Ilisu State Nature Reserve was established on February 20, 1987, by decree number 57, with an area of 9345 ha.

It is located on the south side of the Greater Caucasus (Gakh), between Zagatala and Ismayilli Reserve, at an altitude of 700–2100 metres.

The area was expanded by the decree of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Azerbaijan Republic dated March 31.

The village of Ilisu is located on the Kurmukh-chai River, the basin of which was a special area of Tsuket.

The population mainly consisted of Tsakhurs and professed Sunni Islam; Azerbaijanis and Georgian Ingiloites also lived.