Azerbaijan, Astara, Azerbaijan

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Astara is a small picturesque Caspian port town, on the Iranian border, capital of Azerbaijan's southernmost Rayon. If you are coming north form Lenkoran a giant samovar by the road welcomes you to the rayon.

The town is located near the Tavalesh mountains and surrounded by a sea of rice fields. Plenty of enjoyable sandy beaches are to be found around Astara, and the water is cleaner than on the Apsheron peninsula.

Astara is an important transit point for all kinds of goods, as the numerous lorries at the border well illustrate. The pipeline coming from Abadan also enters Azerbaijan in Astara.

The area is home to a large Talysh population. The Talysh are an Indo-European people, mostly Shia Muslim, which spreads to both sides of the border along the western shore of the Caspian. During the18th century Astara was the capital of the Talysh khanate, until the local ruler Garakhan moved it to Lenkoran.

Here you can cross the border into Iran, well you cross the river Astara to the iranian half of the town, also called Astara (the Baku to Tehran bus stops in Astara). Expect long delays at the border, however entering Iran is now a lot easier than a few years ago. The Iranian government is quite eager for the Euros brought in by the tourists, although they still prefer 'package tours' to independent travelers.

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