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Azerbaijan:
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Other pages in this profile of Azerbaijan:
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
People, Government, Economy, Communications & Transportation, Military & Transnational Issues.
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Background |
Definition Azerbaijan - a nation with a majority-Turkic and majority-Muslim population - was briefly independent from 1918 to 1920; it regained its independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Despite a 1994 cease-fire, Azerbaijan has yet to resolve its conflict with Armenia over the Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh enclave (largely Armenian populated). Azerbaijan has lost 16% of its territory and must support some 600,000 internally displaced persons as a result of the conflict. Corruption is ubiquitous, and the government has been accused of authoritarianism. Although the poverty rate has been reduced in recent years, the promise of widespread wealth from development of Azerbaijan's energy sector remains largely unfulfilled. |
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Location |
Definition Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range |
Geographic coordinates |
Definition 40 30 N, 47 30 E |
Map references |
Definition Asia |
Area |
Definition - World rank and map 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 |
Definition slightly smaller than Maine |
Land boundaries |
Definition 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 |
Definition 0 km (landlocked); note - Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (713 km) |
Maritime claims |
Definition none (landlocked) |
Climate |
Definition dry, semiarid steppe |
Terrain |
Definition 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 |
Definition lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m |
Natural resources |
Definition petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous metals, bauxite |
Land use |
Definition - World rank and map arable land: 20.62% permanent crops: 2.61% other: 76.77% (2005) |
Irrigated land |
Definition 14,550 sq km (2003) |
Total renewable water resources |
Definition 30.3 cu km (1997) |
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural) |
Definition total: 17.25 cu km/yr (5%/28%/68%) per capita: 2,051 cu m/yr (2000) |
Natural hazards |
Definition droughts |
Environment - current issues |
Definition 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, soil, and water pollution; soil pollution results from oil spills, from the use of DDT pesticide, and from toxic defoliants used in the production of cotton |
Environment - international agreements |
Definition party to: Air Pollution, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements |
Geography - note |
Definition both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked |
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Copyright 2008 World Sites Atlas (sitesatlas.com) |