Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

103

Caspian

Sea

Black

Sea

En

gur

i^

Rion

i

Kura

Iori

Sa

m

u

r^

Ara

s

Ara

s

K

ur

a

Ar

as^

Mingacevir

Su Anbari

Sevana

Lich

R U

S S

I A

N

F E D

E R

A T

I O

N

TU

R

K E Y I R A

N

GEORGIA

AZERBAIJAN

Nagornyy

ARMENIA Karabakh

AZE

RB

AI

JA

N

Kazbek

5047m

L e s s e

r (^) C
a u
c a
s
u
s
C
a u c a s u s
Länkärän
Astara
Naxçıvan
Xankändi
Goris
Akhaltsikhe
Yevlax
Telavi
Tovaz
Art’ik
Hoktemberyan
Sevan
Agdam
Alaverdi
Artashat
Quba
Ochamchire
Gagra
Gudauta
Samtredia
Xacmaz
Agsu
Ucar
Ismayilli
Biläsuvar
Imisli
Füzuli
Kobuleti
Mestia
Siyäzän
Äli-Bayramli
Säki
Qazimämmäd
Mingäcevir
Gori
Bolnisi
Khashuri
Poti
Sumqayit
Gäncä
Gyumri Vanadzor
Rustavi
Batumi
Kutaisi
Sokhumi
TBILISI
YEREVAN
BAKU
(BAKI)

Caucasus Republics

THESE RUGGED AND MOUNTAINOUS republics lie

between the flat steppelands of the Russian Federation

and the high plateaus of Southwest Asia. All three

countries were once part of the Soviet Union and

gained their independence in 1991. The region is

rich in natural resources, with many contrasting

climates and landscapes. Georgia’s western

borders on the Black Sea coast are lush and green

with a warm, humid climate, while much of

Armenia is semidesert and high plateau. Farming

is important for all three countries; crops include

apricots, peaches, cereals, citrus fruits, grapes, and

tea. The mountains are rich in mineral resources,

such as iron, copper, and lead, while the Caspian Sea

has plentiful oil. There are over 50 ethnic groups

living in the Caucasus, each retaining their own

language and culture. Since independence, there

have been growing ethnic and religious tensions.

YEREVAN

Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, is located on the Razdan

river, 14 miles (23 km) from the Turkish frontier. The city has

long been a commercial center, and today its markets are

packed with traders selling fruits, vegetables, and rugs woven

locally from silk and wool. During the Soviet era, the city

expanded rapidly, its growth encouraged by the building

of hydroelectric plants on the Razdan, which

powered chemicals and engineering industries.

Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia
are sandwiched between the high
mountains of the Greater and
Lesser Caucasus. The Black Sea
borders the west of the region,
while the landlocked Caspian lies
to the east. Beyond the Caucasus
Mountains to the north lies the
Russian Federation.

CAUCASUS
The Caucasus in the north of the
region form a high mountain
barrier isolating it from the
Russian Federation. Many peaks
in the Caucasus rise to more than
15,000 ft (4,600 m).

BLACK SEA
The Black Sea is an inland sea
between Asia and Europe.
It is connected to the
Mediterranean Sea by the
Bosporus, the Sea of Marmara,
and the Dardanelles.

ARMENIA

Area: 11,484 sq miles

(29,743 sq km)
Population: 3,056,000

Capital: Yerevan

AZERBAIJAN

Area: 33,436 sq miles

(86,600 sq km)

Population: 9,781,000

Capital: Baku

GEORGIA

Area: 26,911 sq miles

(69,700 sq km)

Population: 4,931,000

Capital: Tblisi

Asia

Asia, history of

Mountains

Oil

Soviet union, history of

Find out more

N

S

WE

OIL RIGS

In 1900, Azerbaijan was one of the

world’s main oil producers, supplying

the entire Soviet Union. Caspian Sea

oil resources are still being exploited,

although lack of investment in rigs has

reduced the potential output. Oil is

piped from Baku, the center of the

industry, to Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan,

and Turkmenistan.

Volcano Mountain Capital

city

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city/

town

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city/

town

Ancient

monument

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