Editing Azerbaijan (section)

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Azerbaijan|3 = State reserves of Azerbaijan|4 = National parks of Azerbaijan}}
{{See also|Extreme points of Azerbaijan}}
[[File:Koppen-Geiger Map AZE present.svg|thumb|upright=1.5|[[Köppen climate classification|Köppen-Geiger climate classification]] map for Azerbaijan<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Beck |first1=Hylke E. |last2=Zimmermann |first2=Niklaus E. |last3=McVicar |first3=Tim R. |last4=Vergopolan |first4=Noemi |last5=Berg |first5=Alexis |last6=Wood |first6=Eric F.|author6-link=Eric Franklin Wood |title=Present and future Köppen-Geiger climate classification maps at 1-km resolution |journal=Scientific Data |date=30 October 2018 |volume=5 |pages=180214 |doi=10.1038/sdata.2018.214|url=https://www.research-collection.ethz.ch/bitstream/20.500.11850/302311/2/sdata2018214.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.research-collection.ethz.ch/bitstream/20.500.11850/302311/2/sdata2018214.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |pmid=30375988 |pmc=6207062 |bibcode=2018NatSD...580214B }}</ref>]]

Azerbaijan is located in the [[South Caucasus]] region of [[Eurasia]], straddling [[West Asia]] and [[Eastern Europe]]. It lies between latitudes [[38th parallel north|38°]] and [[42nd parallel north|42° N]], and longitudes [[44th meridian east|44°]] and [[51st meridian east|51° E]]. The perimeter of Azerbaijan's land borders is {{convert|2648|km|0|abbr=on}}, of which {{convert|1007|km|0|abbr=on}} are with Armenia, {{convert|756|km|0|abbr=on}} with Iran, 480&nbsp;kilometers with Georgia, {{convert|390|km|0|abbr=on}} with Russia and {{convert|15|km|0|abbr=on}} with Turkey.<ref name="STA">{{cite web|title=Geographical data |publisher=The State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan |url=http://www.azstat.org/publications/azfigures/2007/en/001.shtml#t1_2 |access-date=26 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070525040712/http://www.azstat.org/publications/azfigures/2007/en/001.shtml#t1_5 |archive-date=25 May 2007 |url-status=live }}</ref> The coastline stretches for {{convert|800|km|0|abbr=on}}, and the length of the widest area of the Azerbaijani section of the [[Caspian Sea]] is {{convert|456|km|0|abbr=on}}.<ref name="STA"/> The country has a landlocked [[Enclave and exclave|exclave]], the [[Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Naxcivan {{!}} History & Geography {{!}} Britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Naxcivan-republic-Azerbaijan|access-date=2022-01-29|website=www.britannica.com|language=en|archive-date=24 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230624111310/https://www.britannica.com/place/Naxcivan-republic-Azerbaijan|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Budug Azerbaijan16.jpg|thumb|left|[[Caucasus Mountains]] in northern Azerbaijan]]
Three physical features dominate Azerbaijan: the Caspian Sea, whose shoreline forms a natural boundary to the east; the [[Greater Caucasus]] mountain range to the north; and the extensive flatlands at the country's center. There are three mountain ranges: the Greater and [[Lesser Caucasus]], and the [[Talysh Mountains]], together covering approximately 40% of the country.<ref name="GEO">{{cite web|title=Azerbaijan: Biodiversity |url=http://www.cac-biodiversity.org/aze/aze_biodiversity.htm |publisher=Central Asia and Transcaucasus Network on Plant Genetic Resources |access-date=17 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208012911/http://www.cac-biodiversity.org/aze/aze_biodiversity.htm |archive-date=8 February 2012 |year=2003 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The highest peak is [[Mount Bazardüzü]] {{convert|4466|m|0|abbr=on}}, while the lowest point lies in the Caspian Sea {{convert|−28|m|0|abbr=on}} . Nearly half of all the [[mud volcano]]es on Earth are concentrated in Azerbaijan, [[mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan|these volcanoes]] were among nominees for the [[New 7 Wonders of Nature]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Azerbaijan's mud volcanoes on Seven Wonders of Nature shortlist |publisher=News.Az |url=http://www.news.az/articles/8581 |access-date=8 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100210062717/http://www.news.az/articles/8581 |archive-date=10 February 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The main water sources are surface waters. Only 24 of the 8,350 stream are greater than {{convert|100|km|0|abbr=on}} in length.<ref name="GEO"/> All the streams drain into the Caspian Sea.<ref name="GEO"/> The largest lake is [[Lake Sarysu|Sarysu]] at {{convert|67|km2|0|abbr=on}}, and the longest river is [[Kura (Caspian Sea)|Kur]] at {{convert|1515|km|0|abbr=on}}, which is [[Transboundary river|transboundary]] with Armenia. Azerbaijan has several islands along the Caspian sea, mostly located in the [[Baku Archipelago]].

