Interesting facts about Azerbaijan (Baku). Interesting facts about Azerbaijan (13 photos) Interesting facts about Azerbaijan message around the world

Azerbaijan is a small state in Transcaucasia, in the Middle East. Some geographers, however, tend to attribute it to Eastern Europe, although there is still debate about this. Azerbaijani lands are inhabited by a proud people who highly value their traditions, hospitable and hardworking, and fertile lands generously bring a rich harvest every year.

Azerbaijan is the birthplace of the first modern oil well and the oldest offshore oil platform "Oil Rocks", which is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Now "Oil Rocks" is a whole village on stilts with shops, houses and cultural centers.
Azerbaijan's motto is "Land of Fire".
In the capital of Azerbaijan, the city of Baku, in 1926, the first electric train in the USSR was launched.
Azerbaijan became the first Muslim country in the world to adopt a democratic form of government and provide women with the same opportunities as men.
Azerbaijani historians assure that the famous Cap of Monomakh was made by craftsmen from the local mountain village of Lahij.
There are more mud volcanoes on the territory of Azerbaijan than in any other state of our planet.
In the valley of the Araz River there is the oldest salt deposit in the world, the development of which began about 5 thousand years ago.
About 12% of the Nobel Prize Fund consists of funds raised by Alfred Nobel from operations with Baku oil.
In Surakhani there is an unusual Ateshgah temple, which translates as “House of Fire”. This unique building was built on the site of "eternal fires" - it is natural gas that comes out of the ground.
There is also a whole mountain in Azerbaijan that is constantly spewing fire - Yanar Dag is located not far from Baku, and the gas field below it feeds the flame.
The Absheron Peninsula and some other coastal areas of Azerbaijan are heavily polluted, which makes them one of the most environmentally unfavorable regions of the Earth (see facts about ecology).
The only plant in the USSR for the production of air conditioners was located in Azerbaijan.
Not far from Baku is the salt lake Masazir, the water of which has a pink color. The reservoir has huge salt reserves suitable for industrial production (see the facts about the lakes).
The average annual temperature of Baku and the planet Earth as a whole are completely identical - 14.2 degrees.
At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th century, an explosive population growth was observed in Azerbaijan - over 60 years, the number of people living in the country jumped 33.4 times.
At the beginning of the 20th century, Baku had its own Nobel Prize, established by Alfred Nobel's nephew Emmanuel. This award was presented for achievements in the field of oil production and related sciences.
In the west of Azerbaijan, in the Azikh cave, archaeologists discovered ancient tools made one and a half million years ago.
Azerbaijanis drink tea with jam flavored with thyme, mint or rose water.
The national symbol of Azerbaijan is the Karabakh horse. This incredibly fast, hardy and intelligent breed of horse is one of the oldest in the world, and it is found only in this territory.
Banknotes of the Azerbaijani currency (it is called the manat) look very similar to the euro (see the facts about currencies).
The Carpet Museum was opened in Baku in 2014, which is interesting not only for the exposition presented in it, but also because of the building itself - it was built in the form of a carpet rolled into a roll (see facts about carpets).
Azerbaijani girls are taught to crochet from an early age so that they can win the Seven Beauties competition - to win, you need to knit the best pair of socks in a limited time.

10 interesting facts about Azerbaijan

1. It was here that they first began to extract oil in an industrial way. In 1847, the first oil well was drilled near Baku.

2. In 1926, the first electric train in the USSR was put into operation in the capital of Azerbaijan.

3. Azerbaijan won the championship in another area: it is the first Muslim country where women received equal political rights with men.

4. There are more mud volcanoes on the territory of Azerbaijan than anywhere else in the world.

5. Not far from the capital is the salt lake Masazir with pink waters.

6. Historians claim that Monomakh's hat was made in Azerbaijan, in the mountain village of Lahij.

7. In the village of Surakhani there is a unique building, the Zoroastrian temple of Ateshgah. The name translates as “House of Fire”: in this area, jets of natural gas escape from the ground, which light up when they come into contact with oxygen. The unquenchable flame of the temple attracts pilgrims from all over the world.

8. Another amazing place where a meter-long flame constantly erupts from the ground is Mount Yanar Dag, located not far from the capital.

