Balakan

Balakan is the most northwestern town in Azerbaijan, located in the valley of the Balakanchay river, on the border with Georgia. It is a small town with a quiet centre, known mainly as a gateway to the Zaqatala forest reserve and the mountain communities of the Greater Caucasus that preserve languages and traditions distinct from the rest of the country.

The Balakan-Zaqatala region has the highest density of temperate forests in Azerbaijan: oaks, beeches and walnuts cover the Caucasus slopes up to above 2,000 metres. The markets of Balakan sell walnuts, mountain honey and aromatic herbs not easily found elsewhere in the country. The Thursday morning bazaar is the liveliest of the week.

The population includes Lezgi and Avar communities, peoples of the northern Caucasus with their own languages distinct from Azerbaijani. This diversity gives the town a different character from the cities of the south and east of the country.

Balakan was historically part of the sphere of influence of the mountain feudal lordships of the northern Caucasus before being integrated into the Russian empire in the 19th century. The current border with Georgia crosses territory that for centuries had no clear administrative division between the two sides. The forest area was declared a nature reserve in the Soviet era and protects one of the last continuous stretches of temperate forest in the southern Caucasus.

• Zaqatala Forest Reserve A few kilometres from Balakan, with oak and beech forests, mountain rivers and trails. The fauna includes bears, lynx and wolves; sightings are rare but tracks are visible in snow season.
• Balakan Bazaar The local market with products from mountain communities: honey, walnuts, herbs, dairy products and local craft items. Most lively on Thursdays and Saturdays.
• Katekh village One of the best-preserved traditional architecture villages near Balakan, with wooden and stone houses characteristic of northwest Lezgi communities.

Photo gallery

Balakan is about 350 km northwest of Baku. Regular buses run from Baku (5–6 hours) and also from Zaqatala (30 minutes). By car, follow the E60 and then the road through the Alazan valley. The border with Georgia is a few kilometres away; crossing to Lagodekhi is possible with the appropriate documentation.

Spring (April–June) and autumn (September–November) are the best times to visit the Balakan region: mild climate, colourful forests and trails in good condition. Summer is hot in the valley but cool at altitudes above 1,500 m. Winter closes some accesses to mountain villages.