CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta name="robots" content="index, follow" /> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=0"> <link rel="icon" href="/media/images/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"> <meta http-equiv="refresh" content="1800" /> <meta name="csrf-param" content="_csrf-frontend"> <meta name="csrf-token" content="FDiBCLSQUw-bVvQwT5yg3SRRDw9FoxlJdRgjsNCXQvA_Ygti6RJK4FsMMRfusNPgDMxLWYk7lAxl609ceWcmZQ=="> <title>Azerbaijan.az</title> <link href="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/tiny-slider/2.8.5/tiny-slider.css" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="/media/stylesheets/style.css?v=111023v5" rel="stylesheet">  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=UA-152355269-1"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'UA-152355269-1'); </script> </head> <body class="site-information"> <a href="#" class="scrollToTop"> <img src="/media/images/totop.png" /> </a> <div class="main-container"> <header> <div class="preheader"> <ul class="list preheader-nav"> <li><a href="/en" title="Main page"><img src="/media/images/home.png" /></a></li> <li><a href="/en/about" title="About"><img src="/media/images/about.png" /></a></li> <li> <ul class="list language-nav"> <li><a href="/az/information/201">AZ</a></li> <li><a href="/ru/information/201">RU</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/201">EN</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul> <div class="lang-temp" id="header-load"></div> </div> <div class="main-nav"> <a href="/en"> <span class="azerbaijan">AZERBAIJAN</span> </a> <div class="items"> <ul class="list"> <li><a href="/map/index.html?lang=1" class="header-icons header-azmap" target="_blank" title="Interactive map"></a></li> <li><a href="/en/related-information/251" class="header-icons header-heart" title="Baku"></a></li> <li><a href="/en/audios" class="header-icons header-musicnote" title="Music"></a></li> <li><a href="/en/audio-books" class="header-icons header-audio" title="Audio books"></a></li> <li><a href="/en/multifilms" class="header-icons header-mults" title="Animation films"></a></li> <li><a href="/en/videos" class="header-icons header-movie" title="Cinema"></a></li> <li><a href="/en/physical" class="header-icons header-world" title="Maps"></a></li> <li><a href="/en/related-information/214" class="header-icons header-airline" title="Tourism"></a></li> <li><a href="/en/related-information/216" class="header-icons header-guide" title="Hotels"></a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/115" class="header-icons header-phone" title="Phone and postal codes"></a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/201" class="header-icons header-list" title="Nature"></a></li> <li><a href="/en/related-information/260" class="header-icons header-flame" title="Architecture"></a></li> <li><a href="/en/related-information/286" class="header-icons header-bag" title="Holidays"></a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="navbar"> <div class="toggler"> <img id="chngimg" onclick="navbarFunc()" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='pointer'" src="/media/images/navbar.png" title="All sections"> </div> </div> </div> <div id="expand"> <div class="menubar"> <div class="menus"> <div class="menu-item"> <div class="menu-item-first"> <a href="/en/information/100">AZERBAIJAN</a> </div> <div class="menu-item-others"> <ul> <li><a href="/en/information/101">Land of fires - Azerbaijan</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/102">Territory</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/103">Population</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/104">Political system</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/105">Constitution</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/106">State symbols</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/107">Azerbaijani language</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/108">Religion in Azerbaijan</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/109">National currency</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/110">Capital</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/115">Phone and postal codes</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/111">Blood memory</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-item"> <div class="menu-item-first"> <a href="/en/information/200">NATURE</a> </div> <div class="menu-item-others"> <ul> <li><a href="/en/information/201">General information</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/202">Relief</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/203">Geologic structure</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/204">Climate</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/205">Flora</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/206">Fauna</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/207">Caspian Sea</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/208">Inland waters</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/209">Ecology and environment protection</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-item"> <div