Surface: 86.600 km²
Population: 7.137.000 inhabitants
Density of population: 82 inhabitants/km²
Capital: Baku (1.757.000 inhabitants)
Official language: Azeri
Official currency: Manat
Brut Intern Product: 3.750 $/inhabitant
State type: Republic

Geographical Characteristics
Azerbaijan is situated in the south-west of Asia and has seaside at the Caspian Sea. It has a various relief with mountains in the north and south side. In the north there are the Big Caucasus Mountains with a maximum altitude of 4.480 m and in the south the Small Caucasus Mountains with a height of 3.904 m and Talas Mountains with a height of 2.477 m. The plain situated in the central region is the one drained by Kura and Arakas Rivers and in the east there is the Lenkoran Plain which is a coast pl ain. The hills regions are between mountains and plains.

Climate, Vegetation and Faun
The climate is Mediterranean in the lower regions, dryer in the east of Kura-Araks Plain with rainfall of 200-300 mm per year and moister in Lenkoran Plain with rainbfall between 1.100 and 1.700 mm per year. In rest the climate is temperate with rich rainfall in the Big Caucasus Mountains (1.200-1.300 mm per year). Kura River is partial navigable in the inferior course and has a hydro-electric power station, Mingheceaur. Its tributary, Arakas, forms the border with Iran. The vegetation is grassy and the forests occupy only 14% of the country's surface. The faun various: wolves, foxes, muffles, badgers, pheasants, gazelles and jackals. Many of those animals are protected by laws.

Population
The country has 7.137.000 inhabitants. The birth rate is 25.6% and the death rate is 6.2%. 54% of the population lives in cities. The most important cities are: Gandja (278.000 inhabitants) and Sumgait (231.000 inhabitants). 83% of the people are Azeri and the rest are Armenians (6%), Russians (6%), Ukrainians, Lesghi and other nations. The population is denser in the Apseron Pen-isle and in Lenkoran Plain and also in the west (Gandja region) with density over 150 inhabitants per km². The regions with few people are in Nahicevan Enclave, Nagorno Karabah and in mountains at high altitudes. The people's religions are: Islamism (70% Shiites and the rest Sunnites) and Christian.

State
The country is a presidential republic according to the Constitution. The legislative activity is exerted by the President and national Council and the executive by Council of Ministries. The political parties are 4 and some of them are: Popular Front in Azerbaijan and Social-Democrat Group.

Economy
The country has many deposits of hydrocarbons, iron ores, cobalt, molybdenum, petroleum and salt. The petroleum had been exploited since the second half of the last century in Apseron Pen-isle and later under the water of Caspian Sea. Most of the active population works in industry. It is very developed like the processing of petroleum. Other industries are: textile, car, electronic, naval ships, food, wine, fruits and others. The main industrial centers are Baku, Sumgait, Gandja and Astara. 1/3 of the population works in agriculture. They cultivate grapes, tea, oranges, cotton and cereals. Over 2/3 of the agrarian fields are irrigated. People grow sheep, cows, goats and camels. The fishing is practiced in the Caspian Sea.

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Tags: baku, azeri, manat, republic, caspian sea, arakas

Date Added: 12 December '06

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