Since independence in 1991, the government has taken measures to preserve the [[environment of Azerbaijan]]. National protection of the environment accelerated after 2001 when the state budget increased through revenues provided by the [[Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline]]. Within four years, protected areas doubled and now make up eight percent of the country's territory. Since 2001 the government has set up seven large reserves and almost doubled the sector of the budget earmarked for environmental protection.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/azer/soe/ecology/html/ecology.html |title=Ecological problems in Azerbaijan |publisher=Enrin.grida.no |access-date=30 June 2010 |archive-date=11 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011195226/http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/azer/soe/ecology/html/ecology.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Landscape===
{{Main|Orography of Azerbaijan|Climate of Azerbaijan|Water bodies of Azerbaijan}}
[[File:Bazarduzu detail.JPG|thumb|[[Mount Bazardüzü|Mount Bazarduzu]], the highest peak of Azerbaijan, as seen from [[Mount Shahdagh]]]]
[[File:Azerbajiani landscape - Another version.jpg|thumb|The landscape of Khinalug valley]]
Azerbaijan is home to a wide variety of landscapes. Over half of the land consists of mountain ridges, crests, highlands, and plateaus which rise up to levels of 400–1,000&nbsp;meters (including the middle and lower lowlands), in some places (Talis, Jeyranchol-Ajinohur and Langabiz-Alat foreranges) up to 100–120&nbsp;meters, and others from 0–50&nbsp;meters and up ([[Qobustan, Absheron]]). The rest of Azerbaijan's terrain consists of plains and lowlands. Elevations within the Caucasus region vary from about −28&nbsp;meters at the Caspian Sea shoreline up to 4,466&nbsp;meters ([[Mount Bazardüzü|Bazardüzü]] peak).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/azer/soe/ecology/html/ecologicalzones.html |title=Orography of Azerbaijan |publisher=United Nations Environment Programme |access-date=30 June 2010 |archive-date=11 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011201110/http://enrin.grida.no/htmls/azer/soe/ecology/html/ecologicalzones.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Azerbaijan » Asian Mountain Outfitters |url=https://asianmountainoutfitters.com/azerbaijan/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=asianmountainoutfitters.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

The climate is influenced by cold arctic [[air mass]]es of Scandinavian [[anticyclone]], temperate air masses of [[Siberia]]n anticyclone, and Central Asian anticyclone.<ref name="CLIM">{{cite web| title = Azerbaijan – Climate| publisher = Heydar Aliyev Foundation| url = http://www.azerbaijan.az/_Geography/_Climate/_climate_e.html| access-date = 26 May 2007| archive-date = 26 January 2007| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070126073746/http://azerbaijan.az/_Geography/_Climate/_climate_e.html| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The climate-forming factors - Azerbaijan.az |url=https://azerbaijan.az/en/related-information/237 |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=azerbaijan.az}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-10 |title=What is the Climate of Azerbaijan Like? |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/what-type-of-climate-does-azerbaijan-have.html |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=WorldAtlas |language=en-US}}</ref> Azerbaijan's landscape affects the ways air masses enter the country.<ref name="CLIM"/> The Greater Caucasus protects the country from direct influences of cold air masses coming from the north. That leads to the formation of [[Subtropics|subtropical climate]] on most foothills and plains of the country. Meanwhile, plains and foothills are characterized by high [[Sunlight|solar radiation]] rates.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dtxk.gov.az/azerbaijan/nature/nature04_e.html#1 |title=Climate |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718204957/http://www.dtxk.gov.az/azerbaijan/nature/nature04_e.html#1 |archive-date=2014-07-18 |publisher=[[State Land and Cartography Committee (Azerbaijan)|State Land and Cartography Committee]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-04-15 |title=20 reasons to visit Azerbaijan |url=https://turalux.com/2019/04/15/20-reasons-to-visit-baku/ |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=Turalux - International DMC & MICE and EVENT Agency |language=en-US}}</ref>

