Nakhchivan's Unique Connection To Azerbaijan Explained

The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is a landlocked exclave of the Republic of Azerbaijan. It is bordered by Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the south and west, and Turkey to the west. The region has a long history, with the capital city of Nakhchivan dating back to around 1500 BC. Historically, the Persians, Armenians, Mongols, and Turks all competed for the region.

Nakhchivan became part of Safavid Iran in the 16th century and was later passed to Imperial Russian possession in the 19th century. In the 20th century, it was an autonomous republic within the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Nakhchivan became a discontiguous part of the newly independent Republic of Azerbaijan.

Today, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is internationally recognized as a constituent part of Azerbaijan, with its own elected legislative assembly. It remains isolated, not only from the rest of Azerbaijan but also from the rest of the South Caucasus region.

Nakhchivan is a landlocked exclave of Azerbaijan, with a population of around 450,000

The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is a landlocked exclave of Azerbaijan, with a population of around 450,000. It is the world's largest landlocked exclave, separated from the rest of Azerbaijan by a strip of Armenian land between 80 and 130km wide. The region covers 5,502.75 square kilometres and is bordered by Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the south and west, and Turkey to the west. The capital city, also called Nakhchivan, has a long history, dating back to around 1500 BC.

The region is mostly mountainous, with a plain in the west and southwest. The Zangezur Mountains make up its border with Armenia, while the Aras River defines its border with Iran. The Aras reservoir on this river supplies water for agriculture and hydroelectric power for both Azerbaijan and Iran. Nakhchivan has a dry continental climate, with winter temperatures averaging in the mid-to-low 20s Fahrenheit and summer temperatures ranging from the mid-70s to the mid-80s Fahrenheit. The region is subject to earthquakes, with a particularly severe one occurring in 1931.

Agriculture is the principal economic activity in Nakhchivan, with crops including grains (winter wheat, some spring wheat, and barley), cotton, tobacco, mulberries for silkworms, and fruits. Sheep farming is also common, providing wool for the Azerbaijani carpet industry, as well as meat. Mineral resources include salt, molybdenum, and lead. The region's industrial activity is limited to mining, cotton ginning, silk textile production, and food processing.

Nakhchivan has a strong sense of national identity and self-sufficiency, which was particularly evident during a blockade in 1988 when the railway and roads linking Nakhchivan to the rest of Azerbaijan and the USSR were closed. Only two small bridges over the Aras River to Iran and Turkey allowed the region to avoid starvation and total collapse. This experience fostered an unwavering sense of self-sufficiency, with residents planting their own food and producing their own goods.

Today, Nakhchivan is known for its sustainability and organic, locavore movement. It has a strict no-pesticide, all-organic food policy, and its residents take pride in their healthy way of life. The region is also known for its cleanliness, with public-sector employees volunteering to clean the streets on their days off.

The autonomous republic is bordered by Armenia, Iran, and Turkey

The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is a landlocked exclave of the Republic of Azerbaijan. It is bordered by Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the southwest, and Turkey to the west. The region covers 5,502.75 sq km (2,124.62 sq mi) and has a population of 459,600. It is the only autonomous republic in Azerbaijan and is governed by its own elected legislature.

Historically, the region has been contested by Persians, Armenians, Mongols, and Turks. In the 16th century, it became part of Safavid Iran, and in the mid-18th century, the semi-autonomous Nakhchivan Khanate was established. In 1828, after the last Russo-Persian War, the Nakhchivan Khanate was ceded to Imperial Russia. During the First World War, the region was occupied by the Ottomans, the British, and the Bolsheviks, before becoming part of the Soviet Union in 1920.

The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic has a long history, dating back to about 1500 BC. The region has a rich cultural heritage and is known for its archaeological sites, including ancient towns, mausoleums, and monuments. The capital city, also called Nakhchivan, was first mentioned in Ptolemy's "Geography" as "Naxuana." The city's name is derived from the Armenian tradition, connected to the Biblical narrative of Noah's Ark, and interpreted as the "place of the first descent" or "first resting place."

The autonomous republic has a continental semi-arid climate with cold, snowy winters and hot, dry summers. The economy of the region is based on agriculture, mining, and food processing, with industries such as cotton ginning, silk spinning, and meatpacking. The area is rich in mineral deposits, including marble, lime, and gypsum.

Despite being separated from the rest of Azerbaijan by Armenian territory, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic remains an integral and undisputed part of Azerbaijan.

The region has a long history, dating back to around 1500 BC

The region of Nakhchivan has a long and complex history, dating back to around 1500 BC. Archaeological discoveries in the area indicate that the history of the region goes back even further than this.

In the 11th-6th centuries BC, Nakhchivan was a well-developed city in the ancient state of Media, which relied heavily on farming, trade and artisanry. However, over the following centuries, the city was repeatedly invaded and changed hands many times as regional powers vied for control.

