Where is Azerbaijan located? Republic of Azerbaijan: capital, population, currency and attractions. Azerbaijan

The capital of the state is Baku. The country is considered secular. The state is located in Western Asia. The regions of Azerbaijan are inhabited by more than 9 million people. (as of 2013). The area of ​​the country is 86 thousand square meters. km. The official language of the state is Azerbaijani. The country is multi-religious and multi-ethnic. Most of the population professes Islam, while a smaller part professes Christianity and Judaism. Every citizen of Azerbaijan has a biometric passport since September 1, 2013. It is used to travel within the country and travel abroad. The monetary unit is the Azerbaijani manat (1 AZN is about 42 Russian rubles).

Holidays of Azerbaijan

Officially the country celebrates:

1. New Year (Jan. 1).
2. International Women's Day (March 8).
3. Novruz Bayramy (21.03).

The following days are also included in the holidays of Azerbaijan:

1. Victory (May 9).
2. Republic (28.05).
3. Armed Forces (June 26).
4. Independence (October 18).
5. State flag (November 9).
6. Constitution (November 12).
7. National Revival (November 17).
8. Solidarity of Azerbaijanis around the world (December 31).

The president

He acts as head of state. The president is elected by popular vote. Duration of tenure is 5 years. The president's powers include the appointment of government officials. If it is not possible to carry out elections due to hostilities, the term of office continues until their completion. The decision on this is made by the Constitutional Court at the request of the state body whose competence includes ensuring the holding of elections.

Features of Azerbaijan's politics

The highest representative body is the National Unicameral Assembly - the Milli Majlis. The laws of Azerbaijan are adopted by 125 deputies. The representative body is elected by universal suffrage. The term of office is 5 years. The first elections were held in 1955. There are more than 30 parties and movements in the country. The key associations are:

1. "New Azerbaijan".
2. "Musavat".
3. Democratic Party.
4. "People's Front".
5. Liberal Party.
6. Social Democratic movement.

National economic complex

The Republic of Azerbaijan is an industrial-agrarian country. Industry is well developed in the state. The country's agriculture is diversified. A key place in the national economic complex is occupied by the gas and oil production, chemical, mining, engineering industries, and non-ferrous metallurgy. The food industries are well developed: tea, tobacco, canning, and wine. Large production volumes are observed in light industry (cotton, cotton ginning, wool, silk, carpet weaving). The economy of Azerbaijan is considered to be the leader in terms of growth among the countries in the period from 2003 to 2008. The country's GDP increased 2.6 times, and the poverty level decreased from 45 to 11%. In 2006, GDP increased by 36.6%. has continued to grow continuously since 1996. Over the past 10 years, it has added an average of 13.6% each year.

Geographical position

It is washed by the Caspian Sea. On land, the country neighbors Russia, Armenia, Georgia, and Iran. The Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic - an exclave of Azerbaijan - borders on Armenia in the northeast, Iran in the southwest, and Turkey in the northwest.

Relief

More than half of the state's territory is occupied by mountains. Their northern part is included in the Greater Caucasus system, the western and southwestern parts are included in the Lesser Caucasus. There are glaciers in the highlands. The turbulent rivers of Azerbaijan flow here. In the middle mountains there are deep gorges. The ridges of the Greater Caucasus from west to east first gradually, then sharply decrease. They give way to low ridges. In the Lesser Caucasus, the mountains are not very high. They include numerous ridges and the Karabakh Highlands with extinct volcanoes. The extreme southeast is occupied by the Lenkoran Mountains. They consist of 3 parallel ridges. The Talysh ridge is considered the highest. Its main peak, Kemryukey, reaches 2477 m.

The Kura-Araks lowland passes between the mountains of the Lesser and Greater Caucasus. Its northern and northwestern parts are represented by a system of hills, valleys and low ridges. Alluvial plains lie in the east and center. Near the sea coast there is a low Kura delta. In the northeast direction from the Greater Caucasus lies the Kusar Plain. The Caspian Sea includes the Kura Spit and the Absheron Peninsula. The river is considered the main water artery of the country. Kura. It crosses the Republic from the northwest towards the southeast, flowing into the Caspian Sea. The main tributary is the Araks. Most of the country's rivers belong to the Kura basin. In total, there are about a thousand streams in the territory, but only 21 have a length of more than one hundred kilometers.

Story

The Republic of Azerbaijan was formed during the collapse of the USSR in 1991. Ayaz Mutalibov acted as the first president. At the end of August 1991, the Supreme Council of the country adopted a declaration. In accordance with it, the Republic of Azerbaijan restored its independence. In pursuance of the declaration, a constitutional act was adopted. It determined the foundations of the economic, political and state structure of Azerbaijan. In June 1992, Ayaz Mutalibov was replaced by At that time in Azerbaijan, he was the leader of the Popular Front. Yagub Mamedov and Isa Gambar also acted as temporary acting heads of the country. Both were at one time prime ministers in Azerbaijan.

