The same ridges are further divided into smaller and lower ridges to pass into low elevation mountain region named Gobustan, and further on into Absheron Peninsula. North off and parallel to the Great Caucasus ridge there is a southeast trending ridge called Lateral, of which Azerbaijan section starts from the Shahdagh (4243) extending and getting lower southeastward and terminates at Beshbarmag (546m) pinnacle. Lateral ridge is divided into stand alone blocks-Plateaus (Shahdagh, Gizilgaya, Budugh etc) by river valleys that begin from Great Caucasus ridge.

Northeast off and parallel to the Lateral ridge there is Talabi-Gaynarja elevation (which elevation ranges from 1000-1100m in the west down to 150-200m in the east). Ridges and elevations are divided fron each other by valleys and intermontane troughs (Shahnabad, Khinalig, Erphee, Gonagcand, Kaltan, Gilgilchay,Tigchay, Rustov, Perebedil etc).Southern flank of the Great Caucasus ridge descended down to Alazan-Ayrichay valley(in some sources Alazan-Haftaran valley, whereas in others it is considered as one of the Kur River valley parts) that in some places is parallel to the mentioned ridge. Said above valley begins from Georgia Republic and is 210km long and 30km wide in Azerbaijan. Nialdagh ridge which elevation reaches up to 2100m high is extended parallel to the Great Caucasus one apart through Lahidge valley

Samur-Davachi lowland is extended along the Caspian shoreline from Samur River to Sumgayit-chay. Its portion located in between Atachay and Sumgayit-chay is called Boghaz plain. This lowland in the northwest (at 200-250m hypsometric level) passes into Gusaz inclined plain through 10-25m high bench. Gusaz inclined plain in the southwest reaches Lateral ridge where its elevation mark amounts to 19000 m (Boyuk Suval) Lowland hypsometric level on Caspian shoreline level is 28m below the Ocean level.

Azerbaijani part of the Minor Caucasus consists dominantly of several variously trending ridges that are not the main watershed ones including Murovdagh, Karabakh, Michtocan, systems, partially Shahdagh, Shargi-Goycha (Shargi Sevan), Zangazur, Daralayaz mountain systems, volcanic yaila (most of Karabakh yaila) and Bashcand-Dastafur etc lowlands (in some publications Zangazur and Daralayaz systems, as well as Karabakh yaila do not referred to the Minor Caucasus).

Shahdagh ridge extends off the same elevation (2901m) in the northwest and towards Hinaldagh elevation (3367m) in the southeast. Murovdagh ridge extends north off Hinaldagh elevation through Gamishdagh elevation (3724m). North off those ridges there is Bashcand-Dastafur lowland and even more to the north there is Shankir vault elevation.

Pant ridge and stand alone Kapaz elevation (3030m) separate Bashcand-Dastafur lowland in the north from Aghjacand lowland. Minor Caucasus north flank ridges get lower to the north and abruptly pass into Ganja-Gazah plain within Middle Kur River valley through steeply plunging flanks. East Goycha (East Sevan) ridge serves as watershead for Tartar River and Sevan Lake drainage systems. Its highest elevation is Ketidagh (3437m). Minor Caucasus southeast termination known as Karabakh ridge gets lower towards Araz River valley and passes into foothill inclined plain. Its highest elevation Gizgala (2843m) Girhgiz (2830m) Boyuk Kirs (2725m) form stand alone rocky elevations over broad and smooth watershed background within the northern part of the ridge. Over the ridge north flank there are transversal crests and depressions. Karabakh ridge jutted out with latitudinally trending Mikhtocan ridge (Dalidagh, 3613m) in the northwest.. Zangazuz and Daralayar ridges southwest and south flanks respectively belongs to Azrbaijan Republic (within Nakhchivan Republic). Zangazyr ridge is extended down to Araz River valley. This ridge is the highest among the Minor Caucasus mountain system which average height is 3200m. The highest elevations of the ridge (Gapijik, 3906m, Gazandoldagh, 3814m etc) are situated in its south part. A great number of transversal crests are extended southwestward off the ridge. Different kind of stand alone extrusions and laccolith bodies are typical for its forerange portion (Ispandagh-2410m, Khanaga-1910m, Alinja-1810m).

