Gabala

Gabala State Nature Sanctuary is a forest sanctuary on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus in Gabala district, Azerbaijan, covering about 397 square kilometres. It was established in 1993^[1].

The sanctuary was set up to preserve forest landscapes and the rare and endangered animal species that live in them.

Forest covers the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus here, giving way to meadows higher up.

The sanctuary lies on the southern flank of the Greater Caucasus, a steep mountain range cut by river valleys.

The southern Greater Caucasus slopes are humid in the foothills and cooler and snowier at higher elevations.

The mountains of Gabala district have long been used for grazing and timber.

The sanctuary was established in 1993 and covers about 39,700 hectares^[1].

The sanctuary's draw is its forest landscapes; no trails are documented in the sources.

The nearest town is Gabala, about 15 km away. No visitor facilities are documented in the sources.

Protection of the forest and its rare species is the sanctuary's founding purpose, under Azerbaijan's ministry for ecology and natural resources.