Nagorno-Karabakh, disputed region of Azerbaijan, in the southern Caucasus, located about 270 km (about 170 mi) west of the Azerbaijani capital of Baku. Nagorno-Karabakh extends from northwest to southeast about 4,400 sq km (about 1,700 sq mi) in the southeastern part of the Lesser Caucasus (Malyy Kavkaz) mountain system. The Murov-Dag Mountains lie in the north and the Karabakh Mountains lie in the center, west, and south. Foothills slope down to plains in the east. The highest peak, Mount Gyamysh, rises to 3,724 m (12,218 ft). Rivers such as the Terter, Khachinchay, Karkarchay, and Kendelanchai are used for irrigation and hydroelectric power. The climate varies depending on location and elevation. In the mountainous regions of the west and southwest winter average temperatures range from -10º to -6º C (14º to 21º F); on the plains and at lower elevations average temperatures range from -2º to 3º C (28º to 37º F). Average summer temperatures range from 10º to 15º C (50º to 59º F) in the mountains, and 20º to 25º C (68º to 77º F) at lower elevations. Yearly precipitation is 400 to 600 mm (16 to 24 in) on the plains and 800 mm (32 in) or more in the mountains, falling mostly in the summer months. The generally dry climate supports semidesert bushes and grasses on the plains, and semiarid bushes and steppe vegetation in the lower elevations. In the higher mountains, broad-leaved forests give way to subalpine and alpine meadows. About one-third of the territory is covered by forests and shrubs.

Nagorno-Karabakh has a population of 130,000; virtually all the people are Christian Armenians. The largest city is the capital, Xankändi (known as Khankendy before 1923, and Stepanakert from 1923 to 1991), located roughly in the center of the region.

The principal economic activities in Nagorno-Karabakh are agriculture, food processing, and light industry. The plains are used largely for livestock raising, and grain, cotton, and tobacco farming. Sheep are raised for meat and wool in high mountain areas. Other agricultural activity includes the cultivation of grapes for wine and silkworms for textiles. Industry is located mainly in the foothills and lower mountain regions. Two national highways cross Nagorno-Karabakh; but in most of the region, which is deeply dissected by stream canyons, overland transportation is extremely difficult.

Settlers from the ancient country of Media first arrived in Nagorno-Karabakh in the 8th century bc, and Persia conquered the region two centuries later. In 1828 Russia took control of the territory, which then shared a border with Armenia. By the time of the Russian Revolution of 1917, the area’s population was 75 percent Armenian. In July 1923 the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) created the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region and placed it under Azerbaijani control. By 1930 the USSR, under the leadership of Joseph Stalin, had changed the region’s border and reduced its territory, leaving Nagorno-Karabakh entirely within Azerbaijan. Despite the majority Armenian population, Soviet leaders isolated Nagorno-Karabkh from Armenia partly because the two areas lacked good transportation and communication links with one another.

As the USSR began allowing greater political expression in the mid-1980s, conflict between the Armenian residents of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan surfaced. Demonstrations in favor of independence for Nagorno-Karabakh escalated into violent clashes between 1988 and 1990. The conflict continued after the dissolution of the USSR and the independence of Azerbaijan and Armenia in 1991. In November 1991 Azerbaijan eliminated the region's autonomous status. The region declared its independence in December 1991. Supported by Armenia, the region’s ethnic Armenians seized control of the entire territory by 1994 and expanded their control west to the Armenian border. Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Nagorno-Karabakh rebels signed a cease-fire agreement in 1994; there is an uneasy peace as the two nations continue negotiating a settlement to the dispute. Since the fighting erupted in 1988 at least 15,000 people have died and 1 million people have been displaced.