Absheron National Park Explained

Absheron National Park Abşeron Milli Parkı
Coordinates:	40.2836°N 50.3594°W
Area:	783ha
Governing Body:	Republic of Azerbaijan Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources
Designation1 Date:	February 8, 2005

Absheron National Park (Azerbaijani: Abşeron Milli Parkı) is a national park of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests' ecoregion.^[1] It was established on 8 February 2005, on an area of 783ha in the administrative territory of the District of Azizbeyov in the City of Baku, on the base of Absheron State Nature Preserve.^{[2] [3]} The park is the mostly visited by from foreign visitors.^[4]

Fauna and flora

The Absheron State Nature Preserve was created in July 1969 in order to protect gazelles, Caspian seals and waterbirds that inhabit the territory. The climate of the area is semi-arid, specific to semi-desert and dry steppe. Types and phytomass of flora is poor here, plants are changed respective of water and saltiness regime of area. Sea coastal sand plants (42,6%), meadows with jigilgamish and paz grass (13,2 %), one-year saline grasses (5,2 %) etc. are spread. Ephemeras also develop well in early spring.

List of fauna

• In dry area gazelle, jackal, fox, rabbit, badger, in Caspian waters seal and various fishes, birds such as black headed gull, greater black headed gull, whooper swan, mute swan, mallard, northern shoveler, tufted duck, eurasian teal, great egret, grey heron, great cormorant, eurasian coot, eurasian curlew, dunlin, sandpiper, sanderling, grey plover, ringed plover, kentish plover, marsh harrier, long-legged buzzard, little owl and other migrant birds have inhabited here.
• The eastern point of the Asiatic lion's range in the Trans-Caucasus was Absheron Peninsula, before the end of the 10th century.^[5]
• The Caspian tiger used to invade Apsheron Peninsula from the Talysh Mountains and Lankaran Lowland, before disappearing in the 20th century.^[5]
• The Caucasian leopard, lynx, and striped hyena were reported in this area.^[5]

See also

• Nature of Azerbaijan
• National Parks of Azerbaijan
• State Reserves of Azerbaijan
• List of protected areas of Azerbaijan

External links

• Absheron National Park Official Website - Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan
• National Parks: Absheron National Park - Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan

Notes and References

1. Web site: Conservation International . Ecosystem Profile: Caucasus . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080725052824/http://www.cepf.net/xp/cepf/where_we_work/caucasus/full_strategy.xml . 2008-07-25 . 2017-07-26.
2. Web site: Azerbaijan National Parks . www.tourism.az . dead . 2009-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090213095213/http://tourism.az/?menu=6&submenu=50&lang=eng . 2009-02-13 .
3. Web site: Tourism Azerbaijan . www.tourism.az . dead . 2009-04-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090414204820/http://www.tourism.az/ . 2009-04-14 .
4. Web site: 2024-04-23 . Azerbaijan notes growth in number of visitors to national parks . 2024-04-29 . Azernews.Az . en.
5. Book: Heptner, V. G. . Sludskij, A. A. . 1972 . 1992 . Mlekopitajuščie Sovetskogo Soiuza. Moskva: Vysšaia Škola . Mammals of the Soviet Union. Volume II, Part 2. Carnivora (Hyaenas and Cats) . Smithsonian Institution and the National Science Foundation . Washington DC . 1–732.