National parks of azerbaijan. National parks and reserves of Azerbaijan - the world of unique animals and birds Azerbaijan examples of reserves and national parks

Azerbaijan, as a country of ancient culture in the region of the Caucasus and Central Asia, the Black and Caspian Seas, rich biological diversity in Europe, is the owner of a unique natural heritage. The nature of the country is very rich - there are up to 4.1 thousand endemic plant species, and the famous relict tugai forests - a monument of the Cenozoic era, are not found anywhere else in the world. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Azerbaijani government is investing a lot of effort and resources in the maintenance of its conservation areas. The role of specially protected territories - reserves in preserving biological diversity is irreplaceable. It was as a result of the nature reserves that it became possible to preserve rare and endangered species of flora and fauna. Currently, there are 6 national parks, 13 state natural reserves and 21 state natural reserves in the republic.

National parks - territories with the status of nature protection and research departments used for nature protection, education, science, culture and other purposes, in whose territory special ecological, historical, aesthetic and other significant natural complexes are located.

Reserves such as Kyzylagach, Zagatala and Shirvan are of international importance. The Girkan Reserve protects the relict vegetation of the tertiary period of the Girkan type in the forest belt of the Talysh Mountains and the Lankaran Lowland.

The Turianchai Nature Reserve, which lies at the eastern end of the Mingachevir reservoir, guards the famous Eldar pine. The natural complexes of the eastern part of the Greater Caucasus are protected by the Ismayilli Reserve, and one of the most beautiful lakes in the world - Goygol, and the natural complexes of the Lesser Caucasus surrounding it, are protected by the Goygol Reserve. No less interesting are the Aggel, Basutchay, Karayaz, Kyzylagadzh, Pirkulinsky, Turianchay reserves.

Kyzylagach Nature Reserve

Located in the south of Azerbaijan, in the Lankaran lowland, it is famous for having the largest wintering ground for waterfowl and water birds in Europe. During the Soviet Union, the reserve was the most popular winter field practice for biology students. A huge number of waterfowl and near-water birds winters each year in the reserve: coot - up to 3 million, river ducks - up to 4 million, diving ducks - up to 900 thousand, swans (most of them are mute swans) - up to 6.5 thousand, geese (gray , white-fronted, pussies and the most beautiful - red-breasted geese) - up to 70 thousand, several thousand flamingos.

The fate of the Kyzylagach reserve is not simple. In 1926, the waters of the Bolshoi and parts of the Lesser Kyzylagach bays, as well as land areas adjacent to these areas, were declared a reserve, and in 1929 - a reserve. But there was no real owner of the reserve. In addition, in 1929-1939, after the fall of the Caspian, significant areas of the reserve dried up and were transferred to state farms and plowed up. In 1951, the reserve area was halved, and in 1961 another 4,600 hectares were cut off from it. Currently, its area is 88,360 ha. But even in such a truncated form, the reserve in 1975 was included in the list of sites of international importance, mainly as a habitat for waterfowl and near-water birds.

The landscapes of the Kyzylagach Reserve are pretty monotonous - because it is located on a coastal lowland, a flat plain with a height difference of only 4.5 m. The shores of the bays are occupied by reeds, grasslands, blackberries are found on the plains, halophytes grow on solonchaks (plants - “I would salt”) - soleros, solyanka, impotence, vault, in shallow waters - zoster, rupiah, rdesty. Although the mass of birds lives in the reserve even in summer, it was created in order to protect and study the colossal concentrations of wintering birds. The shallow, winter-free bays of the Caspian are dotted with flocks of yapping coots and quacking ducks, among which swans and pelicans swim with white clouds, pink flocks of roaming roam, and white herons stand alone on the shores. Reeds overgrown with canals were literally stuffed with moorhen, shepherdesses, Sultan's hens, drinks and quakes. On a winter evening, over the steppe and semi-desert lands of the Kyzylagach Reserve, the unceasing roar of the thousandth flocks of geese is heard. If you are lucky, you can catch another sound, light, similar to the whistle of a helicopter rotor. This flies a flock of streptos, relatives of the Sultan chicken and coot in the order of the crane-like. The Kyzylagach Nature Reserve is one of the few places where streptos gather for wintering, forming hundreds of flocks. It is difficult to notice on the land of streptoes: they are painted the color of sand and stale grass. But sometimes, when a thousandth flock takes off nearby, it seems that a cruel February blizzard suddenly broke out - it becomes so white around from flickering wings. The Kyzylagach Nature Reserve is good in winter, but in the summer there is something to see. The most interesting place is the coastal thickets of tamarix. On the dry plains of the reserve, this shrub rarely exceeds 1.5 m, and on the coast, its height reaches 3.5-4 m.

