Legends of Nature AZERBAIJAN. Protected Areas of the Southern Caucasus. Implemented by:

Transcription

1 Legends of Nature Protected Areas of the Southern Caucasus AZERBAIJAN Implemented by:

2 2 Azerbajan Absheron Absheron Natonal Park Small s Beautful - Azerbajan s smallest member of the Natonal Park famly s an deal refuge for wetland brds and s also home to the world s smallest seal. Page 10 Goygol Goygol Natonal Park Pcture-perfect Nature - A crystal clear lake whch mrrors blue skes. Mountan tops above peaceful lush meadows and dense forests. Goygol, whch means blue lake, s one of the most precous gems of Azerbajan s natural hertage. Page 16 Shahdagh Shahdagh Natonal Park The Kng of Mountans - The largest Natonal Park of the Southern Caucasus captvates vstors wth the magnfcent mountan world of Mount Shadagh and fascnatng cultural dversty whch has survved n the remoteness of the mountan valleys. Page 22 Aghgol Aghgol Natonal Park Whte Feathered Aghgol - If there s any one area that can be called an nternatonal meetng place where brds have taken over, then t s ths Natonal Park. Fnd a lake and ts shores dotted wth herons, bs, geese, ducks and flamngos. Page 12 Hrkan Hrkan Natonal Park Green Greetngs from the Past - Hrkan Natonal Park boasts forests whch survved the Ice Age. Vrtually untouched for mllons of years, the vast woodlands have contnued to floursh and prolferate n ths protected hdeaway. Page 18 Shrvan Shrvan Natonal Park Desert Beautes - Shrvan Natonal Park s Europe s only natural habtat of gotered gazelles. Ths warm and dry world of sem-deserts s the most mportant area for these graceful beautes and s home to an amazng and surprsngly colourful brd lfe. Page 24 Altaghaj Altaghaj Natonal Park Cool Sprngs and Charmng Valleys - Altaghaj Natonal Park enchants ts vstors wth mld temperatures, fresh ar, lush forests, magnfcent vews and charmng waters. Page 14 Samur-Yalama Samur-Yalama Natonal Park Where Forests Meet the Sea - Stuated along the coastlne n the far north, Azerbajan s youngest Natonal Park lnks the shores of the Caspan Sea wth unque coastal forests and a cultural landscape. Page 20 Zangazur Zangazur Natonal Park A World Apart - Cut off from Azerbajan s manland, Zangazur Natonal Park s lke an exotc sland wthn Azerbajan due to ts specal clmate, rare anmals and plants. Page 26

3 Azerbajan 3 Contents Welcome to Azerbajan and the fascnatng Caucasus regon, one of the rchest and yet most threatened reservors of plant and anmal lfe on Earth. The Caucasus ecoregon s a bologcal meltng pot of anmal and plant speces orgnatng n Europe, Asa and Afrca. It also presents unque Caucasan characterstcs found nowhere else n the world. Currently, 10% of the Caucasus ecoregon s under legslatve protecton of some knd, but ths natural treasure s stll threatened and a lot of work les ahead. We need to extend and create areas of protecton, establsh habtat corrdors and develop transboundary approaches to management. In Azerbajan, the conservaton and preservaton of natural hertage s safeguarded by the Mnstry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR). Apart from matters related to nature protecton such as conservaton management, scentfc research and envronmental educaton, we also consder the development of sustanable toursm as an mportant ssue snce t offers a promsng potental for generatng addtonal ncome whle also enablng us to fulfll our responsbltes regardng the treasures of nature. But apart from apprecatng our hertage from a natonal pont of vew, t s essental that we also see our role n contrbutng to a vtal network of protected areas n order to care for the Caucasus ecoregon as a whole. In ths context we would lke to thank the German Federal Mnstry of Economc Cooperaton and Development (BMZ) and KfW Development Bank, both of whch have been actvely engaged n ths feld for more than a decade. Much of the progress made n the networkng and development of protected areas s the result of ths long-lastng cooperaton. Fnally, ths publcaton has only been possble thanks to the nvolvement and effcent teamwork of dedcated ndvduals, agences and organsatons, all of whom deserve our thanks. The makng of the brochure was part of a funded transboundary programme nvolvng the countres of Armena, Azerbajan and Georga. It has gven us the opportunty to combne our regonal aspects and vews wth a unfed approach to market ecotoursm n the Southern Caucasus. Map... 4 Azerbajan Treasures to Dscover Treasures to Protect...6 Absheron Natonal Park Aghgol Natonal Park Altaghaj Natonal Park Goygol Natonal Park Hrkan Natonal Park Samur-Yalama Natonal Park Shahdagh Protected Areas Shrvan Natonal Park Zangazur Natonal Park Useful Contacts Imprnt Ths publcaton contans feedback ganed from regonal and local representatves of conservaton and toursm bodes, protected areas and tour operators. Ther contrbutons hghlght the specal qualtes of protected areas and what they can offer to toursts wllng to respect them. We are aware that the mplementaton of sustanable toursm s an ongong journey wth many tasks to be fulflled and we wll contnue n ths drecton. Fnally, both sustanable toursm and the promoton of the dea of conservng our precous natural envronment are essental for both the people lvng n the areas and the protecton of bodversty. Ths brochure s desgned to generate enthusasm for the wonders nature has created n Azerbajan and the Caucasus ecoregon as a whole and to rase awareness for ther protecton. Mnstry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republc of Azerbajan - MENR 2014

4 4 Azerbajan Educatonal trals / theme trals g Brdwatchng Wldlfe watchng Guded tours Organzed tours over several days X Hkng Clmbng / mountaneerng Cyclng / mountan bkng Horse trekkng Cross-country skng, sk-tourng Boatng Swmmng Nature accommodaton Vstor centre M Museum

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6 6 Azerbajan Treasures to Dscover Treasures to Protect Come and enjoy the fascnatng world of the Caucasus ecoregon. Magnfcent colours, wld contrasts, msty forests and wde open spaces wll nspre you to lsten to nature s legends and stores. Vrgn marvel: Lush forest, Samur-Yalama Natonal Park, Azerbajan. The ecoregon of the Caucasus has many stores to tell. Caucasan temperate forests show the greatest bologcal dversty of ther knd worldwde. Vast prmary forests untouched by human cultvaton can stll be found here and, n the case of the so-called colchc forest, some trees and shrubs can even be traced back to geologcal tmes long before human exstence. The reason for the outstandng bodversty of the Caucasus ecoregon les n ts extraordnary locaton. The whole regon, whch s about the sze of the Iberan Pennsula, s stuated be-tween the Black Sea and Caspan Sea and s thus at a fascnatng cultural and bologcal crossroads coverng parts of Russa, Armena, Azerbajan, Georga, Turkey and Iran. Plant and anmal speces show a stunnng mx of European, Asan and Afrcan nfluences and have furthermore developed unque Caucasan representatves such as the west and east Caucasan tur, Caucasan black grouse, Caucasan salamander and specal varetes of rhododendron. Dvded by the South Caucasus depresson, the ecoregon comprses two man mountan chans - the Greater Caucasus n the north and the Lesser Caucasus mountans n the south, whch also surround the volcanc Southern Hghlands. Caucasan landscapes are characterzed by hgh mountan sceneres and colourful alpne meadows, rvers and gorges, wetlands and lakes, steppes and sem-deserts. There s a rapd change of alttudes rangng from areas below sea-level to hgh-mountan peaks of more than 5,000 metres. Ths has resulted n an amazng mx of clmatc condtons, further enhanced by the area s locaton between the two seas. Nne of eleven major clmate zones worldwde are present n the Caucasus. So the Caucasus s home to Mount Mtrala, the ranest place n Europe wth an annual ranfall of 4.5 metres, and dry semdeserts where gazelles and reptles lve. Protected areas n the Caucasus (IUCN category) Brds` paradse: Lttle egrets, Aghgol Natonal Park, Azerbajan. bubblng wonders: Mud volcanoes, Shrvan Natonal Park, Azerbajan. n Strct Nature Reserves / State Reserves (Ia) ndcate that prorty s gven to scentfc research. They are defned as areas of hgh ecologcal, scentfc, and hstorcal-cultural value endowed wth specal beauty and resources. The natural envronment may develop wthout drect human nterventon. Access s lmted prmarly to scentfc research and some educatonal actvtes. However, vstors have been granted partal access n the last years. n Natonal Parks (mostly II) are areas of specal ecologcal, hstorcal-cultural and aesthetc nterest. They consst of natural and cultural landscapes and nvolve human actvtes along wth nature protecton ssues. Natonal parks requre a zonng system wth areas specally desgnated for strct protecton, recreatonal and economc actvtes. n Natural Monuments (III) am to conserve unque or typcal natural objects of specal scentfc or hstorcal-cultural value. n Sanctuares / State Reservatons / Managed Nature Reserves (mostly IV) am at conservaton through management nterventon. The focus s on specal habtats and speces for conservaton and reproducton. Today s sanctuares often go back to ancent huntng reserves, whch are now transformed under new objectves makng them nto landscape, botancal or zoologcal sanctuares. n Protected Landscapes (V) ndcate the protecton and management of areas where the nteracton of people and nature has produced a dstnct character of aesthetc, ecologcal or cultural value. Mantanng the tradtonal nteracton, conservaton and recreaton are major objectves of ths protected area category.

