Lankaran

The origin of the name "Lankaran" is uncertain. One theory consider it to derive from one of the Persian words, Langarkunān ("the place for dropping the anchor(s)") or Langarkanān ("the place for weighing anchor(s)"). Both meanings simply translate as "sea port." The pronunciation shifted through the years, and Langarkunān became Lankarān or, in the even more simple Talysh pronunciation, Lankon. The other theory links it to the Talysh word lankran ("cane house").{{sfn|Akopyan|Mosanef|2013|p=9}}

It is unknown when the town of Lankaran was actually established. The French archaeologist Jacques de Morgan (died 1924) discovered extremely ancient remains in Lankaran, such as dolmens, graves, and instances of bodies seemingly exposed in a Zoroastrian manner.{{sfn|Minorsky|Elwell-Sutton|1986|p=656}}

With the death of Nader Shah (r. 1736–1747), the Talysh Khanate was founded by Seyyed Abbas, whose ancestors were members of the Iranian Safavid dynasty, and had moved into the Talish region in the 1720s during a turbulent period in Iranian history. From the founding of the khanate until 1828, it was under the suzerainty of the Iranian Zand and Qajar dynasties. In the first half of the 18th century, the Russians gained control over it for a few years during the Russo-Persian War of 1722–1723; in 1732 it was ceded back to Iran by the Treaty of Resht. During the Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813, General Kotlyarevsky, heading the southernmost Russian contingent during the war, stormed and captured Lankaran's fortress. Following the Treaty of Gulistan of 1813, it was ceded to Russia.Timothy C. Dowling [https://books.google.com/books?id=KTq2BQAAQBAJ&dq=russo+persian+war+1804-1813&pg=PA728 Russia at War: From the Mongol Conquest to Afghanistan, Chechnya, and Beyond] pp 728-730 ABC-CLIO, 2 dec. 2014 {{ISBN|978-1598849486}} Qajar Iran would later retake the city during the Russo-Persian War of 1826–1828, but was forced to return it following the Treaty of Turkmenchay (1828), which saw the definite end of Persian influence in the South Caucasus.

Under Russian rule, Lankaran, known as Lenkoran ({{Langx|ru|Ленкорань|label=none}}) in Russian, was the center of the Lenkoran Uyezd of the Baku Governorate. Following the collapse of the Russian Empire, it was a part of the short-lived Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (1918–1920), then became a part of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic following the sovietization of Azerbaijan. In 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, it became a part of independent Azerbaijan.

There are sandy beaches near Lankaran. Thermal sulphide, chloride, sodium-calcium waters of Andjin (Upper and Lower) mineral springs are situated 12 km west of the town. Also to the west are the ruins of Ballabur castle, near the village with the same name.

Vast area of this region is covered by national parks, where a variety of fauna and flora are preserved. Gizil-Agach State Reserve hosts over 250 kinds of plants, 30 species of fish and more than 220 kinds of birds. Lankaran is also known for Parrotia, or ironwood. It is naturally grown in the region and could be seen in Hirkan National Park. Local myth has it that it is the only wood that sinks in water, hence the name (ironwood). Historically it has been used for heating since it burns for a long time and is not easily extinguished. The Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolous) subspecies of the leopard, lives in the national park as well. In 1937, members of the Opilio lepidus species of harvestman were sighted in the area.{{Cite journal|journal=Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society|title=Two New Harvestman Species from Lenkoran, Azerbaijan (Arachnida: Opiliones: Phalangiidae)|author=Nataly Y. Snegovaya|year=2007|volume=14|issue=2|pages=88–92|url=http://www.museunacional.ufrj.br/mndi/Aracnologia/pdfliteratura/Snegovaya/Snegovaya%202007%20Two%20Lenkoran.pdf|access-date=2010-12-19|archive-date=2018-09-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930125512/http://www.museunacional.ufrj.br/mndi/Aracnologia/pdfliteratura/Snegovaya/Snegovaya%202007%20Two%20Lenkoran.pdf|url-status=dead}}

Lankaran has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: Csa), with cool, wet winters and very warm, highly humid summers, albeit with infrequent rain.

