Azerbaijan occupies the southeast part area between Black and Caspian seas
and small southern part of Caucasus Range. It includes southeast part of Great
Caucasus, part of Lesser Caucasus, Talysh and wide Kur-Araxian plain between
them. Geographically the republic is situated at the part of Eurasia connected
to Aral-Caspian lowland -close to the borderline between European and Asian
continents.
Azerbaijan has 9 climate zones, fertile lands, developed agriculture and
fishing, sources of mineral water, rich deposits of oil and gas.
There are over 4350 rivers with (33665km total length), including Kura, the
largest river of Caucasus.
The second main water source is Araz River, the right tributary of Kura.
Azerbaijan has richest deposits of mineral underground sources in the
region. There are over 2091 known carbonic-acid, carbonic-hydrogene,
sulphur-hydrogene springs, including world-known Badamly, Sirab, Istisu etc .
Caspian Sea is the largest Lake in the world with total area exceeding 400
000 square kilometers. It is unique hydrosystem that hasn't outflowing rivers
and has unique flora and fauna, including 90 % of world quantities of sturgeon
fish.
The highest mountains of Great Caucasus in Azerbaijan are Bazarduzu -
4466m., Shahdagh - 4243m., Tufan - 4191m., and on Lesser Caucasus -
Gazanchaldagh - 3829m., Gapychigh - 3906m.
Climate of the country is influenced by its geographic position, terrain and
Caspian Sea. Great Caucasus Mounts protect the largest part of republic's
territory from cold northern winds, while Lesser Caucasus protects from the
continental influence of the Armenian Highland from the south. Suram Ridge
doesn't allow passing the humidity of Black Sea, and Caspian Sea mildens the
climate and minimizes the flow of hot and dry wind from the Central Asian
deserts. The average annual temperature is +13, +14,5 Celsius, in January - 0,
+4, in July +25, +30, annual precipitation - 1000-1800mm.
There are few types of climate in Azerbaijan depending on altitude and
distance from Caspian Sea - dry subtropical, humid subtropical, mild and cold.