Qarqarçay

Qarqarçay
Canyon of the Qarqarçay
Map
Location
CountryAzerbaijan
Physical characteristics
MouthKura
 • coordinates
40°09′32″N 47°32′06″E / 40.15889°N 47.53500°E / 40.15889; 47.53500
Length115 km (71 mi)
Basin size1,490 km2 (580 sq mi)
Basin features
ProgressionKuraCaspian Sea

The Qarqarçay (Gargarchay) or Karkar (Armenian: Կարկառ) is a river located in Azerbaijan, in the drainage basin of the Kura. Parts of the river flow through the Nagorno Karabakh. Its length is 115 kilometres (71 mi), the area of the basin is 1,490 square kilometres (580 sq mi).[1] The river begins on the Karabakh Plateau at an altitude of 2,080 metres (6,820 ft) and is formed by the confluence of the rivers Zarysly and Khalfali.[1] The main tributaries are Ballyja, Badara and Daghdaghan. The Qarqar is fed by rain, snow and underground waters.

The Askeran fortress is situated on the banks of the Qarqar.

Hydronym

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Qarqarçay, romanized as Gargarchay, consists of the name Gargar and the Turkic suffix -chay (Azerbaijani: -çay), meaning "river".[2][verification needed] German scientist Heinrich Hübschmann explains that Karkar (Armenian: Կարկառ) is etymologized from Armenian – meaning “heap of stones”.[3]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Azerbaijan Soviet Encyclopedia (1979), vol. 3, p. 70
  2. ^ Sushinskaya, Irina Mikhaylovna (2008). Функциональная и структурно-семантическая типология эргонимов для обозначения субъектов в украинском и испанском языках (in Russian). Культура народов Причерноморья. p. 167.
  3. ^ Hübschmann, Heinrich (1904). Die altarmenischen Ortsnamen. Mit Beiträgen zur historischen Topographie Armeniens und einer Karte. Verlag von Karl J. Trübner. p. 439.