Mountains of Azerbaijan cover approximately 60 percent of the country's land area. [1] [2] There are three mountain ranges in the territory of Azerbaijan, which are the Greater Caucasus, the Lesser Caucasus, and the Talysh Mountains. [3]
The elevation of the central mountains of these three mountain ranges is approximately 1000 – 2000 meters. [1] The height of high mountains of the Greater Caucasus is higher than 2200 meters and the Lesser Caucasus is higher than 2000 meters. [1]
Mountain ranges in Azerbaijan [1] | ||
Mountain ranges | Area coverage (%) | Zones |
Greater Caucasus | 30 | Foothill (lower than 500 meters) |
Low mountains (500 – 1200 meters) | ||
Middle mountain (1200 – 2200 meters) | ||
High mountains (higher than 2200 meters) | ||
Lesser Caucasus | 22 | Foothill (lower than 500 meters) |
Low mountains (500 – 1200 meters) | ||
Middle mountain (1200 – 2000 meters) | ||
High mountains (higher than 2000 meters) | ||
Talysh Mountains | 6 | Pre – mountain plains (lower than 600 meters) |
Low mountains (600 – 1000 meters) | ||
Middle mountain (1000 – 2500 meters) |
The Greater Caucasus range forms the north-east borders of Azerbaijan with Dagestan Autonomous Republic of Russia. [4] Bazarduzu, Shahdagh, and Tufandag are the high peaks of the mountain range. [5] The highest peak of the Greater Caucasus is Mount Bazarduzu, which is situated 14,652 feet (4,466 meters) above the sea level, is also the highest point in Azerbaijan. [3] [5] The mountains of the Greater Caucasus are located in the region of high degree of seismic activity. [5] The mountains are formed by rocks that date back to Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. [2]
The Lesser Caucasus is the second important mountain range in Azerbaijan and forms its south-western borders. [5] Mount Murovdag and Mount Zangezur are the main ridges of the Lesser Caucasus. [5] They are formed by sedimentary and volcanogenic rocks of Cretaceous and Jurassic periods. [2]
The Talysh Mountains cover the southeastern part of Azerbaijan and form part of its border with Iran. [4] [5]
The highest peak of the Greater Caucasus, Mount Bazarduzu, is the highest mountain in Azerbaijan. [3] [6] It lies on the borders between Azerbaijan and Russia. [3] The rocks of Mount Bazarduzu are formed of shale porphyries. [7] Ice fields that consist of glaciers from Ice Age on the mountain are the biggest glaciers in the Eastern Caucasus. [7]
The first person who climbed the Mount Bazarduzu was Aleksej Aleksandrov from Russia in 1847. [3] [7]
The elevation of Mount Shahdagh is 13,951 feet (4,252 m), which is the second highest peak in the Greater Caucasus. [3] [8] The mountain is located near to the border with Russia, in Gusar region of Azerbaijan. [3] There are caves at the base of the Mount Shahdagh, which show manmade activities around the mountain for over 9000 years. [3] The rocks of the mountain are formed by dolomites and limestones. [8]
Tufandağ is the third highest mountain in Azerbaijan with the height of 13,770 feet (4,200 m).). [3] Mount Tufandag lies in the Gusar region. [9]
List of mountains of the Greater Caucasus [9] | |||
Name | Original name | Elevation (m) | Region |
Bazarduzu | Bazardüzü | 4466 | Russian – Gusar border |
Shahdagh | Şahdağ | 4243 | Gusar |
Tufandag | Tufandağ | 4191 | Gusar |
Bazaryurd | Bazaryurd | 4126 | Gusar and Gabala |
Yarudag | Yarıdağ | 4116 | Gusar |
Chingiz Mustafayev | Çingiz Mustafayev | 4062 | Guba |
