Exploring Azerbaijan's Square Area: Understanding Territory Dimensions

Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a country in the Caucasus region, at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia. It is a transcontinental country, with a total land area of approximately 86,600 square kilometres (33,436 square miles), slightly smaller than Maine in the US or Portugal. Azerbaijan is bordered by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west and southwest, Turkey to the west and Iran to the south. The country's capital, Baku, is located on the Caspian Sea border and is the largest city, with over 1.7 million inhabitants. Baku is also known as the 'Land of Fire' due to its natural gas fire, Yanar Dag, which has been continuously burning for at least 65 years.

Azerbaijan's total area

Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a transcontinental country located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia. This means it is situated between Europe and Asia, with its positioning in the Southern Caucasus Region resulting in it sometimes being considered part of Asia, and other times, a European country.

Azerbaijan has a total land area of approximately 86,600 square kilometres, or 33,436 square miles, which is slightly smaller than the US state of Maine. It is the largest of the three Transcaucasian states, and is bordered by Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west and southwest, Turkey to the west or southwest (by the border of Nakhchivan), and Iran to the south. It also has a coastline with the Caspian Sea to the east, which is about 800 kilometres, or 497 miles, long.

The country is characterised by three physical features: the Caspian Sea, the Greater Caucasus mountain range to the north, and the extensive flatlands at its centre. There are three mountain ranges in total: the Greater and Lesser Caucasus, and the Talysh Mountains, which together cover approximately 40% of the country. The highest peak is Mount Bazarduzu, at 4,466 metres (14,652 feet) above sea level, while the lowest point is in the Caspian Sea, at 28 metres (92 feet) below sea level.

The country's highest and lowest points

Azerbaijan is a country in the Caucasus region, situated at the juncture of Eastern Europe and West Asia. It is nearly surrounded by mountains, with the Greater Caucasus range to the north, the Lesser Caucasus range to the west, and the Talysh Mountains to the south. The highest peaks in the country are located in these mountain systems.

The highest point in Azerbaijan is Mount Bazardüzü, also known as Bazarduzu Dagi, which rises to 4,466 metres (14,652 feet) above sea level. Mount Bazardüzü is part of the Greater Caucasus range and forms part of the country's northern boundary with Russia. The second-highest peak is Shakhdag, which is part of the Lesser Caucasus range. The highest peak that is entirely within Azerbaijan's territory is Shah Dagi, which rises to 4,243 metres (13,921 feet).

The lowest point in Azerbaijan is the Caspian Sea, which lies at -28 metres (-92 feet) below sea level. The Caspian Sea forms the eastern boundary of the country and is known for its rich oil deposits. The coastal terrain around the Caspian Sea is mostly flat, with some areas lying as much as 28 metres below sea level.

The Caspian Sea's impact on Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia. It is a part of the South Caucasus region and 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, the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, is located on the Caspian Sea and has the largest and best harbour on the sea. The Caspian shoreline forms a natural boundary to the east of Azerbaijan.

The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, 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. It covers a surface area of 371,000 square kilometres, with a volume of 78,200 cubic kilometres. The Caspian Sea is home to a wide range of species and is famous for its caviar and oil industries.

The Caspian Sea has had a significant impact on Azerbaijan in several ways. Firstly, the sea has influenced the country's topography and drainage patterns. Azerbaijan's topography includes extensive flatlands at the country's centre, with nearly half the country considered mountainous. The Caspian Sea forms a natural boundary to the east of the country, with the Greater Caucasus mountain range to the north and the Lesser Caucasus range to the west. The Talysh Mountains form part of the border with Iran to the southeast. The Kura and Aras are the major rivers in Azerbaijan, flowing through the Kura-Aras lowland, which includes alluvial flatlands and low delta areas along the Caspian coastline.

Secondly, the Caspian Sea has influenced Azerbaijan's economy and trade. Baku, located on the Caspian Sea, has long been the centre of the republic's oil industry. The country's oil wells were being dug in the region as early as the 10th century, and by the beginning of the 20th century, Baku was the centre of the international oil industry. Today, the exploitation of oil remains a distinctive traditional export of the republic. Additionally, the Caspian Sea provides a route for international trade and transportation. Baku has the main moorings for large vessels, such as oil tankers, in Azerbaijan. It is the largest port on the Caspian Sea and provides access to the oceans through the Volga-Baltic and Don-Sea of Azov routes. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline, which became operational in 2006, connects the Caspian region with Turkey.