New head of the country

During the military confrontation, there were a number of failures due to the incompetence of the Popular Front. All this caused a crisis of power. On June 4, 1993, the rebellion of Suret Huseynov began in Ganja. To prevent the outbreak of a civil war, Heydar Aliyev was invited to Baku. At that time he lived in Nakhichevan. The power of the head of the Republic was transferred to Heydar Aliyev. During the events, a group of Talysh officers under the leadership of Colonel Gummatov proclaimed autonomy in Lankaran. Heydar Aliyev did not recognize it, and on August 23 this uprising was suppressed.

Territorial disputes

At the turn of 1991-1992. Some territorial changes have occurred. In particular, the Artsvashen exclave came under the control of the Republic of Azerbaijan. At the same time, it itself had non-sovereign regions that began to belong to Armenia. In particular, such regions of Azerbaijan as Upper Askipara, Bakhurdaly, and Karki passed to it.

Ceasefire agreement

It was signed through the mediation of the CIS countries in May 1994. During the war, the Armenians were forced out of several regions by the Azerbaijanis. Previously, the latter constituted the majority in these territories. Predominantly the NKR army and the Armenian forces that supported it regained control over some regions located beyond the border of the Nagorno-Karabakh sections declared in 1991, which were previously inhabited mainly by Azerbaijanis. These actions in 1993 were regarded by the UN Security Council as occupation. Over time, the NKR authorities, who continued to maintain control over these areas, included them in their administrative-territorial structure.

"Contract of the Century"

It was concluded in 1994, on September 20, in the Gulistan Palace. This contract became one of the largest agreements. The contract provided for the shared distribution of products obtained from the deep-sea fields of Chirag, Azeri and Gunashli. This agreement was one of the largest in terms of both the volume of hydrocarbon reserves and the number of proposed investments. The contract was 400 pages long and was written in 4 languages. The agreement involved 13 companies from 8 countries. Preliminary calculations showed that the estimated oil reserves initially amounted to 511 million tons. But subsequently, appraisal drilling was done, and according to updated information, the presence of 730 million tons of raw materials was established. In this regard, the number of investments was increased to $11.5 billion. According to the contract, 80% of the total net profit was due to Azerbaijan, and 20% to investors. Since the beginning of the implementation of the agreement, a significant change has occurred in the country’s national economic complex, and a huge amount of work has been launched. In 1995, under the primary oil production project, in accordance with international standards, restoration work was carried out on the Chigrak-1 platform. To drill wells with greater inclination, the upper module was modernized and re-equipped. A new type of drilling rig made it possible to drill horizontally to the layers of wells. A large volume of oil began to flow from the maximally inclined channels drilled. Since 1997, production began at the Chirag field.

Present tense

Azerbaijan today is a fairly developed country in economic terms. In 2003, Heydar Aliyev died. He was replaced as president by his son, Ilham. In 2010, 2 villages of the Magaramkent region of Dagestan with 600 Lezgins, citizens of the Russian Federation, transferred to the Khachmaz region of Azerbaijan. In addition, the river flow was divided. Samur. In May 2013, 3 pasture areas of the Dokuzparinsky district of Dagestan also went to Azerbaijan.

Attractions

The largest accumulation of rock carvings in the CIS countries, Kobystan, was discovered 70 km south of Baku. There are also more than 4 thousand unique sites, fortresses, caves and burial grounds. All of them are more than 10 thousand years old. The monuments present on the territory constitute a historical and cultural reserve. The village of Surakhani lies 30 km northeast of Baku. It contains the Ateshgah temple complex. The original construction of the monument dates back to the 2nd century. BC e. There are fortresses on everything. They were built by the Shirvan shahs. Castles in Mardakan, sunken ruins of Bail Castle, Tuba Shahi Mosque, various fortifications in Buzovny, Shuvelyany, Kishly, Sabunchi, Amiradzhany, Mashtagi, Kala, on the island. Pirallahi and others. The city of Shabran is located in the northeast of Azerbaijan. It was part of the Derbent defensive system in the Middle Ages. In the same direction is the capital of the ancient Cuban Khanate, the city of Cuba.