7 7 Out of Afrca! Europe s only natural habtat of gotered gazelles, Shrvan Natonal Park, Azerbajan. The natural patchwork has produced a dversty of plants and anmals whch s twce as great as that of neghbourng European and Asan regons. Scentfc assessments have dentfed 6,500 dfferent vascular plants, at least a quarter of whch are unque to the regon, whle 400 speces of brd, 150 speces of mammal, 130 speces of fsh and more than 80 speces of reptle have been lsted. Hotspot for protecton However, the ecologcal stuaton s far from deal. Only about a quarter of the regon remans n good natural condton. Many speces are threatened and ther habtats have shrunk. The Caucasan leopard stll lves n the Caucasus but s endangered. The bezoar goat, Caucasan chamos, bearded vulture and golden eagle can stll be spotted but are declnng n numbers. Economc overuse, huntng and poachng are major threats to the natural resources. Moreover, fnancal resources are lmted and awareness of the rchness of the regon and the need for ts protecton are only startng to develop. Ths s the reason why Conservaton Internatonal has classfed the Caucasus as one of the globe s 25 most dverse and endangered bodversty hotspots and why t s amongst the WWF Global 200 regons, whch are defned as the most bologcally dverse. Naturally cross-border Currently, 10% of the Caucasus ecoregon s under legslatve protecton of some knd. However, t stll faces severe threats and there are many tasks to carry out n the future. The full range of bodversty of the Caucasus s not protected at the moment. There s the need to enlarge and establsh new areas for protecton. Moreover, t wll be essental to go beyond a natonal approach and further develop a vtal network n order to support habtat corrdors and effectve transboundary management. Some gudelnes for vstors n Stay on the marked and sgnposted trals. n Pay attenton to tral markers. n Respect the gudelnes and advce provded by your gude or the park admnstraton. n Take your ltter and cgarette ends home. Even when bured, they damage the landscape. n Admre the plants, but do not damage them. Leave plants, rocks and natural objects as you fnd them. n Be slent and leave anmals n peace. n Only lght fres n locatons specfcally desgnated for ths purpose. n Enjoy the use of non-smokng shelters and respect non-smokng rules. n Leave shelters clean and take your rubbsh home. n Take specal care n fog. Always use proper walkng boots, rangear and a hat. n Fnally, enjoy the wonderful sounds of nature do not make unnecessary nose.

8 8 Azerbajan Lookng for a better future: The Caucasan leopard. The endangered Caucasan leopard s a flagshp speces of the Caucasus Ecoregon. It s the subject of major conservaton efforts undertaken by WWF n cooperaton wth the governments of Armena, Azerbajan and Georga, the IUCN/ SSC Cat Specalst Group, NGOs and regonal experts. Natonal Acton Plans for the leopard have been set up n order to create protected space for the predator and to protect t from poachers. More than a decade of conservaton work s now showng promsng results wth recent leopard sghtngs n some protected areas lke Zangazur Natonal Park n Azerbajan. Internatonal support The past 10 years have seen a remarkable expanson of protected areas n the Caucasus ecoregon. A number of nternatonal programmes and ntatves have helped n assstng and fnancng protecton ssues and have fostered cross-border approaches. Internatonal bodes whch actvely engage n the Caucasus ecoregon nclude the governments of Germany, Norway, and of the Unted States, multlateral organsatons such as the EU, the Global Envronment Faclty and UNEP, nternatonal NGOs such as WWF and IUCN as well as nature conservaton trust funds such as CNF, prvate companes and scentfc nsttutons. German Cooperaton n the Caucasus Ecoregon The German Federal Mnstry for Economc Cooperaton and Development (BMZ) has a hstory of actve cooperaton wth the envronmental sector n the Southern Caucasus countres of Armena, Azerbajan and Georga. The Ecoregonal Nature Protecton Programme for the Southern Caucasus, fnanced by the BMZ through KfW Development Bank, serves as a key nstrument of ths cooperaton and focuses on the protecton of bodversty n the regon. It ams at harmonzng protecton objectves and nstruments n a cross-border approach wth sustanable soco-economc development and local partcpaton as major gudng prncples. The programme s supported by three man pllars: (1) Investments n Protected Areas Ths pllar serves to support the protected areas n the Caucasus ecoregon through nvestments amed at establshng and developng ndvdual areas. The nvestments lead to mprovements n management plans and nfrastructure (ncludng admnstratve headquarters, vstor centres and walkng trals) and are also used for tranng measures drected at admnstratve staff. The nvestments addtonally support soco-economc developments n local communtes lvng near the protected areas. (2) The Caucasus Nature Fund - CNF To ensure the sustanablty of drect nvestments n the protected areas, the Federal Republc of Germany also provdes fnancal support to the Caucasus Nature Fund (CNF), thus addressng the problem caused by a lack of long-term fnancng for the operatonal costs of the protected areas. CNF s a conservaton trust fund workng n publc-prvate partnershp wth the natonal governments. CNF s am s to stop the loss of bodversty by provdng long-term fundng for protected areas n Armena, Azerbajan and Georga, mprovng management practces, and promotng sustanable development. In addton to the support of the German government, CNF s wdely supported by major conservaton organsatons ncludng the World Wde Fund for Nature (WWF), Conservaton Internatonal and the Crtcal Ecosys-