Nine out of eleven existing [[Köppen climate classification|climate zones]] are present in Azerbaijan.<ref name="KL">{{cite web|title=Climate |website=Water Resources of the Azerbaijan Republic |publisher=Institute of Hydrometeorology, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources |url=http://www.azhydromet.com/SRIH/Water%20Resurs.html |access-date=26 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524005453/http://www.azhydromet.com/SRIH/Water%20Resurs.html |archive-date=24 May 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Both the absolute minimum temperatures (<span style="white-space:nowrap">{{convert|-33|°C|°F|1|disp=or}} </span>) and the absolute maximum temperatures{{Quantify|date=September 2022}} were observed in [[Julfa District|Julfa]] and [[Ordubad District|Ordubad]]—regions of [[Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic]].<ref name="KL"/> The maximum annual precipitation falls in [[Lankaran]] ({{convert|1600|to|1800|mm|abbr=on|disp=or}}) and the minimum in Absheron ({{convert|200|to|350|mm|abbr=on|disp=or}}).<ref name="KL"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=World Bank Climate Change Knowledge Portal |url=https://climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org/country/azerbaijan/climate-data-historical |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=climateknowledgeportal.worldbank.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Caviglia |first=ClimeChart com-Michael |title=Climate Country Overview for Azerbaijan {{!}} Weather Patterns and Climate Data |url=https://www.climechart.com/en/climate-country-overview/azerbaijan |access-date=2025-04-04 |website=www.climechart.com |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Murov mountain in Azerbaijan-Caucasus3.jpg|thumb|left|[[Murovdag]] is the highest [[mountain range]] in the [[Lesser Caucasus]].]]
Rivers and lakes form the principal part of the water systems of Azerbaijan, they were formed over a long geological timeframe and changed significantly throughout that period. This is evidenced by remnants of ancient rivers found throughout the country. The water systems are continually changing under the influence of natural forces and human-introduced industrial activities. Canals and ponds are a part of Azerbaijan's water systems. In terms of water supply, Azerbaijan is below the average in the world with approximately {{convert|100000|m3|0|abbr=off}} per year of water per square kilometer.<ref name="KL"/> All big [[Reservoir|water reservoirs]] are built on Kur. The hydrography of Azerbaijan belongs to the Caspian Sea basin.

The [[Kura (South Caucasus river)|Kura]] and [[Aras (river)|Aras]] are the major rivers in Azerbaijan. They run through the [[Kura-Aras lowland]]. The rivers that directly flow into the Caspian Sea originate mainly from the north-eastern slope of the Major Caucasus and Talysh Mountains and run along the Samur–Devechi and Lankaran lowlands.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/major-rivers-of-azerbaijan.html |title=Major Rivers Of Azerbaijan |author=Joyce Chepkemoi |date=25 April 2017 |website=worldatlas.com |access-date=23 November 2020 |archive-date=2 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201202010451/https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/major-rivers-of-azerbaijan.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>FAO. 2009. AQUASTAT Transboundary River Basins – Kura Araks River Basin. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Rome, Italy

[https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/76c1f173-ef42-40a2-a519-71c273f6db2e/content?utm_source=chatgpt.com https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/76c1f173-ef42-40a2-a519-71c273f6db2e/content]</ref>

[[Yanar Dagh|Yanar Dag]], translated as "burning mountain", is a natural gas fire which blazes continuously on a hillside on the [[Absheron Peninsula]] on the Caspian Sea near Baku, which itself is known as the "land of fire." Flames jet out into the air from a thin, porous sandstone layer. It is a tourist attraction to visitors to the Baku area.<ref>{{cite book| last = Kleveman|first = Lutz|title = The new great game: blood and oil in Central Asia|page=[https://archive.org/details/newgreatgame00lutz/page/15 15]|publisher = Atlantic Monthly Press| year = 2003|url = https://archive.org/details/newgreatgame00lutz| url-access = registration| access-date = November 21, 2010 |isbn=978-0-87113-906-1}}</ref>

