is located in the southeastern part of Azerbaijan. Nakhchivan is separated from the rest of Azerbaijan by a narrow reach of a foreign country – once it became possible due to the conflict of Russian and Persian imperial interests. NAR is located on the southern slopes of the Daralaya Mountains and southwestern slopes of the Zangezur Mountains.
This is a mountainous area – over 30% of its territory is located 600-1000 m above sea level. The tallest mountains of the region are Kapudzhuk (3904 m) and Ilandag (2385 m).
The Autonomous Republic features rich deposits of marble, rock salt, limestone, plaster stone and unique mineral waters – Sirab, Badamli, Vaikhir, Nagadzhir and Gizildzhir. There are many underground waters and the region is known for the advanced craft of kagrizs construction (kagrizs – unique underground water tunnels). Kagrizs were connected to the ground by footsteps; in some, the water was simply diverted to the surface (like in modern aqueducts). Craftsmen of kagrizs construction (kan-kans) have preserved their art to the present day.
The climate in the Republic is strongly continental; temperature varies from +43C in summer to -30C in winter. Humidity is low. Flora is represented by beech, oak, walnut, willow and wild pear; there are many herbal plants. Fauna includes bears, wild boars, foxes, hares, wolves, stone martens, bezoars and Asian mouflons; birds – Caspian snow-cock, alpine accentor, crag martin and rock partridge.
Along the state border with Iran and Turkey flows the Araz River. Aside of it, there are about 40 other middle-to-small rivers (Ordubadchai, Alindzhachai, Gilanchai, Nakhchivanchai, Arpachai etc.). There is also an incredibly beautiful lake called Batabat with so-called “drifting islands”; there is an artificial lake used for the drainage of the Babek and Dzhulfa districts – it is located 1500 m above sea level, near the village of Gazanchi.
There are numerous ruins of ancient towns, towers, fortresses and mausoleums remained all over the region. This land has always been attractive to invaders because of both its important strategic position and natural deposits.
In the 4th century BC, Alexander the Great sacked and burned out the whole region. After that, Nakhchivan was annexed by Persia. In the middle of the 17th century, the Nakhchivan Khanate was formed; however, at the beginning of the 19th century the khanate was incorporated into the Russian Empire.
The city of Nakhchivan is the capital of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic of Azerbaijan. It is located on the right bank of the Nakhchivanchai River, 1000 m above sea level, 560 km from Baku. Its population is estimated at 364500. This is one of the earliest large cities of Azerbaijan and the ancient East. The history of the city dates back to the earliest ages. Archaeologists have found objects of material culture dated to the 2nd-1st millennium BC.
The residents link the history of the ancient settlements in the area of Nakhchivan with the legend of the biblical patriarch Noah, who escaped the Deluge. His ark is believed to have collided three times with mountain peaks of the Lesser Caucasus before mooring at the mountain and one of the peaks even collapsed (the mountains of Agridag, Balaagri, Ilandag, Lalngez, Gapidzhik). The residents believe that after the Deluge Noah lived and died here. Not so long ago were alive the old men (agsakkals) who assured that they knew the place of his grave. The story is so popular that the renowned painter Behruz Kengerli painted a picture of the same title – “The Grave of Noah”.
The earliest written source to mention Nakhchivan is the works of Ptolemy (2nd century). He mentions Nakhchivan under the name of “Nahsuan”. In medieval Arabian sources, the city is called “Neshava” and in the works of such renowned authors as Muhammed Nakhchivani, Hamdullah Kazvini, Katib Chelebi and Evlija Chelebi Nakhchivan is respectfully called Nahsh-i-Dzhahan (“The Beauty of the World”).
The city is located on the crossroads of ancient trade routes. Once it was a part of one of the states of ancient Azerbaijan – Athropatene (4th-3rd centuries BC). In The Early Middle Ages, the links between Nakhchivan and the countries of Asia Minor, Middle East and Transcaucasia became especially close.
