Geography of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan, often spelled Azerbaidzhan, is a landlocked nation in eastern Transcaucasia formally known as the Azerbaijani Republic (Azerbaijani Azärbayjan Respublikasi). The Greater Caucasus Mountain range to the north, the Caspian Sea, which forms a natural boundary to the east, and the vast flatlands in the middle of the country are the three dominant physical features of Azerbaijan. Its borders are Russia to the north, the Caspian Sea to the east, Iran to the south, Armenia to the west, and Georgia to the northwest.

It is located along the southern flanks of the Caucasus Mountains. The Naxçvan (Nakhichevan) exclave, which is bordered by Armenia, Iran, and Turkey, is situated southwest of Azerbaijan proper. The largely Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is part of Azerbaijan, was the centre of a protracted conflict between that country and Armenia beginning in 1988. The historic city of Baku (Bakı), which has the best harbor on the Caspian Sea, serves as the capital of Azerbaijan.

Physical Features

Azerbaijan is a nation in the Caucasus, located at the meeting point of East Europe and West Asia. Azerbaijan's entire land area is about 86,600 square kilometers, less than 1% of the land area of the former Soviet Union, making it roughly the size of Portugal or the US state of Maine. Azerbaijan has the largest amount of land area among the three Transcaucasian countries. Azerbaijan has a diverse range of landscapes due to its broken topography, drainage patterns, climatic changes, and sharply defined altitudinal zoning of flora.

Lowlands make up more over two-fifths of its land, half of which are located between 1,300 and 4,900 feet (400 and 1,500 metres) in elevation, while the remaining one-tenth or so is made up of places above 4,900 feet.

The Greater Caucasus range, whose crest forms part of Azerbaijan's northern boundary, has three peaks with the highest elevations: Bazardyuzyu (Bazardüzü; 14,652 feet), Shakhdag, and Tufan. This region of Azerbaijan has incredible spurs and ridges that are carved into the deep gorges of mountain streams. At the same time, it is situated in an area with a lot of seismic activity. The Länkäran Lowland, which runs along the Caspian coast, and the Talish (Talysh) Mountains, which are divided into three longitudinal groups and have Mount Kyumyurkyoy as their highest point (8,176 feet), respectively, border the southeast of Azerbaijan.

This lowland, which is an extension of the Kura-Aras Lowland, ends close to Astara at the Iranian border. The Länkäran Lowland, which runs along the Caspian coast, and the Talish (Talysh) Mountains, which are divided into three longitudinal groups and have Mount Kyumyurkyoy as their highest point (8,176 feet), respectively, border the southeast of Azerbaijan. This lowland, which is an extension of the Kura-Aras Lowland, ends close to Astara at the Iranian border.

Climate

The dry subtropical climate of central and eastern Azerbaijan is characterized by a mild winter and a lengthy, very hot summer that lasts four to five months, with maximum temperatures reaching 109 °F (43 °C) and an average temperature of about 81 °F (27 °C). The most precipitation in the country, ranging from 47 to 55 inches (1,200 to 1,400 millimetres) annually, falls in the south-eastern region of Azerbaijan, which has a humid subtropical climate. The majority of this precipitation falls during the colder months.

The climate in Naxçvan, which is located between 2,300 and 3,300 feet above sea level, is arid continental, with a cold winter and a dry, scorching summer. Other regions of Azerbaijan have climates that are mildly warm, dry, or humid. A fairly cold climate characterizes the mountain forest zone, whereas elevations of 10,000 feet and higher are characterized by an upland tundra environment. The crossings at such altitudes are inaccessible for three to four months of the year due to frosts and heavy snowfalls.

Flora and Fauna

Altitude affects the natural vegetation zones in different ways. In the lowlands and mountain foothills, steppe and semidesert environments predominate. Forests made of pine, oak, and beech line the mountain slopes. There is an area of alpine meadows farther up. Thick beech and oak woods and evergreen vegetation can be found in the Länkäran region of southern Azerbaijan.

Along with rodent and reptile species, the animal life in the lowlands includes gazelles, jackals, and hyenas. Caucasian deer, roe deer, wild boar, brown bear, lynx, European bison (wisent), chamois, and leopards—though the latter is uncommon—all live in the mountainous areas. Many birds flock to the Caspian shore during the mild winters, and nature reserves provide as a haven for flamingos, swans, pelicans, herons, egrets, sandpipers, and partridges.

Drainage and Soils

The major river, the Kura (Kür), and its tributary, the Aras (Araz), are the sources of the Kura-Aras Lowland's name. This lowland includes the Shirvan, Milskaya, and Mugan plains, all of which have comparable climates and soils. In higher locations, gray alkaline solonetz and chestnut soils (mollisols) predominate over salty solonchaks and gray soils (aridisols). A significant portion of the lowland can be irrigated thanks to a well-established network of canals between the Kura and Aras rivers.

The 107 miles (172 kilometers) long Upper Karabakh Canal connects the Aras River with the Mingäçevir Reservoir on the Kura River, which is a crucial route. The reservoir has a maximum depth of 246 feet and a surface area of 234 square miles. The Upper Karabakh Canal alone delivers water to the Aras River during the dry summer months and irrigates more than 250,000 acres (100,000 hectares) of productive land. The second-most significant canal, the Upper Shirvan Canal, is 76 miles long and irrigates around 250,000 acres.

Resource

At the start of the 20th century, Azerbaijan was the top oil producer in the world and the hub of the oil refining industry. For instance, Azerbaijan produced 11.4 million more tons of oil than the United States did in 1901, making up more than half of global production.

However, as the oil industry expanded in other parts of the USSR and around the world over the 20th century, Azerbaijan's contribution to global oil output shrank. Azerbaijan also has natural gas, iodobromide waters, lead, zinc, iron, and copper ores, nepheline syenites used to make aluminum, common salt, and a wide range of building materials like marl, limestone, and marble.

Conclusion

Azerbaijan, a country in eastern Transcaucasia, is surrounded by the Greater Caucasus Mountains to the north, the Caspian Sea to the east, and flatlands in the centre. The country has a variety of landscapes, from lowlands and semidesert regions in the lowlands to pine, oak, and beech woods on the mountain slopes.

The Kura-Aras Lowland, formed by the Kura and Aras rivers, benefits from a vast canal network for irrigation, with climates ranging from dry subtropical to humid subtropical. Natural gas, lead, zinc, iron, copper ores, and different building materials are among the resources that Azerbaijan continues to have access to. It was once a major producer of oil.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Azerbaijan located?

Azerbaijan is located in eastern Transcaucasia, south of the Greater Caucasus Mountains and bordered by the Caspian Sea to the east.

What are the major physical features of Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan features the Greater Caucasus Mountains to the north, the Caspian Sea to the east, and flatlands in the central region.

What kind of climate does Azerbaijan have?

Azerbaijan has a diverse climate, ranging from dry subtropical to humid subtropical, with varying temperatures and precipitation patterns.

What are the significant rivers in Azerbaijan?

The Kura and Aras rivers are essential in Azerbaijan.

What natural resources does Azerbaijan possess?

Azerbaijan has historically been a major oil producer and also possesses natural gas, lead, zinc, iron, copper ores, and various building materials.

What types of animal life can be found in Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan's wildlife includes rodents, reptiles, gazelles, jackals, hyenas, deer, wild boars, brown bears, lynx, European bison, chamois, and various bird species.