Baku Archipelago

The Baku Archipelago is a group of coastal islands located in the Bay of Baku close to Baku, Azerbaijan. The waters surrounding the islands are shallow. The archipelago is made up of the following islands, besides a few small sandbanks. Most islands have both an Azeri name as well as a Russian name:

* Böyük Zirə or Nargin
* Daş Zirə or Vulf
* Kiçik Zirə, Qum, or Sandy Island
* Zenbil or Duvanniy
* Səngi Muğan or Svinoy
* Chikil or Oblivnoi
* Qara Su or Los
* Xərə Zirə or Bulla
* İqnat Daşı
* Qlinyanı or Gil
* Kür daşı is a little island lying off the bay detached from the group. Lat. 39° 0' 45 N; Long. 49° 20' 8 E. [ [http://www.traveljournals.net/explore/azerbaijan/map/p233757/kur_dasi_adasi.html Kür daşı] ]

Ecology

The vegetation of the islands in the Baku Archipelago has been quite damaged by the pollution caused by the oil wells in the same bay, so that most islands are almost devoid of vegetation.Formerly this archipelago provided an ideal ecosystem for the Caspian seal. Sturgeons are still found where the waters are not too polluted. Certain birds that visit Baku Bay, like teal ducks, Herring Gulls, and grebes find refuge in these islands that are uninhabited except for gas-extraction installations and a lighthouse.There is an automatic monitoring station for water pollution in the area located in Svinoy Island. [ [http://www.caspianenvironment.org/eracl/unido_11.htm UNIDO Caspian Pollution Report (en)] ]

References

* [http://www.baku-guide.com/beachs/ General information]
* [http://books.google.co.th/books?id=BtQJyZxW_6kC&pg=PA297&lpg=PA297&dq=Svinoy+baku&source=web&ots=ZpT_eJznDa&sig=Qeh1FpwORSiLVdLVSI8O9W7Xz0o&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=1&ct=result#PPA297,M1 Oil extraction in the Baku Bay area and its ecological impact]