Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran
and Russia

40 30 N, 47 30 E

Commonwealth of Independent States

total: 86,600 sq km
land: 86,100 sq km
water: 500 sq km
note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the
Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by
Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991

slightly smaller than Maine

total: 2,013 km
border countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia
(with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran (with
Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 179
km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km

0 km (landlocked)
note: Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)

none (landlocked)

dry, semiarid steppe

large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much of it
below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north, Qarabag
Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron Yasaqligi
(Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea

lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m

petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous
metals, alumina

arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 11%
other: 41% (1993 est.)

10,000 sq km (1993 est.)

droughts; some lowland areas threatened by rising
levels of the Caspian Sea

local scientists consider the Abseron
Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) (including Baku and Sumqayit) and the
Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world
because of severe air, water, and soil pollution; soil pollution
results from the use of DDT as a pesticide and also from toxic
defoliants used in the production of cotton

party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine
Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection
signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity

landlocked