Lankaran (Azerbaijani: Lənkəran, (listen)ⓘ, Talysh: Lánkon) is a city in Azerbaijan, on the coast of the Caspian Sea, near the southern border with Iran.

[6][7][8] Historically, the city was the capital of the Iranian province of Talish, of Talysh Khanate, of Russian Lenkoran uezd, of Provisional Military Dictatorship of Mughan, of Mughan Soviet Republic and of Talysh-Mughan Autonomous Republic.

The French archaeologist Jacques de Morgan (died 1924) discovered extremely ancient remains in Lankaran, such as dolmens, graves, and instances of bodies seemingly exposed in a Zoroastrian manner.

[10] With the death of Nader Shah (r. 1736–1747), the Talysh Khanate was founded by Seyyed Abbas, whose ancestors were members of the Iranian Safavid dynasty, and had moved into the Talish region in the 1720s during a turbulent period in Iranian history.

In the first half of the 18th century, the Russians gained control over it for a few years during the Russo-Persian War of 1722–1723; in 1732 it was ceded back to Iran by the Treaty of Resht.

[11] Qajar Iran would later retake the city during the Russo-Persian War of 1826–1828, but was forced to return it following the Treaty of Turkmenchay (1828), which saw the definite end of Persian influence in the South Caucasus.

Thermal sulphide, chloride, sodium-calcium waters of Andjin (Upper and Lower) mineral springs are situated 12 km west of the town.

Vast area of this region is covered by national parks, where a variety of fauna and flora are preserved.

Dominating spheres in the economy of Lankaran are vegetable-growing, tea-growing, paddy cultivating, cattle-breeding, citrus plants, beekeeping, fishing, and grain farming.

[16] Favourable humid subtropical climate, availability of good arable land, water and sufficient labour resources of the city provides a good basis for agricultural activities as well as the development of agro-processing enterprises.

[31] The city has rail service from historic terminals in downtown to Baku in the east and Astara in the south.