History
The
centuries-old land of Azerbaijan is richly endowed by nature. Every nook in this
country has its unique beauty, splendid colours, wonderful aroma, brilliant
wealth of flowers. In summer, when in the mountains snow is just beginning to
thaw, in the plains, the soil warmed up in the sultry sun, is scorching hot. The
flowers on the eilags (alpine meadows) are just coming out, while Mugan is
fragrant with the smell of newly-baked bread.
This page gives
the narration of the town of Imishly, which is spread over the banks of the Araz (Araks) river, at the boundary between the Mil and Mugan
plains. (The territory of the region is 189 sq. km, the population is some
104.000).
The Mil and
Mugan plains are separated by the Araz. The Araz river flows slowly and quietly,
as if it is strolling along the fields. Having taken up spacious area, it formed
a host of isles. Ancient Togai forests grow along the river banks. The forests
are abundant in vegetation. Among the host of tree varieties one can see one of
the rarest trees found on earth, the argan tree.
On the north,
there flows the rapid Kura. The green forests growing along the banks of the
Kura rub shoulders with those of the oil-derricks. The area spread between these
two rivers is called the Kudru plain by the local inhabitants. At one time it
was a boundless steppe smelling of bitter wormwood where the flocks of sheep
were grazing. The winter pastures were located at some distance from one
another. Now these winter settlements have turned into well built villages, i.
e. Sarkhanly, Buludlu, Jafarly, Muradkhanly and many others.
Up to 1938
the region had the name of Karadonlu. Now Karadonlu is a small village in the
Mugan steppe. The village of Imishly, situated on the route of the railway line
Baku-Erevan, was intensively developed, and as it grew in size, the district
centre was transferred here in 1938. At present, Imishly is one of the most
beautiful and well-built towns of Azerbaijan.
The
territory of the region has plenty of cultural monuments. Narrating about the
historical past of the people. The archaeological excavations revealed some
hosehold articles which are over three milleuia old. The finds are attributed by
the archaeologists to the KuraBAraks culture. The hills called Mukhurtepe,
Karatepe, Kiziltepe, Bahramtepe were medieval strongholds. The present name of the Badjirovan village
is consonant with that of the town of Badjrevan which had existed in the days
of the Arab invasion.
Here,
in Imishly, the mostly honoured profession is that of a specialist in
land-reclamation. In one of the town districts there is a site, called the
Melioratprs township (i. e. the specialists in land-reclamation). One of the
major tasks of land labourers from the time immemorial was soil irrigation and
leaching the age-old salinated soils. The cotton yild in these areas did not
exceed 13-15 double centners per hectare; the same outputs were taken with
grain-crops.
The
Mugan workers in the battle for rich harvest came out with flying colours. They
built up a large network of irrigation canals for leaching hundreds hectares of
salinated soils.
One
of the most beautiful places is the Bakhramtepe reservoir. From here, water
flows along the concrete bed to dozens of canals. Some people think that the
waters of the Kura and the Araz join in the vicinity of Sabirabad. Not it
is not so.
From Mingechaur,
the Kura water of the Yukhari-Karabakh canal goes to the Bakhramtepe reservoir
and there, joining the Araz waters, flows further on, to the fields and
plantations.
The
life of Imishly is closely associated with the Araz. The sand-pit located near
the Araz provides all the villages of Azerbaijan with sand. The walls of the
buildings, the concrete canals stretching out into the distance all these
are the products of the sand-pit.
The landmark of
the town is the historical-ethnographical museum, which is built according to
the national architectural style, adding to the town's beauty. The exhibits of
this museum present interesting (acts about past and present days of this area.
The outward appearance of the town has recentlz considerably-changed. The Square
of Friendship has been enlarged, the fountains appeared in the centre, the most
beautiful among these is the fountain of "Seven Beauties" and musical
fountain. On a hot summer day the fountains provide spring coolness and
freshness.
The inhabitants of Imishly are patriots of their hometown, they do everything
they can to create favourable conditions to live and work in it.
The town is beried in foliage recently many parks and flowerbed have been lain
here, luxuriant vegetation is reigned everywhere, nd if one compares with it the
Togai forest along the Araz river, the latter seem sparse woodland.
The deathless deed of the participants in the Great Patriotic War is
immortalized in the memorial complex. The staircase soaring high into the sky
along the fountains is crowned with the eternal fire to the dead soldiers. There
is a Museum of Battle Glory in the park. Four thousand men went to the war
fronts from Imishly. 2160 never came back... The memory of the brave sons of
this land will never fade.
The inhabitants of Imishly have things which they are proud of and which they
can show.
Welcome to
this fine town, built on the ancient Azerbaijan river, the Araz .