Executive power of Khizi district

Khizi (Xızı) is the least-populous rayon of Azerbaijan. Its capital is the village of Xızı. The rayon has a remarkable variety of landscapes. On the flat Caspian coast there are irrigated cattle and chicken-breeding lowlands around Shurabad. West of Giläzi, the Xızı road climbs gently through stripily coloured semi-desert landscapes known as the Candy Cane Mountains.Around 10 km west of Xızı town, the green, heavily forested hills around Alti Agach which has been declared an Altyaghach National Park. The national park is home to the rare East Caucasian Tur, a mountain dwelling goat antelope found only in the eastern half of the Caucasus Mountains.

History of Khizi

History tells us that here in Altiagach in the reign of Shirvanshahs was one or the caravan parks. And since the word “agach” means not only “tree” but the measure of the length (7km) which was once in use, then this name in translation means “six Agach”, that is 42 km, which equals the distance from here to the city of Shamakhi. Long time ago here was an ancient caravan route linking Shamakhi with Derbent. And nowadays fans of hiking make their hikes from here towards Maraza and Shamakhi.At the distance of 8 km from Khizi there is one more recreation area where the house-museum of the founder of Azerbaijan drama Jafar Kabbarli is located. Furthermore Khizi is a homeland of another outstanding representative of Azerbaijani literature – poet Mikail Mushfig, whose house-museum is also opened to visitors.

There are many historical monuments in the area. Beshbarmag tower built in the middle of VIII century is located at the distance of 9 km from the center of the district. The ruins of an ancient city of V century are at the distance of 8 km and Mausoleum of Sheikh Heydar is located in Alashirin village in 5 km from the center of the district.At the distance of 104 km from Baku is located a mountainous region with mild and dry climate called Khizi. Here is one of the main natural attractions of the area – the legendary mountain Beshbarmag, named so because of its unusual shape resembling a stone hand menacingly raised over the ancient caravan route. At the top among the teeth of the rocks are the ruins of the sanctuary “Hyzirzinde” (eternally living Hizir).