Discovering the regions Azerbaijan’s Hajibala BADALLI Professor resorts DESPITE ITS RELATIVELY SMALL SIZE, THE REPUBLIC OF AZErbaiJAN IS RICH IN RESORT AND RECREATIONAL RE- SOUrcES CONSISTING OF faVORABLE CLIMATE, ABUNDANCE OF MINERAL WATER SPRINGS, DEPOSITS OF THERA- PEUTIC MUD, THE UNIQUE NAFTALAN OIL AND A PICTURESQUE NATU- RAL SETTING, INCLUDING THE saND BEacHES OF THE CasPIAN COasT. New building of the Naftalan resort is worth indicating that there par if not better than leading for- volcanic mud. are nine climatic zones in eign mineral water brands. Resorts are usually classified It Azerbaijan, each of which Therapeutic mud holds a special on the basis of their therapeutic has its own profile of SPA-treatment, place among natural resort factors. factors as mountain, seaside and and more than 200 groups of miner- It is indispensible in the treatment balnealogical, i.e. those based on al water springs of different chemi- of rheumotological, neurological mineral waters and mud. They can cal compositions with a combined and gynecological diseases, etc. also be of various profiles: those daily output of 20 million liters. Most of Azerbaijan’s therapeutic specializing in the treatment of car- Many of these springs are on a mud deposits are rich in silts and diovascular, gastrointestinal, liver, 58 www.irs-az.com Sanatorium in Shusha before occupation rheumatological, gynecological and an important precondition of 2. Lesser Caucasus, including re- and other diseases. There are re- prophylaxis is the protection of the sort areas of Yukhari and Ashagi gions in Azerbaijan possessing natural environment. Istisu, the Tutgunchay complex, a wide range of therapeutic fac- The world today is paying ever- the Shusha-Turshsu-Shirlan re- tors, including Absheron, Lan- growing attention to the treatment sort area and the Naftalan resort karan-Astara, Guba-Khachmaz, of diseases using natural means – mainly the acidulous waters Shusha-Istisu and others. There and factors, while the application of rich in mineral substances; are conditions in all of these re- medicines is treated with increasing 3. The Nakhchivan Autonomous gions for the establishment of caution. Besides, sustained use of Republic, including the resort multi-type resorts. certain medicines may develop de- areas of Sirab, Badamli, Batabat, Azerbaijan has favorable condi- pendence on them. Vaykhir, Daridag; tions also in terms of healthy nutri- Therapy using natural factors 4. The Caspian coast; tion of the population as a whole in resort conditions is viewed as 5. The Kura-Aras lowland. and the people undergoing treat- the most effective way of recover- ment at resorts in particular. There ing one’s health and work capacity, Greater Caucasus are agricultural sectors in the coun- calming down the nervous system This region, which includes Gakh, try enabling it to produce a suffi- and strengthening immunity. Gabala, Oguz, Ismayilli, Guba, Dava- cient supply of products rich in vi- From the standpoint of the de- chi and Shamakhi Districts, has doz- tamins and substances that are use- velopment of SPA and resorts sector, ens of hot, warm and cold low-salt ful for human health. These include Azerbaijani territory may be divided sulfurous water springs. Of these, livestock and fish breeding, grain in five regions: the mineral springs of Ilisu in production, horticulture, tea-grow- 1. Greater Caucasus, including re- Gakh District, Chukhuryurd and ing, etc. At the same time, it must sort areas of Ilisu, Chukhuryurd Chagan in Shamakhi District and be remembered that the prophy- and Galaalti – mainly sulfurous Diyalli in Ismayilli District should laxis of diseases may prevent many and hydro-sulfuric mineral wa- be used for therapeutic purpos- problems at the stage of treatment, ters; es. Additionally, the picturesque www.irs-az.com 59 Discovering the regions landscapes, clean air and refreshing applied to the treatment of a num- meters above sea level. The clean water springs of this region have a ber of kidney diseases, small stones, mountain air and the ultraviolet soothing, wholesome and remedial salts and hypostasis of urinary tracts, solar radiation combine well with effect. At present, there is a trade pyelocystitis, chronic hepatochole- the numerous therapeutic min- union resort Shafa in Gakh District. cystitis, gastritis, etc. Attending phy- eral springs. Istisu is known for its It would be a good idea to expand sicians recommend and prescribe healing properties well beyond it and create new SPA in the district. this water both for drinking and as Azerbaijan. People from Asia Mi- The Galaalti resort is located in baths. The author of this article has nor, Iran, Afghanistan, the Ara- a woody area on the Caspian coast. personally witnessed the falling out bian Peninsula, Egypt have been It is situated 100 km from Baku on of stones of different forms and sizes coming here for centuries. First the territory of Davachi District at after the use of the Galaalti