
Azerbaijan Geography
Azerbaijan Geography: A summary of information about Azerbaijan Geography, from government research data as well as independent research and other sources.
Azerbaijan: Geography
Location
Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia
Geographic coordinates
40 30 N, 47 30 E
Map references
Commonwealth of Independent States
Area
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
Area - comparative
slightly smaller than Maine
Land boundaries
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
Coastline
0 km (landlocked) note: Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)
Maritime claims
none (landlocked)
Climate
dry, semiarid steppe
Terrain
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
Elevation extremes
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m
Natural resources
petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, alumina
Land use
arable land: 18% permanent crops: 5% permanent pastures: 25% forests and woodland: 11% other: 41% (1993 est.)
Irrigated land
10,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural hazards
droughts; some lowland areas threatened by rising levels of the Caspian Sea
Environment - current issues
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
Environment - international agreements
party to: Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection signed, but not ratified: Biodiversity
Geography - note
landlocked