===Biodiversity===
{{Main|Wildlife of Azerbaijan}}
{{Further|Fauna of Azerbaijan|Flora of Azerbaijan}}
[[File:Stamp of Azerbaijan 750.jpg|thumb|The [[Karabakh horse]] is the national animal of Azerbaijan.]]
The first reports on the richness and diversity of animal life in Azerbaijan can be found in travel notes of Eastern travelers. Animal carvings on architectural monuments, ancient rocks, and stones survived up to the present times. The first information on flora and fauna of Azerbaijan was collected during the visits of naturalists to Azerbaijan in the 17th century.<ref name="GEO"/>

There are 106 species of mammals, 97 species of fish, 363 species of birds, 10 species of amphibians, and 52 species of reptiles which have been recorded and classified in Azerbaijan.<ref name="GEO"/> The national animal of Azerbaijan is the [[Karabakh horse]], a mountain-steppe racing and riding horse endemic to Azerbaijan. The Karabakh horse has a reputation for its good temper, speed, elegance, and intelligence. It is one of the oldest breeds, with ancestry dating to the ancient world, but today the horse is an endangered species.<ref>{{cite web| title = The Karabakh Horse| publisher = Karabakh Foundation| url = http://www.karabakhfoundation.org/pages/history-and-culture/karabakh-region/the-karabakh-horse/| url-status=dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101013010330/http://karabakhfoundation.org/pages/history-and-culture/karabakh-region/the-karabakh-horse/| archive-date = 13 October 2010}}</ref>