water for scientific researches of the impact an absolute altitude of 600-700 several days. In fact, some stones of natural factors of the Istisu resort meters. There is a source of low-salt were so sharp that they could easily on people’s health were carried out hydrocarbonate-calcium, sodium cut a hand. in 1928. The mineral water from lo- and magnesium waters Naftusya Taking this into account, it might cal resorts has a very high output here that contain naphthenic acids. be worth setting up a museum of rate and is prescribed both for drink- The mountains, the forest and the kidney stones in Galaalti that would ing and as baths. It has been proven sea combined with mineral waters probably be unique in the world. that the Istisu resorts provide effec- have a comprehensive wholesome Lesser Caucasus tive treatment of liver, gastrointes- effect on the organism. The results The Yukhari Istisu, Ashagi Is- tinal, metabolic system and kidney of scientific researches and clinical tisu and Tutgunchay resorts are lo- diseases. observations demonstrate that the cated in a picturesque mountainous The Shusha-Turshsu-Shirlan Galaalti waters can be successfully terrain at an altitude of 1,800-2,200 resorts. The city of Shusha is lo- Istisu sanatorium in Kalbajar before occupation 60 www.irs-az.com cated in the basin of the Gargar doctoral prescriptions with the aim the treatment of rheumatological, river at an altitude of 1,300-1,500 of rinsing the gastrointestinal tract. gynecological and urological dis- meters above sea level. It is sur- The Naftalan resort is located eases, post-traumatic complications rounded by a picturesque area with in the vicinity of Ganja. The Nafta- and skin diseases. uniquely healthy air. People suffer- lan oil is delivered to the town of ing from general weakness, ane- Naftalan from surrounding deposits Nakhchivan Autonomous mia, chronic bronchitis, cardiac and is used for therapeutic purpos- Republic insufficiency, closed tuberculosis es. The oil from Naftalan looks like Of the resorts of this region lo- have been coming here for centu- ordinary oil and is slightly thicker cated at an absolute altitude of ries and, after spending a couple and heavier than fuel oil. It is rich 1,000-1,400 meters, the Batabat, of months in Shusha, returning in healthy substances, including Badamli, Sirab, Vaykhir and Daridag home fully recovered. sulfur-nitrogenous compounds, resorts deserve special mention. The Shusha resort should be naphthenic and aromatic hydro- These places are very picturesque, studied and developed in conjunc- carbons, a number of organic have prolific orchards, clean air and tion with the resort areas of Isa and non-organic compounds, mineral water springs of different Bulagi, Turshsu and Shirlan. Until and naphthenic acids. The Nafta- nature. Nakhchivan is perhaps 1967, Shusha was only considered a lan oil has been used medicinally a world leader for the number climatic resort, while after the con- since ancient times, while doctoral of therapeutic mineral water struction of a pipeline for the acidu- supervision was introduced in 1896. springs on such a small territory. lous, hydrocarbonate, magnesium, Naftalan is widely used in the Waters from the Badamli and Sir- calcium and iron mineral water from form of local and general baths, ap- ab springs are successfully applied the Shirlan spring, it received the plied to a sore place, and used as a to the treatment of liver, gastrointes- status of a climatic and balnealogic paste, sunlamp, phonophoresis, etc. tinal and urinal tract diseases. Under resort. This water is consumed on Naftalan is successfully applied to strict doctoral control, the unique www.irs-az.com 61 Discovering the regions c) subtropical resort areas of Lan- karan, Masalli, Astara and Me- shasu. The coastal zone of Khudat- Yalama-Nabran stretches all along the Caspian coast for over 20 km and is entirely covered with forests. The combination of sea and forest climate has a soothing effect on the nervous system, regulates the car- diovascular and respiratory systems. Proceeding from this, it would be appropriate to establish a mod- ern sanatorium and resort network specializing in the treatment of the said diseases on this territory. There are quire a few recreational and health facilities around the Nabran settlement on the seaside. In addi- tion, there are several mineral water springs in this zone. The Absheron Peninsula is characterized by oceanic climate and, at the same time, has hydro- gen-sulfide (Surakhani) and ther- mal-sulfur (Shikhov) water springs, significant reserves of underground iodine-bromide waters, as well as arsenical water of the Daridag min- and patients go into them to receive high-quality healing mud (Masazir) eral water spring is used in the treat- treatment for chronic bronchitis and and valuable volcanic mud (Gobust- ment of many diseases of joints, bronchial asthma. an-Alat). It is also worth adding to muscles and the nervous system.