9 9 tem Partnershp Fund. Fnd out how you can donate and help protect the magnfcent natural world of the Caucasus: (3) The Transboundary Jont Secretarat - TJS The thrd pllar provdes support to the Transboundary Jont Secretarat. It complements the cooperaton between Germany and the Southern Caucasus countres, beneftng protected areas n the ecoregon through transboundary cooperaton and harmonzaton of natonal polces. The TJS works to put mportant regonal aspects and nternatonal knowledge on bodversty on the natonal agendas. The World Wde Fund for Nature - WWF WWF focuses strategcally on places and speces whch are partcularly mportant for the conservaton of the earth s bodversty. In the early 1990s, WWF started mplementng nature conservaton projects n the Caucasus. WWF has also been nvolved n eleboratng the frst Ecoregonal Conservaton Plan for the Caucasus. Based on detaled assessments by more than 140 experts of all sx Caucasus countres, t defnes threats and prortes for conservaton. The plan s now ready n ts second revsed edton of Wth ts long- and mdterm targets and actons, t wll help those nvolved n conservaton to plan and coordnate ther actvtes n the entre ecoregon. Before your vst Ecotoursm n Azerbajan s Natonal Parks provdes the chance to combne nature conservaton wth economc benefts for the local populaton. Nevertheless, please be aware that protected areas are often stuated n remote places wth lmted access and toursm nfrastructure. Ecotoursm n Azerbajan s n the early stage of development. Accommodaton wll often be possble n smple guesthouses or n the prvate homes of hosptable locals, who wll also be a perfect source of nformaton about the area. Please note that there are strct regulatons concernng access to Natonal Parks n Azerbajan. For those Parks whch are open to vstors, access s only possble f you buy a tcket n advance. Tckets can be booked onlne at: Permts and bank transfers can take serveral weeks so t s advsable to book well n advance of your vst. Please have your payment recept and your dentty card ready for dsplay at the park entrance. Durng your vst nsde the Natonal Park you wll be accompaned by a Natonal Park gude. Check the webste of the Mnstry of Ecology and Natural Resources and the respectve Natonal Parks to fnd out about current regulatons and ecotoursm opportuntes. (see Useful Contacts, p. 28) On the way to sustanable toursm Sustanable toursm has the potental to play a major role n the future protecton of the Caucasus ecoregon. It can help the local economy to generate addtonal ncome whle smultaneously provdng support on protecton ssues. In order to fulfll ths objectve, t wll be necessary to foster sustanable regonal toursm development whch reflects the needs of the area n cooperaton wth local stakeholders. On ths bass, toursm can be guded n a sustanable, resultng n carefully planned vstor servces, the well-beng of the populaton and greater awareness of the natural and cultural hertage. Nature close up. Campng n the remote Caucasan hghlands. Azerbajan s Green Treasures Azerbajan s home to many of the natural treasures of the Caucasus ecoregon. Landscapes vary between hgh mountan ranges rsng up to more than 4,000 metres, dense ancent forests, vast mountan steppes, wde rver lowlands, dry semdeserts, and a sandy coastlne. Moreover, there are fascnatng geologcal features such as famous mud volcanoes and lastng flames fed by underground gas felds. There are at least eght dfferent clmate types n Azerbajan, whch have shaped the country nto a mosac of landscapes and created an extraordnary hgh level of bologcal dversty. Wth more than 4,500 plant speces, over 60 percent of the Caucasan flora speces are present n Azerbajan. 240 of all speces are endemc or relc. The fauna comprses almost 400 speces of brds and more than 110 dfferent mammals. The hstory of protected areas n Azerbajan dates back to the 1930s, when the frst nature reserves of Goygol, Zagatala, and Gzlaghaj were establshed. A major revson of the envronmental legslaton n 1969 resulted n the foundaton of another seven nature reserves, amongst them Shrvan, Aghgol and Altaghaj, whch became Azerbajan s frst Natonal Parks n 2003 and Snce the begnnng of the mllennum, the protected areas have been almost doubled n sze. Today Azerbajan has nne Natonal Parks, eleven State Nature Reserves and 24 Sanctuares whch cover 10.4 percent of the country. Moreover, Azerbajan - the Land of Fre has a rch cultural hstory, local lfe and tradtons for vstors to dscover. The Great Slk Road, whch runs through the country, nspred Strabo, Marco Polo and Alexandre Dumas, and has left ts traces n the settlements along the way. An exploraton of the cultural hertage leads you to ancent rock pantngs, fre temples, and fortfcatons. You wll meet hosptable locals, sample local cusne, encounter tradtonal crafts lke carpet weavng and copper craft and come across rare languages whch have survved n some of the remote corners of the Caucasus.

10 10 Absheron Absheron Natonal Park Small s Beautful - Azerbajan s smallest member of the Natonal Park famly s an deal refuge for wetland brds and s also home to the world s smallest seal. Stuated on land s end of the Absheron pennsula, the Natonal Park s a popular place for ducks, gulls, terns and passernes to rest and breed. The narrow strp wth ts sem-deserts may seem bleak at frst sght. But take a closer look and you wll dscover the very specal flora of the salt marshes, spot the whte blossoms of feld bndweed n the sand and maybe even the tracks of foxes and jackals. Amphbans and reptles such as the Caspan turtle, green toad, lake frog and water snake love Absheron s sunny dry spots, ts shallow lagoons and the quet peace of the pennsula s tp. The Caspan seal mgrates every year. The ce floes n the northern Caspan Sea are ts breedngs grounds n wnter and the sand banks of the south serve as ts summer home. Due to huntng, fshng and polluton, ts populaton has declned to worryng numbers. It was manly for the survval of ths rare speces that Absheron State Nature Reserve was establshed n Ths reserve was the predecessor of today s Natonal Park, founded 36 years later.

11 11 Hstorcal Places Ateshgah, the temple of fre, once known for ts everlastng flame, les n the settlement of Surakhany 30 kms from Baku. Legend has t that the temple goes back to tmes when followers of Zarathustra worshpped the God of lght here. However, today s temple was constructed durng a much later era, namely the early 18th century. Due to extensve explotaton of the underground gas felds durng Sovet tmes, the ongong flame expred, but t s stll relt today for toursm purposes. The 800-year old vllage of Gala s stuated further eastwards on the route, n the mddle of the pennsula. It was once an mportant stop on a trade route to Baku and was known for sheep breedng and salt extracton. When ts wells ran dry n the 1920s and 1930s, the nhabtants emgrated to the neghbourng vllage, leavng behnd a cultural hertage whch ncludes medaeval mosques, bath houses, water ppes and reservors, mausoleums and dwellng houses. Today, Gala s home to the Gala State Hstorcal-Ethnographc Reserve, a 156 hectare open ar museum wth archaeologcal monuments of the Absheron, whch were dsmantled and rebult here. Moreover, the Absheron Bronze Age rock art mpresses vstors. Craft tradtons lke pottery and carpet weavng are demonstrated n restored buldngs. Jon a guded tour for a real dscovery. In Touch wth Nature Wth a bt of luck you can watch Caspan seals on the sand banks of Seal Cape from May to August. If you want to gan nterestng nsghts nto Absheron s natural world, jon a Natonal Park gude for a hke to the observaton tower to watch water brds and to fnd out more about wldlfe and flora. Be Part of t - Events Don t mss nowruz, the tradtonal holday to welcome the arrval of sprng and nature s awakenng. The programme n Gala Reserve ranges from mmes and tradtonal performances wth athletes and rope-walkers, to satrcal songs, dances and musc. Facts and Fgures Locaton: East Azerbajan, Absheron Regon Sze: 783 hectares Alttude: at sea level Year of establshment: 2005 Landscape: Sandy shores, shallow lagoons, salt marshes, wetlands, sem-deserts Flora: Feld bndweed, hawksbeard, wld carrot, ephedra, rush, sea-lavender, common reed, Indan plantan, tamarsk Fauna: Caspan seal, jackal, Medterranean tortose, water snake, whte-taled sea eagle, great black-headed gull Accommodaton: Hotels, guestrooms/ apartments, Baku How to get there: km from Baku, mns by car, mns by mn-bus/bus X M Wldlfe watchng access to observaton tower wth Natonal Park gude Hkng accompaned by Natonal Park gude Vstor centres vstor recepton and small photo exhbton n the admnstraton buldng Museum Gala State Hstorcal- Ethnographc Reserve Dd you know... that the Caspan Sea s a remnant of the former open Tethys Sea? When t lost ts connecton to the Arctc waterways 1.3 mllon years ago, t became the world s bggest water body surrounded by a land mass. Thus solated, the Caspan seal developed nto a unque, very small varety of ts knd wth a maxmum sze of 1.50 m.

