ABSERON PENINSULA

also spelled Apsheron, Azerbaijani Abseron Yasaqligi peninsula in Azerbaijan that extends 37 miles (60 km) eastward into the Caspian Sea and reaches a maximum width of 19 miles (30 km). An eastern extension of the Caucasus Mountains, the Abseron Peninsula consists of a gently undulating plain, in part dissected by ravines and characterized by frequent salt lakes and lands flooded by tides. Vineyards and tea plantations are features of the regional economy. The national capital, Baku, lies on the peninsula's southern coast. The peninsula is especially noted for its oil-bearing strata, and the workings extend into the sea.