Siyazan District () is one of the 66 districts of Azerbaijan. It is located in the north-east of the country and belongs to the Guba-Khachmaz Economic Region. The district borders the districts of Shabran, Khizi, and the exclaves of Quba. Its capital and largest city is Siyazan. As of 2020, the district had a population of 42,600. Etymology The name is believed to be derived from Persian, meaning "White Women", a reference to the original inhabitants, Tats. Another theory links the name with the Persian word siyah, meaning "black". History The villages of Agh Siyazan ("White Siyazan") and Gara Siyazan ("Black Siyazan") formerly existed in the territory of the Siyazan District and the city was formerly called Gizilburun (). When the Baku-Shollar Pipeline was being constructed between 1911 and 1916, people started moving in from the surrounding villages as a labour force. The "Gizilburun" railway station also played a role in the transformation of these places into residential area. Between 1938 and 1939, geologists discovered oil deposits in the Siyazan District. Subsequently, the first oil wells were drilled in the area, which attracted more people to move into the district. The Siyazan District was part of the Absheron District until 11 February 1939, when it was combined with the neighbouring Khizi and Siyazan as a single district. Gizilburun, later renamed Siyazan in 1954, was its centre. However, in 1959 it was abolished and merged into the Shabran District. The district was re-established on 2 April 1992 by the order of Supreme Soviet of Azerbaijan. Geography The district is located in the north-eastern part of Azerbaijan, in Samur-Davachi lowland, on the shore of the Caspian Sea near the Greater Caucasus. The mountain ridge crosses the western part of the lowland extending along the Caspian Sea. Its latitude is . The well-known mountain of Besh Barmag is located in the district with an altitude of . Geological structure and sedimentation detected in the territory of the district is dated to Paleogene and Neogene periods. Surface of the lowland's south-western part makes up a semi-desert landscape. Meadow and forest landscapes are typical for its mountainous parts, where grey meadow and chestnut-brown soils spread. The Atachay and Gilgilchay Rivers flowing through the territory of the district spring from mountainous parts. Snow and rain swell the rivers. The climate in the district is moderately warm and dry subtropical. The average temperature is from 1.5 °C