9. Carpets are very popular in Azerbaijan. Here it is not only an element of everyday life, but also a part of culture. The government even adopted a law "On Carpets", designed to preserve and develop the traditions of carpet weaving.

10. The Azerbaijan Carpet Museum is easy to find: the building looks like a carpet rolled into a roll!

Geography

Azerbaijan is located on the coast of the Caspian Sea, at the junction between Europe and Asia. This is the largest state of Transcaucasia. The area is 86,600 square kilometers. Baku is the capital of the Azerbaijan Republic. Today it is a large industrial and scientific and technical center. The city is more than five and a half thousand years old. The population of the country is 8 million 265 thousand people. Almost half of the territory is occupied by the Caucasus Mountains and the Talysh Mountains. There are many beautiful mountain lakes, among them Batabat, Maralgel and others. The largest river is the Kura (its length is 1515 kilometers), and there are 1250 rivers in the country. Large cities: Baku, Ganja, Quba, Lankaran, Nakhichevan, Sheki, Shemakha.

State structure

Azerbaijan is a presidential republic. The President is elected for 5 years by popular vote. The unicameral National Assembly is the highest legislative body, also elected by popular vote for 5 years. The composition of the government and major officials are appointed by the president. In total, there are more than 30 parties and political movements in the republic. The largest is the President's New Azerbaijan Party.

Main Attractions

Agdam mosque.
Azikh cave.
Palace mosque in Baku.
Mukhtarov Palace.
Palace of the Shirvanshahs.
Baku Botanical Garden.
Reserve Gobustan.
Historical complex "Caravanserai".
Maiden Tower in Baku.
Mausoleum of Nizami.
Khudaferin bridges in Nakhichevan.
Carpet Museum.

Language

The official state language is Azerbaijani. It belongs to the group of Turkic languages, to the Oguz subgroup together with Tatar, Turkish, Gagauz and Turkmen languages. Almost 30 million people speak Azerbaijani around the world.

Religion

The main religion of Azerbaijan is Islam. 99% of the population are Muslims, of which 85% are Shiites and 15% are Sunnis. In addition, there are 6 Orthodox churches in the country (3 of them in Baku), synagogues and Lutheran churches. According to the Constitution of the country, Azerbaijan is a secular state and religion is separated from the state in the republic.

Currency

The only monetary unit is the Azerbaijani manat (AZM). There are 100 kapiks in one manat. You can exchange currency in Banks and exchange offices. The course is the same everywhere.
1 dollar is approximately 0.78 manat.

Useful and interesting

The telephone code of the country is 994.
Telephone code Baku-12, Nakhichevan-136, Ganja-22, Imishli-154, Naftalan-255.
Ambulance -103, Fire - 101, Police - 102, Information - 109.
The voltage in the network is 220V.
Azerbaijan is the country where the world's first oil well has been drilled.
Here, the largest number of mud volcanoes in the world - there are a total of 350.
Baku is the most international city in the world - representatives of 72 nationalities live here.
The Nobel Prize consists of the capital that Alfred Nobel earned from Baku oil.
It was here that the films loved by all, "The Diamond Arm" and "The Amphibian Man" were filmed.

Famous Natives

Mohammed Fizuli - Azerbaijani poet.
Nizami Ganjavi is the coryphaeus of world poetry.
Fikret Amirov is a composer.
Polad Bulbul-ogly- Singer, composer, actor.
Lev Landau is an outstanding theoretical physicist.
Muslim Magomayev - singer, People's Artist of the USSR.
Mstislav Rostropovich- musician, conductor
Vitaly Wolf is a famous TV presenter.
Nadezhda Alliluyeva- I. Stalin's wife.
Vladimir Menshov Director, actor, screenwriter, producer.
Larisa Dolina - singer, People's Artist of the USSR.
Emmanuil Vitorgan- People's Artist of Russia.
Garry Kasparov is the 13th World Chess Champion.

Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan, the largest city in the Caucasus and the largest port in the Caspian Sea.

Baku is one of the most ancient cities of the East.

Baku is the cultural capital, which has many interesting and significant sights.

According to the most common version, the name of the city of Baku comes from the word "badkube", which means "wind blow" in Persian. That is why Baku is often called the "City of Winds".

Baku is one of the most multinational cities in the world. It has more than 70 nationalities. The main share of the population of Baku are Azerbaijanis.