{{Weather box

|width = auto

|location = Lankaran (1991–2020 normals)

|metric first = Y

|single line = Y

|Jan high C = 8.7

|Feb high C = 9.1

|Mar high C = 12.4

|Apr high C = 16.9

|May high C = 23.0

|Jun high C = 28.1

|Jul high C = 30.7

|Aug high C = 30.6

|Sep high C = 26.1

|Oct high C = 20.8

|Nov high C = 14.4

|Dec high C = 10.1

| Jan mean C =5.3

| Feb mean C =5.8

| Mar mean C =8.9

| Apr mean C =13.2

| May mean C =18.9

| Jun mean C =23.6

| Jul mean C =26.3

| Aug mean C =26.1

| Sep mean C =22.2

| Oct mean C =17.2

| Nov mean C =11.1

| Dec mean C =6.8

| year mean C =

|Jan low C = 1.9

|Feb low C = 2.5

|Mar low C = 5.4

|Apr low C = 9.5

|May low C = 14.8

|Jun low C = 19.2

|Jul low C = 21.9

|Aug low C = 21.6

|Sep low C = 18.4

|Oct low C = 13.5

|Nov low C = 7.8

|Dec low C = 3.6

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 91

|Feb precipitation mm = 114

|Mar precipitation mm = 90

|Apr precipitation mm = 50

|May precipitation mm = 54

|Jun precipitation mm = 22

|Jul precipitation mm = 17

|Aug precipitation mm = 50

|Sep precipitation mm = 143

|Oct precipitation mm = 259

|Nov precipitation mm = 168

|Dec precipitation mm = 88

| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm

| precip days colour =

| Jan precipitation days =9.7

| Feb precipitation days =8.8

| Mar precipitation days =10.4

| Apr precipitation days =7.8

| May precipitation days =6.9

| Jun precipitation days =3.5

| Jul precipitation days =1.8

| Aug precipitation days =3.6

| Sep precipitation days =7.9

| Oct precipitation days =12.7

| Nov precipitation days =10.1

| Dec precipitation days =8.2

| year precipitation days =

|Jan sun = 105.4

|Feb sun = 98.9

|Mar sun = 124.0

|Apr sun = 171.0

|May sun = 226.3

|Jun sun = 282.0

|Jul sun = 306.9

|Aug sun = 254.2

|Sep sun = 189.0

|Oct sun = 127.1

|Nov sun = 99.0

|Dec sun = 108.5

|year sun =

|source 1 = NOAA (Precipitation 1971–1990){{Cite web |url=https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1961-1990/RA-VI/AJ/37985.TXT |title=Lankaran Climate Normals for 1971-1990 (WMO Station number: 37985) |website=ncei.noaa.gov |access-date=22 February 2024|publisher=National Oceanic and Atmosoheric Administration |no-pp=y |type=TXT}} Climi e viaggi{{cite web

| url = https://www.climieviaggi.it/clima/azerbaigian

| title = Clima - Lenkoran - Temperature medie (1991–2020)

| publisher= Climi e viaggi

| access-date = 29 June 2024}}

|source 2 = Hong Kong Observatory (sun only){{cite web

| url = http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/europe/gr_tu/lankaran_e.htm

| title = Climatological Information for Lankaran, Azerbaijan

| access-date = November 17, 2012

| publisher = Hong Kong Observatory

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191025200836/https://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/europe/gr_tu/lankaran_e.htm

| archive-date = October 25, 2019

| url-status = dead

}}

|date=January 2011

}}

Dominating spheres in the economy of Lankaran are vegetable-growing, tea-growing, paddy cultivating, cattle-breeding, citrus plants, beekeeping, fishing, and grain farming.[http://lankaranbc.com/content_183_en.html Business opportunities of the region] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713183454/http://lankaranbc.com/content_183_en.html |date=2011-07-13 }} Favourable humid subtropical climate, availability of good arable land, water and sufficient labour resources of the city provides a good basis for agricultural activities as well as the development of agro-processing enterprises. The city is also home to Azerbaijan's first tea plant, built in 1937.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pasha.az/en-teaworld.html|title=PASHA|website=www.pasha.az}}

Lankaran is the capital of the Talysh region (Talyshistan), the ethnic homeland of the Talysh people, and the main urban and cultural center of this people.James Minahan. Encyclopedia of the Stateless Nations: S-Z. — Greenwood Publishing Group, 2002, p. 1837.Talysh (Talishi) // Encyclopedia of the Peoples of Africa and the Middle East / Jamie Stokes. Consultants: Anthony Gorman, Andrew J. Newman — NY: Facts on File, 2009. — p. 682 — ISBN 9781438126760.{{cite web|title = UNPO: Talysh|url = https://unpo.org/members/17338|website = unpo.org|publisher = Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization|access-date = 2023-06-09|quote = Largely concentrated in southern Azerbaijan and north-western Iran, with a major population centre in the city of Lenkoran.}}

The vast majority of the population of Lankaran is Talysh,{{cite encyclopedia|url = https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/places/baltic-cis/countries/lankaran|title = Lankaran|encyclopedia = The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed.|publisher = Columbia University Press|access-date = 2023-05-22}} and the rest are Azerbaijanis and other nationalities.

