River net of Azerbaijan contains over 8350 rivers of various sizes, which belong to the Caspian Sea basin. According to geographical and hydrographical signs the rivers of the described region are generalized in the following massives (Fig. 21):

1. Gusar-Devechi massif-rivers flowing down from the north-eastern slopes of Greater Caucasus.

2. Massif of the South-Eastern subsidence of Greater Caucasus and Apsheron peninsula-rivers flowing down from the eastern and south-eastern slopes of Greater Caucasus.

3. Kura-Araz massif is represented by Kura river

4. Lenkaran massif-rivers flowing down from Talysh Mountains

Gusar-Devechi massif with an area of water-sampling more than 6,0 thousand km² in its northern part has a significant number of rivers which are derived highly in the mountains and having a mixed glacial-snow, spring and partially rainfall alimentation. Rivers of the south massif have sources at a low points and alimentation is mainly of snow and rainfall character.

The largest river is Samur, which in the lowers flow along the northern border of republic. Its mostly largest tributaries flowing from the territory of Azerbaijan Republic are Ugurchai, Guruchai, Piravans and Tairjal rivers. After Samur the largest rivers of massif by the size of run off are Gudialchai, Gusarchai Gilgilchai, Guruchai, Akhchai, Garachai and Velvelchai rivers. The less thick are Shabranchai, Devechi and Atachai rivers, having a low area of water sampling and mainly by rainfall alimentation.

Rivers of northern part of massif (interfluve of Samur-Velvelchai) are characterized by flooding in the warm part of the year. In the inter-annual run off of these rivers three phases are marked: stable winter low water (December -February, March partially), discharge increase from spring to the middle of summer (March-June and July partially), discharge decrease up to the winter low water (from the end of July to December). Such run off distribution is accounted for melting of glaciers and firns located in basins of rivers. In summer months (July-August), i.e. during the more intensive irrigation, rivers yield 33-35% of its annual run off.

Massif of the south-eastern subsidence of Greater Caucasus and Apsheron peninsula occupies an area over 11,0 thous. km² and extremely poor surficial run off. Pirsaat, Sumgayitchai, Tugchai, Keshchai rivers are the largest ones. The basic parts of rivers of massif are related to the hydrological group characterizing by freshets in the cold part of year. Two maximums are typical to them: in March-April sometimes till September inclusive. Common water volume of rivers decrease from north to the south. In summer period many of rivers practically are under threat of drying up. Exception is Pirsaat river flowing down from the south-eastern slope of Greater Caucasus and loosing its waters at the approach to the Low-Kura massif not reaching to Caspian sea. In its annual distribution four phases are distinguished: relatively stable winter low water (December- February), increase of loss in spring and in the beginning of summer (march-may, partially June), decrease of water volume (July-august), autumnal freshets (September- November).

Lenkaran massif occupies approximately 6,3 thous. km² and have a considerable number of small rivers flowing down from Talysh mountains. Just part of them reach to Lenkaran lowland. As rivers of massif are mainly fed by atmospheric precipitation, which fall mainly in autumn-winter period, and in summer most of shallow rivers are drying up. Rivers of massif are related to the hydrological group characterizing by freshets in the cold part of year. Maximums of run off are falling to two periods: March-April and October-November. The less run off is observed in May-August, sometimes till September inclusive. Common harm of rivers increases from the north to the south, that is stipulated by distribution of falling precipitation. Rivers do not have a winter low water, for the period January-March they yield so much water as in autumn.

Kura river flowing through the Lower Kura lowland and being the largest artery of the South Caucasus has a large area of water-sampling-188 thousand km² from which only 57,8 thousand km² falls to the territory of the country. Area of river alimentation is located beyond the described region and formed owing to Araz river and tributaries flowing down from the slopes of Greater and Lesser Caucasus. Average annual water discharge of the whole river makes 908 m3/sec owing to local water resources 238 m3/sec or 26,2%.

On the whole the water in rivers is fresh, hydro carbonate calcic or natrium-calcium sometimes more complicated composition, with thick residual 0,3-0,4 g/l. Just rivers of the south-eastern slope of Greater Caucasus have an increased mineralization-to 0,6-1,0 g/l. Water of most of rivers in the tops is transparent in the low current. The more turbid waters of Kura river containing suspended particles from 4-5 to 75-80 g/l.

Characteristics of other rivers in terms of massifs is given in the Table 1-8.

Table 1-8. Characteristics of coastal rivers

Density of river system of the coastal zone is given on Fig. 22. Average annual river runoff is given on Fig. 23. Maximum and minimum annual run off - on Fig. 24 and 25 accordingly.