In the tamarix thickets there are huge colonies of copepods and ankle birds - about 60 thousand bird pairs nest here. Colonies are a picturesque sight. Cormorants sitting "columns" turn black. Herons are seen: pure white and with yellow paws - small white herons; white, but with a yellow top of head and yellow back - Egyptian herons; completely yellow (white wings only) are called yellow herons. The colony is noisy, like in a bazaar: cormorants hoarse croak (not without reason they are called sea crows), shaded birds shout in different ways: "orc orc" - small white herons, "kurr" - Egyptian herons, "carr" - yellow herons. Another feathered attraction of the Kyzylagach Nature Reserve is flamingos. Nesting of representatives of this species of birds in the reserve is a whole event. This happened, in particular, in 1982 and 1983, when about 200 pairs of flamingos nested. The most remarkable detail in the appearance of flamingos is the beak. It seems disproportionately large and ugly for such graceful and graceful birds. The beak is massive and approximately in the middle is bent almost perpendicularly downward. These slender long-legged birds inhabit the shallow waters of salt lakes, lagoons and sea coasts. The nest is a pillar-shaped structure, on top of which the female lays eggs. Of course, in the reserve and in the summer period there are a large number of representatives of the order Anseriformes. The most elegant of them are swans.

The reserve also boasts very rare ducks listed in the Red Book. One of them is a marble teal, so named because of its whitish with grayish stains of plumage coloring. Another rare species is the duck duck. You can immediately recognize it by its characteristic landing on the water: it holds its tail vertically upward. In a calm swimming, the bird sits on the water rather high, but, frightened, sinks so that its back hides under the water and only its head and tail remain stuck on the surface.

A large number of nesting birds in the colonies attract predators. The most numerous among them is the marsh, or reed, lun. This predator preys on ducks, coots and heron chicks. Swamp loonies nest in reed creases. Kyzylagach Nature Reserve is a large scientific center, where, in addition to nature protection, research is also carried out. Ornithologists annually ring the birds in order to find out the ways of their migration, as well as to obtain data on the life expectancy of various birds and how many grown chicks will fly to the colony next year where they were born.

Although the Kyzylagach Nature Reserve was created specifically to protect waterfowl and near-water birds, it also boasts an abundance of mammals. Here there are hare, wild boar, badger, Caspian seal, jackal wolf, fox, reed cat, otter.

Hyrcanic National Park

Location: On the territory of the Lankaran and Astara regions, created to protect the landscapes of humid subtropics, as well as the protection of relict and endemic plant species. The National Park consists of the flat part of the Lankaran Lowland and the mountain landscape of the Talysh Mountains.

Lankaran natural region has rich fauna and flora, including many rare and endemic species. The flora of the reserve consists of 1,900 species, including 162 endemic, 95 rare and 38 endangered species. Of the 435 species of trees and shrubs common in Azerbaijan, 150 are in the Garakan forests, including the evergreen boxwood, iron tree, chestnut oak, girkan fig, pear tree, silk acacia, Caucasian persimmon, alder and others. The reserve has many endemic and rare animals, in particular among representatives of earthen mollusks and flightless insects, as well as various species of amphibians. Bird endemicity is well represented, down to a subspecies level, while the species level is relatively poor. The main protected sites are lowland natural complexes and low mountain forest zones of the Lankaran natural region, including a unique well-preserved lower forest area and an ecosystem of rare Girkan-type forests.