Many world-famous people, including Nobel laureate Lev Landau, scout Sorge, President of Lukoil Vagit Alikperov, famous musician Mstislav Rostropovich, film director Yuli Gusman, are Baku residents.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Baku experienced record population growth rates. For 60 years, the population of Baku has increased by more than 30 times. For example, in 1850 the population of the city was just over 7,500 people, and after 28 years there were already 250,000 inhabitants in Baku.

The average annual temperature on our planet is 14.2 0C. Exactly the same is the average annual temperature in Baku.

The first electric train in the Soviet Union was launched in Baku.

One of the Baku metro stations was called "April 28", which received this name in honor of the day the Soviet power was established in Azerbaijan. After the secession of Azerbaijan from the Soviet Republics, the station became known as "May 28" in honor of the Republic Day.

For the first time in the world, an oil well was drilled in Baku, offshore oil production began and a tanker was launched. At the beginning of the last century, Baku was the world leader in oil production. Baku residents own the invention of inclined and artisanal methods of drilling wells, which made a huge contribution to the development of the oil industry.

Alfred Nobel made a fortune from Baku oil, which is now part of the Nobel Prize fund.

Baku became the first city in the Muslim world of the East to learn what opera and ballet are.

The model of the Baku Maiden Tower is an exhibit of the famous Minimondus Museum in Austria, where a large number of mini-copies of historical and architectural monuments from many countries are collected.

"Greater Baku" refers to the territory of the entire Absheron Peninsula.

For tourists, Baku is considered a rather expensive city.

You can buy a handmade carpet in Baku at every step. The cost of the carpet reaches 2000 dollars.

The women of Baku, like all of Azerbaijan, cannot have their own opinion. For them, everything is decided first by the father, then by the husband.

The first circus in the USSR was opened in Baku.

Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani Azərbaycan), the official name is the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan Azərbaycan Respublikası). The term "Azerbaijan" as the official name of the state was first used on May 28, 1918, when the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was proclaimed.

The toponym "Azerbaijan" comes from the Parthian and Middle Persian name of the ancient state of Atropatena or Media Atropatena. Media Atropatena or simply Atropatena, after the Persian campaign of Alexander the Great, began to be called the northern part of Media, where the last Achaemenid satrap of Media Atropat (Aturpatak) created a kingdom for himself. Another name for it among ancient authors is Malaya Mussel. From the name "Aturpatkan" through the Middle Persian "Aderbadgan" (Persian Âzarâbâdagân‎) comes the modern name Azerbaijan.

On February 5, 1991, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan adopted a resolution recognizing the tricolor flag as the state flag of Azerbaijan. The flag is a three-color cloth (tricolor). The stripes (blue, green and red) are arranged horizontally. An eight-pointed star and a crescent are placed in the center of the flag on a red stripe. Both images are white. The blue color on the flag is the traditional color of the Turkic peoples and symbolizes Turkism, red - progress, green - Islam. The crescent indicates belonging to the religion of Islam, the eight-pointed star means the eight branches of the Turkic peoples.

In the center of the coat of arms is a fire, which symbolizes the "Land of Fires". The colors used on the coat of arms are the colors of the national flag of Azerbaijan. The eight-pointed star symbolizes the eight branches of the Turkic people. Below is a wreath of ears of wheat and oak branches. A wreath of ears symbolizes wealth, fertility. Oak branches symbolize the antiquity of the country.

The capital is Baku. Large cities: Ganja, Stepanakert, Nakhichevan, Sumgayit, Lankaran, Mingachevir, Shirvan, Khirdalan.

It is located in the eastern part of Transcaucasia on the coast of the Caspian Sea. Refers to Western Asia and the Middle East. It has land borders with Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Iran.

The monetary unit is the Azerbaijani manat, equal to 100 qepiks (Azerbaijani qəpik).

The population is over 9 million people. 91st in the world in terms of population. The majority of the population is Azerbaijanis, more than a hundred thousand are Lezgins, Armenians, Russians, Talyshs.

For tourists visiting Azerbaijan, excursion tours are organized with visits to historical sights of Shamakhi, Ismayilli, Baku, Sheki, Gakh, Guba, beach tours in Baku, Nabran, Khudat, Khachmaz, Lankaran, Astara and medical tours and rest on thermal waters in Massaly, Naftalan . Rest on mineral waters in Ganja is also popular. There are over 130 museums in the country.