12 12 Aghgol Aghgol Natonal Park Whte Feathered Aghgol If there s any one area that can be called an nternatonal meetng place where brds have taken over, then t s ths Natonal Park. Aghgol s one of the most mportant wnterng and nestng areas worldwde for endangered water-marsh brds. The numbers recorded are remarkable. It s hard to magne how the Natonal Park can cope wth montorng f one consders that ths nvolves fgures of more than 100,000 wnterng brds and more than 90 speces that nest n ths oass. The lake and ts shores are dotted wth herons, bs, flamngos, ducks and geese and t s because of ths abundance of plumage that the place was called Aghgol, whch means whte lake. The colony of breedng waders comprses twelve dfferent speces, ncludng all exstng varetes of herons. In wnter, 3,000 whte-headed ducks and more than 500 snow geese enjoy the peace of shallow lake waters. The surroundng reed belt and grasslands are home to the jungle cat. Another gem of the Park s ecosystem are the steppes and sem-deserts around the lake. Come n May or June, and fnd the plans covered wth red poppes and yellow dases. In summer you can observe thousands of bee-eaters and n wnter 50,000 lttle bustards - 10 percent of the entre global populaton spend the wnter n Aghgol.

13 13 In Touch wth Nature Vstors accompaned by a Natonal Park gude can explore the park on fve routes. The ten metre observaton towers afford excellent vews of the botopes; bnoculars and telescopes are provded. Moreover, brdwatchers can observe brds from the dam close to the park s entrance or from the surroundng hlls, but also durng a walk along the channels or a boat trp on the lake. Facts and Fgures Locaton: Central Azerbajan, Aghjabad and Beylagan Regons Sze: 17,924 hectares Alttude: -8 m to 4 m Year of establshment: 2003 Landscape: Wetlands, reed belts, sem-desert Flora: Common reed, holly-leaved water nymph, fennel pondweed, curly-leaved pondweed, mugwort, halostachys caspca, halocnemum stroblaceum, kaldum capscum, petrosmona branchata Be Part of t Events The natonal holday nowruz s a pagan festval datng back at least three thousand years. Natonal dshes, especally plaff, play a key role n the celebratons, whch take place every Tuesday n March and on nowruz eve. Neghbours and frends vst each other and gfts are gven, especally to the poor and elderly. Many sweetmeats are served, ncludng shakarbura, pakhlava, sweet bread, rasns, pstachos, and almonds. The tables are set wth seven tems symbolzng lfe and fertlty, all of whch begn wth the letter s : su (water), süd (mlk), s m n (green wheat sprouts), sünbül (hyancnth), sucuq (spcy sausage), syə nə k balıə ı (herrng), and süzmə (yoghurt). In the evenngs, people buld bonfres n ther yards, and lght a candle for each famly member. e e e e e e Fauna: Varous varetes of heron, bs, duck, goose; flamngo, pelcan, lttle bustard, coot, mallard, snpe; whte-taled sea eagle, collared racer, Medterranean tortose, European green toad, Syran spadefoot, gazelle, jungle cat Accommodaton: Small hotels n Agjabad and Beylagan, guestrooms/ farm accommodaton n the vcnty of the Natonal Park How to get there: 374 km from Baku, 4:30-5 hrs by car X Horse trekkng rdng along the lake Wldlfe watchng Guded tours Hkng along the lake and channels Boatng Vstor centre Natonal Park admnstraton buldng, Agjabad cty Dd you know that the jungle cat can swm and even dve to catch fsh? However, the cat s man huntng grounds are on land n the thck reedbelts and grasslands, the perfect hdng place for stalkng small rodents, brds and frogs. But a jump n the water s a handy way to dsguse ther scent and evade nasty hunters. M Museum fauna & flora, hstory & ethnography, Agjabad cty Nature accommodaton small tents n specfed places

14 14 Altaghaj Altaghaj Natonal Park Cool Sprngs and Charmng Valleys - Altaghaj Natonal Park enchants vstors wth mld temperatures, fresh ar, lush forests, magnfcent vews and charmng waters. Altaghaj Natonal Park, on the south-eastern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, s a popular destnaton for Baku ctzens. Soft hlls and the green valleys of the Atachay and ts trbutares characterze the Park. A walk along the charmng rver leads past varous cool sprngs and through enchantng oak forests, one of the reasons why ths area was protected as a State Nature Reserve and Natonal Park n A clmb up to Dubrar Peak (2,205 m) provdes a magnfcent panoramc vew of the Park wth Khaltan, Mujug, Jm and surroundng vllages and the opportunty to sample the ce-cold water of Dubar sprng. Most of the landscape s covered wth dverse broadleaf forests and n autumn the vstor wll be rewarded wth stunnng scenery n the brghtest colours, especally n the areas of Yarmja and Khalaj.

15 15 Hstorcal Places In Touch wth Nature There are attractve walks nto the mountans and along the rver Atachay to Gzlgazma. The brght colours are radant n autumn, but March to June s also a good tme to vst. Then one can enjoy sweepng mountan meadows wth flowerng prmroses, orchds and gladol. Fve waymarked routes have been establshed. Maps and tour gude servces are avalable at the Natonal Park entrance. Here you can get bnoculars, compasses, bcycles and tents. Those who want to truly commune wth nature, can spend the nght n the mdst of the park and lsten to the howls of wolves. Inqure wth the Park admnstraton for further nformaton about desgnated campstes and guestrooms n the Natonal Park staton. Altaghaj vllage s part of the Natonal Park and attracts vstors wth ts old houses, small shops, prvate accommodaton and a hotel. A cable car takes vstors up the mountan to enjoy a lovely vew and a coffee. Facts and Fgures Locaton: North-east Azerbajan, Khz and Syazan Regons Sze: 11,035 hectares Alttude: 800 m 2,200 m Year of establshment: State Nature Reserve 1990, Natonal Park 2004 Landscape: Mddle and hgh mountan landscapes, cool sprngs, alpne meadows, rvers Flora: Forests, Caucasan oak, European hornbeam, orental beech, common ash, slver brch, hawthorn, blackberry, medlar, Chrst s thorn, dog rose Fauna: Brown bear, fox, marten, wolf, wood pgeon, qual, goatsucker, steppe eagle, partrdge, ouzel, varous speces of durnal brds of prey Accommodaton: Guesthouses/ prvate accommodaton n Khz cty, Altaghaj, Khalaj, Yarmja, Gzlgazma, Bakhshl vllages; hotels n Altaghaj, Jannat bagh, Shefa bulag, Gzlgazma How to get there: 110 km from Baku, 1:30 hrs by car, 1:40 hrs by mn-bus/bus The sacred mountan of Beshbarmag les not far from Khz. Its gant stone fngers projectng from the hlltop have always mpressed travellers. It s lkely that you wll meet prests and plgrms f you clmb the steps up to ts hghest fnger. There s a mosque at the foothll and a shrne to the prophet Khdr on top. In addton to ts bengn sprts, the summt wll reward vstors wth a fantastc panoramc vew of the Caspan Sea and the mountan ranges of the Caucasus. Dd you know that the word Altaghaj derves from the ancent measure aghaj, whch s about seven klometres? Durng the Mddle Ages, the vllage of Altaghaj was used as a restng pont on a caravan route between Shamakh and Guba. To ndcate dstances for the travellers, a tree was planted every seven klometres. Altaghaj stll reflects the measure n ts name, whch ndcates that t s sx (alt) trees away from Shamakh, a dstance of 42 klometres. g X M Educatonal / theme trals Brdwatchng Wldlfe watchng Guded tours for school/student groups Organzed tours over several days on envronment, ethnography Hkng Cyclng / mountan bkng Horse trekkng Vstor centre Natonal Park admnstraton buldng, 4 km from Khz vllage Museum exhbton hall n the vstor centre Nature accommodaton guestrooms at the Natonal Park staton, campng n desgnated places

