Ismayilli

Ismayilli was a part of the state of Albania for a long time, which was established at the end of IV and beginning of III centuries B.C. Its population is more than 80 thousand people. Ismayilli region was established on November 24, 1931. Ismayilli region is situated mainly on the southern slope of Main Caucasus Range, in the high and mid-mountain zone, in Ajinohur low mountains and Alazan-Haftarkhan valley, partly in the northern part of Shirvan plain. The highest peaks in the region are the peaks of Babadagh (3629 m), Asaddagh (3471 m), Garaburgha (3345 m), Shahnazardagh (2874 m) in Main Dividing Range.

Ismayilli region is located in the subtropical and partly temperate climate zone. The northern border of subtropical zone passes at an altitude of about 550-650 m of the region. There is altitudinal zonation observed from this zone towards the height. Moderately warm and partially semi-desert-desert zones are formed in the plains and foothills, and cold and mountainous tundra zones are formed in the high mountains. Average annual temperature is 14° – 14.5° on the plains, 11° – 13° in the foothills and low mountains, 7° – 9° in middle mountains and drops to 0° in the highlands. There is even a decrease in a temperature to −2°–5° on the high peaks of Main Dividing Range. Average temperature in July is 22°–25° on the plains, 20°–15° – in middle mountains, 10°–5° – in high mountains, and average temperature in January is 0°+4° on the plains, 0°–3° – in the foothills and low mountains, –3°–6° – in middle mountains, and drops below –14°–15° in high mountains.

Sights of Ismayilli: Maiden Tower, Javanshir Tower, Heydar Aliyev Park, Local history museum, Ivanovka, Lahij, Kalaghayi, Basgal.

Ismayilli cuisine: Pip dolma, Shah pilaf, Ismayilli cheese, Ismayilli honey

Basgal — is a village in administrative territorial unit of Ismayilli region of the Republic of Azerbaijan. By the Decision No. 123-XII of May 25, 1991 of the Supreme Soviet of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Basgal village of Ismayilli region was classified as urban-type settlement, Basgal village soviet was established with the centre in Basgal urban-type settlement.

According to historians, Baskal has existed since the fourth century. Current territory of the village belonged to ancient state of Albania. Basgal with ancient historical culture is very famous for its fortresses and mosques. According to deceased academician Ziya Bunyadov, the word Basgal, formed from the combination of the terms "bas" and "gal", means "attack the fortress", "build the fortress", "raise the fortress". According to the results of archaeological research, so-called "galalar", rich in monuments of antiquity and the Middle Ages, situated in the south-east of Basgal, was an ancient human settlement.

Basgal village was the centre of Ismayilli region in 1932-1933. On the territory of the "Galabashi" square of Basgal, the edges of the fortress walls, the thickness of which reaches several meters, are preserved up to date. It is believed to have been built in the 14th century. The toponym "Basgal" is pure Turkic word and means "head of the fortress", "build the fortress", "create the fortress", "raise the fortress", "head fortress". Basgal historical and cultural reserve includes such ancient monuments of the XVII century as bath houses and mosques.[2] By the decision No. 316 of July 28, 1989 of the Council of Ministers of Azerbaijan SSR, Basgal was declared State Historical and Cultural Reserve.

The president of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the Decree on "Basgal" State Historical and Cultural Reserve on October 3, 2018.

Lahij — is a village in administrative territorial unit of Ismayilli region of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Lahij was one of the centres for the manufacturing of the copper products and weapons in Azerbaijan in XVIII-XIX centuries. Products of Lahij masters, made of the copper, decorated with complicated and fine patterns, such as buckets, satyls, sernijs, trays, sarpujs, jugs, colanders, skimmers, bowls, glass, cauldrons, lamps and other products, were known in Central Asia, Dagestan, Georgia, Iran, Turkey, etc.

The square mosques, water pipeline and sewerage (kuraband), Girdiman fortress, which have survived from those years, are carefully protected, the traditions of the crafts are continued and developed in Lahij, which has been turned into a museum-reserve since 1980.

Material and cultural models of coppersmiths, jewellers, saddlers, blacksmiths, carpenters, carpet makers, engravers, painters, tanners, etc., who lived and worked here, adorn the most famous museums and collections around the world up to date.

The samovar made by the master Najafgulu in 1717-1718 became famous for its proportionality, beauty of its shape, decorations on it. Up to 200 coppersmith workshops functioned in Lahij in the middle of the XIX century. Lahij masters are also known for making firearms (rifles, different types of pistols, etc.) and cold weapons (daggers, beybuts, swords, knives, etc.). These weapons were decorated with the ornaments and stamped by the craftsmen.