The area. Total area of the district is 1936 sq. km., 1400 of which (the basin of Great and Small Al Lakes) was taken from Soviet Armenia and annexed to Azerbaijan as late as in 1923. It borders with Marlakcrt (east) and Kashatagh districts of the NKR (south); Vardenis, Vayk and Sisian Districts of the Republic of Armenia (west and southwest) and Dashkesan and Khanlar Districts of Azerbaijan (north).
Mountain Ranges. The entire area of the district is mountainous and rugged, with numerous high peaks (altitude: Garnish - 3724 m.; Spitakkar - 3300.4 m; Qongur - 3043.2 m; Itsakar - 3125.8 m; Tsamaqasar (Sususzlugh) - 2845 m; Pahak - 2018.3 m; Kochler -2525.0 m.; Lachin - 2261 m.; Qety - 3399 m.; Erkatasar - 2900.9 m, etc.).
The highest mountain ranges such as Mrav in the north, Rmbostyan - in the west and Tsavdeits - in the south extend along the borderline of the district.
Mountain Passes. Except for the eastern border the district is surrounded by high mountains serving natural watersheds. Communication with the neighboring regions is provided by a number of mountain passes. Three of them: such as Zngrli (altitude 2885 m, Omar (3261 m) and Ghamish (3505) pass through the highest mountain range of Mrav. Other three passes: Rmbostyan or Sodk (altitude 2400 m), Norabak (2600 m) and Upper Shorzha-Zaylik (2751) go through the Vardcnis or Rmbostyan mountain range, limiting the district from the west. Finally two main passes Naghdal-Takhtabash (altitude 2045), Lalabaghrli-Ghazikhan (2215) and a few subsidiary passes, which are much more difficult of access, cross the range of Tsavdeits. The villages within Karvajar are also connected by a number of mountain passes, most important of which are those leading to the valleys of Khachen and Aragjur rivers (Kechilu-Aghjakand - altitude 2180 m. and Otakhlar-Mijman.
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The Rivers. As an alpine zone Karvajar naturally abounds in rivers and streams and serves a water samp for one of the major Armenian rivers - the Trtu (Tartar). Hundreds of streams flowing out of the alpine springs teed the three main rivers of the region - the Trtu (Tartar), Lev and Dukhtu. None of these rivers or their tributaries do dry out during the whole year, though the water is especially high in spring and in the beginning of summer, when the snow melts. Devastating seasonal floods deluging the valleys and washing away bridges and communications are quite usual. That is why only the pylons are often left of the numerous medieval bridges built over the rivers and streams.
Lakes. The largest of several alpine lakes (most of them - of volcanic origin) are Great and Small Al (Alagol), Gortagarak (Ghanligol). Sev (Gharagol) and Zaikha.
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The gorge of Trtu (Tartar) River in its upper course
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As a rule they are situated on the altitude over 2000 m. above the sea (altitude: Great Al - 2729 m. and Small Al - 2739. Gortagarak - 2056 m Zalkha - 3062 m). Majority of the lakes are close water samps fed by the nearby streams, though Zalkha and Gortagarak feed respectively the Vorotan and Iritsajur rivers.
Waterfalls. Karvajar is a humid alpine zone with a number of not too high waterfalls situated mainly on smaller tributaries. Such arc, for instance the waterfall on the Lakzu River, at the edge of Gharaguney village (altitude - 5 m.), or waterfalls on the left (8 m.) and right (5 m.) tributaries of the Lev, both of them are 2-2.5 km northwest of the Lev village, a waterfall of Ekhtsajur (3 m) situated about 0.5 km of the village Goydara, etc.
Forests. In spite of its indebtedness, 28.2 thousand ha of the total area of the district is covered with woods. The latter extend mainly along the valleys of the Trtu and Dotkhu rivers, and in the adjoining subalpine zones. Prevalent within plant species is the oak, more rare are fir trees, or wild fruit trees.
Fields and Meadows. Alpine meadows, situated on the altitude of 2000-2800 m. above the sea over most of the territory, Virtually there are no fields in the lower zones. Virtually there are no fields in the lower zones. Most frequent in this zone are stock-breeding farms and complexes.
Mineral Springs. As testified by a number of medieval sources, the medicinal properties of the Karvajar mineral springs were recognized long ago. As a rule, cold and hot mineral springs spurting out with remarkable regularity in the valleys or deep gorges, are situated not too far from the major riverbanks. Such are, for example, cold mineral springs in 1 km northwest of the village Kholozants, at the right bank of the Trtu, and the springs spurting out at both hanks of the Trtu 2 km further to the northeast of the same village; or two cold springs in the edge of Karvajar [village of Boyakhli), at the right bank of the Trtu, or cold springs in 2.7 km southeast of the same village; another spring at the left bank of river Datikh; a cold spring situated 3 km south of the village Zilfugharli, at the left bank of the Dutkhu river; hot and cold springs in the southern side of the Jermajur (Istisu) resort; a cold spring in Ghalafalgh village; or cold springs situated 2.5 km west of Apahen or Tpel (Bashlibel) village.
Roads. The roads of Karvajar district pass mainly through the valleys sometimes crossing the mountain passes. As a rule, the existing and comparatively well maintained roads were in use since at least the Middle Ages, though under the Soviet rule they were sometimes widened, or paved (as for example, the section of Jermajur-Khutavan). It is worth being out of use for 1-2 years comparatively new countryside roads are almost totally destroyed, while the roads built in the medieval period (for instance, Tzar-Karvajar, or Kilisali-Ghushyuvasi) are still fit for use.
Still preserved is one of the oldest transit routs connecting the medieval Armenian capital Dvin with the town of Partav, which passed through the basin of Lake Sevan, and crossed Karvajar in the section of the Lev river gorge.
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