Shamakhi is considered one of the most interesting and ancient cities of Azerbaijan. It is located 130 km west of the country's capital. The city of Sheki is located 380 km from the border with Georgia. Archaeological evidence indicates that it may be one of the oldest settlements in the Caucasus. In the suburbs of Sheki there are a large number of historical and cultural monuments. These, for example, include the Kyumbazi towers in Kutkashen, the fortresses of Sumug, Gelesen-Geresen, Kish, the tower and temple of Orta-Zeyzit, the Ilisu mosque, the mausoleum in Babaratma, etc. The region itself is amazingly beautiful. It is intricately dotted with narrow and deep valleys with a huge number of springs, waterfalls, clean rivers, and mineral springs. All this splendor is surrounded by alpine meadows and dense forests. The city of Lankaran was previously the capital of the Talysh Khanate. It is located in the southeastern part of the country, near the border with Iran.

To the north, 100 km, is one of the most beautiful medieval cities of Hanege. The walls of the fortress, a mosque, the tomb of Pir Hussein and other structures have been preserved in it to this day. Near the confluence of the river. Chickens in the sea is located in the old town of Neftechala. It preserves the Goltuk fortress, the ruins of defensive structures, the Piratavan sanctuary, and the Khylly mosque. To the northwest of the city, archaeologists continue to find new historical monuments. In particular, the city of Orenkala, the mounds of Garatepe, Gyzyltepe, Goshatepe, Muhurtepe and others were discovered. Along the border there are fortified towers, mausoleums, castles, and monasteries of the Middle Ages.

On the Caspian coast there are numerous nature reserves, fishing and resort towns. Areas near the mouth of the river. Chickens are considered traditional sturgeon fishing grounds. Along the border with Iran lie the ridges of the Talysh Mountains. This area is considered the most exotic in the country. In the subtropical zone there are many representatives of the Hyrcanian flora. This territory is known as one of the best resorts in Azerbaijan. Another of the oldest cities is Kabala. It is considered the religious and political center of Caucasian Albania. In Arabic sources he is known as Khazar. The mosque, the mausoleums of Mansur and Badreddin, the castles of Sary-Tepe and Ajinne-Tepe have been preserved here to this day. The city of Nakhchivan is also ancient. To the south is the city of Ordubad. It has been known since the 12th century. Here are the Dilber and Juma mosques, Khan's courtyards, madrassas, as well as a huge number of medieval buildings, which are combined into a state historical architectural reserve.

- a state in the Transcaucasian region in western Asia. In the north it borders with Russia, in the northwest - with Georgia, in the south - with Iran, in the west - with Armenia. In the east it is washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea. Azerbaijan belongs to the Nakhichevan region, separated from the republic by the territory of Armenia.

The name of the country comes from the Persian “azar” - “fire”, abadagan - “gathering”.

Official name: The Republic of Azerbaijan

Capital:

The area of ​​the land: 86.6 thousand sq. km

Total Population: 9 million people

Administrative division: Azerbaijan is divided into 61 regions and includes the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic and de jure Nagorno-Karabakh.

Form of government: Parliamentary republic.

Head of State: President, elected for 5 years.

Population composition: 90% are Azerbaijanis, 3.2% are Dagestanis, 2.5% are Russians, 2.3% are Armenians. Lezgins, Kurds, Tatars, Georgians, Ukrainians and Avars also live.

Official language: Azerbaijani. also many speak Russian.

Religion: 93.4% are Shia Muslims, as well as Orthodox.

Internet domain: .az

Mains voltage: ~220 V, 50 Hz

Country dialing code: +994

Country barcode: 476

Climate

Most of Azerbaijan is located in the subtropical zone. Within the country there are several types of climate, from dry and humid subtropical (Lenkoran) to mountain tundra (highlands of the Greater Caucasus). Average annual temperatures vary from 15°C in the lowlands to 0°C in the mountains. Average July temperatures range from 26 ° C on the plains to 5 ° C in the highlands, and average January temperatures, respectively, from 3 ° C to –10 ° C. Summer is dry.

Precipitation is distributed unevenly: 200–300 mm per year on the plains (less than 200 mm in the Baku region), 300–900 mm in the foothills, 900–1400 mm in the highlands of the Greater Caucasus, up to 1700 mm within the Lankaran lowland. In Lankaran, maximum precipitation occurs in winter; in the mountains and foothills - in April - September.

Geography

State in the southeastern part of Transcaucasia. It borders in the northwest with Georgia, in the north with Russia, in the south with Iran and Turkey, and in the southwest with Armenia. In the east it is washed by the Caspian Sea (the total length of the coastline is about 800 km). The country includes a number of islands (Zhiloi, Bulla, Nargin, Wolf, etc.) and archipelagos (Baku and Absheron) in the Caspian Sea. The total area of ​​the country is 86.6 thousand square meters. km. The capital is Baku.

The relief of the Republic of Azerbaijan is very diverse. There are predominantly two forms of relief here: lowlands and highlands.

