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40-656: Baku Mosque or Kriushi Mosque is a mosque built in 1907–1909 in Astrakhan . During the Soviet rule, the minaret of the mosque was destroyed, and in different years its building was used as a storehouse and cultural center. In 2002, with the efforts of the Azerbaijani diaspora in Astrakhan, the mosque was restored and presented to the Azerbaijani community and named Baku Mosque. The mosque

80-477: A "vast (more than 300 km (120 sq mi)) and extremely diverse area of western substeppe ilmens (WSI)" which, because of the varying degrees of wetness and salinization, house a wealth of flora and fauna. The origin of these mounds and ilmens is still debated: the early suggestion that they were formed by aeolian (wind) action is now discredited, and now they are thought to have arisen either underwater or through river flow. The second zone, in

120-607: A base for the first Russian venture into Central Asia . In 1702, 1718 and 1767, it suffered severely from fires; in 1719 it was plundered by the Safavid Persians; and in 1830, cholera killed much of the populace. The Astrakhan Kremlin was built from the 1580s to the 1620s from bricks taken from the site of Sarai Berke . Its two impressive cathedrals were consecrated in 1700 and 1710, respectively. Built by masters from Yaroslavl , they retain many traditional features of Russian church architecture, while their exterior decoration

160-424: A significant role in the relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. As the latter's government has been heavily investing into the wellbeing of the city, Astrakhan has recently begun to symbolize the friendship between both countries. In 2010 a bridge was constructed with donations from Azerbaijan, which was named "Bridge of Friendship". Moreover, Azerbaijani government sponsored secondary school number 11, which carries

200-525: Is twinned with: Volga Delta The Volga delta has grown significantly in the 20th century because of changes in the level of the Caspian Sea. In 1880, the delta had an area of 3,222 km (1,244 sq mi). Today the Volga Delta covers an area of 27,224 km (10,511 sq mi) and is approximately 160 km (100 mi) across. It has a classical "delta pattern". The delta lies in

240-532: Is also a military airbase nearby ( Astrakhan (air base) ). Astrakhan is linked by rail to the north ( Volgograd and Moscow), the east ( Atyrau and Kazakhstan ) and the south ( Makhachkala and Baku). There are direct trains to Moscow, Volgograd, Saint Petersburg , Baku , Kyiv , Brest and other towns. Intercity and international buses are available as well. Public local transport is mainly provided by buses and minibuses called marshrutkas . Until 2007 there were also trams, and until 2017 trolleybuses. Astrakhan

280-412: Is considered endangered. The delta is a major staging area for many species of water birds, raptors and passerines . Although the delta is best known for its sturgeons , catfish and carp are also found in large numbers in the delta region. The lotus has been adopted as the motif of the national flag of the neighbouring Kalmyks , since it is a venerated symbol in their Buddhist beliefs – they are

320-664: Is definitely baroque . In March 1919 after a failed workers' revolt against Bolshevik rule, 3,000 to 5,000 people were executed in less than a week by the Cheka under orders from Sergey Kirov . Some victims had stones tied around their necks and were thrown into the Volga. During Operation Barbarossa , the German invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941, the A-A line running from Astrakhan to Arkhangelsk

360-400: Is incorporated as the city of oblast significance of Astrakhan —an administrative unit with the status equal to that of the districts . As a municipal division , the city of oblast significance of Astrakhan is incorporated as Astrakhan Urban Okrug . The city of Astrakhan is further subdivided into four administrative districts: Kirovsky, Leninsky, Sovetsky and Truskovsky. Astrakhan is

400-477: Is located on Bakinskaya Street in Astrakhan. According to historical data, in 1903, 238 people from Astrakhan gathered and decided to build a mosque on the place of the prayer house, which had been operating since 1897 and was located in the territory of the local resident Nijemetdinov, in the Kriushi region. In 1907, the Astrakhan governorate allowed the construction of a stone mosque on the 2nd Bakaldinskiy street on

