Quba Rayon

Quba (also known as Guba and Kuba) is a rayon in northeastern Azerbaijan. The capital (Quba) is located on the Kudyal River at 41.37°N, 48.50°E.

The fertile region surrounding Quba is best known for its production of apples and the city area of Quba is known for its fine carpets.

Demographics

Population

*Azeris 78% (111.540) Fact|date=April 2008
*Lezgins 16% (22.800) Fact|date=April 2008
*Jews 4%(5.720) Fact|date=April 2008
*Other 2%(2.860)

Languages

*Azeri
*Lezgi
*Juhuri (Judeo-Tat)

Religion

*Muslim 94%
*Judaism 4%

General information

Names of cities and big settlements

# Guba city
# Gonagkend district
# Gyrmyzy gesebe district

Names of border districts, countries and territories

Ismailly, Shamakhi, Gabala, Gusar, Khachmaz, Devechi, Khizi

History

Quba rose to prominence in the 18th century. In 1747, Nadir Shah ruler of the Persian Empire was assassinated. That same year, Hussein-Ali, the Shah's designated ruler of the region, decided to attempt to unify the Azeri khanates as an independent kingdom. One of his first moves was moving his capital from the less defensible Xudat in the Caspian lowlands to Quba where he built a fortress. Hussein-Ali died in 1757 and his son Fatali Khan carried on the expansion with Quba reaping the riches of its status as the capital. Some ruins from this period, such as Çirax Qala on the way to Baku, exist today.

However, upon Fatali Khan's death in 1789, the city's fortunes began to turn. In 1806, the khanate was occupied and soon absorbed by the Russian Empire. As a result the city fell into the background of Azerbaijani history and politics.

The city is home to several historic buildings, including the Juma Mosque (Cuma Məscid or Friday Mosque), Ardabil Mosque (Ərdəbil Məscid) and old hamman (baths).

The region is home to a segment of Azerbaijan's Mountain Jews, particularly the community of Krasnaya Sloboda, located just across the river from Quba.

Information on historical and architectural monuments

Ancient Guba contains at least 134 historical and archeological monuments. These include the temple of Fire-worshippers of Khynalyg village, tombs of Aghbil village dating back to the 16th century, the Mosques Sakinekhanum, Hadjy Djafar and Djuma of Guba which dates back to the 19th century, and the Gumbezli bath house.

The district also has a bust of the state official A.A. Bakikhanov, the monument of great poet Samed Vurghun and a statue of The Unknown Soldier, dedicated to the memory of those killed in the Great Patriotic War.

Noted residents

*Abbasqulu aga Bakikhanov (also spelled Bakixanov or Bakikhanli), a 19th century writer, historian and philosopher, is one of the most well known men in Azerbaijan and lived in town Amsar. His museum is located Quba city.
*Sakina Akhundzadeh, playwright, was born here in 1865

Population

* 1989 - 20,800
* 2004 - 42,300 (estimated)