02/04/2012. The natural resources of the invaded Kalbajar region have been pillaged for nineteen years. The following deposits remain in the territory of Kalbajar region: exploited Soyudlu (Zod) gold deposit (total industrially significant resources – 112.5 tons), “Agduzdag” and “Tutkhun” gold deposits (total reserves – more than 13 tons); “Agyatag”, “Levchay” and “Chorbulag” hydrargyrum deposits (total industrially significant resources – 850 tons), “Gamishli” and “Aggaya” quicksilver deposits (total reserves – more than 200 tons); “Kilsali” tuff deposit suitable for building stone (total resources – 10941 thousand m3); “Keshdash” clay deposit felicitous for brick production (total reserves – 1312 thousand m3); “Kechaldag” perlite deposit used as a lightweight concrete aggregate (total reserves – 4473 thousand m3); 2 facing stones (total reserves – 2.2 m m3), “Chapli’ sand and gravel admixture deposit (total resources – 2540 thousand m3); 4 decorative onyx marbles (total reserves – 1756 tons), a nephroid deposit (reserves – 801 tons); an obsidian deposit (reserves – 2337 tons, and a listvenite deposit (reserves – 1067 thousand m3.
The region’s world-famous medicinal-balneological mineral water reserves of “Yukhari İstisu”, “Ashagi İstisu”, “Keshdak”, “Garasu”, “Tutkhun”, “Mozchay”, “Goturlusu” (total exploitation reserves – 3093 m3/day) subsist in the occupied territory.
The highest peaks of Kalbajar city which is situated in the surrounding area of a part of the range of “Murovdag”, “Shahdag”, “Vardenis”, “Mikhtokan” and “Karabakh”, and “Karabakh” plateau are “Gamish dag” (3724 m) and “Dalidag” (3616 m). Sedimentary, volcanogenic sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Jurassic, Cretaceous, Paleocene, Neocene and Anthropocene periods exist in the region’s area. The largest river of the region is “Tartar” (upstream) alongside its affluences of “Lev”, “Tutgunchay” and etc.
The “Sarsang” water reservoir that is currently under occupation was built on the “Tartar” river in 1976. The total water capacity of “Sarsang” water reservoir is 560 m m3, with its embankment in the height of 125 meters. Through the arterial canals jutted out of the right and left banks of the “Sarsang” water reservoir in which “Tartar” river was piled, 79000 hectare planting areas of the regions of Tartar, Barda, Yevlakh, Agjabadi, Agdam and Goranboy were irrigated. Since the capture of “Sarsang” water reservoir, Armenians intentionally discharge 85-90% of the annual water consumption, when water is not needed, especially during winter months. They discharge just 10-15% of the annual water norm when needed, which results with the diminution of water level and impossibility of irrigation. In addition, considerable damage is inflicted on planting areas, greeneries are desolated of thirstiness, and serious ecological tension arises. 400 thousand people settling below the wrecked water reservoir live under constantly hazardous conditions.
Kalbajar region holds pure water lakes such as “Ala” lakes, “Zalkha” lake and etc. It contains chiefly turfen, mountain meadow and mountain forest soils.
According to the last forest structure works conducted in 1988, the area of Kalbajar forest economy held 32774 hectare. Furthermore, up to 8676 ha collective farm and state farm forests, 13471 ha reserve forests located around the rivers bearing precious fish species, 15531 ha forests important of environmental protection, 274 ha greeneries, and 80 ha forest-park zone subsisted in the region.
Several trees and shrubs grown in the forests of the region have been included in the “Red Data Book” of the Republic of Azerbaijan. “Ayifindigi” and tree-like hazelnut grown in the height of 1500-2100 m above sea level are one of those trees and shrubs. Some “Ayifindigi” trees were in the height of 25 m, diameter of 48-120 cm. The wood of this tree is felled by Armenians, and taken to Armenia as a valuable furniture material.
Nearly 200 plants of more than 4 thousand various plants in the territory of Kalbajar region are medicinal.
Broad-leaved forests (oak, beech, hornbeam), forest-steppe plants are widespread in the central and northern parts of the region, while alpine and sub-alpine meadows are common in the high and partly middle upland areas. Typical faunae of these areas are mountain goat, brown bear, hog, rock squirrel, blackcock, eagle and etc.