Preliminary communication

Population Settlement in the Caspian Region

Čingiz Ismailov ; Caspian Research and Information Centre, Baku, Russia

Abstract

The paper examines the characteristics of settlement patterns in the littoral (coastal) areas of the Caspian region. The author’s historical excursion into the region’s past illustrates the complexity of the intertwined fates of the peoples who presently inhabit the littoral areas around the Caspian Sea. From the 18th century, Russia began to penetrate into the region, in opposition to Iran. For this purpose, Peter I [Peter the Great] ordered the construction, in the coastal areas, of outpost forts that eventually turned into settlements (Fort Petrovsk, Fort Shevchenko, Krasnovodsk and others). The development of settlements in the coastal areas brought about an expansion of the web of transportation communications. Yet territorial differences arose in the level of development of certain forms of transportation. Such a situation, to a great extent, was determined by the particularities pertaining to the economic-geographical situation of various sections of the Caspian littoral area. In order to determine the population density of littoral areas an important methological approach would entail a delimitation of the borders of the littoral areas. The author analyses diverse approaches used to establish the outlines of settlement regions in the littoral areas. He distinguishes several coastal strips, with various degrees of population attraction. Owing to natural-climatic conditions and the degree of adaptation, the littoral areas of the Caspian region show diversities in the level of development of urban settlements. The highest level of urbanisation is evident in the littoral strip of Azerbaijan, in which the most populous town in the Caspian region is located (Baku). A comparison of the population settlement traits in the coastal areas of the Caspian region indicates that the highest level of concentration is found along the Iranian strip of the coast, and the least concentration along the Turkmenian strip. In this sense, in the most settled areas (on the territory of Iran and Azerbaijan) the dominant type of settlement is centrifugal, whereas in the least settled areas (in Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan) the dominant settlement patterns are dispersed and nidificative locations.

Keywords

settlement patterns; coastal (littoral) areas; delimitation; economic development; the Caspian Region

Hrčak ID:

107351

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/107351

Publication date:

11.4.2002.

Article data in other languages: croatian russian

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