The religion with the largest community of followers is Islam. The majority of the Muslims are Shia Muslims, and the Republic of Azerbaijan has the second-highest Shia population percentage in the world after Iran.Juan Eduardo Campo,Encyclopedia of Islam, p.625 The city's notable mosques include Kichik Bazar Mosque and Boyuk Bazar Mosque.{{cite web|title=Culture in Lankaran|url=http://lenkeran-ih.gov.az/page/16.html|access-date=13 November 2014|language=az}}

As of 2012, the city along with Baku and Ganja participated in Earth Hour movement.{{cite web|title=Azerbaijan to join Earth Hour |url=http://www.news.az/articles/57316 |website=www.news.az |access-date=17 November 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129231717/http://www.news.az/articles/57316 |archive-date=29 November 2014 }}{{cite web|title=IDEA campaign to hold Earth Hour action|url=http://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/2008366.html|website=en.trend.az|date=30 March 2012 |access-date=17 November 2014}}

Lankaran's cuisine has largely been affected by its multicultural history, hence the large variety of food originating during Talysh Khanate. Lankaran's signature cuisine includes lavangi, Lankaran kulcha, marji plov, white plov, pumpkin plov and turshu kebab.[http://www.azmaison.fr/az/index_az.shtml?language=1;section=11;section2=10 Azerbaijani Cuisine: Şirniyyat] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120110323/http://www.azmaison.fr/az/index_az.shtml?language=1;section=11;section2=10 |date=2008-11-20 }} {{in lang|az}}[http://www.lankaran.az/content.php?lang=en&page=metbex Cuisine of Lankaran] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706131010/http://www.lankaran.az/content.php?lang=en&page=metbex |date=2011-07-06 }}[http://abqala.az/Subtropical.html Azərbaycanın subtropik zonası] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914013432/http://www.abqala.az/Subtropical.html |date=2009-09-14 }} {{in lang|az}}

File:Nənələr folklor və rəqs ansamblı.jpg

Lankaran is home to several national folk performers, including the Bacılar (The Sisters) national Talysh folk and dance collective.{{Cite web|url=http://lankaranmks.jimdo.com/milli-folklorumuz/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304133646/http://lankaranmks.jimdo.com/milli-folklorumuz/|url-status=dead|title="Bacılar" talış folklor mahnı və rəqs kollektivi|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}

The regional channel Janub TV and newspaper Lankaran are headquartered in the city.{{cite web|title=Radio-TV yayımı|url=http://www.mincom.gov.az/fealiyyet/radio-tv-yayimi/|access-date=13 November 2014|language=az}}

File:Firtina face.jpg]]

The city used to have a professional football team competing in the top-flight of Azerbaijani football - Khazar Lankaran, which played in the Azerbaijan Premier League. Sporting venues in the city include the Lankaran City Stadium and Lankaran Olympic Sports Complex.{{cite web|title=Lankaran Olympic Sport Complex|url=http://www.noc-aze.org/national-olympic-academy/activities/olympic-complexes/lankaran-olympic-sport-complex?lang=en|website=www.noc-aze.org|access-date=18 November 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129025210/http://www.noc-aze.org/national-olympic-academy/activities/olympic-complexes/lankaran-olympic-sport-complex?lang=en|archive-date=29 November 2014}} The stadium was one of the venues for the group stages of the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.{{cite web|title=France end Asian domination|url=https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/womens/u17womensworldcup/azerbaijan2012/match-center|work=fifa.com|publisher=FIFA|access-date=6 July 2013}}

In 2012, the city won to host European Masters Weightlifting Championship.{{cite web|title=Weightlifting Masters|url=http://www.lankaran2012.az/weightlifting/masters/|publisher=Official Website of European Masters Weightlifting 2012|access-date=19 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110420131409/http://www.lankaran2012.az/weightlifting/masters/|archive-date=20 April 2011}}

The Lankaran International Airport's international terminal was opened in September 2008.[http://www.paritet.az/eyalet/566.html Lənkəranda çay plantasiyalarının sahəsi genişləndirilir]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} {{in lang|az}}

The city has rail service from historic terminals in downtown to Baku in the east and Astara in the south.{{Cite web |url=https://www.yusif.us/lankaran.html |title=Unknown Host |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226065956/https://www.yusif.us/lankaran.html |archive-date=26 February 2020 |url-status=dead}}[http://lankaran.az/content.php?page=turizm_muessiseleri Turizm müəssisələri] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090405202507/http://www.lankaran.az/content.php?page=turizm_muessiseleri |date=2009-04-05 }} {{in lang|az}}

{{Expand section|date=November 2014}}

Lankaran State University is located in the city. It was founded in 1991 and it was Lankaran's first university to start courses.