Shirvan National Park

The reserve is in the east of the country, in the lower reaches of the Kura River, on the arid Shirvan plain. It was founded in 1969 on the basis of the reserve created in 1961, an area of \u200b\u200b25.7 thousand hectares. Protects the natural complexes of deserts, semi-deserts and dry wormwood and grass-mixed steppes on the left bank of the Kura. The main attraction of the reserve's fauna is the graceful antelope-gazelle, whose survival by the middle of the 20th century was endangered. In 1961, there were a total of 130 gazelles throughout the republic, including about 70 in the Shirvan steppe.

The creation of the reserve saved rare animals. (In 1985, there were already 4,500 gazelles inhabiting gazelles.) In addition to them, in the reserve there are wild boar, wolf, jackal, fox, badger, reed cat, brown hare and other animals, as well as a number of rare birds (turuch bustard, strept, steppe eagle, peregrine falcon, saker, black-bellied hazel and others).

As elsewhere in arid areas, the fauna of reptiles is rich, among which 3 species of turtles, striped lizard, lizard snake, 2 species of snakes and gyurza. Of the rare amphibians, there is a Syrian garlic maker.

Hagel National Park

Designed to preserve migratory routes, wintering and nesting areas of wetland birds, as well as to breed commercial bird species. An area of \u200b\u200b4,400 hectares covers the water area of \u200b\u200bLake Ag-Gel. The reserve is called an “ornithological oasis”: it is not only a protected area, but also one of the most important wintering places in the republic. The Milskaya Steppe surrounding the lake is a small hilly accumulative plain, where semi-arid and desert vegetation mainly grows. The climate is warm semi-desert and arid steppe: summers are warm and dry, winters are cold. 20 species of fish live in the reserve: pike, erythrocaltermongolicolus, carp and others. Previously, when the lake was connected to the Kura River, the ichthyofauna was richer. Of the amphibians in the reserve, green toads and other amphibians live. From reptiles there are Caspian and bog turtles, common and water snakes. There are 134 bird species in the aryl fauna of the reserve, including 89 nesting species. More than 30 specimens of charadriiformes (Charadriiformes) and 24 specimens of plate-billed (Anseriformes). Among the birds found here are species listed in the Red Book - francolinus, white-tailed eagle (Haliaeetusalbicilla), Phoenicopteri, Brantaruficollis, Platalealeucordia, white pelican (Pelicanusonocrotalus), curly pelican (Pelecanuscrispus) and others. Among the mammals represented by 22 species, wild boar, nutria and marsh lynx (Felischaus) are common. The unique colonial nesting sites of Ciconiiformes and Pelicaniformes, which are of great scientific and practical interest, are preserved here. The most protected sites here are the wetland ecosystems of Lake Ag-Gel, places of mass nesting and wintering of waterfowl and coastal birds.

Zakatala reserve

It is located in the north-west of Azerbaijan, in the Belokansky and Zakatalsky regions on the southern slopes of the Main Caucasian Range. The reserve was founded in 1930 by combining Belokansky and Kakheto-Matsekhsky reserves. The area is 25,200 hectares (of which more than 14 thousand hectares are covered by forest, more than 7 thousand hectares are occupied by meadows and 48 hectares by water bodies). The relief is mountainous, ridges and elevations are dissected by deep gorges. The protected area is a chain of mountains with a height of 630 to 3648 m above sea level, the most significant mountain peaks are Gorida (3007 m above sea level), Gudurdag (3400 m), Guton (3648 m). Numerous mountain rivers flow along the bottom of the gorges, the most notable of which are Belokanchay, Katekhchay, Murovchay, Calisachay, Verketelchay, Karabchay, Tseltykchay. The climate is moderately warm, characterized by significant belt differentiation. The average annual temperature is 6 ° C, in summer the air warms up to 28 ° C, in winter the temperature drops to -20 ° C, the average annual rainfall is 1000 mm. Up to 10-17 days are observed annually with very strong winds leading to a windfall. Vegetation is divided into three zones - forest, subalpine woodlands and the zone of alpine and subalpine meadows. The forest zone includes the lower (Iberian oak, hornbeam predominate), middle (eastern beech) and upper (eastern oak) belts. In the subalpine (1850–2300 m) belt, vegetation formations of meadows and tall grass are observed; above, in the alpine (2400-3200) belt - wasteland meadows and vivid picturesque alpine carpets.