Azerbaijan's flora consists of more than 4,500 species of higher plants. Due to the unique climate in Azerbaijan, the flora is much richer in the number of species than the flora of the other republics of the South Caucasus. Sixty-six percent of the species growing in the whole [[Caucasus]] can be found in Azerbaijan.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.azerbaijan.az/_Geography/_Planting/_planting_e.html |title=Azerbaijan – Flora |publisher=Heydar Aliyev Foundation |access-date=5 March 2010 |archive-date=1 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701231420/http://www.azerbaijan.az/_Geography/_Planting/_planting_e.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The country lies within four ecoregions: [[Caspian Hyrcanian mixed forests]], [[Caucasus mixed forests]], [[Eastern Anatolian montane steppe]], and [[Azerbaijan shrub desert and steppe]].<ref name="DinersteinOlson2017">{{cite journal|last1=Dinerstein|first1=Eric|last2=Olson|first2=David|last3=Joshi|first3=Anup|last4=Vynne|first4=Carly|last5=Burgess|first5=Neil D.|last6=Wikramanayake|first6=Eric|last7=Hahn|first7=Nathan|last8=Palminteri|first8=Suzanne|last9=Hedao|first9=Prashant|last10=Noss|first10=Reed|last11=Hansen|first11=Matt|last12=Locke|first12=Harvey|last13=Ellis|first13=Erle C|last14=Jones|first14=Benjamin|last15=Barber|first15=Charles Victor|last16=Hayes|first16=Randy|last17=Kormos|first17=Cyril|last18=Martin|first18=Vance|last19=Crist|first19=Eileen|last20=Sechrest|first20=Wes|last21=Price|first21=Lori|last22=Baillie|first22=Jonathan E. M.|last23=Weeden|first23=Don|last24=Suckling|first24=Kierán|last25=Davis|first25=Crystal|last26=Sizer|first26=Nigel|last27=Moore|first27=Rebecca|last28=Thau|first28=David|last29=Birch|first29=Tanya|last30=Potapov|first30=Peter|last31=Turubanova|first31=Svetlana|last32=Tyukavina|first32=Alexandra|last33=de Souza|first33=Nadia|last34=Pintea|first34=Lilian|last35=Brito|first35=José C.|last36=Llewellyn|first36=Othman A.|last37=Miller|first37=Anthony G.|last38=Patzelt|first38=Annette|last39=Ghazanfar|first39=Shahina A.|last40=Timberlake|first40=Jonathan|last41=Klöser|first41=Heinz|last42=Shennan-Farpón|first42=Yara|last43=Kindt|first43=Roeland|last44=Lillesø|first44=Jens-Peter Barnekow|last45=van Breugel|first45=Paulo|last46=Graudal|first46=Lars|last47=Voge|first47=Maianna|last48=Al-Shammari|first48=Khalaf F.|last49=Saleem|first49=Muhammad|title=An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm|journal=BioScience|volume=67|issue=6|year=2017|pages=534–545|issn=0006-3568|doi=10.1093/biosci/bix014|pmid=28608869|pmc=5451287|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Azerbaijan had a 2018 [[Forest Landscape Integrity Index]] mean score of 6.55/10, ranking it 72nd globally out of 172 countries.<ref name="FLII-Supplementary">{{cite journal|last1=Grantham|first1=H. S.|last2=Duncan|first2=A.|last3=Evans|first3=T. D.|last4=Jones|first4=K. R.|last5=Beyer|first5=H. L.|last6=Schuster|first6=R.|last7=Walston|first7=J.|last8=Ray|first8=J. C.|last9=Robinson|first9=J. G.|last10=Callow|first10=M.|last11=Clements|first11=T.|last12=Costa|first12=H. M.|last13=DeGemmis|first13=A.|last14=Elsen|first14=P. R.|last15=Ervin|first15=J.|last16=Franco|first16=P.|last17=Goldman|first17=E.|last18=Goetz|first18=S.|last19=Hansen|first19=A.|last20=Hofsvang|first20=E.|last21=Jantz|first21=P.|last22=Jupiter|first22=S.|last23=Kang|first23=A.|last24=Langhammer|first24=P.|last25=Laurance|first25=W. F.|last26=Lieberman|first26=S.|last27=Linkie|first27=M.|last28=Malhi|first28=Y.|last29=Maxwell|first29=S.|last30=Mendez|first30=M.|last31=Mittermeier|first31=R.|last32=Murray|first32=N. J.|last33=Possingham|first33=H.|last34=Radachowsky|first34=J.|last35=Saatchi|first35=S.|last36=Samper|first36=C.|last37=Silverman|first37=J.|last38=Shapiro|first38=A.|last39=Strassburg|first39=B.|last40=Stevens|first40=T.|last41=Stokes|first41=E.|last42=Taylor|first42=R.|last43=Tear|first43=T.|last44=Tizard|first44=R.|last45=Venter|first45=O.|last46=Visconti|first46=P.|last47=Wang|first47=S.|last48=Watson|first48=J. E. M.|title=Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material|journal=Nature Communications|volume=11|issue=1|year=2020|page=5978|issn=2041-1723|doi=10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3|pmid=33293507|pmc=7723057|bibcode=2020NatCo..11.5978G |doi-access=free}}</ref> [[Forest cover]] is around 14.% of the total land area, equivalent to 1,131,770 hectares (ha) of forest in 2020, up from 944,740 hectares (ha) in 1990. In 2020, naturally regenerating forest covered 826,200 hectares (ha) and planted forest covered 305,570 hectares (ha). Of the naturally regenerating forest 0% was reported to be [[primary forest]] (consisting of native tree species with no clearly visible indications of human activity) and around 33% of the forest area was found within protected areas. In 2015, 100% of the forest area was reported to be under [[State ownership|public ownership]], 0% [[Private property|private ownership]] and 0% with ownership listed as other or unknown.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a6e225da-4a31-4e06-818d-ca3aeadfd635/content |title=Terms and Definitions FRA 2025 Forest Resources Assessment, Working Paper 194 |publisher=Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |year=2023 |access-date=19 September 2024 |archive-date=11 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240911122341/https://openknowledge.fao.org/server/api/core/bitstreams/a6e225da-4a31-4e06-818d-ca3aeadfd635/content |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Forest Resources Assessment 2020, Azerbaijan |url=https://fra-data.fao.org/assessments/fra/2020/AZE/home/overview |website=Food Agriculture Organization of the United Nations |access-date=19 September 2024 |archive-date=19 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919123959/https://fra-data.fao.org/assessments/fra/2020/AZE/home/overview/ |url-status=live }}</ref>