# Astara, Azerbaijan

Astara (Talysh: Ostoro) is a city in and the capital of the Astara District of Azerbaijan. Astara is a short walk across the border from Astara, Iran.

## Geography
### Climate

Astara has a borderline humid subtropical (Köppen climate classification: Cfa) and hot-summer mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: Csa). Astara has cool, wet winters and very warm, highly humid summers, nevertheless with lower precipitation. The annual precipitation of the city, however, is one of the highest in Azerbaijan.
Climate data for Astara (1971-1990 normals) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 7.7 (45.9) | 7.7 (45.9) | 10.5 (50.9) | 16.4 (61.5) | 21.5 (70.7) | 26.6 (79.9) | 29.9 (85.8) | 29.0 (84.2) | 25.5 (77.9) | 19.6 (67.3) | 14.7 (58.5) | 10.9 (51.6) | 18.3 (65.0) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | 4.5 (40.1) | 4.7 (40.5) | 6.4 (43.5) | 11.4 (52.5) | 16.6 (61.9) | 21.2 (70.2) | 24.2 (75.6) | 23.3 (73.9) | 20.3 (68.5) | 15.4 (59.7) | 10.7 (51.3) | 6.8 (44.2) | 13.8 (56.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 2.4 (36.3) | 2.5 (36.5) | 4.9 (40.8) | 9.6 (49.3) | 14.2 (57.6) | 18.7 (65.7) | 20.8 (69.4) | 20.6 (69.1) | 18.3 (64.9) | 13.6 (56.5) | 8.5 (47.3) | 4.3 (39.7) | 11.5 (52.8) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 85 (3.3) | 89 (3.5) | 99 (3.9) | 54 (2.1) | 56 (2.2) | 35 (1.4) | 34 (1.3) | 64 (2.5) | 190 (7.5) | 288 (11.3) | 167 (6.6) | 103 (4.1) | 1,264 (49.7) |
| Average rainy days | 9 | 9 | 12 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 11 | 9 | 100 |
| Mean monthly sunshine hours | 113.3 | 99.4 | 110.9 | 152.4 | 208.9 | 268.3 | 284.9 | 248.5 | 185.9 | 127.3 | 101.5 | 110.9 | 2,012.2 |
| Mean daily sunshine hours | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 5.1 | 6.7 | 8.9 | 9.2 | 8.0 | 6.2 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 5.5 |
| Source: NOAA DWD ||||||||||||||
Climate data for Astara (records) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 22.1 (71.8) | 26.1 (79.0) | 28.8 (83.8) | 29.0 (84.2) | 33.4 (92.1) | 38.0 (100.4) | 38.0 (100.4) | 40.0 (104.0) | 40.0 (104.0) | 31.3 (88.3) | 28.7 (83.7) | 25.7 (78.3) | 40.0 (104.0) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −7.8 (18.0) | −13 (9) | −6.1 (21.0) | −3.9 (25.0) | −2.8 (27.0) | 6.0 (42.8) | 11.1 (52.0) | 10.0 (50.0) | 10.0 (50.0) | −2.8 (27.0) | −7.8 (18.0) | −15 (5) | −15 (5) |
| Source: climatebase.ru ||||||||||||||

## Attractions
### Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. It is an endorheic basin (a basin without outflows) located between Europe and Asia, to the east of the Caucasus Mountains and to the west of the broad steppe of Central Asia. The sea has a surface area of 371,000 km$^2$ (143,000 sq mi) (excluding the detached lagoon of Garabogazköl) and a volume of 78,200 km$^3$ (18,800 cu mi). It has a salinity of approximately 1.2% (12 g/L), about a third of the salinity of most seawater that is found in the region.

### Astara TV Tower

As the demand for television broadcasting and telecommunication grew in the early 1980s, the Astara TV Tower was built. The television tower was uniquely designed, as its pinnacle is guyed to a horizontal cross-like steel structure.

## Economy

Located next to the Iranian border, Astara attracts numerous visitors from Iran, going to Azerbaijan to purchase goods and services that may not be as readily available in Iran.

## Transport

Astara is currently served by a broad gauge railway only headed north. A standard gauge connection to the Iranian railway network along the shore of the Caspian Sea is planned. This break of gauge station is likely to be equipped with bogie exchange and SUW 2000 variable gauge axle track gauge changing facility.

## Notable people

* Ziya Bunyadov (1923–1997), Azerbaijani historian and World War II veteran
* Vagif Akhundov (born 1950), colonel-general
* Kazim Azimov (born 1951), Azerbaijani historian of philosophy, culture, sociologist, Orientalist

## Gallery

* Caspian Sea
* Historical house
* Astara Boulevard
* Entrance of Astara
* Astara City Executive Power
* Astara Railway Station
* Astara City Cultural Center
* Burning Spring
* Historical bath
* Astara, AAAF Park
* Astara Boulevard