География Азербайджана

География Азербайджана - Geography of Azerbaijan

Азербайджан – расположен в юго-восточной части закавказского региона, на западе Азии. Граничит: на севере - с Россией, на северо-западе - с Грузией, на юге - с Ираном, на западе – Арменией, на крайнем юго-западе с Турцией. На востоке омывается водами Каспийского моря. Площадь территории – 86,6 тысяч кв. км. Помимо материковой части в его состав входят многочисленные небольшие острова Каспийского моря (Бакинский и Апшеронский архипелаги).

На территории Азербайджана можно увидеть все виды рельефа: и горы, и низменности, и равнины, и впадины. Примерно половина территории Азербайджана занята горами: на севере - хребет Большого Кавказа, на юго-западе - хребет Малого Кавказа. Высочайшая точка страны гора Базардюзю на Главном, или Водораздельном, хребте ( 4 466 м ). В средней части страны находится Куро-Араксинская низменность, на юго-востоке - Ленкоранская низменность.
Недра страны содержат запасы нефти, железной руды, цветных металлов.

Климат
В пределах страны выделяются несколько типов климата, от сухого и влажного субтропического до горного тундрового (высокогорья). Летом от +26… +30 С на равнинах до +5 С в высокогорьях, а зимой от – 3 ?C на равнинах до –10 ?C в горах. Лето сухое. Осень и весна – с дождями.

Водные ресурсы
Реки
Все реки Азербайджана впадают в Каспийское море. В Азербайджане насчитывается до 1 250 мелких рек. Большинство рек относятся к бассейну реки Кура - крупнейшей реки Кавказа (длина 1515 км , площадь - 188 тысяч км2). Одни из них впадают прямо в Куру, другие в ее крупный приток Аракс – вторая по величине река Азербайджана (длина 1072 км ), третьи непосредственно в Каспийское море. На реке Кура возведены Мингечаурская ГЭС и Мингечаурское водохранилище (605 кв. км).

Озера
В республике 250 озер, большинство из которых незначительные. Самое крупное озеро - Гаджикабул (площадь 15,5 кв. км). Чуть поменьше – Беюкшор (10 кв.м.) На северо-восточном склоне хребта Муровдаг расположена группа живописных озер, среди которых одно из красивейших на Кавказе - озеро Гейгёль.

Природа Азербайджана
Флора
Территория Азербайджанской Республики обладает богатой флорой. Здесь распространено свыше 4500 видов цветущих растений, среди которых имеются редкие и исчезающие. На территории Азербайджана имеются широколиственные леса, смешанные леса, тугайные леса, посадки вечнозеленых растений, субальпийские редколесья, альпийские луга (в горах).

Фауна
Животный мир Азербайджана также весьма разнообразен. В лесах водятся медведь, волк, олень, рысь, дикий кабан. В засушливых зонах и равнинах большое количество ящериц, ядовитых змей и других рептилий, а также водятся зайцы, волки, лисицы В долинах Куры и Аракса водятся дикие кабаны, косули, барсуки, шакалы. Из крупных животных обитают джейраны. Встречается дагестанский тур, косуля, серна. В мелководных заливах Каспия обилен и разнообразен мир птиц - фазаны, куропатки, тетерева. Многие из птиц прилетают на зимовку - утки, гуси, лебеди, цапли, пеликаны, фламинго, бакланы и др.

Ихтиофауна
В пресных водах республики и в Каспийском море разрешен отлов 30 пород рыб. Многие из них отлавливаются в Куре и некоторых водохранилищах. Самые ценные породы рыб - лосось, осетр, белуга, жерех, шамая и минога. Кроме них водятся лещ, сазан т.д.

На заводах и хозяйствах республики по выращиванию различных видов рыб в настоящее время разводят до 20 млн. мальков осетровых, 600 тысяч - лососевых и более 800 млн. лещей, сазанов и других рыб.

Hациональные заповедники
Природа страны очень богата. На ее территории сохранились даже уникальные леса - памятник кайнозойской эры. Они не встречаются более нигде в мире. Поэтому неудивительно, что правительство сооружает и содержит немало своих природоохранных территорий.

