GeoFroggy

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Background

Azerbaijan - a nation with a 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 promise of widespread wealth from Azerbaijan's undeveloped petroleum resources remains largely unfulfilled.

Location

Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between Iran and Russia, with a small European portion north of the Caucasus range

Area Comparative

Slightly smaller than Maine

Maritime Claims

none (landlocked)

Climate

Dry, semiarid steppe

Natural Hazards

Droughts

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, 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

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

Both the main area of the country and the Naxcivan exclave are landlocked

Year	2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000

Map Reference

Asia

Irrigated Land 2003

14,550 sq km

Area 2007

Total

86,600 sq km
Land

86,100 sq km
Water

500 sq km

Coastline

0 km

Geographical Coordinates

40 30 N, 47 30 E

Land use 2007

Arable Land
20.62%
Permanent Crops
2.61%
Other
76.77%

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

Lowest Point: Caspian Sea -28 m
Highest Point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m

Land Boundaries

Total
2,013 km
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

Natural Resources

Petroleum
Natural gas
Iron ore

Nonferrous metals
Bauxite

Azerbaijan