In the Middle Ages, Nakhchivan was one of the largest Transcaucasian cities on the Great Silk Road. It was a prosperous and well-developed trade centre, which made it a desirable prize for foreign powers. From the late 18th to early 19th centuries, Nakhchivan served as the capital of the Nakhchivan Khanate, an independent entity within Persia.

In 1827, the city was occupied by Russian troops under General Ivan Paskevich, and the 1828 Turkmenchay Peace Treaty dictated that Nakhchivan city and the entire Nakhchivan Khanate be placed under the control of the Russian Empire. The city was then annexed to the newly-formed Armenian Province before being annexed again to the Erivan Province.

In the early 20th century, the region was contested by the newly formed states of the First Republic of Armenia and the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. In 1918, the region came under Ottoman occupation, and in 1919, the British placed Nakhchivan under Armenian administration. However, an Azerbaijani revolt prevented Armenia from establishing full control.

In 1920, the Bolsheviks occupied the region and, in 1921, a referendum indicated that most of Nakhchivan's residents wished to join Azerbaijan as an autonomous republic. In 1924, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was established as an autonomous republic within the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.

Nakhchivan remained part of the Republic of Azerbaijan when it gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Today, it retains its autonomy as the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, internationally recognised as a constituent part of Azerbaijan.

Nakhchivan was historically part of Armenia but became a district of Azerbaijan during Soviet rule

The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is a landlocked exclave of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The region has a long history, dating back to about 1500 BC. It was historically part of the Armenian province of Vaspurakan in the Kingdom of Armenia. Persians, Armenians, Mongols, and Turks all competed for the region.

In the 16th century, the area that is now Nakhchivan became part of Safavid Iran. The semi-autonomous Nakhchivan Khanate was established in the mid-18th century. After the last Russo-Persian War and the Treaty of Turkmenchay in 1828, the Nakhchivan Khanate passed from Iranian into Imperial Russian possession.

After the 1917 February Revolution, Nakhchivan was under the authority of the Special Transcaucasian Committee of the Russian Provisional Government and subsequently of the short-lived Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic. In June 1918, the region came under Ottoman occupation. The British placed Nakhchivan under Armenian administration in April 1919, although an Azerbaijani revolt prevented Armenia from establishing full control over the territory.

In July 1920, the Bolsheviks occupied the region. In November of that year, Bolshevik Russia and Azerbaijan both promised that Nakhchivan was an "integral part" of Armenia. However, in March 1921, the Bolshevik government declared the Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic, which became an autonomous republic within the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic in 1924.

During Soviet rule, tensions over the ethnic composition of Nakhchivan eased, and the region became an important point of industrial production, particularly in the mining of minerals. Nakhchivan remained a district of Azerbaijan when the Soviet Union dissolved.

The area has a strong sense of self-sufficiency, with a focus on local food production and sustainability

The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is a landlocked exclave of the Republic of Azerbaijan. Geographically severed from the rest of Azerbaijan by a strip of Armenia, this autonomous region has developed a strong sense of self-sufficiency, with a focus on local food production and sustainability.

Nakhchivan has a population of approximately 450,000 people and is bordered by Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the southwest, and Turkey to the west. It is the world's largest landlocked exclave and was historically part of Armenia. Today, it is an undisputed part of Azerbaijan, with a strong sense of independence and self-reliance.

Due to its unique geographical position, Nakhchivan has often been isolated and closed off to most visitors, even during the Soviet era. The region has a rich history, dating back to about 1500 BC, and has been influenced by various cultures, including Persian, Ottoman, and Russian rule.

In the late 1980s, a conflict erupted in the neighbouring enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, resulting in the closure of all railways and roads linking Nakhchivan to the rest of Azerbaijan. This blockade led to the development of an unwavering sense of self-sufficiency among the residents of Nakhchivan. They began planting their own food and producing their own goods to survive.

Today, Nakhchivan continues to prioritise local food production and sustainability. It has adopted a strict no-pesticide, all-organic food policy, ensuring that all food consumed in the region is sourced locally. The region's agricultural focus includes sheep farming, orchard fruits, and grape cultivation for wine production.

In addition to its emphasis on local food production, Nakhchivan has also invested in sustainable practices. The region has a volunteer programme where public-sector employees, such as teachers and government workers, dedicate their days off to cleaning the streets and planting trees. This practice, known as "subbotnik," aims to replenish the forests that were burned for fuel during the blockade.

Nakhchivan has also developed its healthcare infrastructure, including the Duzdag Salt Cave, a sanatorium built inside a former salt mine, which offers spleotherapy for respiratory illnesses.

The region's capital, Nakhchivan City, is known for its cleanliness and well-maintained infrastructure. The local government has made significant investments in education, healthcare, and other social security initiatives, further contributing to the region's sense of self-sufficiency and sustainability.

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