Description:
Fluctuating water levels will affect the population of the coastline and can cause substantial economic damage if appropriate measurements are not taken. A rise in sea level of 1.2 metres would flood Anzali, an Iranian city on the low-lying coastal plain in the southwest corner of the Caspian, and turn it into an island, according to forecasts. This would cost the city billions of dollars and cause massive population displacement. The scenario for rising sea level and subsequent events could very well repeat itself in the other major ports around the Caspian Sea including Baku. In the absence of preparedness, flooding could wreak havoc in the capital of Azerbaijan and cause billions of dollars worth of damage and untold human suffering leading to possible social unrest and conflict.