Lake net is developed quite poor. The most lakes are not great enough, their area of reflector less 0,1 km² and even on the large-scale geographic maps they didn't find its reflection. In the coastal zone the erosion rivers (old bed), lagoon (on seaside), karst and landslide (mainly in Gobustan), relict (remnants of the ancient marine lagoon in Apsheron) lakes are developed.

The most large lakes are located in the northern part of peninsula they are: Masazyr (10 km²), Beyukshor (9,9 km²), Kyurdakhan (2,6 km²), etc.

The basic sources of their alimentation are atmospheric precipitation. Exhausted oil water play a great role in the alimentation of many lakes, due to which regime of some lakes of peninsulas (Zykh, Krasnoe, Beyukshor, etc) has sharply changed-climatic factors stopped play-dominating role. Common water mineralization in lakes varies within 10 to 100 g/l though in some case reaches 300 g/l and more. Waters are usually chloride-sulfate natrium-magnesium, rarely-natrium-calcium.

Morphometric elements of lakes with surface area more than 1 km² are given in Table 1-9.

Table 1-9. Morphometric elements of lakes

Besides the mentioned a wide spreading obtained so-called Istily. They present artificially created small ponds used for local irrigation. Most of them at present are dried up and turned into agriculture fields.

1.10.1.3. Glaciers and freshets

Recent glaciers as sources of water resources have a small significance. They are mainly located in basins of Gusurchai river and Gudialchai river partially. Glaciers in Azerbaijan part of Greater Caucasus are confined to more high tops of Main Caucasian and Lateral Ridges exceeding the point 4000 m above sea level.

Area of basin glaciation of Gusarchai river makes 5,64 km² or 0,81%, and Gudialchai river-1,01 km² 02 0,13%.

In the mouth area of basic fluvial arteries and in the coastal parts of Caspian Sea due to slopes decrease and outcrop of ground waters on the day surface there occur conditions causing to swamping of locality.

Kura river in low current due to low slopes, wide flood plain with turbid deposits, strongly meandering, due to of which there occur swamping of territory on its both sides.

Some quantity of irrigation and drainage waters of channels feeds the single Akhchala lake-swamp located eastward Salyany city on the mark-25 m.

Significant part of Lenkaran massif swamping is dried up and turned into sowing fields. In the northern part of Lenkaran lowland one can observe "plavni" representing swamps which grew up with thick brushwood of bulrush. Plavni are confined to a wide very flat depression located between gentle slopes of foothill and slowly increasing delta of Kura river.

Within Shollar area of Gusar-Devechi lowland due to abundant outcropping of ground waters on the day surface small swamping are spread in separate places. Significant outcrops of ground waters are observed in area from Samur mouth to Mukhtadyr. Southward Mukhtadyr outcrops of ground waters are rarely observed and to the south from Agzybir lagoon they are interrupted.

More known coastal-marine swamping areas in the area from Samur river to Agzybir lake (Devechi lagoon) are:

1. Gusarchai-Khudat-16 km².

2. Khachmaz-13 km2

3. Sarvan-Kushi-along the coasts of Agzybir lake-16,5 km²

4. Sarvan-in depressions off ground waters outcropping-1,5 km²

1. Alizadeh A.S., Gulmamedov B.A., Selmyanski V.L., Aliyev A.A. Hydroenergetical resources of Azerbaijan SSR. – Baku; Publishers of Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan SSR, 1961.

2. Atlas of Azerbaijan SSR. – Baku-Moscow; GUGK, 1963.

3. Water resources and water balance of the Soviet Union territory. – Leningrad; Gidrometeoizdat, 1967.

4. Azerbaijan climate. – Baku, Publishers of Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan SSR, 1968.

5. Mamedov R.G. Water resource potential of Azerbaijan development. – Baku, 1997.

6. Rustamov S.G. Rivers of Azerbaijan SSR and their hydrogeological features. – Baku; Publishers of Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan SSR, 1960.

7. Rustamov S.G., Kashkai R.M. Water balance of Azerbaijan SSR. – Baku; "Elm", 1978.

8. Rustamov S.G., Kashkai R.M. Water resources of Azerbaijan SSR. – Baku; "Elm", 1989.

9. Reports of the State Committee of Hydrometeorology for 1990-2000.

INTRODUCTION

SECTION 1

SECTION 2

SECTION 3

SECTION 4

SECTION 5

APPENDIX 15

APPENDIX 16

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