class="menu-item-first"> <a href="/en/information/300">HISTORY</a> </div> <div class="menu-item-others"> <ul> <li><a href="/en/information/301">General information</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/302">Ancient era</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/303">Azerbaijan statehood history</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/304">Historical maps</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/305">Historical documents</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-item"> <div class="menu-item-first"> <a href="/en/information/400">ECONOMY</a> </div> <div class="menu-item-others"> <ul> <li><a href="/en/information/401">General information</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/402">Strategic roadmap</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/403">Energy policy of Azerbaijan</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/404">Industry</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/405">Agriculture</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/407">Regional development</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/408">Foreign trade</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/409">Banking </a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/410">Investments</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/411">Transport</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/412">Az蓹rbaycan - 2030</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-item"> <div class="menu-item-first"> <a href="/en/information/500">CULTURE</a> </div> <div class="menu-item-others"> <ul> <li><a href="/en/information/510">General information</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/501">Literature </a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/511">Book houses</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/502">Music</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/503">Theatre</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/504">Cinema</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/505">Animation films</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/506">Fine arts</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/507">Architecture</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/508">Folk art</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/512">Museums</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/509">Cookery</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-item"> <div class="menu-item-first"> <a href="/en/information/600">SOCIETY</a> </div> <div class="menu-item-others"> <ul> <li><a href="/en/information/615">General information</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/601">Nationwide Leader of Azerbaijan</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/602">Public organizations</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/603">Political parties</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/604">Mass Media</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/605">Science of Azerbaijan</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/606">Education</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/607">Public health</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/608">Sport</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/609">Youth</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/610">Tourism</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/611">Azerbaijani Diaspora</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/612">Holidays</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/613">The Honorary Cemetery</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/614">History of military in Azerbaijan</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-item"> <div class="menu-item-first"> <a href="/en/information/700">GOVERNMENT</a> </div> <div class="menu-item-others"> <ul> <li><a href="/en/information/707">General information</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/702">Executive branch</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/701">Legislative branch</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/706">Judicial branch</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-item"> <div class="menu-item-first"> <a href="/en/information/800">INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION</a> </div> <div class="menu-item-others"> <ul> <li><a href="/en/information/806">General information</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/801">Foreign policy</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/802">Azerbaijan in international organizations</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/804">Azerbaijani embassies in foreign countries</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/805">Embassies of foreign countries in Azerbaijan</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="menu-item" style="margin-right: 0px; border: none;"> <div class="menu-item-first"> <a href="/en/information/900" style="margin-right: 0px;">GARABAGH</a> </div> <div class="menu-item-others"> <ul> <li><a href="/en/information/901">Garabagh