Goygol National Park

The Azerbaijani Goygol National Park lies on the northern slopes of the scenic Mount Kapaz.

The area, named Goygol in honor of the lake of the same name, became world famous thanks to its rich forests, unique nature and beauty, and the park was established in April 2008 for the conservation of the bioenvironment, the development of eco-tourism and the efficient use of natural resources. The area of Goygol National Park is 12.755 ha.

Lake Goygol is considered to be one of the most beautiful lakes in Caucasus. Translated from the Azerbaijani language, the name means 'blue lake'. The blue water in it is clean and clear. As a result of a strong earthquake that occured in the city of Ganja in 1139, Mount Kepez collapsed, thereby blocking the path for the River Ahsuchay. As a result of this collapse, the amazing Lake Goygol was formed.

In addition to the lake, the park has several small water bodies, including Lakes Zeligel, Maralgel, Aggele, Shamilgel, Garagel and so on. Most of Goygol National Park is covered by rich vegetation.

80 species of trees and shrubs are growing in the woods. The majority of the forests are eastern beech and oak, birch, Caucasian hornbeam, ash-tree, platanoides maple, tulip tree and Koch pine tree. Among the shrubs in the park, you can find wild rose, dogwood, barberry, medlar, European euonymus, and blackberries.

The fauna of Goygol National Park is represented by various birds, animals and insects, but their number is small. The most common here are bear, lynx, roe deer, common hedgehog, hare, fox, Caucasian mole, stone and pine martens. Among birds and reptiles are the black vulture, partridge, bearded vulture, snowcock, alpine chough, Rudd viper, green toad, glass-lizard, green toad and smooth snake.

Azerbaijan pays a lot of attention to environmental protection, including the conservation and breeding of rare species of flora and fauna. The Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Leyla Aliyeva, in 2011 launched a campaign for an International Dialogue for actions to protect the environment (International Dialogue on Environmental Action - IDEA). The purpose of the campaign is to attract young people of Azerbaijan to the protection of nature, particularly animals that are at risk of extinction. At the initiative of Leyla Aliyeva, in 2012 five endangered species were identified and the concept of the 'Big Five' of the Caucasus was prepared (brown bear, imperial eagle, gray wolf, gazelle and Caucasian leopard).

The campaign IDEA took measures for conserving and increasing the number of these kinds of representatives of the Caucasian fauna. A working group of experts from the IDEA Public Association, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and from the WWF representative office in Azerbaijan was established. The working group prepared an action plan for "restoration of the population of leopards in Azerbaijan" on the basis of a report by the London Zoological Society. It is planned to build a quarantine center for the breeding and subsequent release into the wild of leopards in the framework of project.

The IDEA Public Association is planning to re-integrate wisent, exterminated 100 years ago, into nature. IDEA, together with the World Wildlife Fund and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, has made an action plan for the reintroduction of wisents. According to the conclusion of international experts, the territory of the Ismayilli region, the National Park Shahdag, is suitable for the project. A center for breeding wisents will be opened in the framework of the project on this territory.

After obtaining the status of National Park, Goygol managed to save very rare species of animals and plants. Today it is one of the favorite places of Azerbaijani citizens and tourists.