Natural resources of Azerbaijan

Cotton production in Azerbaijan

In the Caucasus regions, especially in Azerbaijan, cotton is spread by means of countries of the Ancient East, mainly by Iran. The exporting of textile made of cotton from the cities such as Barda, Nakhchivan, Beylagan, Ganja, Shamkir and others to abroad, as well as cotton fabrics exporting from Shamakhi to Russia in the 15th century can be highlighted.

Water resources

Water reservoirs

There are 61 reservoirs available in Azerbaijan. The total volume of water reservoirs is 21.5 km³. Water reservoirs are built on the riverbed as well as beyond it (in a distance from river). Most reservoirs are regulated according to seasons and used for irrigation purposes.

The largest Mingachevir reservoir of the republic started to be operated in 1953 and it is operated in a multi-year regime, the flow of the Kur River is completely regulated in its downstream and overfloods are prevented.

Rivers

The river system of the Republic has more than 8350 rivers, 2 of them are the lengths of more than 500 km, the length of the 22 rivers are between 101–500 km, the length of the 324 rivers are between 11–100 km, and the length of majority rivers is less than 10 km.

The river system of the Republic consists of the Kur River and its branches, as well as rivers directed into the Caspian Sea.

The Araz River, the second largest river in the Republic and the right branch of the Kur River flow path starts from Turkey territory, as well as it is a border river between Turkey and Armenia, Turkey and Azerbaijan and Iran and Azerbaijan. 

Lakes

Cumulative 450 lakes with a total area of 395 km² were identified in Azerbaijan, where 10 lakes have area over 10 km².

The largest lake of the Republic is Sarısu lake, located in the Kur-Araz lowland. The highest mountainous lake in the Republic is Tufangöl  located in the basin of Damiraparanchay and at a height of 3277 m. One of the most attractive lakes of the Republic is the famous Lake Goygol. The lake was formed in the middle stream of Aghsuchay after strong earthquake in 1139.