history</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/902">Garabagh problem and armenian affair</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/903">Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/904">Khojaly genocide</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/905">Humanitarian disaster</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/906">Armenian terrorism</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/907">Hard social-economic consequences of occupation</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/908">Historical documents</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/910">The end of the conflict</a></li> <li><a href="/en/information/911">Great Return</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <section class="submenus" style="border-bottom: 0px;"> <h1 class="page-header"> <a href="/en/information/200">Nature</a> </h1> <svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" version="1.1" id="Capa_1" x="0px" y="0px" width="14px" height="22px" viewBox="0 0 22.062 22.062" style="enable-background:new 0 0 22.062 22.062; margin: 0 7px -4px 7px;" xml:space="preserve"><g> <path d="M17.294,9.443L8.459,0.608c-0.812-0.811-2.138-0.811-2.945,0L4.775,1.345c-0.81,0.81-0.81,2.136,0,2.944l6.742,6.743 l-6.742,6.741c-0.81,0.811-0.81,2.137,0,2.943l0.737,0.737c0.81,0.811,2.136,0.811,2.945,0l8.835-8.836 c0.435-0.435,0.628-1.018,0.597-1.589C17.922,10.46,17.729,9.877,17.294,9.443z" fill="#931933"/> </g><g></g><g></g><g></g><g></g><g></g><g></g><g></g><g></g><g></g><g></g><g></g><g></g><g></g><g></g><g></g> </svg> <h2 class="info-second-title"> <a href="/en/information/201">General information</a> </h2> <ul class="list"> <li class='active'><a href="/en/information/201">General information</a></li> <li class=''><a href="/en/information/202">Relief</a></li> <li class=''><a href="/en/information/203">Geologic structure</a></li> <li class=''><a href="/en/information/204">Climate</a></li> <li class=''><a href="/en/information/205">Flora</a></li> <li class=''><a href="/en/information/206">Fauna</a></li> <li class=''><a href="/en/information/207">Caspian Sea</a></li> <li class=''><a href="/en/information/208">Inland waters</a></li> <li class=''><a href="/en/information/209">Ecology and environment protection</a></li> </ul> <ul class="list sublist"> </ul> </section> <section class="section article"> <article> <div id="titlebox" style="margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; display: table; width: 550px; height: 14px; padding-top: 10px; color: rgb(70, 70, 70); font-family: Tahoma; font-size: 12px;"> <div style="margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; color: rgb(43, 43, 43); font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; line-height: normal; font-stretch: normal; height: 100%; width: 500px; padding-left: 3px; font-weight: bold; display: inline;"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">GENERAL INFORMATION ON NATURE OF AZERBAIJAN</span></span></div> </div> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The favorable natural and geographical conditions of Azerbaijan caused the settling of people on its territory.<img alt="" src="https://azerbaijan.az/uploads/news-files/melumatlar/T%C9%99bi%C9%99t-%C3%BCmumi%20m%C9%99lumat/1485865774125339319_1000x669.jpg" style="float:right; height:333px; margin:10px; width:500px" /></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Ancient writers Herodot (5<sup>th</sup> century B.C.), Polibey (200 B.C-120 B.C), Strabon (64/63- B.C-23/24 A.M), Claudi Ptolemy (approximately 90-160) and provided coverage of geographical borders of Azerbaijan, rivers, inhabited regions, tribes, residing in the country, the Caspian Sea in a number of their creative works. </span></span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Later Arabian geography scientists and travelers Ibn Khordadbeh (820/826-912/913), Abu-Ishaq Isterkhi (appr. 820-934), Azerbaijani scientist Mohamed Nakhchivani (late 13<sup>th</sup>-mid 14<sup>th</sup> centuries), Iranian scientists Reshidaddin Fazlullah (1247-1317) wrote about the economics of Azerbaijan, its administrative division, mountains, and rivers, the distances between them, trade roads, etc. </span></span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Albanian (Caucasus) historian Musa Kalantarli (7-8<sup>th</sup> century) in his work "The History of Albania" described Albania as a world-famed country with rich nature and dense population, fertile soils, beautiful gardens, and green plains. </span></span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The world map (1459) of Venetian F.Maurov, the maps of Alsharif (1601), German scientist and traveler A. Olear), as well as the map "East Transcaucasia and the Caspian Sea", drawn in 1720 and issues in 1723 by order of Peter the First included the inhabited regions, lakes and rivers of Azerbaijan.