Exploring Azerbaijan's Eastern Border: A Watery Divide

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country located in the South Caucasus region, at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia. Its eastern border is formed by the Caspian Sea, the world's largest inland body of water, which is often described as the world's largest lake. The Caspian Sea is a saltwater lake and Azerbaijan has an 800km-long shoreline along it.

The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water

The Caspian Sea is often described as the world's largest lake and sometimes referred to as a full-fledged sea. It is an endorheic basin, lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Caucasus Mountains, and west of the broad steppe of Central Asia. The sea has a unique salinity of approximately 1.2% (12g/L), about a third of the salinity of average seawater. This is due to the inflow of freshwater from rivers such as the Volga, the Ural, and the Kura. The Caspian Sea is home to a wide range of species and is famous for its caviar and oil industries.

The formation of the Caspian Sea unfolded over millions of years, influenced by tectonic activity, geological processes, and climatic changes. The sea is divided into three distinct physical regions: the Northern, Middle, and Southern Caspian, each with its own unique topography and ecological characteristics. The Northern Caspian is the shallowest, with an average depth of only 5-6 metres (16-20 feet). The Middle Caspian has an average depth of 190 metres (620 feet), while the Southern Caspian is the deepest, with oceanic depths of over 1,000 metres (3,300 feet).

The Caspian Sea holds significant economic importance due to its natural resources and strategic location. The region is rich in fossil fuels, with oil and gas platforms abundant along its edges. The sea also supports a thriving fishing industry, particularly sturgeon fishing for caviar production. Additionally, the Caspian Sea serves as a crucial maritime route for trade and transportation, linking Central Asia to global markets.

The Caspian Sea is bordered by five countries

The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, often described as the world's largest lake. It is an endorheic basin, meaning it has no natural outlet, and lies between Europe and Asia. The Caspian Sea is bordered by five countries: Kazakhstan, Russia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Turkmenistan. These countries share a collective coastline of about 4,800 km (3,000 mi) along the Caspian Sea.

The Caspian Sea stretches 1,200 km (750 mi) from north to south, with an average width of 320 km (200 mi). Its surface area is approximately 371,000 km2 (143,000 sq mi), excluding the highly saline lagoon of Garabogazköl to its east, and it is about 27 m (89 ft) below sea level. The Caspian Sea is fed by numerous rivers, including the Volga, the Ural, the Kura, and the Terek River, but it has no natural outflow other than by evaporation.

The Caspian Sea is known for its caviar and oil industries, as well as its abundant energy resources. The sea is home to a diverse range of species, and its coastal areas are of significant geopolitical and economic importance. The demarcation of maritime borders and the allocation of energy resources among the five bordering states remain unresolved, highlighting the complex dynamics surrounding this vast inland body of water.

The Caspian Sea is a saltwater lake

The Caspian Sea is a remnant of the ancient Paratethys Sea, which was once part of the Tethys Ocean. The Tethys Ocean is estimated to have existed between 50 and 60 million years ago, connecting to the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Over time, continental shifts caused the Tethys Ocean to lose its connections to other oceans, and it largely evaporated during hot and dry periods. The Caspian Sea, the Black Sea, and the Aral Sea eventually formed, with the salt water from the Tethys Sea remaining and accounting for the Caspian Sea's salinity.

The Caspian Sea has a salinity of approximately 1.2%, which is about a third of the salinity of average seawater. This salinity gradient ranges from 1.0 to 13.5 parts per thousand, with the lowest salinity near the Volga outlet in the north and the highest in the Kara-Bogaz-Gol in the east, where intense evaporation occurs. The Caspian Sea's primary tributary is the Volga River, which provides about 80% of the inflowing water. Other significant tributaries include the Ural and Kura Rivers.

The Caspian Sea is endorheic, meaning it has no natural outlets. Its water levels are influenced by factors such as rainfall in the regions of its tributary rivers, human-constructed dams, tectonic movements, and climate change. The lake's water level has fluctuated significantly over the years, impacting the surrounding regions and their ecosystems.

The Caspian Sea holds significant economic importance for the bordering countries due to its rich oil and natural gas resources. However, the intensive development of these resources has also led to serious environmental concerns, including water, air, and land pollution. The rising sea levels have caused flooding, and the release of untreated industrial wastewater has further degraded the ecosystem.

