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Geography › Geographical Features

Baku and South Caucasus Region

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South Caucasus Region (Transcaucasia)

Why in the News?

  • The 29th COP to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will begin on November 11, 2024, in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.
    • As global leaders gather near the Caspian Sea, the surrounding region of the South Caucasus faces significant climate challenges.

Key Areas at Risk:

(1) Regional/transboundary areas:

  • Northern Armenia and southern Georgia
  • North-west Azerbaijan and north-east Georgia (Alazani/Ganykh river basin)

(2) Within countries:

  • Yerevan and Ararat Valley (Armenia)
  • Lake Sevan (Armenia)
  • Kura-Ara(k)s lowlands (Azerbaijan)
  • Baku and Absheron peninsula (Azerbaijan)
  • Adjara and the Black Sea coast (Georgia)
  • Tbilisi, Mtskheta-Mtianeti, and Kakheti regions (Georgia)

 

About South Caucasus Region (Transcaucasia):

Details
Location South of the Greater Caucasus Mountains, bordered by Russia (north), Turkey and Iran (south), between the Black Sea (west) and Caspian Sea (east).
Countries Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia; includes disputed territories like Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh), Abkhazia, and South Ossetia.
Mountains Lesser Caucasus Mountains (up to 3,000m); includes the Zangezur Range, Meskheti Range, and Armenian Highlands.
Seas Between the Black Sea and Caspian Sea; Absheron Peninsula (Azerbaijan) extends into Caspian Sea, rich in oil.
Rivers and Lakes Major rivers: Kura River (Georgia & Azerbaijan) and Aras River (Armenia & Azerbaijan). Key lake: Lake Sevan (Armenia).
Climate
  • Continental climate: hot summers and cold winters;
  • Subtropical climate along Georgia’s Black Sea coast;
  • Semi-arid to desert climate near Caspian Sea, especially Azerbaijan.
Natural Resources Rich in oil and natural gas, particularly in Azerbaijan; critical hub for energy pipelines like the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.
Geopolitical Importance Strategic transit route for energy resources to Europe; region of geopolitical tensions due to conflicts (Nagorno-Karabakh, South Ossetia, Abkhazia).

 

PYQ:

[2014] Turkey is located between:

(a) Black Sea and Caspian Sea

(b) Black Sea and Mediterranean Sea

(c) Gulf of Suez and Mediterranean Sea

(d) Gulf of Aqaba and Dead Sea

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