Dashkesan (Azerb. Daşkəsən – cutting stone) is a city in the west of Azerbaijan, the administrative center of the Dashkesan region of the country. It is located in a mountainous area on the Koshkarchay River, 36 km southwest of Ganja and 397 km from Baku. The modern city of Dashkesan consists of three parts.

History
The second and third urban-type settlements of Dashkesan were built on the top of the mountain, on the site of a temporary geological settlement 85 km, created in 1943. Scientific research, which gave a positive assessment of the presence of iron ore minerals in the area, laid the foundation for a new city. Since 1946, the development of an iron ore deposit began, and the construction of a settlement on the site of a temporary settlement of a geological expedition. In 1948, the settlement received the status of a city.
The town of Dashkesan arose not far from the mines, on the northern slopes of the Murovdag and Shahdag ridges, at an altitude of 1600-1800 m above sea level. It began to take shape on the basis of a temporary settlement of builders and a small mining settlement, which arose in the period of preparation for the development of the richest iron ore deposits of industrial importance.

Population
According to the 1989 All-Union Population Census, 10,438 people lived in Dashkesan. Now the city has mainly Azerbaijani population.

Sights
To the south of the city is the Armenian monastery Targmanchats of the 4th century.