Exploring Azerbaijan's Unique Landlocked Geography

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and Western Asia. While it is not landlocked, it does not have access to the open sea. Instead, it has a coastline of 713km along the Caspian Sea, which is classified as the world's largest lake and a closed sea. The country has land borders with Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Iran to the south, Turkey to the west, and Armenia to the west and north. Additionally, Azerbaijan includes the exclave of Nakhchivan, which is landlocked and shares a border with Armenia.

Azerbaijan is not landlocked, but it has no access to the open sea

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia. It is not landlocked, but it has no access to the open sea. The country is bordered by Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Iran to the south, Turkey to the west, and Armenia to the west and north-east. To the east, Azerbaijan is bordered by the Caspian Sea, which is classified as the world's largest lake and also as a closed sea.

Azerbaijan has a coastline of 713 km on the Caspian Sea, which is a lake or a closed sea depending on various definitions and interpretations. The Caspian Sea is shared by Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan, in addition to Azerbaijan. While Azerbaijan has maritime borders and naval forces, it does not have access to the ocean. The country's maritime boundaries with Russia and Kazakhstan have been determined, but those with Iran and Turkmenistan remain disputed.

The status of Azerbaijan as non-landlocked is further supported by the existence of its exclave, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which is landlocked. This region was historically part of Armenia but became a district of Azerbaijan during Soviet rule and has remained so since the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Despite territorial disputes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan is not claimed by Armenia and remains an undisputed part of Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan's unique geographical position, bordering the Caspian Sea and multiple countries, presents both opportunities and challenges. The country has developed its maritime infrastructure and naval forces while also navigating complex maritime border disputes.

It has a coastline of 713km on the Caspian Sea

Azerbaijan is not a landlocked country. While it has no access to the open sea, it does have a coastline of 713km on the Caspian Sea. The Caspian Sea is classified as the world's largest lake and also as a closed sea. It is shared by Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan, in addition to Azerbaijan.

The Caspian Sea is of great ecological importance, with local scientists considering the Absheron Peninsula and the Caspian Sea to be the ecologically most devastated area in the world due to severe air, soil, and water pollution. The sea is also of economic importance, with the oil industry in the region dating back to ancient times.

The Caspian Sea is also of cultural significance, with the country's name, Azerbaijan, translating to Land of Fire in reference to the naturally occurring surface fires on ancient oil pools or natural gas discharges.

The coastline of Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea is an important feature of the country's geography, and its maritime borders are still partially undefined. The country's capital, Baku, is located on the Absheron Peninsula, which juts into the Caspian Sea, and is home to the country's best harbor.

The Caspian Sea is classified as the world's largest lake

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia. It is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia's republic of Dagestan to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia and Turkey to the west, and Iran to the south. Baku is the capital and largest city.

The Caspian Sea is often described as the world's largest lake and sometimes referred to as a full-fledged sea. Its classification as a lake or sea has been a subject of debate among the five countries that surround it: Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan. The distinction has economic, military, and political implications. For example, the division of the lake's surface and bed differs between lakes and seas. While lakes are typically divided equally among bordering countries, seas are governed by the UN's Law of the Sea, which allocates portions based on the length of the relevant coastline.

The Caspian Sea has characteristics common to both seas and lakes. It has a salinity of approximately 1.2% (about a third of the salinity of average seawater), which classifies it as brackish water. It is the world's largest inland body of water and accounts for 40-44% of the total lake waters on Earth. The Caspian Sea is home to a wide range of species and is known for its caviar and oil industries. However, pollution from the oil industry and dams on rivers that flow into the sea have harmed its ecology.

The classification of the Caspian Sea as a lake or sea also has historical and cultural significance. The sea's name stems from the ancient Caspi people who lived to the southwest of the sea in Transcaucasia. Ancient written accounts from the inhabitants of its coast perceived the Caspian Sea as an ocean, likely due to its salinity and large size. The Caspian Sea was also referred to as the "Hyrcanian ocean" by the Greeks and Persians in classical antiquity.

In summary, the Caspian Sea, bounded by five countries in Eastern Europe and West Asia, is classified as the world's largest lake. However, its classification as a lake or sea has been a subject of debate due to its unique characteristics and the economic, military, and political implications that arise from its designation.

Azerbaijan has international land borders with five states

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia. It is not landlocked, but it does have international land borders with five states. These neighbouring countries are:

• Russia to the north
• Georgia to the northwest
• Iran to the south
• Turkey to the west (via the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the northwest)
• Armenia to the west and via the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the north and east

Azerbaijan is bordered by the Caspian Sea to the east, which is classified as the world's largest lake and also as a closed sea. Despite having a coastline on the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan has no access to the open sea.

The Nakhchivan exclave is landlocked

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and West Asia. It is not landlocked, but it has no access to the open sea. However, it does have a coastline of 713km on the Caspian Sea, which is classified as the world's largest lake.

Nakhchivan has a long history, dating back to about 1500 BC. The area has been historically contested by Persians, Armenians, Mongols, and Turks. In the 16th century, the area became part of Safavid Iran. The semi-autonomous Nakhchivan Khanate was established in the mid-18th century. After the last Russo-Persian War in 1828, the Nakhchivan Khanate was passed from Iranian into Imperial Russian possession.

In the 20th century, Nakhchivan was heavily contested between the newly formed states of the First Republic of Armenia and the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. In 1921, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic was declared, and it later became an autonomous republic within the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.

Today, the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is internationally recognized as a constituent part of Azerbaijan. The region is known for its arid and mountainous landscape, with its highest peak being Mount Kapudzhukh at 3,904m. The economy of Nakhchivan is based on agriculture, mining, and food processing, with 75% of the republic's budget supplied by the central government in Baku.

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