Gerincekhez

Gerincekhez is a small village located in the Khachmaz District of the Republic of Azerbaijan, approximately 35 kilometres south of the district centre, Khachmaz. The village sits at an elevation of about 140 metres above sea level and lies on the banks of a minor tributary of the Kura River, which provides irrigation for the surrounding agricultural lands. According to the most recent census conducted by the State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan in 2020, the population of Gerincekhez was 512 residents, predominantly ethnic Azerbaijanis with a small minority of Talysh speakers.

Historically, Gerincekhez was founded in the early 18th century during the period of the Karabakh Khanate, and it became a part of the Russian Empire following the Treaty of Gulistan in 1813. The village was officially incorporated into the administrative division of Azerbaijan SSR in 1920 and later into the Khachmaz Rayon during the Soviet administrative reorganisation. During the Soviet era, the village was collectivised and a kolkhoz operated primarily in horticulture and animal husbandry.

The local economy today is largely based on apple and cherry orchards, with several small-scale farms producing fruits for both domestic consumption and export to neighbouring districts. A primary school serves the educational needs of the local children, and a small health post provides basic health services. Periodic cultural festivals celebrating the harvest season are a feature of village life, reflecting a blend of Azerbaijani and Talysh traditions. The landscape around Gerincekhez is typified by rolling hills and patchwork fields, offering insights into the rural agricultural practices of the region.