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Azerbaijani geographical scientist Abdurrashid Bakuvi expressed his views on the climate of Azerbaijan, the nature of Baku, and oil production in this town, Haji Zeynalabdin Shirvani, and Abbasgulu Agha Bakikhanov shared their opinions on the geographical features of our country. V. Abikh, I.Figurovsky, A.Zakharov, and others made a great contribution to the exploration of the territory of Azerbaijan as well. A complex</span></span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> exploration of Azerbaijan started in the period of the Soviet Union when differently scaled maps were issued and geographical atlases were drawn. </span></span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The Academy of Science of Azerbaijan played an important role in a comprehensive study of the territory of our country.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>The historical and geographical position of the Azerbaijan Republic</strong></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Ancient Azerbaijan situated in Central Asia and covered the area from the southeastern Caucasus to the mountain area south and south-east of Lake Urmia. Its area exceeds 200 thousand km<sup>2</sup>.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Entire Azerbaijan situates in the northern hemisphere in approximately the same latitude as Spain, Greece, Turkey, China, Korea. </span></span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The strategically important roads leading from Europe to Central and Eastern Asia passed through Azerbaijan.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The territory of the republic extends 400 km from north to south, and 500 km from west to east, and locates between latitude 38'25"-41'55" North and longitude 50'-50'51" East.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The Republic situated on the junction of Europe and Asia has a unique geopolitical and geographical position and had not lost its strategic importance for economic and cultural relations.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Landscape</strong></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><img alt="" src="https://azerbaijan.az/uploads/news-files/melumatlar/T%C9%99bi%C9%99t-%C3%BCmumi%20m%C9%99lumat/image-description-3.jpg" style="float:left; height:347px; margin:10px; width:600px" /></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Azerbaijan is characterized by a diverse landscape. There are two major forms of landscape-plains and mountains.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Mountains cover 60% of the total area of the Azerbaijan republic. The principal geomorphological structures of the Azerbaijan Republic </span></span><span style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family:verdana,arial; font-size:15px">— </span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Major Caucasus, Minor Caucasus (with Garabagh plateau), and Talysh mountains surround the Kur-Araz lowland in the north, west, and southeast. The Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic is situated in the mid-course of the River Araz and within the boundaries of Zengezur and Dereleyez chains of mountains, fringing with the river.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The average altitude of the territory of the Republic is up to 400 meters. But the lowland of the Caspian Sea shore is below sea level (currently -26.5 meters) while the highest peak Bazarduzu is 4466 meters in height. Thus, one can see that the difference in altitude equals nearly 4500 meters in the country.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The northern part of the Major Caucasus is situated in Azerbaijan. Two chins of mountains are distinguished in this part: Head or Watershed chain with Bazarduzu (4466 meters) and Great (Side) chain of mountains with Shahdagh alp (4243). Mountains chains go down to 1000-700 meters to the South-East. The mountain chains of Major Caucasus are surrounded by foothill areas: a steppe plateau to the north-west, Gobustan to the south-east, Alazan-Ayrichay plain to the south-west, and Gusar sloping plain to the north-east.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The mountains are formed by less exposed to denudation sinking rocks of the Cretaceous and Jurassic periods. Foothills are characterized by badlands (Jeyranchol and Ajynour plains) and mud volcanos (Gobustan and Absheron). Gusar and Alazan-Hefteran valley is composed of a thick layer of quaternary gravel sediments.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The minor Caucasus surrounds the country in the southwest and west and is composed of a number of chains and plateaus with a relatively low height. </span></span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Murovdag, Shahdagh, and Zangazur are the principal chains of Minor Caucasus. Garabagh plateau, extending from the south of Murovdagh up to the river Araz, lies on the cones of extinct vulcanos and quaternary lava. The minor</span></span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"> Caucasus is formed by Jurassic and Cretaceous volcanogenic and sedimentary rocks.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Talysh mountains cover the southeast of the country. They are composed mainly of Tertiary sediments. Talysh mountains are the chain of transition from the Minor Caucasus to the Elbrus mountains in Iran. They consist of three mountain chains, reaching 2477 meters in height and a number of their ranges.