Göygöl National Park, National park in Goygol District, Azerbaijan.
Göygöl National Park is a protected forest area located on the northern slopes of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, covering approximately 12,755 hectares of woodland. The terrain sits at around 1,969 meters elevation and consists mainly of dense mountain forests with varied tree species.
The area was established as a state reserve in 1925 with initial protection of 6,739 hectares, then was designated as a national park in April 2008. This reclassification expanded the protection status and improved the management of the forest ecosystem.
The park's name comes from Lake Göygöl, meaning "Blue Lake" in Azerbaijani. A 2015 documentary titled "Göygöl Milli Parkı" was produced on the initiative of IDEA, an environmental public association, and premiered at the Nizami Cinema Center in Baku, attended by Leyla Aliyeva, vice-president of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.
The park lies in Goygol District on the northern slopes of the Lesser Caucasus, between roughly 1,000 and 3,060 metres, with the main entrance near the town of Goygol west of Ganja. Trails climb through forest to Lakes Göygöl, Maral and Zəli, so sturdy footwear suits the slopes. Camping and fires are only allowed in designated areas.
The forest hosts around 420 plant species, including 20 varieties found nowhere else, such as Chestnut-Leaved Oak and Caucasian Ash trees. These rare tree types make the park a valuable site for plant researchers and nature enthusiasts.
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