Happy TravellerWelcome to Mingachevir, the fourth-largest city in Azerbaijan and a hidden gem in the heart of the country. With a population of about 106,000, Mingachevir is often called the city of lights because of its hydroelectric power station on the Kur River, which divides the city down the middle. But there’s so much more to discover in this historic and vibrant city.
History:
Mingachevir has a rich archaeological history that extends from the eneolith era (3000 BC) to the AD 17th century. The city was wrongfully presented as an ancient settlement by Adolf Berge, chairman of the Caucasus archaeological committee, in 1871. After this, Mingachevir remained out of archaeologists’ attention until the mid-1930s when archaeological research resumed as part of the construction of the hydroelectric power station. Over 20,000 historical monuments were found during the excavations, including the most ancient written monuments in Caucasian Albanian alphabet. Historical sources indicate that the ancient Silk Road ran via Mingachevir.
Economy:
Mingachevir is one of the most important cities in Azerbaijan in terms of energy, industry, science, education, and culture. The city is home to the Mingachevir fish farm, which farms three types of fishes, including carp, silver carp, and sturgeon. The construction of the Mingachevir Dam creating the Mingachevir reservoir and Mingachevir Hydro Power Plant was completed in 1953. The hydroelectric power station’s soil dam, whose total capacity is 15.6 cubic kilometers of water, is one of the highest dams in Europe that was constructed through sprinkling. The reservoir feeds two channels of the 172 km-long Upper Qarabag Channel and the 123 km-long Upper Sirvan Channel, which are used to irrigate 10,000 square kilometers of area in the steppes of Mil, Mugan, and Sirvan.
Culture:
Mingachevir has a rich cultural heritage, including the Davudova Mingacevir State Theatre, which was established on the basis of folk theatre in 1969. The city is also home to the Mingachevir Historical Museum, which has two branches – Martyrs’ Memorial and Independence Museum. The museum has 14,461 exhibits. The city is also home to Mingachevir Gallery, which includes 310 works of art by Azerbaijani and Russian artists, including works by Mikhail Vrubel and Ilya Repin. Mingachevir has many parks, including Sahil Park and Friendship Park.
Sports:
The city has one professional football team, Energetik, competing in the top-flight of Azerbaijani football – the Azerbaijan First Division. The city also contains high modern rowing Kur Sport and Rowing Centre, which was renovated and unveiled in 2010. The venue expected to host canoe sprint at 2015 European Games.
Education:
Mingachevir State University, founded in 1991, is the oldest Azerbaijani educational institution in the city. The city also includes the local branch of the Azerbaijani Teachers Training Institute.
Twin towns – sister cities:
Mingachevir is twinned with Gölbaşı, Turkey (2007), Polotsk, Belarus (2012), Kars, Turkey (2013), Afula, Israel (2015), Kahramanmaraş, Turkey (2017), and Orhangazi, Turkey.
Come and discover the hidden treasures of Mingachevir, Azerbaijan’s city of lights on the Kur River. With its rich history, vibrant culture, and stunning landscapes, Mingachevir is a must-visit destination for any traveler’s bucket list.