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Kur-Araz lowland lies in the area between the Major and Minor Caucasus and Talysh Mountains. As the largest intermontane lowland in the entire Transcaucasia, it covers the central part of the country. </span></span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The Kur and Araz rivers divide the lowland into five plains: Shirvan, Garabagh, Mil, Mughan, and Salyan plains.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Samur-Devechi lowland, resting on Gusar sloping plain on the Caspian Sea shore, stretches from the Absheron peninsula to the north. Lankaran lowland runs from the Absheron Peninsula to the south on the foothills of Talysh mountains. Kur-Araz, Samur-Devechi, </span></span><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:14px">Lankaran </span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">lowlands, and most parts of the Absheron peninsula lie below sea level.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Climate</strong></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The climate in Azerbaijan is major influenced by geographical position, landscape, and the Caspian Sea. The semidesert and dry, subtropic, temperate, and frigid types of climate dominate the country. It has been determined that Azerbaijan accounts for 8 out of 11 climate zones, existing in the world (by V.V.Keppen). The dry subtropical climate is typical for Kur-Araz lowland and Absheron. The damp subtropic climate is observed only in Talysh mountains, foothills, and Lankaran lowlands. Temperate climate observed the slopes of Major and Minor Caucasus mainly covered with forests is divided into dry, warm-temperate dry, warm-temperate damp and temperate zones. The frigid climate is typical of high mountain ranges, at the tops of Major and Minor Caucasus, alpine, subalpine meadows. The average annual temperatures equal 15C on the plains while in high mountain regions they fall even below zero. Temperatures reach 25-27C in Aran regions and 5C in mountain regions in July. The absolute maximum is 43C, while the minimum is lower than -30C. These minimal and maximal temperatures have been registered in the Nakhichevan lowland and mountains. Precipitation is also not equal across the territory of the country. The Absheron peninsula and the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic account for a lower level of precipitation per year (200 meters). Precipitations equal 200-300 mm in Kur-Araz lowland, 600-800 mm on north-eastern slopes of Major and Minor Caucasus, 1200-1300 mm on southern slopes of Major Caucasus at a height of 2000-2500 meters. Precipitation is the highest (1200-1700 mm) in the south of Lankaran lowland and the foothills of Talysh mountains.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Predominant winds blow to the north (the Absheron peninsula), south-west (Kur-Araz lowland), and west (Lankaran lowland).</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Inland Water</strong></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The dense river system of the country covers its territory like a blue spider's web. Azerbaijan accounts for 8400 small and large rivers, including 850 over 5 kilometers in length. Bust there are only 24 rivers extending to over 100 kilometers.<img alt="" src="https://azerbaijan.az/uploads/news-files/melumatlar/T%C9%99bi%C9%99t-%C3%BCmumi%20m%C9%99lumat/_DSC3375.jpg" style="float:right; height:399px; margin:10px; width:600px" /></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The rivers Kur and Araz-the largest rivers in the Caucasus are the main sources of hydroelectric energy and irrigation.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The river Kur originates at a height of 2740 meters on the north-eastern slope of Qyzylgedikdagh in Turkey. It passes through Georgia and enters Azerbaijan, runs through Kur-Araz lowland, and flows into the Caspian Sea. Its total length is 1515 km, with 906 kilometers in Azerbaijan. The area of its basin is 188 thousand kilometers. Mingechevir, Shamkir, and Yenikend dams and hydroelectric power stations were constructed and big water reservoirs established on the river Kur. The reserves of two canals, carrying water from the Minchechevir reservoir, Upper Garabagh and Upper Shirvan canals-are used in irrigating the lands of Kur-Araz lowland.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The River Araz originates from the Bingol mountains (2990) in Turkey and joins the Kur at Sabirabad (in Suqovushan village). It stretches to 1072 km and covers an area of 102 thousand km<sup>2</sup>.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The river Samur is the largest river in north-eastern Azerbaijan. It originates in Daghestan at a height of 3600 meters and flows into the Caspian Sea. It is 216 km in length and its area totals 4.4 thousand km<sup>2</sup>. Besides, the rivers Qusarchay, Qudyalchay, Velvelchay, Sumqayitchay, Vileshchay, Lenkeranchay, and Astarachay flow in the Caspian Sea as well.