Astara, also, Azerbaycan Astarasi is a city in and the capital of the Astara Rayon of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...

. Astara is a short walk across the border from Astara, Iran

Astara, Iran

- People :* Religion: Mostly Islam Shi'a Islam* Ethnic groups:90% Azerbaijani, 5% Talysh, 5% other:Persian, Kurd, Russian * Language: Azeri, Persian, Talysh language- Famous people from Astara :* Ebrahim Nabavi - Iranian journalist...

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The TV Tower

There is a 243.9 metre tall lattice steel TV tower, built in 1981. This tower is unusually designed: its pinnacle is guyed to a horizontal cross-like steel structure.

Economy

Located next to the Iranian border, Astara attracts numerous visitors from south of the border, coming to the Republic of Azerbaijan to purchase goods and services that may not be as readily available on the Iranian side.

Transport

Astara is currently served by a broad gauge

Broad gauge

Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...

 railway only headed north. A standard gauge

Standard gauge

The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...

 connection to the Iranian railway network along the shore of the Caspian sea

Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. The sea has a surface area of and a volume of...

 is planned. This break of gauge station is likely to be equipped with bogie exchange

Bogie exchange

Bogie exchange is a system for operating railway wagons on two or more gauges to overcome difference in the track gauge. To perform a bogie exchange, a car is converted from one gauge to another by removing the chassis containing the wheels and axles of the car, and installing a new chassis with...

 and SUW 2000

SUW 2000

SUW 2000 is a type of variable gauge system that allows a train to travel across a railway break-of-gauge.The SUW 2000 design is manufactured by Polish company ZNTK Poznań for Polish State Railways...

 variable gauge axle

Variable gauge axles

A variable gauge system allows railway vehicles in a train to travel across a break of gauge caused by two railway networks with differing track gauges....

 track gauge changing facility.

Notable natives

• Ilya Kaverin — Hero of the Soviet Union
  Hero of the Soviet Union
  The title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
  
  .
• Ziya Buniatov  — Hero of the Soviet Union
  Hero of the Soviet Union
  The title Hero of the Soviet Union was the highest distinction in the Soviet Union, awarded personally or collectively for heroic feats in service to the Soviet state and society.-Overview:...
  
  .

External links

• MSN Map - elevation = 4m