Thirdly, the Caspian Sea has had an environmental impact on Azerbaijan. The sea's levels have fluctuated sharply during the last century, and scientific studies have found that the levels have been falling since the mid-1990s due to increased evaporation associated with climate change and the diversion of the Volga's waters for irrigation. These changes in sea level have impacted the environment and economic sectors, particularly marine oil and gas operations. Additionally, pollution from the oil industry and dams on rivers that drain into the Caspian Sea have harmed its ecology.

Finally, the Caspian Sea has played a role in Azerbaijan's tourism industry. Baku was a well-known tourist spot in the 1980s, but the First Nagorno-Karabakh War during the 1990s damaged the industry. In recent years, Azerbaijan has experienced a high growth rate in tourist visits and overnight stays, with the country becoming a popular destination for religious, spa, and healthcare tourism. The Caspian Sea, with its unique climate, diverse landscapes, and natural resources, contributes to the country's appeal as a tourist destination.

Azerbaijan's neighbouring countries

Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a transcontinental country situated in the South Caucasus region at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia. It is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia and Turkey to the west, and Iran to the south. The country also has a border with Turkey to the west of its Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan, which is separated from the rest of Azerbaijan by a strip of Armenian territory.

Azerbaijan has international land borders with five states, and its perimeter of land borders is 2,648 km (1,645 mi). The country's longest land border is with Armenia, which stretches for 1,007 km (626 mi). Azerbaijan also has a 713 km (443 mi) coastline with the Caspian Sea, which is classified as the world's largest lake and also as a closed sea.

To the north of Azerbaijan lies Russia, which shares a 390 km (242 mi) border with the country. The two countries also share maritime borders in the Caspian Sea. To the northwest is Georgia, with which Azerbaijan shares a 480 km (300 mi) border. Armenia borders Azerbaijan to the west and southwest, with a border stretching 566 km (350 mi). The length of the border with Turkey is just 15 km (9 mi) in the southwest, and 17 km (9 mi) with the Nakhchivan exclave. To the south, Azerbaijan shares a border with Iran, as well as a 700 km (432 mi) border with Iran in the Nakhchivan exclave.

Azerbaijan's total land area is approximately 86,600 km2, which is about the size of Portugal or the US state of Maine. It is the largest of the three Transcaucasian states and has a diverse landscape, characterised by the Caspian Sea to the east, the Greater Caucasus mountain range to the north, and extensive flatlands at the country's centre.

The country's population and density

Azerbaijan has a population of over 10 million people, with a population density of around 120 people per square kilometre. The country's population is predominantly urban, with approximately 57% of its inhabitants living in urban areas. The capital city, Baku, is the largest city in the country and has a population of over 2 million people. The population is continuing to grow, but it is in the early stages of aging, with a declining fertility rate and increasing life expectancy.

The population density of Azerbaijan varies across the country, with the highest population density found in the far eastern area of the country, particularly in and around Baku. The rest of the country has a fairly light and evenly distributed population, except for some smaller urbanised areas.

Azerbaijan has over 80 ethnic groups, with the largest being Azerbaijani at 91.6%. Russians make up 1.3% of the population, Armenians 1.3%, Talysh 1.3%, and other ethnic groups making up the remaining 5.5%. The official language of Azerbaijan is Azerbaijani, which is spoken by around 92% of the population as their mother tongue. Russian and Armenian are also spoken, with each being the mother tongue of around 1.5% of the population.

The majority of the country's population, around 97%, is nominally Muslim, with around 55-65% being Shia and 35-45% Sunni. However, religious affiliation for most Azerbaijanis is largely nominal, and the actual percentage of practising adherents is likely much lower. Christianity is officially recognised, with Russian Orthodox, Georgian Orthodox, and Armenian Apostolic being the most common denominations.

Azerbaijan has a high literacy rate, with 99.8% of the population being literate. Education is compulsory up to the ninth grade, and the country has a strong focus on higher education, with many institutions offering a range of academic and vocational programmes.

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