The Caspian Sea is also known for its biodiversity, with nearly 2,000 species and subspecies of animals inhabiting the region. It is considered an independent zoogeographical region by the World Wildlife Fund due to its unique qualities. The beluga sturgeon, the largest freshwater fish in the world, is one of the most famous and financially valuable animals in the region, known for its eggs processed into caviar.

The Kura River is Azerbaijan's longest river

The Kura River rises in the Kars upland in northeastern Turkey and flows into Georgia before crossing the border into northwestern Azerbaijan. Within Azerbaijan, the Kura River stretches for 900 kilometres (559 miles) and is joined by its tributary, the Araks River, about 100 kilometres (62 miles) downstream of the Azerbaijani border. The Araks River forms the border between Turkey and Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan, Iran and Azerbaijan, Iran and Armenia, and Iran and Azerbaijan before flowing into Azerbaijan. The total annual inflow of the Kura and its tributaries from Armenia is estimated at 14.3 kilometres cubed (3.43 cubic miles) per year.

The Kura River is of significant economic importance to Azerbaijan, with many of the country's large water reservoirs built along it. The Mingachevir reservoir, formed by a dam on the Kura River, is the largest inland body of water entirely within Azerbaijan's borders. The Upper Karabakh Canal also channels water from the Mingachevir reservoir to the Kura and Aras lowlands for irrigation during the dry summer months. Additionally, the Kura River is an important source of hydropower for the country.

The Kura River basin, along with the Araks River basin, forms the Kura-Araks lowland, which covers the central region of Azerbaijan. This lowland area is primarily wetlands and includes alluvial flatlands and low seacoast deltas. The Kura-Araks lowland is surrounded on three sides by mountain ranges, including the Greater Caucasus Mountains to the north and the Talysh Mountains to the southeast.

The Kura River is not only essential for Azerbaijan's water supply and irrigation but also holds cultural significance. The river's name is derived from the ancient Persian word "Kura," which means "giving life." The Kura River has played a role in the region's history, with archaeological evidence of ancient rivers throughout the country indicating the dynamic nature of Azerbaijan's water systems.

The Kura River flows into the Caspian Sea

The Kura River is the largest river in Azerbaijan and the longest river in the Transcaucasia Region, spanning a total length of 1,515 kilometres (941 miles), with 900 kilometres located within Azerbaijan. The river rises in the Kars upland in northeast Turkey and flows through Georgia before crossing the border into Azerbaijan in the northwest. The Kura River is the main water source and the artery of Azerbaijan, providing irrigation for agriculture and contributing to the country's hydropower.

The Kura River basin area, which includes the rivers that flow into the Caspian Sea, covers 86,000 square kilometres (33,400 square miles). The Kura River is joined by the Aras River, its main tributary, which also flows through Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, and Azerbaijan. The Aras River is 914 kilometres (568 miles) long and joins the Kura River before flowing into the Caspian Sea. The Kura-Aras Lowland, formed by these two rivers, is surrounded by the Greater Caucasus Mountains on three sides.

The Kura River is of significant historical importance to the region. Archaeological sites along the Kura River, such as the Dashbulaq, Hasansu, Zayamchai, and Tovuzchai sites, have revealed artifacts dating back to the early Iron Age. Additionally, petroglyphs found in the Gamigaya Petroglyphs site in the Ordubad District of Azerbaijan, dating back to the 1st to 4th millennium BCE, depict images of people, animals, and various symbols.

The Kura River is also essential for the economy of Azerbaijan. The Mingachevir Reservoir, formed by a dam on the Kura River, is the largest inland body of water entirely within Azerbaijan. The reservoir provides water for irrigation and is used for hydropower generation. The Upper Karabakh Canal, originating from the Mingachevir Reservoir, channels water to the Kura and Aras Lowlands for irrigation during the dry summer months.

The Kura River and its tributaries face environmental challenges due to pollution from agricultural activities, chemical industries, and untreated domestic wastewater. Climate change further threatens the water quality of the Kura River and its tributaries, with rising temperatures impacting snow and ice melting, which affects river discharge. Ensuring the sustainable management of the Kura River and addressing pollution are crucial for the region's development and the preservation of its ecological diversity.

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