16 16 Goygol Goygol Natonal Park Pcture-perfect Nature - A crystal clear lake whch mrrors blue skes. Mountan tops above peaceful lush meadows and dense forests. Goygol, whch means blue lake, s one of the most precous gems of Azerbajan s natural hertage. Protecton started n 1925 when Goygol was establshed as Azerbajan s frst State Nature Reserve. By 2008 t was desgnated as a Natonal Park and had doubled ts surface area. Goygol s part of the Lesser Caucasus. Deep valleys, long watersheds and slopes n all varatons shape the landscape. Vultures soar above ts rocky massfs, whch reach heghts of more than 3,000 metres. Botansts wll love the abundant alpne and subalpne meadows as well as the lush forests where more than 80 speces of trees and shrubs can be found, among them the rare Caucasan pne. Medcnal plants lke eglantne, volet and camomle are collected by locals on tradtonal holdays. You wll enjoy the aromatc volet tea and jam, as well as local drnks produced n Goygol s wne factory.

17 17 In Touch wth Nature The Natonal Park area s not open to vstors at present. There are plans to develop accommodaton, hkng trals and also horse trekkng. Inqure at the Park admnstraton to fnd out about current developments. Outsde the Natonal Park s borders les Mount Kapaz, whch provdes beautful vews and s an deal place for a pcnc. Jannatmakan recreaton centre n Togana welcomes vstors wth guestrooms. Small cafes servng delcous food can be found along the way to the centre. Facts and Fgures Locaton: West Azerbajan, Goygol, Dashkasan and Goranboy Regons Sze: 12,755 hectares Alttude: 1,100 m 3,724 m Year of establshment: 2008 Landscape: Mountan forests, mountan meadows, lakes, rocky massfs, mountan lakes Flora: Orental beech, orental oak, Caucasan pne, Caucasan hornbeam, whte brch, eglantne, Caucasan volet, dandelon, camomle, wood bluegrass Hstorcal Places The Goygol area s also rch n cultural monuments. More than 30 regstered monuments can be found n the vllages around the Park, ncludng Bronze Age graves and medaeval arched stone brdges. Goygol cty has a German street wth a Lutheran church and houses all of whch were bult n the 19th century by German settlers from Swaba who specalzed n wne growng. Vktor Klen was the last nhabtant wth German roots. He ded n 2007 and hs house s to be converted nto a museum. Fauna: Caucasan red deer, roe deer, bezoar goat, brown bear, lynx, booted eagle, golden eagle, falcons, bearded vulture Accommodaton: Prvate accommodaton n Chaykand, Togana, Azgll and Garabulag vllages How to get there: 390 km from Baku, 6 hrs by car, 7-8 hrs by mn-bus/bus, hrs by tran X Organzed tours of several days n the surroundng areas Hkng n the surroundng areas Nature accommodaton guestrooms at Jannatmakan recreaton centre, Togana Dd you know that lake Goygol and the other seven lakes of the Natonal Park were created by a major earthquake n 1139? It shattered Mount Kapaz so powerfully that huge mountan blocks broke off ts top, tumbled down and blocked the waters of Agsuchay rver.

18 18 Hrkan Hrkan Natonal Park Green Greetngs from the Past - Hrkan Natonal Park boasts forests whch survved the Ice Age. Vrtually untouched for mllons of years, the vast woodlands have contnued to floursh and prolferate n ths protected hdeaway. Due to the stunnng dversty and unqueness of ts speces, Hrkan s on the top lst of broadleaf forests of the temperate zone n Europe and Asa. You wll fnd trees whch exst nowhere else n the world on a hkng tour: Look out for the specal chestnut-leaved oak and the ronwood tree as well as for Hyrcanan fgs and pears. Orental beech trees and box trees predomnate n the hgher parts up to 1,000 metres. There s no need to menton that ths s also a paradse for wldlfe. Attentve vstors can dscover a wde range of brd speces, fnd the horny qulls of porcupnes or occasonally even bear tracks. Moreover, the Caucasan leopard has found refuge n the Park s undsturbed forests, one of the reasons why ths protected area s of major mportance.

19 19 In Touch wth Nature The Natonal Park organzes a varety of excursons along varous routes suted to vstors needs, avalable tme, physcal ablty, age and nterests. You can collect the nformaton from the admnstraton centre pror to your tour or choose to be accompaned by a gude. A pleasant hke from the southern entrance at Zungulash leads past chestnut-leaved oaks, ron trees and box trees to Istsu where you can relax and take a bath n the hot pools. Facts and Fgures Locaton: South-east Azerbajan, Lankaran and Astara Regons Sze: 40,358 hectares Alttude: 21.4 m 1,818 m Year of establshment: State Nature Reserve 1936, Natonal Park 2004 Landscape: Forested lower plans, foothlls and mountans Flora: Iron tree, chestnut-leaved oak, cottonwood, box tree, Hyrcanan broom, lex, Hyrcanan pear, mmosa, Hyrcanan zelkova Meet the People Lankaran s famous for ts craft products lke carpets, hats, baskets decorated wth tradtonal patterns, and beautfully embrodered handwoven cloths. Some women offer craftwork talored to the customer s wshes. The area s also well known for the longevty of ts nhabtants. Here t s not extraordnary to lve to 110 years old and beyond. Most of the people who lve here are Talysh, one of Azerbajan s largest ethnc groups, whch has preserved ts own language and tradtons. Due to the regon s warm temperate clmate, many fruts are cultvated n the lowlands and the area s famous for ts cusne. Try delcous dshes lke lavang - chcken stuffed wth nuts, cherry plums and onons. A desert wth fejoa, a frut whch s remnscent of pneapple and strawberry, and a glass of aromatc local tea wll round off your meal perfectly. Fauna: Indan porcupne, wolf, fox, golden jackal, brown bear, badger, common otter, jungle cat, lynx, Caucasan leopard, roe deer Accommodaton: Recreaton centres wth cottages on the border of the Natonal Park and on the bank of Lankaran rver along the Lerk hghway; hotels n Lankaran and Astara How to get there: 286 km from Baku, 5 hrs by car, 5 hrs by mn-bus/bus, 9 hrs by tran X M Educatonal / theme trals nformaton boards Guded tours Organzed tours of several days programmes wth day trps Hkng Horse trekkng Vstor centre Natonal Park admnstraton buldng, Burcal vllage; vstor centre, Zungulash park entrance Museum Hstory and ethnography museums n Lankaran and Astara Dd you know that the ron tree really deserves ts name because ts wood s so heavy that t snks n water? It fnds deal lvng condtons n Hrkan, can lve to 200 years and can grow to a heght of 25 metres. If ts multple branches touch each other or a neghbourng tree, they can grow together.

20 20 Samur-Yalama Samur-Yalama Natonal Park Where Forests Meet the Sea - Stuated along the coastlne n the far north, Azerbajan s youngest Natonal Park lnks the shores of the Caspan Sea wth unque coastal forests and a cultural landscape. The forest of Samur-Yalama s the only one n the country whch reaches down to the seashore. The woodland s home to a wde mx of broad-leaf trees such as oak, hornbeam, alder, and poplar. As t s one of the few remanng relct coastal forests, t has sustaned tree speces lke the long stem oak, whch date far back nto the geologcal past. Forests make up most of the Natonal Park, whch s a true patchwork of natural and cultural landscapes. Besdes the characterstc lowland forests you wll fnd felds, gardens, hayfelds and pastures. Further nto the country, the forest scenery s nterwoven wth creeks, rvers and sprngs whch have shaped beautful ravnes. Wetlands and marne areas provde mportant habtats and spawnng grounds for endangered fsh, whch mgrate from the coast up the rvers. Breedng areas for rare brd speces have been desgnated as zones for specal protecton. Part of the patchwork s formed by Muqtedr, Nabran and Turst, Azerbajan s most popular seasde resorts, whch are stuated along the coastal strp and surrounded by Samur-Yalama s beautful forests.