About 60% of the territory of Azerbaijan is mountainous. The main geomorphological units of the republic - the Greater Caucasus, the Lesser Caucasus (together with the Karabakh Plateau) and the Talysh Mountains cover the Kura-Araz Lowland from the north, west and southeast.

The average elevation of the republic is up to 400 meters. The amplitude of land heights ranges from - 26.5 m (Caspian Lowland) below ocean level to 4466 m absolute height (peak of Bazarduzu). This means that it becomes clear that on the territory of the republic the difference in altitude is about 4500 meters.

The southeastern part of the Greater Caucasus belongs to Azerbaijan. There are two mountain ranges here: with the peak Bazarduzu (4466 meters) Main or watershed, with the peak Shahdag (4243 meters) Big or Lateral. To the southwest the mountain ranges gradually decrease by 1000 - 700 meters. The main Caucasus range is surrounded by foothills: in the northwest - flat meadows, in the southeast - Gobustan, in the southwest - Alazan-Haftaran, in the northeast - the Gusar inclined plain.

The mountains are mainly formed from rock deposits of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, which are relatively less subject to denudation. Foothill areas are characterized by badlands (steppes of Jeyranchol, Ajynour) and mud volcanoes (Gobustan, Absheron). The Gusar Plain and the Alazan-Haftaran Valley are formed from a thick layer of rubble deposits of the fourth period.

The Lesser Caucasus covers the southwestern and western parts of the republic, has a relatively low elevation, consists of a number of ridges and meadows, and is a mountainous area with a complex structure. The main mountain ranges are Murovdag, Shahdag and Zangezur. The Karabakh plateau, starting from the south of Murovdag to the Araz River, is located on the arc-shaped cones of extinct volcanoes and lava of the fourth period. The Lesser Caucasus is formed from volcanogenic and sedimentary rocks of the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods.

Flora and fauna

Vegetable world

There are more than 4,100 species in the flora of Azerbaijan (9% of them are endemic, including Eldar pine, Hyrcanian boxwood, Lankaran acacia, Caspian lotus, some types of astragalus, etc.).

Dry lowlands are covered with semi-desert and desert vegetation (with a predominance of wormwood and saltwort), as well as ephemeral subtropical vegetation. In some places there are salt marshes.

The high plains and arid foothills are occupied by wormwood-bearded vulture steppes, shrubs, and steppe wormwood semi-deserts.

The southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, some areas of the Lesser Caucasus, as well as the Talysh Mountains at altitudes from 600 to 1800 m are covered with extensive forests of oak, hornbeam, beech, chestnut, acacia, and ash. Tugai forests, alder and alder-lapine forests grow in the humid lowlands. Subalpine meadows are common in the highlands. The highest peaks are located in the high-mountain nival belt.

Animal world

The fauna of Azerbaijan includes approximately 12 thousand species, including 623 species of vertebrates (more than 90 mammals, about 350 bird species, more than 40 reptile species, more than 80 fish species, the rest are cyclostomes and amphibians). Reptiles, hares, wolves, foxes, and gazelle are common on the plains.

In the valleys of the Kura and Araks there are wild boars, roe deer, badgers, and jackals. The mountains are inhabited by red deer, Dagestan tur, chamois, bezoar goat, roe deer, bear, lynx, forest cat, mouflon and leopard. Animals such as sika deer, saiga, raccoon dog, American raccoon, nutria, and skunk have been introduced.

The world of birds (pheasants, partridges, black grouse, etc.), especially waterfowl, is very diverse. Many of them arrive for the winter (ducks, geese, swans, herons, pelicans, flamingos, cormorants, etc.).

The Caspian Sea is home to many valuable commercial fish (salmon, stellate sturgeon, beluga, herring, kutum, roach, asp, lamprey, sprat, etc.), and among mammals - the Caspian seal.

Attractions

• State Flag Square
• Heydar Aliyev Center
• Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
• Gobustan Reserve
• Maiden Tower in Baku
• Ateshgah Temple

Banks and currency

Since January 1, 2006, new “denominated manats” have been put into circulation in Azerbaijan - banknotes in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 manats, as well as metal coins in denominations of 1, 3, 5, 10, 20 and 50 qepik. One “denominated manat” is equal to 5 thousand old manats.

In Baku, banks are open from 9.00-9.30 to 17.30 (some banks continue to work until late in the evening, and many exchange offices work around the clock), on the periphery, opening hours are usually from 9.30 to 17.00-17.30 (some banks work with clients only until lunch).

You can exchange money in banks, hotels and numerous currency exchange offices (located throughout the capital and other large cities, as well as at airports). Some stores have their own exchange offices.

Credit cards are accepted for payment mainly only in large supermarkets in the capital, in some hotels and banks. Using credit cards in the province is almost impossible. Travel checks are accepted to a limited extent only in large hotels and banks, but gradually more and more institutions are switching to servicing them.

