Akhar-Bakhar

Akhar-Bakhar National Park (Axar-Baxar) is a national park in the Ajinohur steppe of northwestern Azerbaijan, covering about 239 square kilometres across the Samukh, Yevlakh and Gakh districts. It was created by a presidential order dated 14 July 2025 and was opened at a ceremony in Gakh district^[1]. Its stated aims are to expand the protected-area network, preserve biodiversity, promote ecotourism and involve local communities in conservation^[1].

The park was created partly to restore the goitered gazelle to its historical semi-desert and dry-steppe range. At the opening, 10 gazelles, two wild cats (jungle cat and wildcat) and four birds of prey, two golden eagles, a steppe eagle and a white-headed vulture, were released into the Ajinohur steppe^[1]. 20,000 fish, 5,000 trout and 15,000 carp, were released into the Ayrichay River^[1].

The Ajinohur steppe is a dry-steppe and semi-desert landscape. Planting at the park has used species chosen for the local climate and soil: Eldar pine, black pine, Scots pine, olive, sessile oak, Arizona cypress and pyramidal cypress^[1].

The park lies on the Ajinohur steppe, a low, open plain in the foothill belt south of the Greater Caucasus, at the edge of the Kura lowland of Azerbaijan.

The Ajinohur steppe has a dry continental climate typical of the semi-desert and dry-steppe zone of the Kura lowland, with hot summers and cool winters and low rainfall.

The Ajinohur steppe has long been used as pasture, and it is historically known in Azerbaijan as one of the main habitats of the goitered gazelle.

Akhar-Bakhar is one of Azerbaijan's newest national parks. It was established by presidential order on 14 July 2025 and formally opened in October 2025 with the release of animals and a tree-planting campaign^[1].

The main draw is the open steppe itself and its reintroduced gazelles and birds of prey. At the opening, guests toured the park's territory and natural surroundings^[1]. No trails are described in the sources.

The park lies in the Gakh, Samukh and Yevlakh area of northwestern Azerbaijan; the nearest town is Samukh, about 20 km away. Ecotourism is among the park's stated goals^[1].

Conservation is the park's founding purpose: reintroducing the goitered gazelle, restoring ecosystems through planting and releases of wild cats and birds of prey, and protecting biodiversity while involving local communities^[1].