Ilham Peak | İlham zirvəsi | 4042 | Gusar |
Heydar Peak | Heydər zirvəsi | 3751 | Gusar |
Khinalig | Xınalıq | 3713 | Guba |
Ragdan | Raqdan | 4020 | Gabala |
Babadag | Babadağ | 3629 | Ismayilli |
Atatürk | Atatürk | 3759 | Guba |
Olympia Peak | Olimpiya zirvəsi | 3455 | Gusar |
Ateshgah | Atəşgah | 2151 | Guba |
Gizil Gaya | Qızıl Qaya | 3726 | Guba |
Within the Lesser Caucasus, the highest mountain ridge is Murovdag. [10] The range of the mountain is approximately 70 kilometers. [10]
The highest peak of the Murovdag ridge is Gamishdag and its elevation is 3724 meters. [11]
The Zangezur mountain ridge bordered with Aghdaban peak in north-west and Araz river in south-east. [12] The range of the Zangezur ridge is approximately 130 kilometers. [12] In the center and south-east parts of the ridge, there are Gamigaya, Kaputjukh, Garangush, Davabouynu, Aychingil peaks. [12] Prominent mountains of the Zangezur ridge are Nahajir, Alinja, Ilandag, Gurddag, and Gizilboghaz mountains. [12]
Mount Kaputjukh is the highest peak of the Zangezur ridge and the highest mountain in the Lesser Caucasus. [11] [13] The height of the mountain is 3904 meters. [11] [13] It lies in Ordubad region of Nakhchivan. [13] There are ancient Gamigaya inscriptions on the rocks that are at the bottom of the mountain. [13]
Mount Alinja is located in Julfa region of Nakhchivan, on the shore of the river with the same name as mountain. [13] The elevation of Mount Alinja is 1811 meters. [13] It has volcanic origins. [13]
List of mountains of the Lesser Caucasus [14] | |||
Name | Original name | Elevation (m) | Ridge |
Kaputjukh | Qapıcıq | 3904 | Zangezur |
Dalidag | Dəlidağ | 3616 | Garabagh volcanic highland |
Gamish | Gamışdağ | 3724 | Murovdag |
Kapaz | Kəpəz | 3066 | Murovdag |
Goshgar | Qoşqar | 3361 | Murovdag |
Hinaldag | Hinaldağ | 3367 | Murovdag |
Gizilboghaz | Qızılboğaz | 3581 | Garabagh volcanic highland |
Boyuk Ishigli | Böyük Işıqlı | 3550 | Garabagh volcanic highland |
Alinja | Əlincə | 1811 | Zangezur |
Talysh mountains are located in the south – east of Azerbaijan. There are three mountain ridge within the Talysh mountains, which of elevations reach 2477 meters. [2] They are Talysh, Burovar, and Peshteser. [2] There are few peaks that of heights are above 3,000 meters (9,800 feet). [15] The rocks of the mountains originated from volcanic rocks and carbonate rocks that date back to the Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Paleogene periods. [15]
The highest peak of Talysh mountains is the Mount Kyumyurkyoy (2493 meters). [5]
Mount Gizyurdu is the second highest peak of Talysh mountains with the height of 2433 meters. [14]
List of the highest peaks of Talysh Mountains [14] | ||
Name | Original name | Elevation (m) |
Kyumyurkyoy | Gömürgöy | 2493 |
Gizyurdu | Qızyurdu | 2433 |
The elevation of Mount Goyazan is located 20 kilometers far from Qazakh district of Azerbaijan. [16] Its elevation is 250 meters. [16] The mountain has volcanic origin and it is not connected to any mountain ridges. [16] At the bottom of the mountain, there are ancient dwellings. [16]
Yanar Dag is located 27 kilometers far from Baku. [17] On the surface of Yanar Dag, there are fires of natural gas that flames continuously, and their height reaches to 10–15 meters. [17]
The historical-cultural and natural reserve was established in the territory of Yanar Dag by the presidential decree dated May 2, 2007. [17]
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