The reserve has a high density of ungulates (on average, several hundred Dagestan tours for every 1000 hectares of land). Herds of up to 400 animals are found. Numerous tours, Caucasian deer, chamois, wild boars, roe deer, bears, foxes; common martens, badger, forest cat, lynx. The reserve is inhabited by 86 species of birds, most of which are passerines (54 species). Valuable and rare birds are common: the Caucasian Ular and the Caucasian black grouse, chamomile, quail, griffon vulture, black vulture, bearded beak, dwarf eagle, goshawk, quail hawk, eagle owl.

Turianchay Reserve

It is located in the Yevlakh and Agdash regions of Azerbaijan, on the slopes of the Bozdag ridge between the Turianchay and Aljiganchay rivers. The reserve was founded in 1958, covers an area of \u200b\u200b12 thousand hectares (of which 4666 hectares are covered with forests, 3726 hectares are meadows, 83 hectares are water bodies). Protects the natural complexes of pistachio-juniper forests and floodplain thickets-tugai. A unique grove of Eldar pine and a section of pistachio woodlands have been identified as branches of the reserve.

The relief is significantly eroded, the landscape is replete with bizarre shapes. The climate is dry, moderately hot. The average annual temperature is 14.2 ° C. The average annual rainfall is 500 mm. Snow rarely falls. There are no reservoirs in the reserve, which leaves an imprint on the flora and fauna. The vegetation is rather poor; there are six types of land in the reserve: steep eroded slopes; steppe and semi-desert; light forest with grassy and shrubby species (chiliga); steppe and semi-desert woodlands; woodlands with a predominance of jasmine, moss and lichen; tugai forest. In light forests, pistachio and juniper thickets prevail. Picturesque sections of the steppe with a predominance of feather grass or meadow in the floodplain forest with a high grass stand of alfalfa, tree branch, blackberry.

There are 108 bird species recorded in the reserve (including 25 breeding, 16 wintering); common are chamomile, pheasant, gray pigeon, greenfinch, mountain oatmeal, black-headed warbler; among birds of prey - kestrel, griffon vulture, black vulture; mammals of 15 species (wolf, fox, bear, stone marten, lynx, raccoon, wild boar, wild hare); 11 species of reptiles (Caucasian agama, Caspian and Greek turtles, yellow-bellied snake, gyurza).

Ordubad National Park

Created to preserve and restore populations of the Transcaucasian mouflon, bezoar goat (Capraaegagrus), leopard, brown bear, Transcaucasian grouse, hyena and Tetraogallus. All these species are listed in the Red Book of the Republic.

Absheron National Park

Created to preserve and restore populations of migratory and wintering wetland birds, as well as the Caspian seal.

Alti-Agach National Park

Created with the aim of preserving the natural landscape of the southeastern ridge of the Greater Caucasus, restoring the diversity of flora and fauna. Among the mammals, roe deer, brown bear, wild boar, raccoon, wolf, fox, and migratory bird populations are represented, many of which are included in the Red Book of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan, as a country of ancient culture in the region of the Caucasus and Central Asia, the Black and Caspian Seas, rich biological diversity in Europe, is the owner of a unique natural heritage. The role of specially protected territories - reserves in preserving biological diversity is irreplaceable. It was as a result of the nature reserves that it was possible to preserve rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.

By the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated July 5, 2003, a national park was created on the basis of the Aggelsky State Reserve and the Ag-Gelsky State Reserve on the administrative territory of the Agjabadi and Beylagan districts (17924 hectares).

Altiagadzh National Park is located in Azerbaijan, in two districts: Khizyn and Siyazan, this is in the north-east of the country. The name of the park comes from the word “agadzh” - a measure of distance, was approximately 7 kilometers, and “alti” in the local dialect means six.

Absheron National Park (Azerb. Abşeron Milli Parkı) - created in 2005 on the basis of the Absheron State Wildlife Refuge, in the territories of the Azizbek district of Baku. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe park is 783 hectares (7.83 km²).