Useful information for tourists

The best time to travel to Azerbaijan is during the warm and dry months from April to October. It is worth keeping in mind that in the second half of summer the air temperature can rise to + 38 °C. In winter, the Azerbaijani sky is covered with clouds, and the mountains are plunged into thick fog.

In the central part of Baku, shops are open from 9.00 until late evening, in the periphery, as a rule, until 19.00-20.00.

It is customary for taxi drivers and waiters to tip about 10% of the total bill. Bargaining is quite acceptable in the markets.

(Azerbaijan) often called " land of fire"(from "azer" - fire). - an amazing country in which everything is unique - nature and culture, history and customs and traditions, architecture and much more. Every city in this country holds something special: a city Lip- famous for its medieval fortresses and mosques, the city of Sheki is famous for its luxurious palaces, some of them have been converted into modern hotels. Also worth noting are such natural beauties as the Tengi Canyon, Afurdzhinsky Waterfall and the Gobustan Nature Reserve, which was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Azerbaijan n - " country of fire»

1. Capital

And the largest port on the Caspian Sea. The city is located on the southern coast of the Absheron Peninsula. The first mentions of it date back to the 5th century. At this place there were ancient oil fields, which were holes dug in the ground, from which oil was simply drawn, like water. According to one version, the word “” is translated from an ancient dialect as “ God's city" The city has a large number of ancient monuments - fortresses, palaces, caravanserais, mosques.

- a city that combines “oriental flavor” and “European civilization”, authentic historical buildings and mega-modern architectural projects. Today, in terms of the scale of construction, it is increasingly reminiscent of Dubai, and in terms of the standard of living, it is one of the most expensive capitals in the world!

2. Flag

On the flag of Azerbaijan:

Three stripes of blue (top), red (middle) and green (bottom). In the center of the flag on a red stripe is a white crescent and a white eight-pointed star.

Meaning and history of the Azerbaijan flag:

State flag of Azerbaijan(flag of Azerbaijan) was officially adopted on February 5, 1991. Flag It is a three-color panel, stripes of blue, green and red colors are located horizontally. In the center of the flag on a red stripe there is an eight-pointed star and a crescent. Both images are white. In accordance with Constitution of Azerbaijan, the blue color on the flag is the traditional color of the Turkic peoples and symbolizes Turkism, red - progress, green - Islam. The crescent signifies belonging to the religion of Islam, the eight-pointed star signifies the eight branches of the Turkic peoples.

3. Coat of arms

State emblem of Azerbaijan was approved on January 19, 1993. It is made in the shape of an oriental shield against the background of an arc woven from oak branches and ears of wheat.

In the center coat of arms fire is drawn, symbolizing " Country of Fire y". The colors that are present on the coat of arms are similar to the national colors flag(blue, red, green, white). The eight-pointed star is a symbol of the eight branches of the Turkic people. At the bottom there is a wreath of wheat ears and oak branches. A wreath of ears of grain is a symbol of wealth, fertility, and oak branches are the antiquity of the country. This star is also depicted on the state flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The edges of the shield and the stars are framed in golden color, the oak acorns and the buttons of the shield are also golden. Pictured on coat of arms the shield represents the military power of the state, the heroic valor of the people. Fire in the center coat of arms depicted as the word " Allah", written in the old alphabet.

4. Anthem

listen to the anthem of Azerbaijan

watch and listen to the anthem of Azerbaijan

5. Currency

Manat- official currency of Azerbaijan(AZN). Manat Available in six types of coins and six types of banknotes. Coins in denominations - 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, and 50 qepik, banknotes in denominations - 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 manats. Code Azerbaijani manat according to ISO 4217, official abbreviation - AZN.

Well Azerbaijani manat To ruble or any other currency can be viewed on the currency converter

Azerbaijani manat looks like this:

Coins

Banknotes

6. 10 Largest cities of Azerbaijan:

• Baku (capital)
• Ganja
• Sumgayit
• Mingachevir
• Khirdalan
• Yevlakh
• Stepanakert
• Nagorno-Karabakh
• Lankaran

7. Geography

The area of ​​Azerbaijan is 86600 km2.

State in the Transcaucasian region in western Asia. In the north it borders with Russia, in the northwest - with Georgia, in the south - with Iran, in the west - with Armenia. In the east it is washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea. The Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic borders on Armenia in the northeast, Iran in the south, and Turkey in the west.

More than half of the territory is occupied by mountains. In the north there is the Caucasus ridge, in the middle part there is the Kura Lowland, in the southeast there are the Talysh Mountains and the Lenkoran Lowland.