21 21 Meet the People The area of Khachmaz s known as a frut paradse. It s sad that locals don t need money because they have enough vegetables and frut n ther gardens. You wll fnd seasonal frut for sale along the Nabran-Yalama- Khudat road, where locals sell ther produce. Partcularly, the bg red Khachmaz cherres are famous for ther sweet and jucy flavour. Moreover, you wll fnd frut juces and frut vnegar as well as delcous mxtures of the two. A strng wth dred pears and walnuts called rasa symbolzes the beauty and wealth of a house and s gven as a gft to guests. In Touch wth Nature Samur-Yalama s a very young Natonal Park and ts ecotoursm facltes are stll beng developed. Plans nclude a vstor centre wth exhbtons and modern meda, an observaton tower, trals through wetlands, forests and cultvated landscape. The agro-forestry tral wll be desgned for walkng, cyclng and horse carrages. Vstors can experence the vllage actvtes and learn about the management of orchards, pastures and hayfelds, anmal breedng or the local producton of clay brcks and woven wooden fences. Facts and Fgures Locaton: North-east Azerbajan, Guba-Khachmaz Regon, Khachmaz Dstrct Sze: 11,772 hectares Alttude: -15 to 65 m Year of establshment: 2012 Landscape: Plans wth felds, gardens, pastures and hayfelds; sem-deserts, seashore zones wth nterlnked beaches & forests, fresh water sprngs Flora: Oak, hornbeam, poplar and alder forests, long stem oak, chestnut-leaved oak, Caucasan hornbeam, whte acaca Fauna: Orental chub, brook trout, rudd, Merga s stone loach, Greek tortose, black stork, osprey, sparrow hawk, eastern hedgehog, golden jackal, fox, raccoon, wld boar Accommodaton: Hgh category hotels n the area of Khachmaz; hotels, guesthouses, campng, cottages n the area between Muqtedr, Nabran and Turst; guesthouses/prvate accommodaton n vllages How to get there: 180 km from Baku, 2:30 hrs by car, 3 hrs by mn-bus/bus All n development Dd you know that the rverbeds of Samur-Yalama Natonal Park provde mportant spawnng grounds for the endangered Caspan trout? From November to February mature trout whch lve n the bracksh waters of the Caspan Sea mgrate up the rvers to where they can fnd clear, cold mountan waters. Durng the subsequent perod from October to January, they begn to spawn on the bottom of the rverbeds, where they protect ther eggs wth gravel. After ncubatng ther eggs for about four weeks, the trout return to the sea. The Caspan trout s one of the largest n the world. In the area of Samur-Yalama t can grow to more than 90 cm. g X 3 M Educatonal / theme trals Brdwatchng Guded tours Organzed tours of several days Hkng Cyclng Horse trekkng Vstor centre n the Natonal Park admnstraton buldng, near Khudat Museum exhbton hall n vstor centre

22 22 Shahdagh Shahdagh Natonal Park The Kng of Mountans - The largest Natonal Park of the Southern Caucasus captvates vstors wth the magnfcent mountan world of Shahdagh - whch means the kng of mountans and fascnatng cultural dversty whch has survved n the remoteness of the mountan valleys. Azerbajan s hghest peaks Mount Bazarduzu, Mount Shahdagh and Mount Tufandag - each of whch s more than 4,000 metres hgh, are stuated n Shahdagh Natonal Park. Ecosystems change wth alttudes from the lower plans and foothlls, rver valleys and gorges up to rocky peaks covered wth snow and glacers. Hkers wll pass through lush forests wth Iberan and orental oak, orental beech and Caucasan hornbeam. In the hgher zone, the scenery opens out onto a fantastc mountan panorama and endless alpne meadows wth colourful wldflowers. Wth a bt of luck you can observe Caucasan chamos or hear the Caucasan snowcock whstle from a rock at dawn. As a local gude book puts t: Once you are up here, you are a part of mountan lfe. Lsten to your heart and your soul and look around you wth your eyes wde open.

23 23 Meet the People Some ethnc groups have been able to mantan and develop ther specal tradtons and languages n the remoteness of the mountans. If you stay n vllages lke Khnalg and Lahj, you wll encounter the hosptalty of local people. Enjoy the opportunty to lsten to your hosts stores and learn more about Uds, Tats, Hapts, Khnalgls, Mountan Jews, Lezgns and Turks. Lahj s the centre of the Tats and s known for ts old craft tradton, especally for copper craft. Handmade copper vessels and plates decorated wth tradtonal ornaments are stll popular souvenrs. In Touch wth Nature Shahadagh Natonal Park s deal for hkng, mountaneerng and horse trekkng. The route from Khnalg to Laza s known as one of the hghlghts of Azerbajan s nature experence. A tour to clmb Mount Shahdagh takes two to four days on varous routes and grades of dffculty. Tour gudes are avalable and horses can be hred n Khnalg and Laza. Other access ponts to the Natonal Park are Ismayll, Gabala and Oguz. If you want to go hkng n the Shahdagh area you must be accompaned by a gude accredted by the Natonal Park. Vstor numbers here are lmted. Have a look at the Natonal Park s webste and facebook ste (n Azer) for further guded ecotoursm actvtes lke anmal observaton, hkng, mountaneerng and campng. Please take nto account that entry to the Natonal Park requres permsson from the Mnstry of Envronment n Baku and, snce t s located on the Russan border, from the offce of the border army n Gusar as well. The admnstratve process takes about three weeks and the entrance fee must be transferred n advance. Inqure for current regulatons at the Natonal Park admnstraton. Facts and Fgures Locaton: North-east Azerbajan, Guba, Gusar, Ismaylly, Gabala, Oghuz and Shamakhy Regons Sze: 130,500.5 hectares Alttude: 550 m 4,466 m Year of establshment: 2006 Landscape: Forests, broad-leaved woods, hgh mountans, foothlls, alpne meadows Flora: Iberan and eastern oak, eastern beech, Caucasan hornbeam, ash, yew, medlar, hawthorn, blackberry, eglantne Fauna: Caucasan snowcock, Caucasan black grouse, bearded vulture, golden eagle, brown bear, lynx, roe deer, red deer, Caucasan chamos, East Caucasan tur Accommodaton: Hgh category hotels n the areas of Gabala & Guba; hotels/ small hotels/guesthouses/ n the areas of Oguz, Gabala, Ismayll, Lahj, Shamakh, Guba & Gusar How to get there: 165 km from Baku, 2 hrs by car, 2:30 hrs by mn-bus/bus g X Educatonal / theme trals Brdwatchng Wldlfe watchng Guded tours Organzed tours over several days Hkng n Ismayll, Gabala and Oguz Clmbng / mountaneerng Cyclng / mountan bkng n Ismayll, Shamakh and Guba Horse trekkng Dd you know that the Caucasus snowcock lves on bare rocky grounds n hgh mountan regons close to the snowlne? Its thck and dense plumage protects the brd from temperatures down to mnus 40. It s very shy and you can often hear ts warnng whstle before you can see t. M Cross-country skng, sk-tourng n Guba and Gusar Vstor centre tourst nformaton centre, Pramsan vllage Museum at tourst nformaton centre, old documents, Khnalg Nature accommodaton guestrooms n Natonal Park statons, campng

24 24 Shrvan Shrvan Natonal Park Desert Beautes - Shrvan Natonal Park s Europe s only natural habtat of gotered gazelles. Ths warm and dry world of sem-deserts s the most mportant area for these graceful beautes and s home to amazng and surprsngly colourful brd lfe. You wll fnd hundreds of gazelles grazng n the tranqulty of the wde open plans. Wormwood, whch s wdespread n the sem-desert, s amongst ther favourte food. Watch out for larks and curlews, whose shades of grey and brown are perfectly adapted to ths habtat, and for the colourful dots formed by the black francoln and bluecheeked bee-eater. The coastlne, lagoon and artfcal bodes of water lke Gzlgaz lake provde a popular stop-over and nestng ground for wetland brds. Montorng has shown that more than 230 speces can be observed here, especally durng wnter. You wll be left n no doubt as to why Gglgaz s called Flamngo Lake. A really extraordnary combnaton of water and volcanc actvtes can be dscovered at the three mud volcanoes n Shrvan Natonal Park.