Goygol National Park (azerb. Göygöl Milli Parkı) - created in 2008 in the Goygol region. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe park is 12.755 hectares (127.55 km²). The park was created on the basis of the Goygol State Reserve. The area with the name Goygol became world famous thanks to its rich forests,

Hirkan National Park (azerb. Hirkan Milli Parkı) - created in 2004 in the Lankaran region and Astara district. An area of \u200b\u200b42.797 hectares (427.97 km²). The main goal of the park was to protect the landscapes of humid subtropics, as well as the protection of relict

Academician Hasan Aliyev Zangezur National Park (azerb. Akademik Həsən Əliyev adına Zəngəzur Milli Parkı) is a nature reserve in Azerbaijan. It was created in 2003 in the territory of the Ordubad region of the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic.

If you look at the map of Azerbaijan, you can see that most of it is occupied by nature conservation territories. The country has nine national parks, as well as 13 nature reserves and 18 state reserves. The ecological diversity of Azerbaijan’s national parks is impressive: wide steppes and semi-deserts, dense relict forests, mountain lakes and deep rivers. Leopards and gazelles live in these places, and birds from northern countries fly to winter. Moscow-Baku  made a rating of national parks of Azerbaijan, in which the world of unique animals and birds is hidden from prying eyes.

Zangezur National Park

The Zangezur National Park named after academician Hasan Aliyev is located in the Ordubad region of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. He took his name from the ridge of the same name, part of which passes through the territory of the nature protection zone. This park was created in order to preserve and restore the population of animals listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan. In recent years, with the support of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the IDEA Public Association and the World Wide Fund for Nature Conservation (WWF), a project has been carried out to restore a leopard population that has been threatened with extinction. The project was successful, and last year, with the help of photo traps, ecologists managed to spot a family of leopards with three cubs, which became the pride and achievement of Zangezur Park. And at the beginning of this year, the Nat Geo Wild television channel devoted a whole broadcast to the Caucasian leopard, having made a “hunt” for it in Zangezur Park.

Hagel National Park

Aggel National Park was created on the territory of Aghjabadi and Beylagan regions. It is located in the Mil steppe and has a semi-desert landscape, inhabited by foxes and turtles. However, the main decoration of the park is Lake Aggel (in translation - a white lake), where migratory, near-water and waterfowl winter and nest massively. The modern Hagel National Park is listed by UNESCO as a wetland of global importance. In this bird's paradise, you can find more than 140 species of birds - herons, cormorants, flamingos, pelicans, etc. This park is a real crossroads where the "flight" routes from Western Siberia and Kazakhstan to Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Africa lead.

Shirvan National Park

This park is located in the Salyan region and, like the neighboring Aggel National Park, it was chosen by migratory birds that fly here for the winter. However, Shirvan Park was created to protect not only waterfowl, but also for breeding gazelles, which can be seen strolling in the natural environment. Once these gazelles were on the verge of extinction. So, in the 60s of the last century, environmentalists counted only 77 gazelles and began to sound the alarm. As a result of the ban on their fishing and the creation of special reserves, the number of gazelles was restored. Today Shirvan Park is the only natural habitat of gazelles in Europe. You can watch them from the observation deck, and it is not recommended to approach them, since these timid fallow deer do not like uninvited guests.

Hyrcanic National Park

This park was created on the territory of the Lankaran and Astara districts, and its main purpose is to protect the landscapes of humid subtropics. To include the Hyrcanic forests on the UNESCO list of natural and cultural heritage, documents were handed over to the secretariat of this organization and are still waiting in the wings. The Hyrcanic Park consists entirely of relict and endemic plant species, and its main pride is the unique "iron tree". In Azerbaijan it is called demir-agach - it got its name thanks to its wood, which is as hard as iron, and also has the color of rust. The scientific name of this tree, which is listed in the world "Red Book" - Parrotia Persica. It belongs to the type of relict plant of the third period, and its age is about 18-20 million years. Locals respect the demir agach, who is believed to have magical powers.

Altiagadzh National Park

This park was created on the territory of the Khizinsky and Siyazan regions. Forests occupy 90 percent of its territory, and it was created to prevent erosion processes on the southeastern slopes of the Greater Caucasus and preserve rare species of animals and plants. In this park you can find various species of trees and plants, and among its inhabitants - roe deer, raccoons, bears and foxes. A feature of this park is that it created the only rehabilitation center in the country where veterinarians restore the health of animals and birds. The entrance to the Center is free for visitors, and those who wish can take care of wounded cubs and foxes themselves.