8. How to get to Azerbaijan?

9. Things to see

Sights of Azerbaijan will satisfy the needs of the most demanding traveler. there are over 130 museums and galleries in all cities and regions of the republic. You will see unique ancient mausoleums: Momine-Khatun, towers of the Absheron Peninsula, in the mountains you will find evidence of the centuries-old past of the Azerbaijani people starting from the Stone Age and subsequent periods - rock carvings, sites of ancient people, rock fortresses, tombstones and burial grounds.

Take a look at the Shirvanshahs' Palace Museum-Reserve (15th century), a pearl of Azerbaijani architecture located in the Old Fortress of Baku. The capital acquires a special color during the celebrations of Ramadan Bayram (February 9), Nowruz Bayram (March 20-21) and Gurban Bayram (April 18), when the whole city blooms with countless festive events.

Having come here, you will never regret it - here in the heart of the Caucasus, like nowhere else, you can study the subtle nature of the East and learn the wisdom of a great people.

Here's a small one list of attractions, which you should pay attention to when planning excursions to:

• Azerbaijan State Philharmonic
• Azerbaijan Drama Theater
• Azerbaijan Carpet Museum
• Azerbaijan Youth Theater
• Baku seaside boulevard
• Bathhouse Gadzhi Gaib
• Gandzasar Monastery
• Gobustan Reserve
• State Opera and Ballet Theater named after. M. F. Akhundova
• Palace of Sheki Khans
• Palace of the Shirvanshahs
• Maiden Tower in Baku
• Icheri Sheher
• Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center
• Caravanserai in Sheki
• Museum of Azerbaijani Literature named after Nizami Ganjavi
• Azerbaijan Art Museum
• National Museum of History of Azerbaijan
• Museum of Modern Art in Baku
• Lake Goygol
• Flame towers in Baku
• State Flag Square
• Ateshgah Temple
• Yanardag

10. What’s the weather like here?

Climate of Azerbaijan- transitional from temperate to subtropical. Due to the strong influence of altitudinal zones, weather conditions in the country vary greatly. In total, there are 9 natural and climatic zones. The average temperature in July can vary from +5 C in high mountain areas to +27 C in lowland areas, and in January from -10 C and +3 C. At the same time, the maximum summer temperature can reach +45 C, and in winter the thermometer in mountainous areas drops at night up to -40 C.

Precipitation falls from 200 mm. per year on the slopes of the foothills of the Greater Caucasus, up to 1200-1700 mm. on the Lankaran lowland. The typical strong north wind is in autumn. The optimal time to visit the country is from April to October.

11. Population

It is 9.9 million people.

Population density equal to 115.0 people per square kilometer. multinational, about a hundred different nationalities and peoples live on its territory, however, all nations, except Azerbaijani, are small in number. TO Azerbaijanis More than 90 percent of the population consider themselves to be The Russian diaspora is small, it amounts to only 120 thousand people.

12. Language

In accordance with the current Constitution, official language Republic of Azerbaijan is Azerbaijani, and Russian is also quite widespread.

What should you wear?

What kind clothes you need to take with you when going. There are no norms or rules when choosing as such, wear what you consider necessary and comfortable, the style of clothing does not matter, but you should dress neatly, not provocatively, since the Islamic religion has its place in the way of life. Therefore, it is better not to wear a miniskirt or tight-fitting clothes. Also, do not abuse the country’s hospitality when visiting religious places and it is better to opt for closed, modest clothing. If you notice a woman dressed in a veil on the streets, you should not show your interest, much less film her.

13. What about something to eat?

Azerbaijani cuisine In terms of the composition and variety of dishes, it is one of the most delicious and “healthy” cuisines of the world. It differs in its abundance of all kinds of meat (lamb, beef, poultry), fish (stellate sturgeon, sturgeon) and vegetable dishes, complemented by fragrant herbs and spices, and of course, a beautiful appearance.

It has long been the case that Azerbaijani national dishes were prepared in copper containers, and to this day in many regions and rural areas of Azerbaijan, dishes prepared in copper containers are delicious. Therefore, many items of Azerbaijani national cuisine are often made of copper. pilaf is cooked in ghee. Rice is boiled in boiling water, poured with oil and left to settle. The meat is stewed with onions, chestnuts and dried plums.

Another feature is that before eating the main meal Azerbaijanis They drink tea, often black or long tea. And if guests come to the house, they are always served tea. Tea in Azerbaijan- a symbol of warm hospitality.

14. Note to shopaholics

Shopping in Azerbaijan. From 9 am until late evening, life is in full swing in the center of the capital, all shops are open, and in the suburbs everything is closed after 19-20 hours. You will find the lowest prices at fairs or markets. The Sharg Bazary market is popular for local silks, ceramics and other artisan goods. As in any other markets, prices here are negotiable, so you can always bargain.

