Country Azerbaijan City 1 Zip Code 7200 Area 1,000 km² Capital Julfa | Autonomous republic Nakhchivan Villages 22 Telephone code 0136 Population 41,195 (2009) Area code 0136 | |
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Julfa (Azerbaijani: Culfa, Ҹулфа, جولفا) is a rayon of Azerbaijan in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Its borders upon Armenia in the North-East, and Iran in the South. Its area is 1000 km2. It has a population of 41,195. There are 1 city and 22 villages in the rayon. Established in 1930 and initially named as Abrakunus rayon, it has been called Julfa rayon since 1950. Julfa city is the rayon's capital. The names, Jolfa/Julfa are also used for several regions in neighboring Iran.
Contents
On November 28, 2014, by the decree of the President of Azerbaijan Republic, the Nahajir and Goynuk villages of Julfa Rayon were removed and added to the territory of Babek Rayon.
Geography
The rayon borders upon Armenia in the North-East, and Iran in the South. Julfa Rayon is in the east from Nakhchivan city. Damirlidagh Mountain (3368 m) is the highest point of the rayon. Summer of the rayon is hot and dry, but winter is cold. Average temperature in January is between -10 and -3°C, in July between +19 and +28°C. Amount of annual precipitation is 200-600 mm. The Alinja, Garadara Rivers and the Aras River (along the border with Iran) flow through the rayon’s territory. There are forest massifs in the mountains where trees such as oak, beech and hornbeam grow. Fauna is represented by such animals as wolf, fox and rabbit.
Population
Compared to 1980, at the beginning of the 2005 the district's population increased of about 13,177 people or a 52.4%. On average density per 1 km2 is 39 persons. Its large settlements are the Julfa city and the villages of the Yayji, Abragunus and Bananiyar.
The material and cultural heritage
On the banks of the Araz River are remains of structures belonging to the medieval Armenian settlement of Jugha, also known as Old Julfa. Its principle monument, a cemetery containing some 4000 grave markers, was completely destroyed in 2006. Believed to be still surviving are the ruins of a 13th century caravanserai - one of the largest on the territory of Azerbaijan, and the ruins of a bridge dated to the beginning of the 14th century, built by decree of Nakchivan Khan Khakim Ziya Ad-Din. There is the small Gulustan Mausoleum (13th century) near the village of Gülüstan and more mausoleums near the village of Darkənd (particularly well preserved is the Tower Mausoleum (15th century). Further inland from the river there is the fortress of Alindzha (12th-13th centuries) and a number of other monuments and ancient ruins.