25 25 Hstorcal Places In 1968, archaeologsts dscovered a sunken cty close to Shrvan s coastlne. At a depth of 50 to 150 metres, the muds of the Caspan Sea revealed brcks, tles, stone blocks, stoves and pottery from Bendovan cty, whch probably exsted n the 9th-13th centures. There s evdence that pottery work was an mportant occupaton. Glazed tles, cups and plates are decorated wth coloured ornamentaton and anmal drawngs embedded n floral patterns. One of them depcts a leopard preyng on a goat. In Touch wth Nature The Natonal Park organzes three dfferent tours as day trps from Baku: Gzlgaz lake, Bendovan and Ecotoursm settlement. The tours start at the entrance gates. Vstors have the opportunty to observe brds from the vewng tower and observaton per at Gzlgaz lake or at a coastal lagoon. They wll see gazelles grazng n one of ther man habtats and watch the bubblng mud volcano of Bendovan. Hstorcal themes, Bendovan and Yulgur shrnes, a vst to Gzlgum beach and a walk n the oleaster forest are also part of the trps. Facts and Fgures Locaton: East Azerbajan, Salyan and Neftchala Regons Sze: 54,580 hectares Alttude: m to 42.1 m Year of establshment: 2003 Landscape: Sem-desert, steppe, steppe lake, wetlands, sea coast Flora: Wormwood, glasswort, poa bulbosa, halocnemum stroblaceum, halostachus caspca, salcornetum europaea, artemsa fraqrans, artemsetum ephemeretum, plantan Fauna: Turtles, Levantne vper, flamngo, swans, ducks, geese, pelcans, lesser kestrel, black francoln, jungle cat, gotered gazelle Accommodaton: Guesthouses/prvate accommodaton n the settlements n the vcnty, Yenkand, Kursang vllages; motel 12 km from Natonal Park entrance; hotel n Salyan cty How to get there: 103 km from Baku, 1 hr by car; 1:10 hrs by mn-bus/bus; 2 hrs by tran g Educatonal / theme trals Brdwatchng Wldlfe watchng Guded tours Dd you know that mud volcanoes are the cool members of the volcano famly? Whereas ther cousns spt hot glowng lava and rocks, mud volcanoes make do wth cold slobbery mud of no more than mnus 3 C to plus 2 C. The mud s formed by water and mnerals n the depths of the earth. When underground gas experences pressure, t tres to fnd ts way out along cracks. On ts way t takes the slobbery mxture up to the surface, where t produces mud cones and vents of all szes. The gas sometmes gntes durng the erupton and mud volcanoes can burn for months. Ths just goes to show that they are a true, even cool member of the famly. X M Organzed tours over several days Hkng Clmbng / mountaneerng Cyclng / mountan bkng Horse trekkng on pror permsson from the Natonal Park Boatng Swmmng Vstor centre by the entrance gate of the Natonal Park Museum hstory and ethnography, Salyan cty Nature accommodaton ecotoursm settlement (n development), campng n the park

26 26 Zangazur Zangazur Natonal Park A World Apart - Cut off from Azerbajan s manland, Zangazur Natonal Park s lke an exotc sland due to ts specal clmate, rare anmals and plants. Wld rugged rocks, eroded rock formatons and steep clffs tower over the landscape. No wonder legend has t that Noah bumped rght nto three of them! The Natonal Park s comprsed of the hgh rdge of the Lesser Caucasus, whch rses up to 3,900 metres, and a mountanous country whch descends down to the Araz rver at the Iranan border. The sland-lke locaton of Nakhchevan autonomous terrtory, wth a mountan barrer n the west, creates a unque clmate and condtons for flora and fauna not found elsewhere n the country to floursh. Zangazur s a real paradse for brds. Here you can observe rare fnch speces, Caspan snowcocks, bearded vultures or levant sparrow hawks. Moreover, the remoteness of ths protected area provdes an deal refuge for mouflon, bezoar goats, strped hyenae and lynx. Montorng has even shown the presence of the Caucasan leopard, whch s threatened by extncton.

27 27 Hstorcal Places The petroglyphs n the Gamgaya- Garangush upland are amongst the oldest archaeologcal remans n Azerbajan s culture. The drawngs gve hnts that human actvtes up here at 3,000 metres go back more than 2,000 years. They depct goats, oxen, brds, deer, huntng scenes, sgns and nscrptons, revealng that the rch mountan meadows were an mportant huntng ground. Gamgaya- Garangush summer pastures were nhabted by ancent Nakhchevan trbes from the Araz lowland and consdered to be sacred. In Touch wth Nature There are several hkng trals n the Natonal Park. Hkers enjoy the cooler temperatures n summer and the sght of sweepng colourful meadows n flower n sprng. Alnja fortess s stuated on an mpressve volcanc rock rsng to 1,811 metres. It was the man stronghold durng the struggle of the Azerbajan people aganst Tmur Lenk n the 14th century, and was bravely defended for 14 years. A hkng tour up the mountan and back to Khanaga takes you past runs of walls, brck buldngs and dtches. Beware of snakes n summer. It s best to go durng early mornng when temperatures are stll low. Facts and Fgures Locaton: South-west Azerbajan, Nakhchevan Regon Sze: 42,797 hectares Alttude: up to 3,906 m Year of establshment: 2009 Landscape: Mountan forest, mountan meadows, rocky massfs, foothlls and lower mountans wth steppe Flora: Irs elegantssma, Hmantoglossum formosum (orchd), Dorema glabrum Fauna: Levant sparrowhawk, bearded vulture, golden eagle, trumpeter fnch, crmson-wnged fnch, Caspan snowcock, brown bear, common otter, lynx, Caucasan leopard, strped hyena, mouflon, bezoar goat Accommodaton: Hotels/guesthouses n Agbulag vllage, Nakhchevan cty, Ordubad, Shahbuz How to get there: 670 km by plane from Baku to Nakhchevan cty, 70 km from Nakhchevan cty, 45 mns - 1 hr by car g Educatonal / theme trals Brdwatchng Wldlfe watchng Guded tours X Organzed tours over several days Hkng Clmbng / mountaneerng Dd you know that the area of Ordubad s well known for ts orchards and unque cusne? Try the specal flavour of lemons wthout any peel; taste large, delcous aprcots, whch go perfectly n the local plaw and make wonderful frut tea; enjoy Ordubad omelette made of butter, eggs and take home the famous Ordubad walnut jam as a souvenr. M Cyclng / mountan bkng Horse trekkng Vstor centre park admnstraton buldngs n Aghdara settlement, Boyahmad vllage, n Batabat forest close to Bchanak vllage Museum fauna & flora exhbtons n park admnstraton buldngs

