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@Azerbaijan
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Introduction

Background: In 1806, Azerbaijan, a region of Turkic Muslim
people, was conquered by the Russians. In 1918, Azerbaijan declared
independence from Russia, but was incorporated into the Soviet Union
in 1920. It again declared its independence in 1991, following the
collapse of the USSR. The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia
over the Nagorno-Karabakh region is still unresolved after 10 years
and Baku has yet to settle disputes with its neighbors over oil
rights in the Caspian Sea. During the war, Karabakh Armenians
declared independence and seized almost 20% of the country's
territory, creating some 750,000 Azerbaijani refugees in the
process. Both sides have generally observed a Russian-mediated
cease-fire in place since May 1994.

Geography

Location: Southwestern Asia, bordering the Caspian Sea, between
Iran and Russia

Geographic coordinates: 40 30 N, 47 30 E

Map references: Commonwealth of Independent States

Area:
total: 86,600 sq km
land: 86,100 sq km
water: 500 sq km
note: includes the exclave of Naxcivan Autonomous Republic and the
Nagorno-Karabakh region; the region's autonomy was abolished by
Azerbaijani Supreme Soviet on 26 November 1991

Area--comparative: slightly smaller than Maine

Land boundaries:
total: 2,013 km
border countries: Armenia (with Azerbaijan-proper) 566 km, Armenia
(with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan exclave) 221 km, Georgia 322 km, Iran
(with Azerbaijan-proper) 432 km, Iran (with Azerbaijan-Naxcivan
exclave) 179 km, Russia 284 km, Turkey 9 km

Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
note: Azerbaijan borders the Caspian Sea (800 km, est.)

Maritime claims: none (landlocked)

Climate: dry, semiarid steppe

Terrain: large, flat Kur-Araz Ovaligi (Kura-Araks Lowland) (much
of it below sea level) with Great Caucasus Mountains to the north,
Qarabag Yaylasi (Karabakh Upland) in west; Baku lies on Abseron
Yasaqligi (Apsheron Peninsula) that juts into Caspian Sea

Elevation extremes:
lowest point: Caspian Sea -28 m
highest point: Bazarduzu Dagi 4,485 m

Natural resources: petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, nonferrous
metals, alumina

Land use:
arable land: 18%
permanent crops: 5%
permanent pastures: 25%
forests and woodland: 11%
other: 41% (1993 est.)

Irrigated land: 10,000 sq km (1993 est.)