Lankaran is twinned with:{{cite web|title=Sister Cities|url=https://monterey.org/About-Monterey/Community-Partnerships/Sister-Cities|publisher=City of Monterey|access-date=2020-06-26|archive-date=2018-04-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180419120655/https://monterey.org/About-Monterey/Community-Partnerships/Sister-Cities|url-status=dead}}

• {{flagicon|USA}} Monterey, United States (since 2011)
• {{flagicon|Turkey}} Iskenderun, Turkey
• {{flagicon|Italia}} Cerveteri, Italia (since 2013)

File:Lankaran SV100334.jpg|The central street of Lankaran

File:Lankaran Springs & Wellness Resort.jpg|Lankaran Springs & Wellness Resort

File:Khan Museum Lankaran, Azerbaijan.jpg|Khan Museum Lankaran, Azerbaijan

File:Dosa Park - -Lenkeran.jpg|Dosa Park

File:Böyük bazar məscidi.png|Boyuk Bazar Mosque

File:Kiçik bazar mosque.png|Kichik Bazar Mosque

File:Лесная станция в Ленкорани.jpg|Forest Station

File:レンコラン IMG 6251.jpg|Hotel Gala

File:IMAG1398~2.jpg|Zindan Fortress

File:IMAG1401~2.jpg|Sutamurdov bridge

File:Lankon, Kaspi dənizi sahili.jpg|Lankaran, Caspian Sea Coast.

• Lankaran Lowland

{{notelist}}

{{reflist}}

• {{cite journal |last1=Akopyan|first1=Alexander|first2=Farbod|last2=Mosanef|title=Coins of Langarkunān (Lankarān) |journal=Journal of the Oriental Numismatic Society|date=2013|pages=9–11|url=https://www.academia.edu/6173542|url-access=registration}}
• {{cite journal |last1=Asatrian |first1=Garnik |last2=Borjian|first2=Habib |authorlink1=Garnik Asatrian|authorlink2=Habib Borjian|title=Talish and the Talishis (The State of Research)|journal=Iran and the Caucasus|publisher=Brill |date=2005 |volume=9 |issue=1 |pages=43–72|doi=10.1163/1573384054068169}}
• {{EI2|last1=Minorsky|first1=V.|last2=Elwell-Sutton|first2=L.P.|volume=5|pages=656–666|title=Lankoran|url=https://referenceworks.brillonline.com/entries/encyclopaedia-of-islam-2/lankoran-SIM_4643}}
• {{cite book |last1=Shahvar |first1=Soli |author1-link=:fa:سلی شاهور |last2=Abramoff |first2=Emil |editor1-last=Matthee |editor1-first=Rudi |editor2-last=Andreeva |editor2-first=Elena |title=Russians in Iran: Diplomacy and Power in the Qajar Era and Beyond |date=2018 |publisher=I.B. Tauris |location=London |isbn=978-1-78673-336-8 |pages=24–48 |chapter=The Khan, the Shah and the Tsar: The Khanate of Talesh between Iran and Russia}}

{{Commons category|Lənkəran}}

{{wikivoyage|Lankaran}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20051219044552/http://www.lankaran.az/ Official city webpage] - [https://web.archive.org/web/20051227192744/http://www.lankaran.az/index.php?lang=eng (English version)]
• [http://www.lsu.edu.az/ Lankaran State University]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060205082450/http://sunsite.berkeley.edu:8085/azerbaijan/100k/J-39-038.jpg Soviet topographic map 1:100,000 (published in 1991)]
• [https://maps.google.com/maps?ll=38.758501,48.851566&spn=0.083040,0.152967&t=k&hl=en Satellite photo via Google Maps]
• [https://archive.today/20020311155127/http://lankaran.aznet.org/lankaran/history_eng.htm History]
• [http://lankaran.aznet.org/lankaran/economy_eng.htm Economy]
• {{GEOnet2|32FA881505703774E0440003BA962ED3|Lankaran (as Lənkəran)}}

{{Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Lankaran

Category:Port cities in Azerbaijan

Category:Districts of Azerbaijan

Category:Populated places on the Caspian Sea

Category:Populated coastal places in Azerbaijan