The city’s wealth and geopolitical position became the reason for frequent raids from neighboring countries. As a result, Nakhchivan was often destroyed. However, the city was always rebuilt to become even more beautiful. For instance, in the middle of the 1st century AD the city was sacked and destroyed by the Byzantine Emperor Iraclion the 2nd; it was frequently sacked during the Mongol raids; it became a permanent conflict of interest between Byzantine and Arab Caliphate. In all times Nakhchivan was one of the key cities of different states – the ruling dynasties of Sadjids, Salarids, the capital of the Azerbaijan State of Atabeks Eldegezids…
In the 12th century, the population of Nakhchivan was estimated at up to 2000 inhabitants. The city enjoyed high level of trade and was famous for artisans and craftsmen: weavers, jewelers and glass blowers. However, the city was particularly famous for its architects of the famous school of Nakhchivani architecture. The volume of construction works increased substantially. According to travelers, medieval Nakhchivan housed a cathedral mosque, a large madrasah, which became a center of Muslim enlightenment, state buildings and palaces of aristocracy. Written sources mention “20 thousand houses, 70 religious buildings, 20 caravanserais, 7 baths and a few bazaars”.
French travelers Pierre Chardine and Dubois de Monpierre and British traveler Porter noted that this was a splendid city with well-preserved architectural monuments of the antiquity. Turkish traveler Evlija Chelebi was enchanted by the city’s baths with the water pools daily scattered with rose petals.
In the 15th-16th centuries, Nakhchivan was a part of the Azerbaijan States of Garagoyunlu, Aggoyunlu, and, later, Sefevids. In the 17th century, it was incorporated into the Chukhursaad Beglarbek ruled by chiefs of a military Turk tribe called Kengerli. The 18th century saw the foundation of the Nakhchivan Khanate. In 1828, according to the Turkmenchai Treaty, the Khanate was incorporated into Russia to become the center of a Russian uyezd of the same name later. In 1924, the city became the capital of Nakhchivan ASSR.
This ancient city features unique culture with the local cuisine being its inseparable part. For instance, this is the only place to possess the secrets of “Alana” – specially dried peaches filled with powdered nuts with sugar or “baligaynag” – special omelet with honey, and many others.
Nakhchivan is a homeland of the 12th century’s great architect – Adzhemi Ibn Abubekr Nakhchivani, who built the Mausoleum of Yusuph Ibn Kuseir (Gumbez Atababa), the Mausoleum of Momine-Khatun and a portal with minarets for the Juma Mosque It is generally believed that with the Mausoleum of Momine-Khatun Adzhemi painted a picture of its era. It is not a coincidence that the mausoleum is decorated with an inscription “We perish but the world stays; we die but the memory remains”. Geometric and epigraph patterns decorating the mausoleum are made with utter precision. They resemble a shining turquoise – the most popular gemstone in the East.
Historical & Cultural Sights
Ashabi-Kahf
Ashabi Kahf, which literally means the “cave people” in Arabic, is a religious place for pilgrimage. It is located 12 km far away from Nakhchivan city in natural cave between Ilandagh and Nahajir dagh. According to legend in 9-26 ayahs of “Kahf” (“Cave”) surah, the youth who wanted to get rid of the prosecution enter the cave together with the dog, Allah made them asleep, woke them up three hundred of years later, and then they come across several unusual happenings. The legend spread in Nakhchivan is almost the same. Even if there are such caves in Minor Asia and Palestine as well experts underline the substantial difference of the cave in Nakhchivan and estimate it as genuine Ashabi Kahf. Thousands of people visit this place during a year. In recent years the restoration works are held here, the conditions are improved for pilgrims, and the mosques are built.
Prophet Noah’s tomb
The Noah tomb – The architectural monument of the VIII-XII centuries, in the area of Kohnagala, in the South part of Nakhchivan. In the article “The city of Nakhchivan and the Nakhchivan uyezd” by K.A.Nikitin, the grave and tomb of his Excellency, prophet Noah was depicted as follows: “The grave of Noah is situated near the remainders of the old fortress, in the South of Nakhchivan city. The today’s image of the grave was restored in the 8th century. Today’s grave reminds the tomb not higher from the ground. Before there was a temple. The interior of the temple to go downstairs is round and was enforced with a stone pole in the center and is a vault type. According to the legend the grave of Noah is situated under it. There is no depiction of the images and decorations in the vault. The walls of the vault were whitened and the names of the travellers and pilgrimagers were written in different languages on the walls.
V.M.Sisoyev in his work “The tomb of Noah” states that the sides of the vault were in the octogonial prism form of 2,5 m. Bahruz Kangarli, the founder of the Azerbaijan realist work of Artist (1892-1922) painted the tomb of Noah from nature in oil paint which is situated in the city of Nakhchivan at the beginning of the XX century.
