SAKI

formerly Sheki, or (until 1968) Nukha city, north-central Azerbaijan. It is situated on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus Range. Ski, one of the oldest cities in Azerbaijan, was a trading centre on the road to Dagestan. In the 18th and 19th centuries it served as the capital of the khanate of Sheki, which was ceded to Russia in 1805; the last khan died in 1819. Ski has a number of buildings of historical interest, among which are the palace, mosques, and baths. The city has some light industry, including silk weaving. Pop. (1991 est.) 63,200.