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Azerbaijan has a great number of mountain rivers. Most rivers feed on snow and rains. The rivers Balakenchay, Talachay, Katehchay, Kurnurchay, Kishchay, and other rivers, originating from Major Caucasus join the Alazan and Ayrichay rivers in Alazan-Ayrichay valley.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Rivers, running from the Minor Caucasus as Agstafachay, Tovuzchay, Asrikchay, Zeyemchay, Shamkirchay, Ganjachay, Kurekchay, Terterchay flow into the Kur, while Hekerichay, Okhchuchay, and Arpachay, Nakhichevanchay, Alianchay, Gilianchay, and Ordubadchay of the Nakhichevan AR enter Araz.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Azerbaijan accounts for nearly 250 fresh and salty lakes, differing by the sources of feeding and by origin. These include Tufangolu lake of glacial origin, the Goygol, Maralgol, Qaragol, Batanat, etc. formed by landslides, the Aggol, Sarysu, Mehman, Hadjyqabul, taking their origin from rivers and the largest salty lakes Adjinour, Boyukshor, Bineqedi, etc.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Vegetation</strong></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><img alt="" src="https://azerbaijan.az/uploads/news-files/melumatlar/T%C9%99bi%C9%99t-%C3%BCmumi%20m%C9%99lumat/_DSC4118.jpg" style="float:left; height:399px; margin:10px; width:600px" />Azerbaijan has a rich flora. Almost all types of plants, found in the world are spread on the territory of this relatively small country. Nearly 4500 species of higher, spore-bearing flowering plants belong to 125 types and 920 genera. Azerbaijan is richer than any other Caucasus country by the total number of species. The republic accounts for 66% of all plant species found in the Caucasus. Along with plant species, widely spread in the Caucasus and other regions, Azerbaijan is also characterized by nearly 240 species of endemic plants. The vegetation spreads in accordance with the physical and geographical formation of e region, modern climate conditions, vertical zones, and a number of other factors. Thus, plant species of desert and semi-desert and mire vegetation covers the plains to a height of 200 meters.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Desert-type plants are found on the Caspian seashore, south-eastern Shirvan, Mil, Mugan, and Shirvan. Depending on the salinity of soils such plants as garasoran, shahsevdi gishotu, are widely spread in these regions. Semi-desert plants are widely spread in Shirvan, Salyan, Mugan, Mil, and Garabagh steppes, as well as in Djeyranchol, Qobustan plains and plains around the Araz. Absinth semi-deserts as zonal formations, dominate Kur-Araz, Qobustan, and Djeyranchol plains. Among other formations, garagan (Kur-Araz) and dengiz (Gobustan, Nakhichevan) are typical for Azerbaijan. Other widely spread plants of semi-deserts are bulbous bluegrass, Japanese brome, berk guramat, eastern bozag, chilingburnu, and a number of salinity herbs (cheren, shahsevdi, saltwort, gishotu. Tughai forests are peculiar of these areas. The forests covering the valleys of the Kur, Araz, and Qabirri rivers contain such trees as oak, willow, birch-tree, ash-tree, etc.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Foothill plains of Major and Minor Caucasus are mainly covered with annual and perennial xerophytic plants and bushes at a height from 200 meters up to 600-700 and sometimes even 1200 meters. The area above (up to 1800-2000 meters) is covered with forests.</span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="https://azerbaijan.az/uploads/news-files/melumatlar/T%C9%99bi%C9%99t-%C3%BCmumi%20m%C9%99lumat/AGDASH-341.jpg" style="float:right; font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:14px; height:500px; margin:10px; text-align:justify; width:333px" /></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Azerbaijan has an area of 86.6 million hectares, with 1213.7 thousand hectares of woodlands. </span></span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Thus forests account for 989.5 thousand hectares or 11.4% of the total area of the country. Per capita area of forests equals 0.12 hectares of land that is by 4 lower than the average global indicator (0.48 hectares).</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Though Azerbaijan's forests occupy a relatively small area they are rich in species of trees. There are 435 tree and bush species with 70 species of endemic ones. The country is characterized by broad-leaved forests. Such forests are widely spread on the Major and Minor Caucasus and Talysh mountains. At a height of 600-1600 meters above sea level, they form a single zone. In other areas, they are preserved in glades and narrow strips.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The forests are formed by three main types of trees-beech-tree, hornbeam, and oak. They make up 86.2% of woodlands. Besides, forests also contain such broad-leaved trees as maple, elm, lime-tree, alder-tree, poplar, yalanyarpag, willow, etc. Needle-leaved forests account for 1.7% of the total area of forests. 7 species of needle-leaved trees out of 107 species of trees are naturally grown in the country. These are garajokesi, Eldar pine-tree, hooks pine, polycarpous, red, and uzungovdeli juniper trees.