Absheron National Park

This park is closest to Baku, and to be more precise, it is located in the Khazar district of the capital. The smallest national park of Azerbaijan is inhabited by gazelles, jackals, foxes and badgers, among the birds there is a silver gull, a sniffing swan, a coot and a unique marsh harrier. However, this conservation zone, in the first place, was created to preserve the Caspian seals living in this territory, which are threatened with extinction. The Caspian seal is listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan, and its fishing has been banned since 1952. In Azerbaijan, it can be met only in the summer near the seashore passing through the Absheron Park. During this period, the Caspian seal returns after breeding, and then again goes into deep waters.

Shahdag National Park

Shahdag National Park is located in the north of Azerbaijan, at the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range. It is considered the largest environmental zone of the country, which extends from the border with Georgia to Russia. Its total area is more than 130 thousand hectares. On the territory of the zone is the highest mountain of Azerbaijan - Bazardyuzi and Shahdag peak (4,243 m), which gave the name to the park. The beauty of the Shahdag Park is in its snow-white peaks, on which the snow does not melt even in summer, and even in high shady forests where rare species of animals included in the Red Book of Azerbaijan live.

Geigel national park

Geigel National Park was created in 2008 to preserve the rich flora and fauna of this region. The park is home to rare species of animals listed in the Red Book, and more than 800 species of medicinal plants grow. Geigel National Park is a pearl of nature of Azerbaijan. Its entire territory is divided by deep valleys where stormy rivers flow and transparent mountain lakes rest. Here is the largest lake in Azerbaijan - Geigel, which, incidentally, gave the name to the national park. Geigel is the most visited lake in this park, but it is worth paying tribute to its other seven, no less colorful lakes. It is forbidden to swim in them, you can only admire and photograph this beauty. In turn, for many years in connection with the environmental situation, the Geigel Park was closed to outsiders, and only 20 years later, in 2015, it was opened to visitors who can now visit it only on a certain route.

Samur-Yalamin National Park

This park is the youngest and was created only five years ago in the Khachmaz region. The main objectives of the park are the conservation of rare, endangered plant species on the wooded areas of the Caspian Sea coast, the natural habitats of fish species such as salmon and common carp, important migratory routes of migratory birds. Directly north of the park, on the other side of the Samur River, is the Samur State Nature Reserve of Russia. Both parks complement each other: their goal is to preserve the most valuable subtropical ecosystem in the Samur River Delta, known as the Samur Forest. In turn, this is the only place in Azerbaijan where forests go directly to the sea.

In recent years, more and more often it has been said about the need for a more careful attitude to nature, various options are proposed for the most rational use of its resource. Among the most important problems is the problem of protecting and protecting the unique nature of the Caucasus. The first reserves of Azerbaijan - Geygelsky, Zakatalsky and Kyzylagachsky were organized in 1925 - 1930; then in 1936 the Girkansky was organized, and in 1958 - the Turianchaysky reserves. After the adoption of the "Law on Nature Protection of the Azerbaijan SSR" in 1959, the Presidium of the Azerbaijan Republic organized another 8 reserves with a total area of \u200b\u200b46.8 thousand hectares (Gobustansky, Pirkulinsky, Shirvansky, Karayazsky, Aggelsky, Ismayillinsky and Ilisuinsky). Thus, the number of state reserves in the country in 1930. amounted to 3, in 1959. - 5, in 1971 - 8, in 1981 - 12, in 1987 - 13, in 1990 - 15. In the Greater Caucasus, 7 were created with a total area of \u200b\u200b58.28 thousand hectares), in the Lesser Caucasus -3 (7.09 thousand hectares), in the Lankaran mountains - 1 (2.9 thousand hectares), in the Kura-Aksinsky and Lankaran lowlands - 4 ( 123.4 thousand hectares) of the state reserve. In Azerbaijan, 2 reserves (Kyzylagach and Gobustansky) are international, 12 reserves are regional and 1 (Garagelsky) is inter-republican.