The area in which the tomb was situated was depicted together with the tomb of Noah in the work. There are enough more legends about the grave of Noah in Nakhchivan. According to the legend during the world storm the ark of prophet Noah struck the Ilandagh which is situated in the territory of Nakhchivan and then dropped anchor on the mountain slope near the top of Gapijig. Naming that place Gamigaya, the existence of the Nabi land summer pasture and very ancient dwelling place named Nuhdaban not far from ground on the reality of the sources resembled in the legend. In the stories connected with prophet Noah there is information that his and even his sister’s graves were in the city of Nakhchivan. I.Shopen, dyubua de – Monpere, K.A.Nikitin, V.M.Sisioyev and other investigators predicted that the tomb of Noah was in Nakhchivan. K.A.Nikitin, a Russian educationalsit who lived in the city of Nakhchivan and was busy with the pedagogical activity in the 80th years of the XIX century gathered the stories about prophet Noah relation with this ancient land by the help of local people and determined the place of his grave in Nakhchivan.
On the basis of the decision of Vasif Talibov, Chairman of the Supreme Majlis of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic “About restoration of the grave tomb of prophet Noah situated in the city of Nakhchivan” signed on June 28, 2006 considering all historical sources, the tomb was again restored and wide range construction works were carried out in the territory.
Momina Khatun Mausoleum
The monument erected by architect Ajami Nakhchivani in 1186 for the honor of Momina khatun, wife of the founder of Azerbaijan Atabaylar state,
Shamsaddin Eldaniz, is situated in Nakhchivan city. Momina Khatun tomb, one of the magnificent monuments of Azerbaijan national architecture, is one of the unique samples of Oriental architecture. With the total height of 34 m, the tomb consists of the surface and underground (sardaba) parts. The sardaba part is of ten-pointed shape. According to some researchers, Shamsaddin Eldaniz, the founder of Atabaylar state, his wife Momina khatun and his son Muhammad Jahan Pahlevan were buried in this sardaba. With its original structure sardaba holds rich artistic arrangement. Arcs are made from the central column to each of the corners. The same structure of the tomb lately was used in gothic architecture in the Western world. The outside of the tomb is of ten-pointed shape (each point surrounded with inscriptions), but it is round inside. Inside the dome of the tomb, there are four round medallions with the names of the caliphs. On the head of the monument the following words are written: “We are going, and only wind is left. We die, and only the work is kept”. The tomb had been more enriched comparing to former periods thanks to the turquoise glazed bricks included into composition with complex geometrical ornaments. The tomb is considered to be one of the masterpieces of the Middle Age architectural art thanks to the composition, completeness, delicate details and etc. Unfortunately, monumental buildings, grandiose Jama mosque, schools, madrasaas and other buildings at the nearby of Momina Khatun tomb have not been reached to our time.
Khan’s Palace
The Khan Palace – The historical architectural monument of the XVIII century in Nakhchivan. The monument built in the Eastern architectural style was the residence of the Nakhchivan khans till the beginning of the XX century. The palace was built by Kalbali khan Kangarli, the father of the last Nakhchivan khan Ehsan khan at the end of the XVIII century. The Khan Palace was built in the West of the palace complex with 3600 m2 area, according to the relief of the khan diki (the hill of khan) facing to the direction of the sunrise. In the Khan Palace complex there is a subsidiary building of 42×8 m capacity, the newly built pool, a water well, a strip of greenness, decorative and fruit trees. The building is of two storeyed. Before the palace consisted of two separate parts. The South part was considered for the administrative works and receiving very high ranked guests but the Northern part was considered for the family of the khan. The entrance to the parts was through the arched corridor of the two storeyed balcony. Between the parts there was arranged an inside passage. As the corridors were arranged before the façade it gives a special beauty to the building. The red sand covered stairs lead to the corridors.