28 28 Azerbajan Useful contacts State Agency Protected Areas Mnstry of Ecology and Natural Resources - MENR Department of Protecton of Bodversty and Development of Especally Protected Nature Reserves B. Aghayev Street 100A, Baku, AZ 1073, Azerbajan Phone: Emal: bomuxtelflk@gmal.com Onlne tckets for Natonal Park vsts: State Agences Toursm Development Mnstry of Culture and Toursm of the Republc of Azerbajan U. Hajbeyov Street 40, Government House, Baku, AZ 1000, Azerbajan Phone: , , Fax: , , Emal: mct@mct.gov.az Azerbajan Tourst Informaton Centre, Head Offce Neftchler Avenue 65, Baku, AZ 1000, Azerbajan Phone: Fax: Emal: nfo@azerbajan.travel Goldenrock Travel Agency F. Yusfov Street 57, AZ 1011 Baku, Azerbajan Phone: , Emal: Arasov_rahman@mal.ru Emal: nfo@toursmadjara.ge n Absheron Natonal Park Park Admnstraton Zra settlement, Khazar Regon, Baku, AZ 1120, Azerbajan Phone: Emal: absheronmp@gmal.com Vstor nformaton Baku Toursm Informaton Centre Baku, U. Hajbeyov Street 36, AZ 1101, Azerbajan Phone: Emal: nfo@bakutoursm.az n Aghgol Natonal Park Park Admnstraton Aghjabad Regon, AZ , Azerbajan Phone: Emal: aggolmp@gmal.com n Altaghaj Natonal Park Park Admnstraton Khz Regon, Khalaj vllage, AZ 8000, Azerbajan Phone: Emal: altagacmp@gmal.com Vstor nformaton Khz Toursm Khz cty, AZ 8000, Azerbajan Phone: Emal: Turzm-m d nyy t@mal.ru e e n Goygol Natonal Park e Park Admnstraton Goygol Regon, Togana vllage, AZ 2500, Azerbajan Emal: goygolmp@gmal.com Vstor Informaton Ganja Tourst Informaton Centre Sheykh Bahaddn Street 59, Ganja cty, AZ 2000 Azerbajan Phone: Emal: tc_ganja@box.az n Hrkan Natonal Park Park Admnstraton Burcal vllage, Lankaran, AZ 4200, Azerbajan Phone: Emal: hrkan.qx@gmal.com

29 29 Vstor nformaton Lankaran Culture and Toursm Department P. T hm zov Street 14, Lankaran cty, AZ 4200, Azerbajan Phone: e e Lankaran Tourst Informaton Centre Lankaran cty, Geyshaban vllage, AZ 4200, Azerbajan Phone: ; Emal: tc_lenkoran@box.az n Samur-Yalama Natonal Park Park Admnstraton Khachmaz Dstrct, AZ 2700, Azerbajan Phone: Emal: samuryalama.mp@gmal.com Khachmaz Tourst Informaton Centre Zeynalabdn Taghyev Street 1, Khachmaz cty, AZ 2700, Azerbajan Phone: Emal: tc_khachmaz@toursm.az n Shahdagh Natonal Park Park Admnstraton Shabran Regon, Pramsan vllage, AZ 1017, Azerbajan Phone: Emal: Offce.shd@gmal.com Vstor nformaton Shabran Regon, Pramsan vllage, AZ 1017, Azerbajan Phone: Emal: shahdagpark@mal.az Shamakh Tourst Informaton Centre N. Narmanov Street 80, Shemakha, Shamakh cty, AZ 5600, Azerbajan Phone: , Emal:shamakh@toursm.az Ismall Tourst Informaton Centre H. Alyev Avenue 61, Ismall, AZ 3100, Azerbajan Phone: Emal: smaylltm@gmal.com n Shrvan Natonal Park Park Admnstraton see State Agency, Mnstry of Ecology and Natural Resources Vstor nformaton Salyan Natonal Park Yenkand vllage, Salyan, AZ 8000, Azerbajan Phone: , -93; Fax: -91 Emal: shrvanmp@gmal.com Salyan Cty Toursm Centre H. Alyev Street 107, Salyan, AZ 5200, Azerbajan Phone: Emal: Salyan met@box.az n Zangazur Natonal Park Park Admnstraton Mnstry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Nakhchevan Autonomous Republc N.Tus Street, Nakhchevan, AZ 7000, Azerbajan Phone: Vstor nformaton Zangazur Natonal Park Julfa Regon, Boyahmad settlement, AZ 7200, Azerbajan Phone: Local toursm offce of the Mnstry of Culture and Toursm H. Alyev Avenue 42, Nakhchevan cty, AZ 7000, Azerbajan Phone: Emal: medenyyet@nakhchvan.az Nakhchvan Tourst Informaton Centre Tabrz Street 8, Nakhchevan cty, AZ 7000, Azerbajan Phone: Emal: turzm@nakhchvan.az Guba Tourst Informaton Centre H. Alyev Avenue 165, Guba cty, AZ 4000, Azerbajan Phone: Emal: tc_guba@box.az Shek Tourst Informaton Centre Complex Qala Dvar, house of artsts, 2nd floor, Shek cty, AZ 5500, Azerbajan Phone: Emal:tc_shek@toursm.az

30 30 Azerbajan Useful contacts ORGANISATIONS BMZ German Federal Mnstry for Economc Cooperaton and Development Southern Caucasus Desk Dahlmannstr. 4, D Bonn, Germany Caucasus Nature Fund - CNF 54 rue de Clchy, F Pars, France Phone: ; Fax: Emal: contact@caucasus-naturefund.org Forum Anders Resen e.v. Wppertstrasse 2, D Freburg, Germany Phone: , Fax: Emal: nfo@forumandersresen.de (German assocaton of sustanable toursm tour operators) IUCN Caucasus Cooperaton Centre 38, Gogebashvl Street, Tbls, GE 0179, Georga Phone: , -85 Emal: caucasus@ucn.org KfW Development Bank Palmengartenstr. 5-9, D Frankfurt, Germany Regonal Envronmental Centre for the Caucasus - RECC Azerbajan Offce B. Agayev Street 100a, Baku, AZ 1073, Azerbajan Phone: Fax: WWF Caucasus Programme Offce, Azerbajan K. M. Mushvg Street 2, block 501, Baku, AZ 1073, Azerbajan Phone/Fax: Emal: offce_az@wwfcaucasus.org

31 31 Imprnt Edted by: The Mnstry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republc of Azerbajan - MENR Implemented and fnanced by: KfW Development Bank on behalf of the German Federal Mnstry of Economc Cooperaton and Development (BMZ) Coordnated by: The Transboundary Jont Secretarat TJS A consortum of: AHT GROUP AG REC Caucasus Project Partners: The World Wde Fund for Nature WWF The Caucasus Nature Fund CNF Consultng and desgn: axplan w. desgn nfo@w-desgn.bz Specal thanks to: n The Mnstry of Ecology and Natural Resources and the Natonal Parks of Azerbajan for ther extensve contrbuton of text content and photographs. n Andreas Wetzel from KfW for hs conceptual support. n Aurel Hedelberg and Elshad Askerov from WWF for ther addtonal expertse, photographs and map data. n GFA Consultng Group for addtonal map data. Pctures & map: n Rchard Bartz n Stephane Gerber: map n Chrstan Gönner n Aurel Hedelberg n Shan Isayev n Mnstry of Ecology and Natural Ressources of Azerbajan n Zaur Mrzoyev n Ram Mzrach n Hartmut Müller n Serv Nabuurs n Umar Semenov, Leopard Rehabltaton Centre, Soch Natonal Park (RU) 2014

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