Introduction to Geography of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan (or Azerbaizdhan), a country in western Asia. It is on the west coast of the Caspian Sea and borders on Iran, Armenia, Turkey, Georgia, and Russia. Including the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic, Azerbaijan has an area of 33,436 square miles (86,600 km2).
Facts in brief about AzerbaijanCapital: Baku.Official language: Azerbaijani.Area: 33,436 mi2 (86,600 km2). Greatest distances—north-south, 240 mi (385 km); east-west, 295 mi (475 km).Elevation: Highest—Bazardyuzyu, 14,652 ft (4,466 m) above sea level. Lowest—Coast of Caspian Sea, 92 ft (28 m) below sea level.Population: Current estimate—8,607,000; density, 257 per mi2 (99 per km2); distribution, 52 percent urban, 48 percent rural. 1999 census—7,953,438.Chief products: Agriculture—cotton, fruit, grain, livestock, tea, tobacco, vegetables. Manufacturing—machine building, petroleum refining, textile production, processing of chemicals. Mining—aluminum, copper, iron, natural gas, petroleum, salt.Flag: The Azerbaijan flag has three horizontal stripes that are light blue, red, and green (top to bottom). In the flag's center is a white crescent and an eight-point star.Money: Basic unit—Azerbaijani manat.Azerbaijan is edged by high ranges of the Caucasus Mountains on the north and by lesser ranges on the south and southwest. Bazar Dyuzi, which rises 14,698 feet (4,480 m) above sea level in the Caucasus, is the highest peak. A broad lowland borders the lower Kura River and its tributary the Araks. Much of this area lies below sea level. The only large lake is Mingechaur Reservoir, a source of water for irrigation and for generating hydroelectric power.
Except in the subtropical Lenkoran Lowland, south of the Kura River's mouth, Azerbaijan has a dry climate marked by hot summers and cool to cold winters. Steppe vegetation predominates.
Azerbaijan is a country in southwestern Asia.Economy
Azerbaijans economy is regulated by the government with industry accounting for half the value of production.
Agriculture contributes a third of the value of industrial production. It is carried on largely by collectives and state-owned farms. About 70 per cent of the cultivated land is irrigated. Wheat, cotton, rice, fruits, vegetables, tea, and tobacco are grown. In addition, silkworms are also grown for the raw silk industry. Much land is used for raising livestock, chiefly sheep, cattle, and goats.. The Caspian Sea is a rich source of fish.
Petroleum is by far the most important mineral product, being Azerbaijans chief single source of income. Azerbaijan has productive oil fields along the Caspian coast, particularly along the Apsheron Peninsula near Baku. Iron, aluminum, copper, lead, and zinc ores, sulfur, natural gas and salt are mined.
Manufacturing industries produce a wide range of goods, notably petroleum products, chemicals, machines, mineral products, processed foods, iron and steel products, textiles, and clothing. Baku, Ganja, Saki, Xankandi, and Naxcivan are the leading industrial centers. Major cities are served by rail, highway, and air.
Azerbaijan has a limited road and railway system. Most of the countrys trade on the Caspian Sea is handled by a port at Baku. The countrys main airport is located at Baku.
The countrys main radio and television stations are situated in, and broadcast from, Baku. Newspapers and Magazines are published in Azerbaijani and Russian.
In 1989, Azerbaijan had a population of 7,029,000. Baku, the capital and largest city, had a population of 1,757,000. About three-fourths of the people are ethnic Azerbaijanis, a Turkic-speaking people related culturally to the Iranians; the rest are largely Great Russians, Lezgins, and Armenians. Islam is the principal religion. Nearly all of Azerbaijan's people are literate. Baku State University is the largest university.
Government
Azerbaijan has a parliamentary form of government with a popularly elected president. According to Azerbaijans constitution, which became effective in 1995, the President is the most powerful person in government. He is elected by the people for tenure of five years. A Cabinet of Ministers, headed by a Prime Minister and appointed by the President, helps carry the operations of the government.
Azerbaijan has a parliament consisting of 125 members known as the Milli Majlis (National Assembly), which formulates the countrys laws. Assembly members are elected by voters for a tenure of five years.
Local government comprises of the Naxcivan Autonomous Republic, districts cities and villages, with each having a governing council to manage local affairs. Citizens aged 18 years and above are eligible to vote.
The highest court is the Supreme Court. In addition, there are a number of regional courts.
The armed forces have a combined strength of 1,850,000. At least 17 months of service in armed forces is compulsory for all men.
Azerbaijan was acquired by Russia during two wars with Persia between 1800 and 1828. In 1917, shortly after the fall of the Russian imperial government, Azerbaijan proclaimed itself an independent republic. Azerbaijan was conquered by the Red Army in 1920 and in 1922 was combined with Armenia and Georgia to form the Transcaucasian Soviet Federal Socialist Republic. In 1936 Azerbaijan became a union republic of the Soviet Union.
Ethnic and religious differences between Azerbaijanis and Armenians in the region led to tension between the two groups. Tensions rose in the late 1980's and fighting broke out in Nagorno Karabakh, a predominantly Armenian region within Azerbaijan. In 1990 Soviet troops were sent to the region to restore order.
During 1990–91, rising nationalism throughout the union republics gradually eroded the authority of the Soviet central government. In 1991 the Soviet Union collapsed and Azerbaijan became independent. Also that year, Azerbaijan joined the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a loose confederation of former Soviet republics. During 1992 fighting between Azerbaijanis and Armenians in Nagorno Karabakh intensified.
In June, 1992, Abulfez Elchibey became Azerbaijan's first popularly elected president. During 1993 Azerbaijani forces suffered several disastrous defeats at the hands of rebel Armenians, who captured all of Nagorno-Karabakh and parts of surrounding areas. In the summer of 1993, Elchibey was overthrown by a faction in the armed forces. Heydar Aliyev was appointed acting president, and in October, 1993, was elected president. In the spring of 1994, a cease-fire was negotiated between the Azerbaijanis and the rebel Armenians.