The earliest surviving structures in Azerbaijan include the temples in the Tsakhur villages of Kum and Lekit and the foundations of the Maiden's Tower in Baku. The architecture of the early feudal period on the territory of Azerbaijan is characterized by huge defensive structures: Beshbermak, Gilgilchay (see also Chirag-gala), Shamakhi (see also Gulistan) and Zakatala. The oldest Islamic buildings are the mosques of the 8th century in Akhsu and the Juma mosque in Shamakhi.

Sights of Azerbaijan:

Aghdam mosque
Azykh cave
Ateshgah
Bath Gadzhi Gaib
Upper Mosque of Govkhar Agha
Gelarsan-Görarsan
Tomb of Yusif ibn Quseir
Mukhtarov's Palace
Palace of the Shirvanshahs
Palace mosque in Baku
Maiden's Tower
Gobustan reserve
Icheri Sheher (Baku quarter)
Caravanserai (Sheki)
Round Castle (Mardakan)
Mausoleum of Vagif
Mausoleum of Diri Baba
Mausoleum of Yahya ibn Muhammad al-Hajj
Momine Khatun Mausoleum
Mausoleum of Nizami
Mausoleum of Seyid Yahya Bakuvi
Carpet Museum
Bibi Heybat Mosque
Mohammed Mosque in Baku
Tuba-Shahi Mosque
Khinalig Village Museum
Museum of Nizami Ganjavi
Nardaran fortress
Sabail castle
Opera and Ballet theatre
Quadrangular tower in Ramana
Quadrangular Castle (Mardakan)

Azerbaijani national food is very diverse, numbering dozens of different dishes: dairy, meat, flour, vegetables, etc. Shish kebabs and dishes in the tandoor are widely used in Azerbaijani cuisine. One of the most famous dishes of Azerbaijani cuisine is pilaf. Popular dishes of Azerbaijani cuisine include: ovdukh - okroshka in Azerbaijani; hamrashi - Azerbaijani soup; kutab with meat; dolma; kebab; dyushbara (Azerbaijani dumplings).

Azerbaijan's motto is "Land of Fire".
Azerbaijan cannot boast of an impressive area. Despite this, the country is located in 9 climatic zones (11 in total).
Azerbaijan is the birthplace of the first modern oil well and the oldest offshore oil platform "Oil Rocks", which is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Now "Oil Rocks" is a whole village on stilts with shops, houses and cultural centers.
Azerbaijan became the first Muslim country in the world to adopt a democratic form of government and provide women with the same opportunities as men.
Azerbaijani historians assure that the famous Cap of Monomakh was made by craftsmen from the local mountain village of Lahij.
There are more mud volcanoes on the territory of Azerbaijan than in any other state of our planet. Of the 800 mud volcanoes known today, 350 are located on the territory of Azerbaijan.
There is also a whole mountain in Azerbaijan that is constantly spewing fire - Yanar Dag is located not far from Baku, and the gas field below it feeds the flame.
Baku has Little Venice - a man-made canal that runs between shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. There are several rows of islands connected by bridges and walkways, and the best way to get around this area is by gondola.
Not far from Baku is the salt lake Masazir, the water of which has a pink color. The reservoir has huge salt reserves suitable for industrial production.
The national symbol of Azerbaijan is the Karabakh horse.
In 2014, the Carpet Museum was opened in Baku, which is interesting not only for the exposition presented in it, but also because of the building itself - it was built in the form of a rolled carpet.
From a very young age, girls are taught to crochet as part of the preparation for the traditional Seven Beauties competition. In it, girls must crochet counterclockwise; the winner is the one who knits the best pair of stockings.

Azerbaijan for children

In Baku, with children, you can visit the Ferris wheel, which is located on the coast. Nearby is a landscaped park with benches and playgrounds. During the summer, the water park is open to the public. There are many beautiful and well-maintained parks in the city, where it will also be pleasant to spend time with the whole family. One of the most interesting is Nagorny Park, you can get to it by funicular. The sights of the city include the Baku Zoo. There are also museums attractive for family holidays in Baku, including a small private Baku Museum of Miniature Books. Those who prefer outdoor recreation should visit the Gala Historical and Ethnographic Museum.