Aznakayevsky District (; ) is a territorial administrative unit and municipal district of the Republic of Tatarstan within the Russian Federation. The district is located in the southeast part of the republic. As of 2020, 60,129 people resided in the district. Of these 4,264 resided in urban settlements and 17,482 in rural settlements.
The district was formed on October 30, 1931. In February 1963 the Aznakayevsky district as an administrative unit was abolished and its territory was transferred to Almetyevsky District. In January 1965 the district was restored as an administrative unit of the Tatar Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic.
Industrial enterprises are mainly concentrated in the city of Aznakayevo which serves as the administrative center of the district. The Romashkino Oil Field is located in the district, a result of which has been the attraction of many enterprises specializing in mechanical engineering and metalworking, light and food industries, as well as oil and gas production companies to the region.
Mount Chatyr-Tau (321.7 m above sea level) is located in the Aznakaevsky district. The mount is the highest geographic feature in Tatarstan.
Geography
The district borders the Muslymovsky, Sarmanovsky, Almetyevsky, Bugulminsky and Yutazinsky districts of the republic. To the east it borders the Bakalinsky and Sharansky districts of Bashkortostan.
The Aznakayevsky district encompasses a total land area of 2143.3 km². The district is located in the south-east of Tatarstan in the forest-steppe zone of the Eastern Trans-Kama region. The topography of the region is an elevated plain extends from the threshold of the Ural Mountains on the Bugulma plateau and occupies the northeast section of the Bugulma-Belebey Upland (Mount Chatyr-Tau is a landmark of the region and the highest point of Tatarstan).
Coat of arms and flag
The falcon depicted on the district coat of arms symbolizes the region and its inhabitants. Its black silhouette and highly raised wings in the form of a rapidly gushing fountain are a symbol of the oil reserves that provide the foundation of the regional economy. At the same time, the flying bird emphasizes the continuation of cultural traditions and the spiritual continuity preserved by many generations of local residents. Silver is a symbol of purity, perfection, peace and mutual understanding. The agricultural development of the district is reflected by a gold stripe. The color green symbolizes nature, health, ecology, life growth. Red is a symbol of labor, strength, courage and beauty.
The flag of the Aznakayevsky municipal district was developed on the basis of the district coat of arms. The flag presents itself a rectangular panel, divided horizontally into three unequal stripes which repeat the image of the coat of arms.
History
The district is named after its administrative center Aznakayevo. The word "Aznakayevo" comes from Bashkir word «Аҙна» which means "week, weekly".
Bashkirs have traditionally resided on the territory of the district. There is also a group of unique archeological burial monuments from the 14th century located in the district. These are small Muslim cemeteries characterized by stone tombstones bearing Arabic inscriptions upon them and deep grave pits as well as a pronounced Muslim ritual elements. These sites differ markedly in comparison to typical burial sites of the area, which are usually earthen burial grounds without grave structures, distinguished by simple shallow burial pits, a predominant southwestern orientation of the head of the deceased and a clear fixation with pagan remnants in early Muslim rituals. Such burials may indicate the presence of sedentary ethnic groups in the region as early as the 14th century, but no evidence of a single settlement monument or settlement has been found near these cemeteries.
After the Bolsheviks came to power in 1918, selsoviets and volost executive committees were formed in the districts. Until 1920, these entities were part of the Bugulma uezd of the Samara Governorate and the Menzelinsky uezd of the Ufa Governorate. From 1920 to 1930, the territory was included in the Bugulma canton of the TASSR.