When I remember, an association always comes up with high-quality and inexpensive carpets, which can be found in the suburb of the capital Nardaran in the center of carpet weaving. There are also many interesting places for children in Baku. When visiting shops, you can come across a lot of Turkish goods.

15. Rules of exemplary behavior

Peculiarities of behavior in Abkhazia. Local police are quite strict towards various violators of public order. Always carry your passport with you - this greatly facilitates relations with the police. Currently, legislation does not restrict smoking in public places.

Very hospitable. Therefore, if you are invited to visit, be sure to take a souvenir with you for the owner of the house and do not refuse the invitation, because your refusal may offend you. And also, during the visit, do not pay too much attention to the hostess of the house - this is not accepted by tradition.

16. Holidays

National holidays and non-working days in Azerbaijan:

• January 1st and 2nd New Year
• March 8 International Women's Day
• March 20 - March 24 Novruz Bayrami
• May 9 Victory Day
• May 28 Republic Day
• June 15 is the Day of National Salvation of the Azerbaijani People
• June 26 is Azerbaijan Armed Forces Day
• October 18 Independence Day
• November 12th Constitution Day
• November 9 National Flag Day
• November 17 National Revival Day
• December 31st is the Day of Solidarity of Azerbaijanis around the World

17. Flora and Fauna

Flora and fauna The territory has at its disposal a rich flora. In these places there are about 4,500 species of flowering plants, including rare and endangered ones. The country has broad-leaved forests, subalpine woodlands, mixed forests, tugai forests, evergreen plantings, and alpine meadows (in the mountains). Flora of Azerbaijan, with its picturesqueness and abundance of colors resembles a huge national carpet. The real decoration of this land are the mountain and lowland lakes: Tufan, Alagellar, Karagel, Goygol, Maralgel, Zaligel - there are about 250 lakes in total.

Fauna of Azerbaijan is also extremely diverse. The forests are inhabited by bear, wild boar, wolf, deer, lynx, and jackals. In arid regions and plains there are a huge number of lizards, poisonous snakes and other reptiles, as well as hares and foxes. Of the large animals, goitered gazelles live (an artiodactyl mammal from the genus of gazelles of the bovid family). You can see chamois, Dagestan tur, and roe deer. The Caspian bays are rich in a variety of birds - pheasants, partridges, black grouse.

18. Religion

Religion of Azerbaijan. There are a lot of religious denominations in the country, since it is a multinational country in which a large number of ethnic groups live. However, the dominant religion remains Shiite Islam.

Islam is the main religion Azerbaijan A. 99.2% of the country's population are Muslims. Approximately 85% of Azerbaijani Muslims practice Shiite Islam, and 15% - Sunni Muslims.

19. Medicine

Healthcare The country guarantees free treatment for all citizens. But free public health care is quite limited and only applies to citizens of the country. If you have any chronic diseases, then you should have the required minimum set of medications with you, since there is a slight shortage of medications in the country. For all foreign citizens who arrived in the country on an official basis, ambulance and emergency treatment are free of charge.

20. "Danger to life"

Territory of Azerbaijan is located in a zone of increased seismic hazard. Earthquakes often occur here. Landslides also pose a significant threat to tourists, especially in mountainous areas. So be careful and careful! Although it is a safe country with an effective police force, beware of pickpockets and scammers.

21. Souvenirs

Here's a small one list most common souvenirs which tourists usually bring from:

• Carpets and carpet products.
• Coasters for cups and a teapot are miniature rugs woven according to all the rules of carpet-making art.
• Jewelry, one of which is shebeke - lace made from the finest wires.
• Ceramics with complex patterns and fine painting.
• Wood carving
• Shoes with pointed toes are called charyki.
• Velor vests - curdu.
• Azerbaijani wines and tea, as well as tea cups - “armuds”.

22. “Neither nail nor rod” or customs rules

Residents of the Russian Federation, as well as residents of the CIS countries, can enter Azerbaijan without a visa; it is enough to have a foreign passport. The import of foreign currency is not limited (a declaration is required), the export is limited to the amount declared in the declaration. Import and export of local currency is permitted exclusively to citizens of Azerbaijan.

Persons over the age of 16 are allowed duty-free import of up to 1 thousand cigarettes or 1 kg. tobacco products, up to 1.5 l. strong alcoholic drinks and 2 liters. wine, as well as other goods totaling up to $10 thousand. The import of weapons and ammunition (with the exception of hunting, for which a special permit is issued), drugs and drug-containing drugs, animals, photographs and printed materials that can be considered as directed against the constitutional order of Azerbaijan is prohibited. , as well as fresh vegetables and fruits.

