing in the Azerbaijan Premier League.
Population
Lankaran is home to Azerbaijan's largest Talysh community.
- Talysh 62.1% (31.151)
- Azerbaijanis 35.9% (17.935)
- Others 2% (1.024)
Notable people from Lankaran
- Hazi Aslanov, Soviet army general, twice Hero of the Soviet Union
- Samedbey Mehmandarov, Russian army general, Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan Democratic Republic
- Andrey Lugovoy, Russian politician and businessman
- Jahan Talyshinskaya, folk singer
See also
References
- ^ World Gazetteer: Azerbaijan – World-Gazetteer.com
- ^ a b History of Lankaran
- ^ Lenkoran Travel Guide
- ^ Cuisine of Lankaran
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Lankaran |
- Official city webpage - (English version)
- Lankaran State University
- Soviet topographic map 1:100,000 (published in 1991)
- Satellite photo via Google Maps
- History
- Economy
- Lankaran (as Lənkəran) at GEOnet Names Server
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