Такие заповедники, как Кызылагачский, Закатальский и Ширванский имеют международное значение. Гирканский заповедник охраняет реликтовую растительность в районе Талышских гор и Ленкоранской низменности.

Турианчайский заповедник охраняет знаменитую эльдарскую сосну.

Природные комплексы восточной части Большого Кавказа оберегает Исмаиллинский заповедник, а одно из красивейших озер мира - Гёйгёль, и окружающие его природные комплексы Малого Кавказа, охраняет Гёйгёльский заповедник.

Не менее интересны Аггельский, Басутчайский, Караязский, Кызылагаджски, Пиркулинский, Турианчайский заповедники, а также 16 заказников.

The Republic of Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan, which is situated in the European continent, is one of the lovely corners of the world. Azerbaijan, being surrounded by the Greater Caucasus in the north, the Lesser Caucasus in the west and the Talysh Mountains in the south in the Kura-Araks lowland on three sides while the fourth, the eastern side, is washed by the Caspian Sea, the largest lake around the world has been called "The Fire Land" from ancient times. Nature hasn''t denied any assistance for this land. Nine out of eleven climate varieties of the Earth exist in Azerbaijan. Particularly, for this reason, the flora and fauna of the Republic are distinguished with their own motley. 94 kinds of mammals, 346 kinds of birds have settled in its forests, mountains and plains, 95 kinds of fishes live in the waters.
The most valuable kinds of sturgeon dwell in the Caspian Sea. There''re a great deal of rare animals and birds, whose generations are drawing to a close, whose names have already been scraped to the Red Book. At the moment, Azerbaijan, the area of which is 86.6 thousand square km, is one of
the initial cradles of humanity culture. The science could prove that 1,5-2 million years ago the primitive man settled and dwelt in this area.
So, Azerbaijan area is an ancient dwelling land. The archeological investigations run in cave camps such as Azikh, Taghlar [Karabakh], Zar [Kalbajar], Gazma [Nakhchivan] in Azerbaijan gave opportunities to acquire the information on creation and evolution of the ancient people pertaining to the Old Stone Age and communities of primitive people. The ancient history of this land was reflected in Gobustan, famous for its rock inscriptions skillfully drawn by ancient artists, which is located in the south approximately 55 km from Baku, the capital of the Republic. Due to the difference of the plot, those inscriptions cover the period from the VIII millennium BC till the XIX century AD. At the beginn ng of the I century BC conditions were established for the creation of the centralized state in the field of Urmiya lake in the area of Southern Azerbaijan and a new state created was called Manna. At the beginning of the VI century BC Manna, the ancient state of Azerbaijan collapsed. Prior to the invasion of Arabs Adarbaygan [Atropatena], Albany states had existed in Azerbaijan area. The period of Shirvanshakhlar, Garagoyunlu [Black sheep] and Aghgoyunlu [White sheep] states holds a special place in the history of Azerbaijan. Safavilar state constitutes a bright page of Azerbaijan history. In those times fighting for the amalgamation of Azerbaijan and creation of an independent Azerbaijan state took place.
In the second half of the XVIII century feudalism ruled in the country. A rivalry between states to involve Azerbaijan into the sphere of their interests resulted in striking inner destabilization in the 18th century. A number of independent state formations- Khanates appeared and separated Azerbaijan. As a result of wars between Iran-Russia Gulustan [1813] and Turkmencay [1828] Treaties were signed and separated Azerbaijan and its people: the northern part of Azerbaijan was conquered by Russia, its southern part became a part of the Iranian state.
At the moment, 20% of the Azerbaijan territory has been occupied by the Armenian Republic and is governed by the armed forces of the aggressive state. As a result of deportation of the Azeri people living n Armenia and military aggression against Azerbaijan, occupation of the territory by Armenian invades more than one million of our citizens were obliged to leave their native land and became refugees and displaced persons-Azerbaijan is also an ancient oii-producing country. Still, in the X century oil product held special place in this land. From this country, located on the old Silken Road oil and other products were transfered to east and west.
