Western Asia
What tectonic plate is Azerbaijan on?
Azerbaijan sits entirely on the Eurasian Plate.
- Plates
- 1
- M6.5+ quakes since 1900
- 4
- Holocene volcanoes
- 2
- Land area
- 86,404 km²
Plates under Azerbaijan
Share of Azerbaijan's land area on each plate (PB2002 model, Natural Earth outlines).
Plate boundaries
A plate boundary runs through or along Azerbaijan: the Arabian-Eurasian boundary (convergent, about 3.5 cm/yr).
The fastest of these is the Arabian-Eurasian boundary, where the plates move about 3.5 cm/yr relative to each other. That is faster than fingernails grow.
Earthquakes in Azerbaijan
Large earthquakes are uncommon in Azerbaijan. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 4 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country.
| Earthquake | Magnitude | Year | Depth | Plate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 km SSE of Baku, Azerbaijan | M6.8 | 2000 | 50 km | Eurasian |
| Near Azerbaijan | M6.5 | 1986 | 33 km | Eurasian |
| Near Azerbaijan | M6.5 | 1989 | 55 km | Eurasian |
| 23 km SSE of Badamdar, Azerbaijan | M6.5 | 2000 | 33 km | Eurasian |
Volcanoes in Azerbaijan
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 2 volcanoes active in the last 12,000 years in Azerbaijan.
- Porak Volcanic field · 3,029 m Last eruption 778 BCE
- Tskhouk-Karckar Pyroclastic cone(s) · 3,139 m Last eruption 3000 BCE
Frequently asked questions
What tectonic plate is Azerbaijan on?
Azerbaijan sits entirely on the Eurasian Plate.
Is Azerbaijan on a plate boundary?
A plate boundary runs through or along Azerbaijan: the Arabian-Eurasian boundary (convergent, about 3.5 cm/yr).
Does Azerbaijan get earthquakes?
Large earthquakes are uncommon in Azerbaijan. Since 1900 the USGS has recorded 4 of magnitude 6.5 or more in or just off the country. The largest was the M6.8 15 km SSE of Baku, Azerbaijan in 2000.
Are there volcanoes in Azerbaijan?
The Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program lists 2 volcanoes active in the last 12,000 years in Azerbaijan.