Hirkan National Park was established by decree of the President of Azerbaijan Republic on the 9th February, 2004 on the basis of the Hirkan State Reserve. The National Park is located in the south-east of Azerbaijan on the area of 21435 hectares of Lankaran and Astara administrative districts. The National Park consists of natural region of Talysh Mountains characterized with their unique natural complex.

The main purpose of establishment of the National Park is complex preservation of nature of this area, protection of relict and endemic plants of Tertiary period and characteristic flora and fauna types, included into the Red Book of Azerbaijan Republic, monitoring of environment, awareness of the public and also creation of favorable conditions for researches, tourism and recreation. Hirkan National Park mainly consists of forests and chain of mountains from the north-west till the south-east. 

 


8.5 hectares
of land for sale
just for
US $15'300 per hectare

Details here

Although the territory of Hirkan National Park is not high in vertical zone (up to 1 000 meters), change of forests in the mountains from the south to the west can be observed: forests with mainly chestnut leave oak, demiragaj (ferrous tree), hornbeam, Silk Acacia, Caucasus palm-tree, Hirkan pear-tree, Caucasus date-palm are located in the lowland. In the mountainous landscape mainly such trees as demiragaj and partially chestnut leave oak get thin and replaced by beech (Fagus) forests.

Such trees as fern, Hirkan broom, Hirkan box tree (Buxus), holly and different lianas are wide spread in the forests of the National Park. The majority of these plants are included into the Red Book of Azerbaijan.

 
One of the main characteristics of subtropical forests of Lenkoran zone where Hirkan National Park is located is well preservation of Hirkan type forests and wide spread of many endemic, rare trees and bushes here. Forests of Hirkan account for 150 out of 435 types of trees and bushes.

Avifauna of Hirkan National Park is represented by black stork, gravestone eagle, lumpsucker pelican, partridge, Talysh pheasant, Hirkan tomtit, hawk, etc., which are included into the Red Book of Azerbaijan.

As a whole, wealth of flora of the area created favorable conditions for habitation of many animals here.  Fauna of the park is very rich. Among mammals there are such animals as the leopard, sika deer, lynx, badger, wild boar, roe, raccoon, etc.

Hirkan National Park is also famous with its rare natural monuments where more than 100 natural and cultural monuments exist. One of the most well-known natural forest monuments is located near Zungulesh village of Astara district. Proximity of the Caspian Sea, diversity of the nature creates favorable conditions for the development of ecotourism in the region and investigation of the environment.

For the purpose of including the Hirkan forests into UNESCO's World Natural and Cultural heritage List, documents substantiated from the scientific point of view have been prepared and introduced to the UNESCO Secretariat.