Republic of Azerbaijan with its unique nature, centuries-old culture and history is located on the western shore of the Caspian Sea, at the eastern side of Transcaucasia. The total area of 86 sq. km. Azerbaijan shares borders with Russia in the north (390 km), Georgia to the north-west (471 km), with Armenia in the west (471 km), with Turkey in the south-west (15 km) and Iran in the south (765 km ). The length of the land borders of the republic is 2647 km, 816 km sea borders. Azerbaijan also includes the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic , an enclave, which is next to Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the south and west, and Turkey to the northwest.
Baku is the capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan. It is a large scientific, cultural and industrial centre. Ancient foundations, a large area and a population all make Baku one of the oldest and largest cities in the East. Baku is situated on the shore of the Caspian Sea in the south of the Absheron peninsula.
Nearly half of the territory of Azerbaijan is occupied by mountains. In the north – the ridge of the Greater Caucasus, in the south – the ridge of the Lesser Caucasus and the Kura lowlands, in the south-east – Talish Mountains. On the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan there are 8 climatic zones out of 11 possible. The territory of the republic has numerous river resources, rich in flora and rare fauna. The territory of Azerbaijan has always been in the interest of archaeologists, as in the results of excavations traces of human civilization existing 2 million years ago were discovered in the Azykh cave in Karabakh . Humankind was present here at every stage of his historical development. Azerbaijan made its own contribution to the establishment of the current culture and civilization, progress, and dialectics.
The time kept a range of ancient archeological and architectural monuments for us. The ancient headstones, manuscripts, and models of carpets, preserved to the present times from the ancient ages, can provide much information to those who can and want to read them. If you wish to understand Azerbaijan and to know everything about it, you need to look at this country and its people with a friend's eyes.
The population of Azerbaijan was estimated to be 10,375,843 people (January 1,2022).
Azerbaijan is considered the most secular Muslim-majority country. Around 97% of the population are Muslims. 85% of the Muslims are Shia and 15% Sunni. Other faiths are practised by the country's various ethnic groups. Under article 48 of its Constitution, Azerbaijan is a secular state and ensures religious freedom. Of the nation's religious minorities, the estimated 280,000 Christians (3.1%) are mostly Russian and Georgian Orthodox and Armenian Apostolic (almost all Armenians live in the break-away region of Nagorno-Karabakh). Other Christian denominations include Lutherans, Baptists and Molokans . There is also a small Protestant community.
Azerbaijan also has an ancient Jewish population with a 2,000-year history; Jewish organizations estimate that 12,000 Jews remain in Azerbaijan, which is home to the only Jewish-majority town outside of Israel and the United States. Azerbaijan also is home to members of the Baháʼí , Hare Krishna and Jehovah's Witnesses communities, as well as adherents of the other religious communities.
It seems that the famous Azerbaijan carpets are the incarnation of all colors of nature and of all signs of history. Today, these carpets magically pass the borders of time and space and travel from Azerbaijan to foreign countries far away.
Science and the enlightenment in Azerbaijan have a centuries-old history. The Baku State University was founded in 1919; the institutes of the Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan play an exceptional role in the scientific, educational, and cultural development of Azerbaijan. Local scientists are currently studying such important issues as the depths of the Caspian Sea, space exploration, and the secrets of the human brain.
Through the decades, the local industry was successfully represented by oil producing, petrochemical, and oil processing enterprises. The agricultural industry is famous for cotton-growing, viticulture, vegetable-growing, and cattle-breeding.
If one compares the economy of Azerbaijan with a living body, it becomes evident that oil flows in the veins of Azerbaijan. The oil and gas resources of Azerbaijan have made this place famous in every part of the world from ancient times.
Azerbaijan has always been famous for its sources of eternal fires — the atashgehs. There is a place called Yanardag (blazing mountain) in Absheron and thermal springs in some parts of Nakhichevan, Kelbejar, Masali, Lenkoran, Babadag. In Surakhani, there is an eternal fireplace. From ancient times the fire-worshippers from remote places and even the Indian priests were coming to Absheron in search of fire and finding it here. They built their main temples here in Surakhani and Ateshgah.
The word Azerbaijan brings its main wealth — oil – before the eyes. Oil is not only the wealth but the fame as well. People were coming to Azerbaijan from distant places for this specific taste and colored puddle under the ground. Throughout the centuries, camelcades carried waterskins of oil in both eastern and western directions. The Azerbaijani oil is not used exclusively for electricity production, but also as a valuable medicine for a variety of diseases. There has been an increasing demand for oil throughout the centuries.
Being bridge between Europe and Asia Azerbaijan also has an exceptional role in the expansion of political and commercial relations and creates a new economic model in the development of the region. Azerbaijan is currently involved in the implementation of huge energy projects. Oil and gas projects are successfully implemented in the Azeri Caspian sector. Azerbaijan is a country, which plays an extremely important role in the Caspian and Caucasian regions, particularly in the development of transport infrastructure in the Caucasus and the implementation of energy projects. It was the region’s first country to explore the huge energy potential, to form an absolutely new economic model in the regional development, and to expand political and economic relations between Europe and Asia.
Although Armenia implemented military aggression (In the 1990s, Armenia invaded Nagorno-Karabakh and its seven regions outside its administrative borders. 1.2 million people from 10 million of the country’s population became refugees. Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity after 44 days of the Patriotic War.) and it resulted in terrible consequences for Azerbaijan, our country now is located in the list of democratic countries. Azerbaijan continues to overcome complex and difficult obstacles, builds a democratic, legal, secular state and civil society by taking important and decisive steps.
Azerbaijan has membership in the United Nations (UN), Organization of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Council of Europe (CE), Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), GUUAM, Organization of Islamic Conference, Black Sea Economic Collaboration (BSEC), Organization of Economic Cooperation (OEC). Azerbaijan also actively cooperates with the European Union, NATO, International Monetary Fund, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Islamic Development Bank, and other organizations.