440-512: Is served by Narimanovo Airport named after Soviet Azerbaijani politician Nariman Narimanov . It is managed by OAO Aeroport Astrakhan. After its reconstruction and the building of the international sector, opened in February 2011, Narimanovo Airport is one of the most modern regional airports in Russia. There are direct flights between Astrakhan and Aktau , Istanbul , St. Petersburg and Moscow. There

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480-643: Is the largest city and administrative centre of Astrakhan Oblast in southern Russia . The city lies on two banks of the Volga , in the upper part of the Volga Delta , on eleven islands of the Caspian Depression , 60 miles (100 km) from the Caspian Sea , with a population of 475,629 residents at the 2021 Census. At an elevation of 28 meters (92 ft) below sea level , it is the lowest city in Russia. Astrakhan

520-500: Is the lowest city in Russia. Astrakhan features a continental cold semi-arid climate ( Köppen climate classification : BSk ) with cold winters and hot summers. Astrakhan is one of the driest cities in Europe. Rainfall is scarce but relatively evenly distributed throughout the course of the year with, however, more precipitation (58%) in the hot season (six hottest months of the year). The below sea-level elevation and long distance from

560-475: The United Russia candidate was declared the winner, organizers of the 2011–2012 Russian protests supported the defeated candidate, Oleg V. Shein of Just Russia , in a hunger strike . Protestors, buoyed by celebrities who support the reform movement, attracted 5,000 people to a rally on April 14. Astrakhan is the administrative center of the oblast . Within the framework of administrative divisions , it

600-473: The arid climate zone, characterized by very little rainfall. The region receives less than one inch of rainfall in January and July in normal years. Strong winds often sweep across the delta and form linear dunes. Along the front of the delta, one will find muddy sand shoals, mudflats, and coquina banks. The changing level of the Caspian Sea has resulted in three distinct zones in the delta. The higher areas of

640-575: The Khan granted him permission to do, the Khan then gifted Battuta with fifteen hundred dinars, many horses, and a dress of honor. In 1556, the khanate was conquered by Ivan the Terrible , who had a new fortress, or kremlin , built on a steep hill overlooking the Volga in 1558. This year is traditionally considered to be the foundation of the modern city. In 1569, during the Russo-Turkish War , Astrakhan

680-552: The Volga River in southern Russia; which Battuta refers to as the river Athal. He then claims the Athal is, "one of the greatest rivers in the world". In the winter, the Khan stays in Astrakhan. Due to the cold water, Özbeg Khan ordered the people of Astrakhan to lay many bundles of hay down on the frozen river. He does this to allow the people to travel over the ice. When Battuta and the Khan spoke about Battuta visiting Constantinople, which

720-567: The archiepiscopal see of one of the metropolitanates and (as Astrakhan and Yenotayevka) eparchies of the Russian Orthodox Church , its only other suffragan being Akhtubinsk. There is also a Catholic community, served by the Church of the Assumption of Mary (Astrakhan) . There is also a substantial Muslim population made up of Astrakhan Tatars and other Muslims. At 1777 the white Mosque

760-528: The center of the Astrakhan metropolitan area . The name is a corruption of Hashtarkhan, itself a corruption of Haji Tarkhan ( حاجی‌ ترخان )—a name amply evidenced in the medieval writings. Tarkhan is possibly a Turco-Mongolian title standing for "great khan ", or "king", while haji or hajji is a title given to one who has made the Islamic requisite of pilgrimage to Mecca . Together, they denoted "the king who has visited Mecca". The city has given its name to

800-548: The city was developed as a Russian gate to the Orient. Many merchants from Armenia , Safavid Persia , Mughal India , and Khivan Khanate settled in the town, giving it a cosmopolitan character. For seventeen months in 1670–1671, Astrakhan was held by Stenka Razin and his Cossacks . Early in the following century, Peter the Great constructed a shipyard here and made Astrakhan the base for his hostilities against Persia, and later in

