Lankaran-Astara region, on the far South-East of Azerbaijan, is located between Talish mountains till the Caspian Sea. This is sub-tropical and exclusively pictorial land, famous with long-livers, unique nature, old traditions and distinctive culture.

Masalli

Masalli – is an ancient district, located in the main way from Baku to Iran. It was part of ancient state Athropathena. On one side, it has Talish Mountains, on the other side the Caspian Sea with lots of rivers passing through the territory of the district and flowing in.

The center of the district – Masalli city, named after tribes masal that used to live here.

Masalli is famous with its unique flora. Lignum vitae, beech, hornbeam, alder are growing here. The famous Gizilaghach preserve, as well as hunting ground of Girmizi village, where you van enjoy hunting forest animals and birds, are located here.

The main sight of the district is the medicinal springs, particularly Istisu, which is in a very pictorial mountain area. Thousands of people come here not just to get treated of rheumatism once and forever, but also to find relief of skin diseases, including psoriasis, as well as just to have a rest and to take the pleasure of the beauty of local nature. One can add a small waterfall with thermal waters and a suspension bridge to the amenities of this mini-Paradise.

There are a lot of interesting architectural-historical monuments in Masalli as well – Tower Erikvan, Seid Sadig’s mausoleum, ancient mosques, as well as one of a kind bath.

Lerik

Lerik district is one of the most pictorial places of Azerbaijan, located at the very highland of Talish mountains. The highest points of it are Kumur-goy (2493m) and Gizurdu (2433m). Here one feels like touching son during the day and moon during night.

In summer time is warm – temperature is +20° – +25° C, it is frequently raining in autumn and roads to remote villages become impassable.

Nature was generous to Lerik, granting it majestic mountains, impassable forests, crystal rivers and raging waterfalls.

The great French writer Dumas once visited this land and later was delightfully describing own impressions.

The popular resort areas are Buludul and Zaringala, famous with untouched beauty and purity of springs. One can hunt wild boar, fox, hare and game-birds in forests and along Lerik river. This is the place where the leopard, recorded in the Red Book, lives in forest beyond the reach of human.

The history of Lerik counts thousands years. Archeological excavations discovered a cave settlement of Stone Age.

There are a lot of historical monuments here. A special attention deserve mausoleums of Oji Seyid (XIV), Baba Hasan, Caliph Zakariyya, ancient settlement «Giz Yurdu» at the altitude of 2438 m near village Mistan, as well as ancient sculptures of ram – the symbol of prosperity and plenty.

However Lerik is famous not just with its historical monuments. It is also famous with ling-livers, among which famous Shirali Muslimov lived 167 years which is world record. Nowadays, there are dozens of people with age more than a century.

Lankaran

This district is on the Lankaran valley. Climate here is damp-subtropical with hot dry summer and rainy autumn. Most of the territory of the district is covered with forests, famous with relic trees. Lignum vitae, silk wattle, eucalyptus, corkwood, velvety birch, gircan box and relic deciduous oak that can be up to 40-45 meters high. This land is famous with its subtropical specimens too – tea, persimmon, feijoa and citruses.

The seacoast of Lankaran is attractive for tourists with its wonderful sandy beaches. This land is famous with its hot springs that cure most severe ailments.

There are Girkan National park and Gizilaghaj National Park on the territory of the district where pheasants, swans, partridges, white head eagles and other rare types of birds inhabit.

Lankaran is very ancient land. First, settlement of man located here is attributed to the late Stone Age. There were times when on the bank of Lankaran-chay river a castle and light house were build – this is where later the Lankaran city appeared, which became a capital of Talish khanate already in XVIII century.

There are a lot of cultural-historical monuments in the district– Kichik Gala mosque, minaret Guldasta, old bath of Haji Mirza, magnificent Khan’s Palace, ancient tower Abilyar, Sheikh Zahid’s Tower; the ruins of heroic castle Ballabur are still there to the west of the city.