Around the stairs were built of bricks and enforced with the wooden banisters. The total area of the Khan Palace is 382 m2, the thickness of the walls changes between 60cm-1,1m. The building was built of bricks 20x20x5 cm of size. The windows were used of the lattice system and recesses of different sizes characteristic for the Nakhchivan dwelling houses were used in all the rooms. There are three rooms on the ground floor, 8 rooms (2 halls) on the first floor and 2 mansars on the vestibules used as rooms. From the both mansars there is an exit to the open balconies over the corridors. By means of the brick stairs opened in the vestibules the people go up to the mansars. The South hall of the Khan Palace is more luxurious. A stage from couch was arranged in the South part of the hall, aimed for the guests, at 40 cm height from the floor. The windows of the couched corner were designed from floor to ceiling with the frame works but the ceiling with small mirror pieces neatily. The other walls of the hall were worked with the recesses, botanical and ploty paintings.
Later carried out restoration and reconstruction works the paintings were blotted out or were over plastered. The fire-place in the Southern wall around which was decorated with the geometric forms and pieces of mirror rise the mightiness of the hall. The building was heated by means of the two fire-places arranged in the walls. The Khan Palace has been acting as the Nakhchivan Carpet Museum since the April of 1998.
Alinjagala
Alinjagala is a symbol of grandeur and bellicosity of this land having unique nature. The castle, first of all, astonishes people with its extraordinary appearance. Castle walls starting from the feet of Alinja Mountain rise upwards as steps and entirely cover the top of mountain. Spanish diplomat Rui Gonzales Klavikho, the envoy of Castilian king III Enrique in Teymurs state during 1403-1406, depicted Alinjagala as such: “Alinjagala, situating on high and precipitous mountain, is surrounded with several walls and towers. There are vineyards, orchards, cornfields, pastures, springs and ponds within the walls and the lower parts of mountain slopes. The castle is located on the top of mountain”.
There are different opinions about the construction of the castle. Some historians think that it is 2 thousand-year castle. Alinja is depicted as strong fortress in “Kitab-i Dada Gorgud” epos as well. There is sufficient information about the castle in the works of many historians, namely Asoghik (928-1019), Nasavi (XIII c.), Sharafaddin Ali Yazdi (XV c.), Turkish traveler Evliya Chalabi (XVII c.) and others.
Alinja castle was the centre of resistance movement against the mighty monarchs. Especially, the resistance against Amr Teymur in 1386-1401 is significant. Teymur had kept the castle under siege for 14 years, and was able to take control just after the internal conflict. At present, Alinjagala is deemed as a symbol of bellicosity and heroism.
Yusif ibn Kuseyr Tomb
This architectural monument located in Nakhchivan city is also called as Atababa tomb. On the epitaph of the tomb, it was written that the tomb was built by the architect Ajami Nakhchivani in 1162, and the name of the person who buried there is Yusif ibn Kuseyr. The ayahs (sentences) from Koran are written on the wall of the monument. The tomb consists of underground and eight-pointed surface. The underground is the tomb sardaba, and the surface is of monumental type like memorial monument. The space between these settings forming the rack of building (surfaces of the tomb) was covered with geometrical-ornamental layers, and various ornaments were put on the surface. The ornaments are made of small bricks, and were fixed to the surfaces by means of cement substances. The western surface of the tomb was made up as head-vault as different from other surfaces. Ornamental composition of the building is harmonious with architectural forms. The internal dome of double roof of the monument is pyramid-shaped. To sum up, the tomb is highly artistic architectural specimen thanks to its composition, tectonic clarity, symmetrical parts and the level of engineering.
Juma Mosque
The Juma Mosque – The architectural monument in the Nakhchivan city. According to its architectural-constructive structure, the mosque is related to the XVIII century. The inscription written in Nastalig letters on the marble plate (87×57 cm) in Arabic and Persian consisting of the religious text at the beginning says that the Jafariyya mosque was restored by the initiative of Kheyrul-Haj Mahammad Jafar agha, the son of the late Haji Novruz from Nakhchivan in 1311 (1894). It also was stated in the inscription that the very Haji Jafar agha opened 2 shops to provide the needs of the mosque and the servants trying there.
