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The occupied Karabakh region is situated in the Lesser Caucasus, which is one of the geomorphologic units of Azerbaijan. The territory of Karabakh also gradually lowers from the northwest to the southwest. The most important geomorphologic units of Azerbaijan's occupied mountains are the Shahdag, Murovdag, Goycha and Karabakh ridges and the Karabakh volcanic plateau.
The Shahdag Ridge stretches along the Azerbaijani-Armenian border and forms a watershed between the Goycha Lake basin and the Kura River basin. The Murovdag Ridge stretches to the east of Shahdag, and its highest peak is Qamishdag (3,774 metres). The Karabakh Ridge stretches to the southwest from Murovdag, reaching the Araz River. Its absolute height reaches 2,715 metres on Mount Boyuk Kirs. The Karabakh volcanic plateau, which formed in the Cainozoic Era and has an absolute height of 2,000-3,000 metres, is situated to the west of this ridge. The surface of the plateau is covered with the volcanic lava of the fourth period, while the cones of the extinct volcano formed heights. The biggest volcanoes on the plateau are Ishiqli and Qizilbogaz.

There are five tectonic zones in Azerbaijan. Each tectonic zone has its own large terrain forms. The occupied Karabakh region forms most of the Lesser Caucasus elevation, which is one of these tectonic zones. There are many geological structures here. The Karabakh land surrounds the southeastern part of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. Its terrain is very complex. The area has numerous high and broken mountain ridges, low mountains with even slopes, depressions between mountains and deep gorges
The Karabakh Ridge begins from the southern part of Murovdag and stretches to the Araz River. This ridge is comprised of the Greater and Lesser Kirs and Qirkhqiz Mountains and their slopes. The Karabakh volcanic plateau covers a large area to the west of the Karabakh Ridge as far as the Armenian border. The height of the plateau reaches 3,000 metres. There are a lot of flat ridges and extinct volcanoes on it. The two cones of the Boyuk Ishiqli (3,552 metres) rise in the southwestern part of the plateau from the Armenian border. Dalidag (3,616 metres), which is comprised of acid intrusive Mesozoic rocks, is situated to the east of the lava surface.
The western part of the Karabakh volcanic plateau is exotive. The absolute height of Karabakh's lowland part varies from zero to 400 metres. Shells have formed from shield-like lava layers of the fourth period and from fragmentation resulting from physical and chemical weathering on the plains.
Mount Dalidag in Karabakh is a mountain of magmatic origin. This mountain, which is the highest peak in the Mikhtokan Mountain Range, has alpine and sub-alpine plains. Traces of ancient glaciers remain on its slopes. It is on the border between Kalbajar and Lachin districts.
 Kechaldag is located in the Karabakh plateau. It is an extinct volcanic cone. Its height is 3,171 metres. It consists of Pliocene volcanic rocks. Ancient glacier terrain forms have developed on its slopes. Its height is rocky. There are alpine meadows and pearlite deposits (Kechaldag pearlite deposit) here. It is situated on the territory of Kalbajar District.



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