The growth of Baku at the end of XIX and XX centuries as the world center for extracting and refining of oil, promoted the inflow of the capital of some of the biggest companies of the world such as " Nobel Brothers". Owing to the oil products, rapid growth of the industry took place in Azerbaijan. In 1913 7,7 mlnton, but in 1966, 21,5 mln ton of oil were produced in Baku. Rich oilfield off-shores were discovered in Azerbaijan sector of the Caspian Sea. The contracts on the common exploitation of these off-shores were signed between famous oil companies of various countries of the world. Contract of the Century is still playing a special role in the growth of the industry and economy in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a country of ancient culture.
This fertile, generous and wonderful land is the cradle of a great deal of philosophers, scholars, poets, architects, musicians, artists. The legends say that Zoroaster was born here. Azerbaijan gave the world such outstanding people as Nizami Ganjavi, Khagani Shirvani, Nasimi, Fizuli, Nasreddin Tusi and many others.
In addition, the opera was for first time created in Azerbaijan among the oriental countries. Azerbaijan is also famous for its carpets all over the world. Azerbaijan carpets, as if absorbed all colours of nature, all stages of the history of the native land, today ke magic flying carpets, crossing the frontiers of time, spread around the world glorifying the craftsmanship of our carpet-makers. The Fire Land is distinguished with its sports traditions.
In ancient times, Azerbaijan people were also engaged in wrestling, equestrian, archery and others. The national sporting events for wrestling, chovgan, sur-papag were held in this land many, many years ago. Today, the ancient sports tradition is still going on. Azerbaijan athletes perform successfully in sporting competitions of international level, in the Olympic Games.
Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan
Baku, which is situated in the western coast of the Caspian Sea is an ancient and modern city.
Baku is a city renowned for its subtropical climate, unique flora and fauna, wonderful historical monuments, magnificent buildings of various architectural styles, green parks, ancient Icharishahar [Inner City] erected among the fortress walls, beautiful boulevard and beaches. The central part of the town likes the amphitheater opening to the bay of Baku. An average monthly temperature is 3-4°C in January, 25-26°C in July. The amount of annual rainfall is 300mm. Strong northern wind- Khazry [the wind blowing from the Caspian Sea] and southwest wind typically characterize the season in Baku, In this city, the wind blows in most of days of the year. That''s why, it''s called " a windy city".
The representatives of various peoples and nations live in Baku, which has a population of 2 million. According to its history, Baku is one of the ancient cities. The archaeological data pertaining to the 3-1 millennium BC were found out in this area. Once the fire formed by kindled natural gas having extracted was burning days and nights and shining brightly around the city. The primitive men considered the fire holy and worshipped it.
It''s hardly a coincidence that Baku was one of the centers of fire-worshippers, a good deal of praying-houses and temples of fire were erected here. Fire-worshippers from all around the world pilgrimage this land. But the secret of holy fire lies in rich oil and gas fields, under the ground and at the bottom of the sea. Products of oil and gas chiefly glorified Baku. So, Baku became one of the largest cities of the Near and Middle East in the medieval centuries. According to the data of the wanderers, oil product was profitable in Baku in the X century and Baku was known as a harbor city. In the XII century, Baku being covered by the fortress walls in two rows and a trench was defended.
In 1901 oil product gave a way for rapid growth of both the industry and economy in Baku. Starting from the end of the XIX century along the ancient architectural memorials "Maiden Tower" built in the coast of the Caspian Sea , mosques, enormous fortress walls, "Shirvanshahlar" complex, the new buildings of contemporary various styles were constructed. For all this the city combines the west and east architectural styles in itself and influences as the center of ancient and modern culture. The ancient historical monuments have been surrounded by the fortress walls of the city and situated in the part called " Icharishahar". It''s mostly called " Old Baku". There exist a lot of museums, exhibition saloons in Icharishahar. The Azerbaijan State Carpet-Weaving Museum is famed for its interesting and valuable exhibits all over the world.