II.

Land and Resources

The Greater Caucasus mountains form much of the country’s northern border and contain Mount Bazardüzü, which reaches a height of 4,466 m (14,653 ft), the highest elevation in the republic. The tallest mountains of the Lesser Caucasus (Malyy Kavkaz) form the country’s south-eastern boundary and attain heights of 3,500 m (11,500 ft). The central portion of the country is dominated by the Aras-Kura river valleys. With the exception of the Länkäran Lowland in the subtropical south-east and upper elevations in the mountainous zones, the climate is generally arid.

A.

Rivers and Lakes

Large-scale canal systems divert water, primarily for agricultural purposes. The Verkhne-Karabakhskiy Canal channels water from the Mingechaurskoye Reservoir on the upper Kura to the River Aras. The Samur-Apsheronskiy Canal redirects water from the River Samur on Azerbaijan’s northern border to the Abşeron Peninsula, which juts into the Caspian Sea.

B.

Plants and Animals

Forests grow in the subalpine zone, which is inhabited by bear, deer, lynx, and wild boar. The arid and semi-arid lowlands support a great number of lizards, poisonous snakes, and other reptiles.

C.

Environmental Concerns

Severe pollution from heavy industries and agriculture has damaged the environment of Azerbaijan. The contamination of the Caspian Sea from oil drilling in Baku has been a problem since the 19th century, when the Russian Empire took control of the region and began to rapidly exploit its oil reserves. Although oil production waned during the Soviet period, petroleum waste was routinely dumped into the Caspian, and dilapidated and leaky pumps added to the problem. With the prospect of increased oil drilling in coming years, the industry may continue to pose an environmental hazard. In late 2003 a framework treaty was signed by the countries that border the Caspian Sea to reduce the amount of sewage and industrial waste pumped into waters.

Severe air pollution is a problem in Azerbaijan's major cities due to unregulated emissions from petroleum and chemical industries. During the Soviet period, dangerously high concentrations of pesticides and fertilizers were used to increase Azerbaijan's agricultural output. In the late 1980s, when environmental awareness began to surface, Azerbaijan's high infant mortality rate and high rates of infectious diseases were linked to toxic defoliants, fertilizers, and pesticides used in cotton growing. The use of these substances has also left much of the soil degraded and has destroyed fertile land. Although the people of Azerbaijan are generally aware of the need to protect their environment, the republic's environmental issues have not yet received significant attention from the government. Efforts to improve the environment are also hampered by Azerbaijan's ongoing conflict with Armenian separatists over the Nagorno-Karabakh (disputed) region. However, protected areas make up 5.5 per cent (1997) of Azerbaijan's total land area, and the government has ratified international environmental agreements pertaining to climate change, desertification, and ozone layer protection.