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Azerbaijan is home to a number of rare trees and bushes. Garajoke is a rare relict tree of the Tertiary period. It is widely spread in the south (Qabala) and south-east (Pirqulu and Shamakhy regions)of the Major Caucasus. Though slow-growing yet long-lived garachohre does never cover large areas. Eldar valley of Djeyranchol foothill is home to Eldar pane-tree. Among relict and rare trees of Tertiary period iron-tree, Lenkeran acacia, chestnut-leaved oak, zelkova, Caucasus date palm, box-tree, wing nut, Hirkan fig-tree, Hirkan birch-tree, etc are rare patterns of nature.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>Fauna</strong></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><img alt="" src="https://azerbaijan.az/uploads/news-files/melumatlar/T%C9%99bi%C9%99t-%C3%BCmumi%20m%C9%99lumat/064.jpg" style="float:left; height:212px; margin:10px; width:500px" />Azerbaijan situates at the junction of a number of zoogeographical zones, characterized by a specific fauna. The animals from Iran, Central Asia, and the Mediterranean Sea have been adapted to Azerbaijan thus enriching its nature.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Due to the diverse natural conditions, Azerbaijan formed a colorful animal kingdom.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">97 species of mammals, 357 species of birds, 67 species of amphibians and reptiles, 1 species of roundworm, 97 species of fish, more than 15,000 species of invertebrates are known in the country.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The fauna of plains is represented by a great number of mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and numerous sedentary and migrant birds</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">One can come across such mammals as jeyran gazelle, wild boar, wolf, fox, badger, cane cat, rabbit, etc, reptiles as a swamp, Caspian and Mediterranean tortoise, striped lizard, ordinary and water grass-snake, adder, etc, amphibians-different species of tortoises, insects, birds-pheasant, partridge, turaj, different kinds of ducks and geese, loud and hissing water birds, coot, eagle, gallinule, heron, cormorant, pelican, etc.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Besides animals found in plains and mountains, these areas are also characterized by such animal species as East Caucasus billy-goat, Caucasus roe deer, Caucasus chamois, Caucasus tetra, Caucasus donkey, etc.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The Red Book of the Azerbaijan Republic comprises 108 animal species, including 14 species of mammals, 36 species of birds, 13 species of reptiles and amphibians, 5 species of fish, and 40 species of incests.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>The minerals of Azerbaijan<img alt="" src="https://azerbaijan.az/uploads/news-files/melumatlar/T%C9%99bi%C9%99t-%C3%BCmumi%20m%C9%99lumat/olgas.az_2017-08-24_06-08-00.jpg" style="float:right; height:269px; margin:10px; width:500px" /></strong></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The country is rich in three types of mineral products that are metallic, non-metallic, and combustible mineral products.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Azerbaijan is famous for its oil and gas deposits. 2/3 of the republic is rich in oil and gas. The Absheron Peninsula, Caspian shelf, Baku, and Absheron archipelagoes account for the most part of deposits. Southeastern Shirvan, Central Aran, Gobustan, Jeyranchol, Ajinour, and Siyezen are rich in oil.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The world-famed oil of Naftalan cures a number of diseases.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Gas deposits are found in Gatadagh, Caspian shelf, Baku, and Absheron archipelago. The region of Minor Caucasus accounts for the most part of metallic minerals: iron, manganese, titanium, chromium, copper, cobalt, complex ore, antimony, gold, silver, molybdenum, etc. The biggest deposit of iron was found in Dashkesen.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Among non-metallic minerals limestones of Gobustan, Absheron, Tovuz, travertine stones of Kelbadjar and Shahtakhty (Nakhichevan AR), marble of Dashkesan, gypsum of Upper Aghjakend, alums of Hajyveli, and of great industrial importance.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The country is also rich in mineral waters, with different chemical ingredients. Due to that Azerbaijan is called the museum of mineral waters. Istisu (in Kelbedjar), Badamly, and Sirab (in Nakhichevan AR) are famed mineral waters.