840-497: The delta proper, generally has very little relief (usually less than one metre), and is the site of active and abandoned water channels, small dunes and algal flats. The third zone is composed of a broad platform extending up to 60 km (37 mi) offshore, and is the submarine part of the delta. The delta has been protected since the early 1900s, with one of the first Russian nature preserves ( Astrakhan Nature Reserve ) having been set up there in 1919. Much of its local fauna

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880-487: The dismemberment of the Soviet Union . In the present day, Astrakhan is a large industrial centre of the Volga country, Russia, with a population of over 500,000. Starting nearly 400 years ago and continuing to the present day, Astrakhan has been Russia's main center of fish processing. The market for fish is a large component of the economy in this city. Owing to shared Caspian borders, Astrakhan recently has been playing

920-480: The famous Berber Muslim traveler, began his pilgrimage from his native city of Tangier , present-day Morocco to Mecca. Along the 12,100-kilometer (7,500 mi) trek, which took nearly 29 years, Battuta came in contact with many new cultures, which he writes about in his diaries. One specific country that he passed through on his journey was the Golden Horde ruled by the descendants of Genghis Khan , located on

960-483: The first zone are known as "Baer's mounds," named after researcher Karl Ernst von Baer who worked in this region. These mounds are linear ridges of clayey sands, ranging from 5 to 22 m (16 to 72 ft) in height, and averaging about 8 m (26 ft). They are between 0.4 and 10 km (0.2 and 6 mi) in length. Between the Baer's mounds are depressions that fill with water and become either fresh or saline bays;

1000-457: The height from the bottom of a depression to the peak of its neighboring mound ranges from 10 to 15 m (30 to 50 ft). These depressions, called " ilmens " (from Russian through Finnish, "small lake," as in Russia's Lake Ilmen ), used to form part of the early, very deep river delta but gradually became separated from it. Because of their isolation from the fresh waters of the Volga, they are becoming increasingly saline. Together they form

1040-554: The interior Pacific Northwest of the United States. The mean annual temperature amplitude (difference between the mean monthly temperatures of the hottest and coldest months) is thus equal to 29.7 °С (85.5 °F) so the climate is truly continental. Spring and fall are basically transitional seasons between summer and winter. Astrakhan has five institutions of higher education. Most prominent among these are Astrakhan State Technical University and Astrakhan State University . The city

1080-496: The land bequeathed by Nijemetdinov. The mullah of the mosque was also appointed in May. Construction started in June 1907 and ended in 1909. The school operated male and female schools. In 1938, during the Soviet rule, the mosque was closed and the building was used as a storehouse. In 1940, the minaret of the mosque was destroyed. In 1950, they planned to use the building as a gymnasium. Therefore,

1120-401: The name of the national leader Heydar Aliyev , as well as a children's entertainment center named "Dream". Apart from that, a park has been built in the center of Astrakhan which is dedicated to friendship between the two countries. In the last 5 years Astrakhan has been visited by top Azerbaijani delegations on several occasions. After fraud was alleged in the mayoral election of 2012 and

1160-419: The ocean of Astrakhan significantly influences the climate. Winters are cold with average January temperature -3.6 °С (25.5 °F). Summer temperatures in Astrakhan are one of the highest in Russia with average Jule temperature 26.1 °С (79 °F) and may reach 40 °С (104 °F) and higher. The summers are much hotter than found further west on similar latitude in Europe and worldwide for 46°N with the notable exception of

1200-410: The particular pelts from young karakul sheep , and in particular to the hats traditionally made from the pelts. Colloquially, the city is known by the short form Astra . Another popular nickname is The Caspian Capital . Astrakhan is in the Volga Delta , which is rich in sturgeon and exotic plants. The fertile area formerly contained the capitals of Khazaria and the Golden Horde . Astrakhan