Under “over the river” one understands the Bazar river one time passing the center of Nakhchivan, which was flowing from Northern-East to Southern-West and joining the Araz river. This river even was flowing in the center of Nakhchivan till the 60 years of the 20th century. In the 60th years the river was covered with the panel concrete plates and became unseen. The architect of the mosque introduced himself as “If somebody will seek the architect of the mosque after me, I am called by the name of the Imam after the eighth Imam”. It is a fact that the eighth Imam of the Shiahs is Imam Rza and the ninth Imam is Mahammad Tagi. So, the name of the architect was Mahammad Tagi. The names of two popular craftsmen whose names were known in other sources, were included to the scientific circulation by means of the inscription. One of them is Mahammad Tagi, the architect of the mosque (also he engraved the text of the inscription on the marble plate) and another one is Mahammad Saleh who engraved the inscription. The total area of the mosque is about 1000 m2. The mosque is of one minaret. The minaret was damaged in 1918 by a gun fire, when Armenians committed genocide against the Azerbaijanis in Nakhchivan. Later, the minaret was restored. It was the only mosque that acted in Nakhchivan during the Soviet Power, in general, in the autonomous republic. In 2007-2008 the mosque was capitally restored and reconstructed.
Gulustan Tomb
Being located near the Gulustan village of Julfa district, the tomb was erected in early XIII century.
The tomb is considered as one of the tower-shaped tombs of Azerbaijan. 12-faced frame of the tomb is made up with red sand and its original-shaped plinth (cube-shaped with corners cut) with planed stone. The plinth burial places at other mausoleums are located under the ground; here both levels are located above the ground. The sardaba of Gulustan tomb, distinct from other tombs of Azerbaijan, is located above the ground (on the plinth). Surfaces of the tomb are adorned with engraved geometrical ornaments and framed with decorative vaults. The part of body joining with base as well as the link to dome is surrounded by engraved girdle. The organic combination and connection of ornaments with other decorative elements serves for salient and elastic appearance of the monument.
Garabaghlar Tomb
The tomb is included into the architectural complex of Garabaghlar village in Kangarli district. Apart from Garabaghlar tomb there are also two minarets and religious building pieces between them. Since the name of Guti khatun, wife of Hulaki khan of Elkhani state, is on the head-vault, the tomb is supposed to be built for the honor of Guti khatun.
There are fundamental features of tower-shaped tombs on Garabaghlar tomb consisting of sardaba and surface parts. 12-semi-cylindrical protuberance uniting as a cluster on stone plinth makes the surface composition of the tomb. The protuberances pay the fortress-grandeur to the tomb as well as reduce the general size of the wall.
12-corner underground sardaba of the Garabaghlar tomb is stony, and the domes are made of brick. The surface is covered with red and turquoise glazed tile, and adorned with geometric-ornamental inscriptions. The inscription girdle on the top of tomb was trimmed by naskh handwriting. The inscription is white on the background of blue glazed tile. The Garabaghlar tomb is 4-head-vaulty in terms of composition feature. These vaults make the tomb 4-facade placing on the north, south, west and east. The surface of these vaults is covered with glazed tile, and is adorned with geometrical ornaments.
Imamzadeh complex
The Imamzadeh complex – The architectural monument in the Southern -Eastern part of Nakhchivan. It was formed in the XVI-XVIII centuries. It consists of 3 buildings. The compositional-tomb joined with the circled body coming from the cubic formed tower tombs outside, the basement in plan in a square form constitute it. (see the Imamzadeh tomb). The building joining the tomb in comparison a bit larger and having an entrance door from the West constitutes the central part of the complex.
According to V.M.Sisoyev, a Russian scientist, who was in Nakhchivan in the 20th years of the last century this part of the complex was considered the tomb of the Nakhchivan khans. According to the witness of the scientist, the grave of Mustafagulu khan Nakhchivanski, son of Abbasgulu khan who died in 1337 by Hijri (1918) was there. But from time to time this and other graves were destroyed. There is another tomb in the North direction a bit far from the complex. The tomb built of baked bricks was a squareshaped foundation and toward the upright was built in the polygonal form and was covered with a dome. In comparison with other buildings included to the complex this tomb is in good order. But as there is no any grave and memorial inscription to identify who the grave belonged to was impossible. The buildings included to the Imamzadeh complex made harmony and established a complete architectural ensemble. There was a cemetery of the Middle Ages around the complex. Also from time to time some of the graves in this complex were destroyed but some others even today are in good order. The epithaps belonging to the 16th century discovered there were investigated. The arched vaults built of baked bricks were come across here. From time to time the place of the necropolis was changed and passed to the hill near the monument. The members of some Mystic sectors for some period used the complex as their dwelling house, the place for praying. In general, the characteristic feature of these kinds of complexes consists of restoration of the ritual places which existed before, constructing those places after restoration and reconstruction, by building the subsidiary rooms for different services near or joining the mosques and finally establishing a religious complex.
