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Altiaghaj National Park |
Situated about an hour and a half´s drive from Baku (120 km), Altiaghaj is a world away from the dry semi-desert which surrounds the city. This park covers over 11,000 hectares and comprises mostly deciduous mountain forest. It was established in 2004 on a state nature reserve and took in some adjacent state-owned forest land as well. The park borders villages with the prettiest of white and blue painted Russian cottages. While it´s an easy day trip, many people like to come and stay in this beautiful area, particularly in summer, and there are various popular accommodation options in the vicinity. Delicious samovar chay is served in little chaykhanas or tea gardens in the woods by the river. Up above in the forest, bears roam free in this wonderful environment, protected by national park status.
Ask at the entrance office about what you can access in the park. There is a road route around the park, some 20-25 km long, which takes in the variety of scenery including a very special meandering mountainside section through deep forest. Some of the route affords wide open views across open landscape studded with juniper.
In early March the forest floor has drifts of snowdrops; in the open clearings the wet flushes are home to masses of spring flowering crocuses. Later in the month Scilla and then Primula and tiny violets take over, with Muscari in the dry open areas. Then cowslips and anemones (the Caucasian anemone, Anemone Caucasica). In May the forest floor is shaded but in the clearings you will find beautiful orchids. Wild sweet peas, campanulas and many other flowers are just at the roadside. There are so many species endemic to this part of the world to look out for. Access to exquisite plant life couldn´t be easier.
When leaving the park and heading back to Baku, stop in the Candy Canes and pay a visit to the Mushfiq Museum to find out about the unfortunate story of the poet Mikayil Mushfiq who loved his country.
Recreation zone "Jennet Bagy" |
Location: Khyzy region on the western suburb of Altiaghaj settlement, on the left side of Atachay river’s gorge at toe of Dubrar. Surrounding slopes of mountains are partially covered by small forest plots.
In the territory: parking place, a swimming pool without heating of water, a sauna, a dance pavilion, restaurant, open-air cages for animals. Accommodation: in 2-storeyed stone blocks and in 1-storeyed stone cottages, in 1-3 rooms for 2-4 persons, with all conveniences.
Seasonality: all-the-year-round.
Recreation zone "Gyzyl Gazma" |
Location: in 12 km above from settlement Altiaghaj on mountain country road on a southeast and further on the east to small mountain village Yarymja. The huge territory of recreation zone (about 110 hectares) settles down on the open glade in an environment of reserved broad-leaved woods.
In the territory: small restaurant, a sauna, a billiard room, the elementary sports grounds and small artificial pond where is possible to fish.Accommodation: in 1-storeyed stone cottages with 2 rooms and anteroom (very small toilet room with a wash-basin and a shower) .Heating in a cold season by wood-burning stove. The last 3 km of mountain road (from Yarymja settlement and up to recreation zone) become difficult to traverse for usual motor transport.
Seasonality: all-the-year-round.
Altiaghaj region (18 excursion objects) |
- The house-museum of poet-lyrics Mikail Mushvig in area of Tezekend settlement;
- Ruins of a small fortress “Giz Galasi” / presumably, a medieval fortress “Khayzan” of Albanian;
- Original architecture of inhabited houses of South-Russian settlers of the period of the middle of XIX century in Alti-Agaj settlement;
- Architecture of inhabited houses-huts of the South-Ukrainian countrymen of second half XIX century in Gyzyl-Gazma settlement;
- Ruins of small Russian settlement of the middle of XIX century – Chistiy Kluch, in vicinities of Alti-Agaj settlement;
- Hunting zone (the Caucasian-noble deer) at Kars / Hirs settlement in Tykhchay river head;
- The rests of small settlements of local residents of tats-muslims / “Dagli” /:
- Ruins of Hirek, Pembe, Shurakend, Deller, and Garabulag in Garabulagchay river head;
- Ruins of Gariban and Angelan in Tykhchay river head;
- Ruins of Achagi and Yukhari Dizaar in Dizavarchay river head;
- Ruins of Uka and Karmili in Karmilichay river head;
- Ruins of Angelan, Emizder / Ambizler, Radjilu, Gasimkend and Tudar in Angelanchay / Tudarchay river heads;
- Ruins of Yukhari Kesh;
- Ruins of Yukhari Zarat in Halchay riverheads on Varafte Ridge;
- Ruins of Yukhari Findigan north-west of Galatepe mountain (851 m.) in area of Gaynardja mountain plateau;
- Group of lakes (6 lakes) of mud-volcanic origin in Gaynardja tract;
- Chain of lakes of a mud-volcanic origin (15 lakes) / the largest are: Gannigyol, Fatmabil and Nourdaranly;
- Ruins of a medieval Muslim monastery of sufists awards “Nakshbandiyya” - Khanagya in riverheads of Pirallahi / Firalahi, Gadissa to the north from Kimchi mountain (1026 m.) on the Main Caucasian Ridge.