GOBUSTAN RESERVE

Gobustan Nature Reserve is part of the International Tourist Route. One biosphere reserve is being created in the country on the basis of the Zakatalsky reserves. A visit to the world famous Gobustan Reserve - a unique and vast open-air museum, is included in international tourist routes.

GAY-GEL RESERVE

Located on the northeastern slopes of the Lesser Caucasus in the Khanlar region. It was organized in 1925 to restore and protect the mountain forest, mountain meadow and mountain lake natural complex. Area - 7131 hectares, including forest - 3.9 thousand ha. The territory of the Geigel Reserve is divided by deep valleys, in which small stormy rivers flow. There are about 10 lakes. Brown mountain-forest soils are developed in the forest belt, and mountain meadow soils in the meadow belt. The climate is mostly cold with dry winters

KYZYLAGA RESERVE

Located in the Kura-Araksin and Lankaran lowlands. It includes the water area of \u200b\u200bthe Big and Northern parts of the Small Kyzylagach Gulf and their coastal strip. It was organized in 1929 on the basis of a reserve for the protection of arriving birds. Area - 88.36 thousand ha. The wild boar, wolf, jackal, reed cat, badger, otter and other mammals live. 20 species of birds, including settled - the sultan, turach are listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan.

ZAKATALSKY RESERVE

It is located on the young slope of the Greater Caucasus, in the territory of Zarakatalsky and Belokansky districts. It was founded in 1929 to protect mountain-forest, mountain meadow from subnival landscapes. Area - 23.84 ha, including forest - 16.07 thousand hectares, meadows - 6.68 thousand hectares. Of the representatives of the fauna, the Transcaucasian brown bear, lynx, Caucasian chamois, chamois, East Caucasian tour, horseshoe, crested newt, common toad are listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan. Of the birds, the Caucasian black grouse, golden eagle, bearded beak, white-tailed eagle, Caucasian ular, Caucasian falcon and goshawk are listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan. Of the reptiles, the esclone snake and the Caucasian snake are also listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan.

HIRKAN RESERVE

Located in the forest belt of the Talysh mountains and Lankaran lowland. It was created in December 1936 for the protection and study of the natural complex of the Hyrcanic root. Area - 2.91 thousand hectares, all covered with forest. It consists of two sections: mountainous on the slopes of the ridge. More than 20 species of plants and 10 species of animals are listed in the Red Book. The most characteristic of them are iron tree, chestnut oak, alba alba, velvety euonymus, Caspian gledichia, horned dzelkva, Girkan figs, Hirkan boxwood, Caucasian persimmons, winged lapinas, almost-hearted alder, fenugreek, fox sorrel , striped hyena, lynx, black stork and other animals.

TURIANCHAI RESERVE

It was organized on May 6, 1958 in the territory of the Agdash and Yevlakh regions at an altitude of 400-650m above sea level. On an area of \u200b\u200b12.63 thousand hectares, the natural complex of the arid landscape is preserved and restored, especially juniper and pistachio forests, the animal world, easily exposed to soil erosion, and other arid natural complexes of Bozdag.The wildlife of the reserve is small in size and much richer in species composition. There are 24 species of mammals, 20 species of reptiles and 112 species of birds, 3 species of amphibians. Of vertebrates, 9 species are listed in the Red Book. Here, bears, wild boars, forest cat, hare, badger, partridge, pheasant, kestrel, headless vulture, black vulture and other birds are more common, and among reptiles there is gyurza.

SHIRVAN RESERVE

Located in the south-eastern Shirvan steppe in the Salyan and Neftechalinsky areas. It was organized on June 30, 1969 on the territory of the Byandovan Wildlife Sanctuary for the protection of the natural complex, especially gazelles. Area - 25.76 thousand hectares. 3 species of animals are listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan, including Dzheyran, 4 species of birds (turuch, bustard, white-tailed eagle, strep), from reptiles and amphibians - the Mediterranean turtle and the Syrian garlic. An additional 2 species of birds (steppe eagle and black-bellied sandgrouse) are included in the Red Book of Azerbaijan.

