Absheron National Park
# Absheron National Park

Absheron National Park (Azerbaijani: Abşeron Milli Parkı) is a national park of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests' ecoregion. It was established on the 8th of February 2005, on an area of 783 hectares (7.83 $km^2)$ in the administrative territory of the District of Azizbeyov in the City of Baku, on the base of Absheron State Nature Preserve.

## Fauna and flora

The Absheron State Nature Preserve was created in July 1969 in order to protect gazelles, Caspian seals and water birds that inhabit the territory. The climate of the area is semi-arid, specific to semi-desert and dry steppe. Types and phytomass of flora is poor here, plants are changed respective of water and saltiness regime of area. Sea coastal sand plants (42,6%), meadows with jigilgamish and paz grass (13,2 %), one-year saline grasses (5,2 %) etc. are spread. Ephemeras also develop well in early spring.

### List of fauna

* In dry area gazelle, jackal, fox, rabbit, badger, in Caspian waters seal and various fishes, birds such as silver gull, wheezing swan, grey and red-headed black, white-eyed black ducks, big white bittern, sandpiper, bald-coot, marsh belibagli, sea bozcha and other migrant birds have inhabited here.
* The eastern point of the Asiatic lion's range in the Trans-Caucasus was Absheron Peninsula, before the end of the 10th century.
* The Caspian tiger used to invade Apsheron Peninsula from the Talysh Mountains and Lankaran Lowland, before disappearing in the 20th century.
* The Caucasian leopard, lynx, and striped hyena were reported in this area.