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Surakhany and Shykh of Absheron peninsula, Qalaalty, of Devechi district, Turshsu of Julfa district are used as a treatment of a number of diseases. </span></span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Thermal waters dominate the Talysh mountains and southern and northeastern slopes of Major Caucasus</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><img alt="" src="https://azerbaijan.az/uploads/news-files/melumatlar/T%C9%99bi%C9%99t-%C3%BCmumi%20m%C9%99lumat/istisu_12.jpg" style="float:left; font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:14px; height:382px; margin:10px; text-align:justify; width:500px" /><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><strong>The Caspian Sea</strong></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The Caspian Sea, the largest enclosed water basin in the world is of great importance for the Azerbaijani people. It has unique physical and geographical properties, It should be noted that the flora and fauna of the Caspian Sea are rich in endemic species. For example, 90% of the total reserves of sturgeon, differing from other fishes by its antiquity, are found in this sea.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The specific geographical landscape created favorable recreational conditions.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The sea stretches along a meridian in the shape of the Latin letter "S" and it locates between latitude 47'17" north and longitude 36'33" east. </span></span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The sea across the meridian stretches to nearly 1200 km, its average breadth is 310 the maximal and minimal breadth id 435 and 195 accordingly. As the level of the Caspian Sea changes periodically, the volume of water and its boundaries are also changeable. At present, the level of the sea is 26.75 meters below sea level. At this level the area of the sea is 392600 km<sup>2</sup>, the volume of water is 78648 km3. This volume makes up 44% of the total water reserves of all lakes in the world. Its maximum depth is 1025 meters and due to that, the sea rivals the Black Sea, Baltic Sea, and the Yellow Sea and it is even deeper than the Adriatic Sea, Aegean Sea, Tiren Sea, and the Sulu Sea.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Caspian Azeri Sector occupies central and southern parts of the Sea. Caspian Sea water differs from that of the world ocean by its salinity. The salinity totals 5-6 ppm in the north and 12.6-13.5 ppm in the south. 170 out of 300 mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan are located in the Caspian Azeri sector. The number of volcanoes is higher in the South Caspian Sea.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The uniqueness and colors of natural conditions promoted the preservation of a number of rare flora and fauna species in the Caspian Sea up to the present day.</span></span></p> <p><img alt="" src="https://azerbaijan.az/uploads/news-files/melumatlar/T%C9%99bi%C9%99t-%C3%BCmumi%20m%C9%99lumat/Sea.jpg" style="float:right; font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size:14px; height:298px; margin:10px; text-align:justify; width:600px" /></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The Caspian Azeri sector accounts for 171 species of phytoplankton, 40 species of animal plankton, 258 species of fitdentos, 91 species of macrozoobenthos, and 80 species and subspecies of fish belonging to 14 families.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Carp-like fishes are the most numerous species-42 species, they are followed by gudgeons-31, herring-17, salmon fishes-2, sturgeon-5 species. The fish fauna of the Caspian Sea comprises 4 genuses, 31 species, and 45 subspecies of endemic fiches. Most endemic fishes are registered in the central part of the Caspian Sea.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">Approximately 40 species and subspecies of fish play an important role in fishing. Flock accounts for the biggest part of the total fish fauna (80%) the remainder part comprises herring, grey mullet, friar, argentine, and gudgeon. </span></span><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">The Red Book of the Azerbaijan Republic includes the following species of rare and endangered species: stone-eel, sig, Southern Caspian white-eye, chekhon, sea pike-perch. In the last few years, the number of all kinds of sturgeon (beluga, spine, long-nosed sturgeon), Caspian salmon, white salmon, khramulya, shamai fish, shibrit, garasol, is decreasing rapidly and these fishes are on the verge of extinction. The seal is the only mammal found in the Caspian Sea. It is the smallest kind of all existing seals. The number of Caspian seals decreased from 1.5 million in the early 20<sup>th</sup> century down to 360-400 thousand in 1980<sup>th</sup>. The Caspian seal was included in the Red Book in 1993.</span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:14px"><span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">302 species of birds have been registered on the Caspian Sea and its coastal regions: these include 37 species of water birds, 109 species of birds populating areas around water basins, and 156 terranes birds.</span></span></p> </article> </section> <footer> <div class="menubar footer-container" id="footer-load"></div> </footer> </div> <script src="/assets/110dab23/jquery.js"></script> <script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/tiny-slider/2.8.5/min/tiny-slider.js"></script> <script src="/media/javascripts/script.js?v=280823"></script> </body> </html>