Gobustan District

Gobustan District (Azerbaijani: Qobustan rayonu) is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the east of the country, in the Mountainous Shirvan Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Shamakhi, Khizi, Absheron, and Hajigabul. Its capital and largest city is Gobustan. As of 2020, the district had a population of 47,400.

The name "Gobustan" originated from the word "Gobu", which means "beam" in Azerbaijani. The district's administrative centre, Gobustan was known as Maraza until 2009.

The territory of the district belonged to the neighbouring Shamakhi District from 1930 until 1943 and later again from 1960 until 1990 when it was re-established.

The ancient dwellings used to be in the area of present Gobustan which date back to the Stone Age.

There are six kindergartens in the region, and 30 general education schools. There are 23 cultural centers, 3 hospitals and medical enterprises, and 6 big and middle enterprises.

According to official statistics the district of Gobustan had a population of 46,100 inhabitants at the beginning of 2018; 36,700 of whom were living in rural areas.

The territory of Gobustan ranges from the shores of the Caspian Sea to Mount Gijaki, the highest point in the eastern part of the Greater Caucasus. Peculiarities of Gobustan landscape are the rocks of lime and sandstone in the middle territory of the district, and mud volcanoes, which are located in the east part of Gobustan.

Gobustan has a semi-arid climate, with mild winters and hot summers. There are rain seasons in early spring and late autumn. The annual precipitation is 250 mm. The western part of Gobustan is more precipitated in autumn and spring than the eastern part of Gobustan since Kura lowlands cover the western part. The highest mean temperature is observed in July (32 C) and the lowest mean temperature occurs in January (-1.6 C).