GARAGEL RESERVE

Located between the Lachin region of Azerbaijan and Goris of Armenia. The total area is 240 hectares. Of these, 751 consists of a body of water, 25% of coastlines, where the main part is rocks and ravines. The lake, which is located in the crater of an inactive volcano, has a maximum length of 1950 m, a maximum width of 1250 m, a maximum depth of 78 m, and a perimeter of 5500 m. The coast is covered with alpine meadows.

PIRKULIN RESERVE

Located on the southeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus. It was organized on December 25, 1968 on the territory of the Shamakhi region to preserve typical mountain-forest landscapes. Area - 1.52 thousand hectares, including forest - 1.43 thousand hectares. Some plant species (especially yew) are listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan. Of the animals included the Transcaucasian brown bear, lynx, chamois, crested newt, goshawk.

KARAYAZ RESERVE

It is located on the left bank of the Kura River, in the northwestern part of the republic. The area is 4 x 86 thousand hectares, including forest - 3.48 thousand ha. A certain part of the reserve’s lands is former arable lands, wastelands, pastures, pastures. Shrub thickets of willow, barberry, sucker, hawthorn and others stretch along the river. Many-tier tugai are widespread, in which the main tree species are poplar squirrel, oak, alder, and white acacia plantings. Common pomegranate, Caucasian persimmon, forest grapes and red pyracantha are listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan. Of the representatives of the fauna, thrush, poyuz, common toad, lynx, Caucasian goshawk, and trout are listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan.

BASUTCHAI RESERVE

It is located in the Zangelan district in the valley of the Basuchay river, which is a tributary of the Araks river. Organized on July 4, 1974. to protect the natural complex, especially to preserve the unique plane tree grove. Area - 107 hectares, including forest - 85 ha. In a grove that stretches along the river for almost 12 km, except for the eastern plane tree (many trees reach 500 years of age), walnuts, Caucasian skeleton, elm, pistachio, oak (Araxin and Georgian) also grow in a shrub layer, hazel, dogwood, dog rose and other East Plane is listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan.

AGGEL RESERVE

Located in the Mil steppe and Kura-Araksin lowland. It was organized in 1978 in the water area of \u200b\u200bthe Hagelsky Reserve, in the territory of the Agdzhebedinsky District. Area 4.4 thousand hectares About 99% of the territory consists of a body of water, only 1% of islands and coastlines. The natural complex of Lake Eggel is protected, especially the arriving and settled birds

ISMAILLIAN RESERVE

Located on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus in the Ismayilli district. It was organized on June 12, 1981 on the territory of the Ismayilli Wildlife Sanctuary for the protection of the natural complex. In the fauna - 40 species of mammals, 17 species of reptiles, 6 species of amphibians, 4 species of fish, 104 species of birds. 5 species of birds (Caucasian black grouse, bearded beagle, golden eagle, goshawk and snake-eater) and three species of mammals (brown bear, lynx, chamois), 1 species of relict (Mediterranean tortoise), 1 species of amphibians (crested newt) and 1 species of fish ( trout) are listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan.

ALTYAGADZH RESERVE

Located on the southeastern slope of the Greater Caucasus of the Khizyinsky district. It was organized on March 22, 1990 to combat soil erosion and protect the natural landscape. Of the birds, pheasant, partridge, coot, etc. Brown bear, mountain eagle, etc. are listed in the Red Book of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Gobustan Reserve is the most famous historical and art reserve in the world, whose goal is the protection of cave paintings, barrows and housing objects dating from the Mesolithic period (8 millennium BC) to the Middle Ages, their study and propaganda.

ILISUINSKY RESERVE

It is located on the southern slope of the Greater Caucasus in the mountain-forest belt in the territory of the Kazakh region. It was organized on February 20, 1987 to protect the mountain forest natural complex. The area is 9.26 thousand hectares, 89% of which is covered by forest, about 7% consists of mountain meadow communities. There are about 50 bird species in the avifauna. From tree species - yew; from mammals - brown bear, lynx; from reptiles - the Mediterranean tortoise, from amphibians - the crested newt; Of the birds, the Caucasian grouse, bearded beagle, golden eagle, serpent eater, and goshawk are listed in the Red Book of Azerbaijan.