The relief of the uyezd was mainly mountainous with most of the lowland was located along the Aras River. The highest peaks of the uyezd were located along the Karabakh Range, which made up the eastern boundary with the Elisabethpol Governorate. Kyuki-dag at rose from the Sharur-Daralagezsky Uyezd in the north. The left tributaries of the Aras flowed through the territory of the uyezd.
History
The territory of the uyezd was part of Persia's Erivan and Nakhichevan Khanates until 1828, when according to the Treaty of Turkmenchay, they were annexed to the Russian Empire. It was administered as part of the Armenian Oblast from 1828 to 1840. In 1844, the Caucasus Viceroyalty was re-established, in which the territory of the Nakhichevansky Uyezd formed part of the Tiflis Governorate. In 1849, the Erivan Governorate was established, separate from the Tiflis Governorate. It was made up of the Erivansky, Nakhchivansky, Aleksandropolsky, Novobayazetsky, and Ordubadsky Uyezds. The Ordubadsky Uyezd was abolished and incorporated into the Nakhichevansky Uyezd and the Zangezursky Uyezd of the Elisabethpol Governorate in 1868. Following administrative reforms, the northern part of the Nakhchivansky Uyezd was separated to form part of the new Sharur-Daralagezsky Uyezd in 1870. In 1918-1920, the uyezd was disputed between the First Republic of Armenia and the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. After the establishment of Soviet rule, most of the uyezd became part of the Nakhichevan ASSR of the Azerbaijan SSR in accordance with the treaties of Moscow and Kars, while the southeasternmost corner became part of the Armenian SSR.
Demographics
According to the 1897 Russian Empire Census, the population of the uyezd was 100,771, of which 64,151 were Tatars, 34,672 were Armenians, 1,014 East Slavs, and 639 Kurds. The Tatars made up the majority of the uyezd's population, including the major cities of Nakhichevan and Ordubad. The population of the uyezd was engaged in cattle breeding and gardening, especially in the Ordubad area. There were almost no plants or factories. Salt plantations produced about 250,000 pounds of salt per annum.