West off Zangazur ridge there is Daralayaz ridge (Kukudagh-3210m, Kechaldagh-3115m) that gradually descends towards Araz River valley. South off the ridge within its forerange part there are dominantly plateaus and crests (Givrag, Duzdagh etc). Both ridges south and southwest foothills pass into planes extended along Araz River left bank and divided apart from each other by elevations and crests (Sadarak, Sharur, Boyukdyuz, Nakhchivan, Julfa, Yayji etc). Karabakh yaila occupies relatively wide area where large extinct volcanic necks are jutted out in between Zangazur and Karabakh ridges over the rolling surface (Gizilboghaz-3581m, Boyuk Ishigly-3552m, Ala Gollar-3175m etc) in between Zangazur and Karabakh ridges.

Here, the average elevation varies in the range from 2000 to 2500m. Yaila gets narrower and its height descends southward and finally terminates at interflow point of Bazarchay and Hakarachay Rivers.

Talish mountain system is locates southeast off the Lower Araz River valley (some explorers consider that Talish mountains are suggested to be the Alborz system northwest extension). This mountain system consists of almost parallel and northwest to southeast extended Talish, Peshtasar, and Burovar ridges. The longest of them (about 100km long) which elevation reaches 2500m high is the Talish ridge trending along the State border with Islamic Republic of Iran. In some places those ridges join to each other through transversal ridges that forms stand alone intermontane troughs (Yardimly, Zuvand etc). Lancaran lowland is located in between Talish mountain and the Caspian Sea.

Kur River valley occupies the central part of Azerbaijan Republic. Its relief consists of vast plain terrane and foothill areas. The main orographic feature of the valley that lies in between Great and Minor Caucasus systems is the Kur-Araz lowland terrane the largest one in the south Caucasus region. The lowland terrane is divided by Kur and Araz Rivers into Mil-Karabakh, Shirvan and Mughan-Saliyan plains. West and the central parts of the Kur-Araz lowland terrane lies some 28m below the Ocean level. Its foothill area elevation varies in range from 100-250m and in some places up to 400-500m high. Anja-Gazah inclined plain in the northwest is extended along the Kur River right bank whereas Anaghy-Arazboyu inclined plain in the southwest is extended along Araz River left bank. North off Ganja-Gazah inclined plain and Kur-Araz lowland there are Jeyranchol, Ajinohur and Langabiz-Alat foothill terranes. Ajinohur foothill terrane, which elevation reaches up to 1100m high, consists of several ridges, crests, as well as lowlands and valleys dividing them from each other is extended along the south margin of the largest of them Alazan-Ayrichay valley.

Elevation terrane ranking

Complexity of the Azerbaijan Republic relief provides an opportunity to carry out its vertical ranking as follows: the high mountain terrane, intermediate-level mountain terrane, low-level mountain terrane and plain-lowland terranes.

The high mountain terrane embraces areas over 2500, high. In this context Great Caucasus system consists of Major Caucasus and the Lateral ridges. Minor Caucasus high mountain terrane includes basically lateral parts of Zangazur, Mishovdagh and Shahdagh ridges that in many places looks like narrow zones. Due to poorly developed vegetative cover this terrane is characterized by cliffy and rocky topography. Here, there are many taped and pectinal elevations. Besides, there are relics of the ice-worn relief (trough valleys, cirques and corries). Also, there are small contemporaneous glaciers. Mountain slopes are covered with thick clastic debries cones.

Intermediate-level mountain terranes occupy most mountain systems which elevation vary in the range from 1000 to 2500m high, and is dissected by deep river gorges. In areas where river gorges become wider, particularly within intermontane valleys there are many terraces and staggered leveling planes are pervasive. In some places there are occurrences of landslides and rock falls.

Low-level mountain terrane embraces areas which elevation ai about 200m high (Gobustan and Ajinohur) and about 50-100m high within foothill areas. In this terrane the hillsides are gentle and watershed areas are smooth. In some areas (Gobustan, Jeyranchol and Ajinohur foothills and Nakhchivan AR foothills) lack of moisture promotes arid-denudation processes evolvement that resulted in badland landscape, clay carst and other relief forms development.

The plain-lowland terrane embraces areas which elevation varies in the range from 100-200m, in soma places to 400-500m (and from 800-1000m within Nakhichevan Republic). This terrane includes most of the Kur River and Samur River lowland areas, Alazan-Ayrichay valley, Araz River nearby plains etc. Aggradation terraces are widespread here. The main relief forms within the foothill areas are alluvial cones, and dunes within the Caspian coastal area.