Road sign at the entrance to Masally DistrictWilderness in Masally District
In the east, the district is washed by the Caspian Sea, and in the west it approaches Talysh Mountains, Burovar ridge. Height of the territory reaches 917 metres (3,009 ft). There are mineral and geothermal springs in Masally.[4] Average temperature is 2.1 °C (35.8 °F) in January, and 24.6 °C (76.3 °F) in July. The amount of annual precipitation is 600–800 millimetres (24–31 in). The Vilash is the largest river of the district. There are broad-leaved forests of Girkan type-chestnut-leaved oak, hornbeam, beech, Persian ironwood tree, Girkan boxwood, Caucasian persimmon, medlar and others in the mountainous part of the district. Total area of the district's forests equals 16,870 hectares (41,700 acres). There are 107 villages in Masally.
History
Masally district was established in 1930. Formerly, the territory of the district was part of Arkevan area of Lankaran District. Before that, the territory of the district belonged to ancient Manna and Atropatena states. It was included in Talysh Khanate in the middle of the 18th century.[5]
Politics
The head of Masally District is chief executive. Chief executives:
Safarov Azer Fattah oghlu-till September 30, 2004
Aliyev Ogtay Jalil oghlu-from September 30, 2004, to September 29, 2006
Aghayev Gazanfar Arif oghlu-since September 30, 2006[6]
Huseynov Rafil İsrafil oghlu-since April 14, 2012
Administrative structure
The center of the district is the city of Masally. The average population density is 159 people per km2. Boradigah township, Badalan, Arkevan, Banbashi, Gizilagaj, Teze Alvadi, and Chakhirli villages are the other largest population aggregates.
According to data of 2020, the population of the rayon consists of 228,977 people; 92% are Azerbaijanis and 7,9% are the Talysh people.[7]
Total
including:
Urban places
including:
Rural places
including:
men
women
men
women
men
women
228,977
116,408
112,569
51,907
26,679
25,229
177,070
89,730
87,340
Territory
The total area of the district is 72097 ha. 22783 ha (31,6%) of the territory belongs to the state. 16,663 hectares (41,180 acres) (73.1%) of this area is covered with forests, which Forest Agriculture department owns 15960 ha, and the rest 703 hectares (1,740 acres) is for the domestic economy. 440 hectares (1,100 acres) (1.9%) area is included to water fund and 4,609 hectares (11,390 acres) (20.02%) area belongs to the state reserve fund.[8]
Municipality owns 18,738 hectares (46,300 acres) (26.0%) of the area. 560 hectares (1,400 acres) of this territory is for the perspective development of municipality bodies and 1393 ha of area belongs to the reserve fund of the municipality.[8]
30,576 hectares (75,550 acres) (42.4%) of the area is private property. 26,911 hectares (66,500 acres) (88%) of the territory is privatized and 3,665 hectares (9,060 acres) (12%) belong to the local people.[8]
Economy
Masalli İndustrial Park
2,0 million manats were granted to the executive of Masally District for the acceleration of the socio-economic development in the region by the decree of the President dated 15 March 2012.[9]
Agriculture, construction, industry, transportation, and telecommunication are the cores of economy in Masally district.[10]
Productivity of agricultural products (centner/ha)
Cereal corps
14.5
22.9
23.1
23.7
24.2
25.1
including wheat
12.7
23.1
23.5
23.6
24.4
25.8
Tobacco
-
-
-
-
-
7.0
Sunflower
16.3
19.4
18.5
18.2
18.8
18.3
Potato
133
134
218
124
150
147
Vegetable
244
270
245
235
244
247
Garden plants
119
125
118
120
124
133
Fruit and berry
61.5
69.9
60.4
58.9
56.5
52.9
Grape
92.9
76.8
80.0
80.0
80.0
91.4
Tea
-
-
-
30.0
6.0
6.0
Number of cattle
Large cattle
69338
73060
74088
73007
73145
73217
including cow and buffalo
34943
36308
36619
36488
36448
36495
Sheep and goats
75678
79912
83000
82451
84769
84942
Birds
526474
496009
501041
489812
495485
509510
Bee families
3450
3714
3833
3949
4102
4325
Production of cattle products (ton)
Meat
3219
3226
3231
3264
3299
3327
Milk
42223
45289
48575
48960
49018
49872
Eggs (in thousand)
51578
52440
55200
55890
56264
56666
Wool (in physical weight)
98
99
99
99
99
99
Construction
Statistics of construction in Masally district[10]
2010
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Given into usage:
Main funds (thousand manats)
9898.0
30545.5
30428.8
15022.7
14360.7
46614.5
Houses, total area (thousand square meters)
18.5
16.4
20.3
20.3
24.9
21.0
of which private houses
13.9
16.4
20.3
20.2
24.9
21.0
Investments in main capital (thousand manat)
17948.0
24883.7
28287.9
65576.8
86206.7
111888.6
including:
construction works
17085.6
23452.2
26654.2
62268.2
81246.9
100539.3
Number of construction companies
3
6
7
5
5
3
Industry
In January–December 2015, there was 37366 thousand manats worth of goods and service production in the Masally industry. It is more 4,6 % more than the previous year. 85,1 percent of the total industrial production was goods and 14,9 percent was serviced.[8]
Transportation
In 2015, cargo transportation by automobiles was 2368 thousand ton. It is 113 thousand ton more than the previous year. Transportation of passengers was 13324 thousand persons, which is 813 thousand people more than the previous years. The total worth of transportation was 10832,4 thousand manats in 2015.[8]
Telecommunication
In 2015, the total worth of telecommunication services was 1375 thousand manats. It is 5.4% more than the previous year.[8]
Museums
Museum of History and Local Lore
The construction of the museum stated in 2014 and completed in 2016. The president Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the museum. The museum has an exhibition hall, administrative room, ideological center, fund, and drawing gallery.[11]
Museum of History and Regional Studies
The museum has more than 7000 exhibits, which illustrates the history of Masally from Eneolithic period to the 20th century. Exhibits include sculptures, carvings, drawings, clothing, photos, arts, crafts, and documents.[12]