As the Mystic sectors members used the Imamzadehs their residence, places for praying in the XVII-XVIII centuries, there was not built any khanagah in this region at that time. The architectural complex was repaired in 2004 and again was restored.
The Building of Zaviya-Madrasa
The building of Zaviya -madrasa – The historical architectural monument in the street of Zaviya, in the intersection of Heydar Aliyev avenue and Tabriz street, the city of Nakhchivan. Zaviya is one of the Mystic sector settlements having the meaning of corner, angle in Arabic. The darvishes of different sectors lived in the Zaviyas as it was in the khanagahs and gathered their followers around and spread their ideas. In the first centuries of the Islamic religion appearance, the rooms of the Christian monks, small Moslem mosques or places of pilgrimage were named Zaviya.
Zaviya acted as a complex of a religious buildings consisting of the mosque, school, holy tomb, hotel in the Western centuries. Later the holy people of the Northern Africa began to name their dwelling-houses Zaviya or Ribat together with their pupils and followers. In general, during the Middle Ages period, zaviya was one of the places of the Mystic brotherhoods followers. They also were considered the centers of religion, culture and education. Some sectors followers existing in the Middle Ages in Nakhchivan didn’t attend the mosques but built own Takyas and Zaviyas and lived there and were busy with praying. The Hurufi sector followers named such places of pray khanagah but the Baktashi and Nagshibandilar named them Zaviya.
The outer architectural image of the mosque included to the Nakhchivan architectural school, its plan structure and self composition show that it is the production of the XVII-XVIII centuries having rich construction traditions. The new building inclinations appeared in the XVII-XVIII centuries in the architecture of Azerbaijan side by side of the old building traditions. This change in the construction types mainly connected with the demand of religious problems. Though the building of Zaviya is squareshape at first glance but it consists of a complicated architecture structure. The building was built on the basement which is 1 m higher compared from the ground. The total area is 212 m2, the thickness of the walls changes between 0,9-1,5 m. The main thickness of the wall is 90 cm. It was built of bake bricks and lime solution. The bricks consist of two sizes. The yellow bricks of 20x20x5 cm were used in the construction of the main building. The red bricks of 26x13x5 cm were mostly used in the restoration of the mosque at the 2nd half of the XIX century.
The building was used as a club, a pioneers’ house, a religious office and other purposes in the XX century. Up to 2007 the Women Council of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic was situated here. It was capitally repaired and restored in 2008. Currently, the building acts as Nakhchivan Tourism Information Centre.
Duzdagh Physiotherapy Hospital
The hospital was established on the basis of ancient salt mines near the Boyukduz village of Kangarli rayon in 1979.
The bronchial asthma (respiratory diseases) and other nonspecific lung-bronchial system diseases are treated here. Weather temperature is 19-20°C and humidity varies between 23-35 percent in this underground treatment center. Oxygen is 20 percent between salt layers of Underground Duzdagh Physiotherapy Hospital locating 1173 mabove sea-level. In fact, abundant minerals and chemicals within the salt have positive effect on organism. In 2003, up-to-date restoration works were carried out in underground section of the hospital, and this section was enlarged and provided with modern equipment. In June 2008, very modern 5-star hotel started functioning on the bottom of salt mountains. All facilities have been served for guests in the hotel.
Daridagh Balneological Hospital
It was established on the basis of Daridagh mineral water mine at the outskirts of Julfa city in 1978. Various heart-vein system diseases, some other body parts, nervous system, skin, gynecological and etc. diseases, and anemia are treated.
Batabat climate health resort
Batabat is a vulnerary climate health resort zone on the slope of the Minor Caucasus at 1,700 m above sea-level.
The climate is subtropics, and it has snowy, mild winter and dry, not so hot summer. Alongside climate conditions, there are plenty of water sources with carbonate, hydro-carbonate, calcium-sodium-magnesium, and 0.5-g/l mineralization level. The Batabat water is used during the treatment of stomach-intestinal diseases. Its lake-view appearance with mild climate, fresh water and the rich flora particular to alpine grasslands positively affects the human organism.