1240-612: The same century Catherine the Great accorded the city important industrial privileges. The city was held from 1707 by the Cossacks under Kondraty Bulavin during the Bulavin Rebellion until they were defeated the next year. A Kalmuck khan laid an abortive siege to the kremlin several years before that. In 1717, it became the seat of Astrakhan Governorate , whose first governors included Artemy Petrovich Volynsky and Vasily Nikitich Tatishchev . Six years later, Astrakhan served as

Baku Mosque - Misplaced Pages Continue

1280-498: The same period, elements of both the Luftwaffe 's KG 4 and KG 100 bomber wings attacked Astrakhan, flying several air raids and bombing the city's oil terminals and harbor installations. In 1943, Astrakhan was made the seat of a Soviet oblast within the RSFSR . The oblast was retained as a national province of the independent Russian Federation in the 1991 administrative reshuffle after

1320-488: The second floor inside the building was demolished. A fire in the building in 1987 damaged its floor and interior. In 2002, the mosque was renovated with the efforts of the Azerbaijani community of Astrakhan province. After the renovation, the mosque was named "Baku" and was presented to the Azerbaijani community. In addition to Azerbaijanis, other Muslims also pray in the mosque. Astrakhan Astrakhan ( Russian : Астрахань , IPA: [ˈastrəxənʲ] )

1360-427: The sole European people of Mongolian ( Oirat ) origin. The delta has been designated an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International because it supports significant numbers of many waterbird species, including breeding squacco herons , great white egrets and Dalmatian pelicans . Industrial and agricultural modification to the delta plain has resulted in significant wetland loss. Between 1984 and 2001,

1400-608: Was besieged by the Ottomans, who had to retreat in disarray. A year later, the Ottoman sultan renounced his claims to Astrakhan, thus opening the entire Volga River to Russian traffic. The Ottoman Empire , though militarily defeated, insisted on safe passage for Muslim pilgrims and traders from Central Asia as well as the destruction of the Russian fort on the Terek River . In the 17th century,

1440-575: Was built, and the Baku Mosque was built in 1907–1909. According to the results of the 2021 Census, the population of Astrakhan was 475,629. At the time of the official 2021 Census, the ethnic makeup of the city's population was: The city lies on two banks of the Volga, in the upper part of the Volga Delta, on eleven islands of the Caspian Depression, 60 miles (100 km) from the Caspian Sea. At an elevation of 28 meters (92 ft) below sea level, it

1480-520: Was first mentioned by travelers in the early 13th century as Xacitarxan . Tamerlane burnt it to the ground in 1395 during his war with the Golden Horde . From 1459 to 1556, Xacitarxan was the capital of Astrakhan Khanate by the Astrakhan Tatars . The ruins of this medieval settlement were found by archaeologists 12 km upstream from the modern-day city. Starting in A.D. 1324, Ibn Battuta ,

1520-467: Was formerly the capital of the Khanate of Astrakhan (a remnant of the Golden Horde ) of the Astrakhan Tatars , and was located on the higher right bank of the Volga, seven miles (11 km) from the present-day city. Situated on caravan and water routes, it developed from a village into a large trading centre, before being conquered by Timur in 1395 and captured by Ivan the Terrible in 1556 and in 1558 it

1560-646: Was moved to its present site. The oldest economic and cultural center of the Lower Volga region, it is often called the southernmost outpost of Russia, and the Caspian capital. The city is a member of the Eurasian Regional Office of the World Organization United Cities and Local Governments . The great ethnic diversity of its population gives a varied character to Astrakhan. The city is

1600-578: Was to be the eastern limit of German military operation and occupation. The plan was never carried out, as Germany captured neither the two cities nor Moscow . In the autumn of 1942, the region to the west of Astrakhan became one of the easternmost points in the Soviet Union reached by the invading German Wehrmacht , during Case Blue , the offensive which led to the Battle of Stalingrad . Light armored forces of German Army Group A made brief scouting missions as close as 35 km to Astrakhan before withdrawing. In

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