The export of personal belongings, handicrafts and goods officially purchased in the country is allowed. The export of antiques without permission from the Ministry of Culture, as well as weapons and ammunition, is prohibited. Any carpet or handicraft produced before 1960 is automatically considered an antique and is subject to tax, to avoid which the product must have an appropriate certificate from the Ministry of Culture, which is issued automatically in official art salons or shops (goods purchased at markets or private shops usually do not have such a certificate). The customs declaration issued upon entry into the country must be saved until departure.

What about sockets?

Mains voltage: 220V

23. Phone number

Code of the country: +994 -(area code)-(subscriber's telephone number)
Geographic first level domain name: .az

Dear reader! If you have been to this country or have something interesting to tell . WRITE! After all, your lines can be useful and educational for visitors to our site "Across the planet step by step" and for all travel lovers.

AZERBAIJAN
The Republic of Azerbaijan, a state in western Asia, in Transcaucasia. Area - 86.6 thousand square meters. km. It borders on Russia in the north, Georgia in the northwest, Armenia in the west, Iran in the south, and is washed by the Caspian Sea in the east. Azerbaijan is also the name given to the historical region of Iran, located south of the Araks River, along which the border between the two states passes. The population on both sides of the border speaks the same Turkic language, professes the same religion - Islam, and also has a common history until the Russian conquest in the early 19th century. territory of Azerbaijan north of the Araks River.

Azerbaijan. The capital is Baku. Population - 7797 thousand people (1997). Population density - 90 people per 1 sq. km. Urban population - 54%, rural - 46%. Area - 86.6 thousand square meters. km. The highest point is Mount Bazarduzu (4480 m), the lowest is 27 m below sea level. (Caspian Sea). The official language is Azerbaijani. The main religion is Islam. Administrative division: 61 districts and 1 autonomous republic. Monetary unit: manat = 100 qapiks. National holiday: Republic Day - May 28. National anthem: "Azerbaijan, our Motherland."

Ismail M. History of Azerbaijan: A brief overview from ancient times to 1920. Baku, 1995 Todua Z. Azerbaijan today. M., 1995

Collier's Encyclopedia. - Open Society. 2000 .

See what "AZERBAIJAN" is in other dictionaries:

Republic of Azerbaijan, state in Transcaucasia First mentioned in other Greek. and Latin. authors like Atropatene; in Iran, source of the 3rd century. Aturpatakan; in later Persians, geographers Adarbadagan (Azarbadagan), in Arab, Adarbaidzhan sources or ... ... Geographical encyclopedia

Azerbaijan- Azerbaijan. View of the old part of Baku. AZERBAIJAN (Republic of Azerbaijan), a state in the eastern part of Transcaucasia, is washed by the Caspian Sea. Area 86.6 thousand km2. Population 7136.6 thousand people, urban 53%; Azerbaijanis (82.6%),… … Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

- (Azerbaijan Republic), a state in the eastern part of Transcaucasia, washed by the Caspian Sea. Area 86.6 thousand km2. Population 7136.6 thousand people, urban 53%; Azerbaijanis (82.6%), Armenians (5.6%), Russians (5.6%) and others. Official language... ... Modern encyclopedia

- (Azerbaijan Republic of Azerbaijan Republics), a state in the eastern part of Transcaucasia; in the east it is washed by the Caspian Sea. 86.6 thousand km². Population 7398 thousand people (1993), urban 54%; Azerbaijanis (5805 thousand people; 1989,... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

Azerbaijan: Land of Fire!

Republic of Azerbaijan. Coat of arms and flag of Azerbaijan. Population

Welcome to Azerbaijan!

The state flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan consists of three horizontal stripes of equal width. The top stripe is blue, the middle stripe is red, and the bottom stripe is green. The blue color refers to the Turkic origin of the Azerbaijani people, the red color reflects the modernization of society and the development of democracy, and the green color indicates belonging to the Islamic civilization. In the middle of the red stripe, a crescent with an eight-pointed star is depicted in white. The ratio of the width of the flag to its length is 1:2.

The coat of arms of the Republic of Azerbaijan looks like this: the star is white, the fire is red, the oak branches are green, the ears are yellow. The shield represents the military power of the state and the heroism of the people. The edges of the shield and the star are covered with golden color, the oak acorns and the buttons of the shield are also golden. Oak branches, meaning glory and strength, and ears of corn - abundance, productivity, are traditional symbols. The eight-pointed star is a type of ornamental pattern that has become widespread in the architectural and jewelry art of Azerbaijan. The star is also depicted on the state flag of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The fire in the center of the coat of arms is depicted in the form of the word "Allah" written in the old alphabet.

Area of ​​Azerbaijan: 86.600 sq. km.
Population of Azerbaijan: 9,590,159 people (2013)
Capital of Azerbaijan: Baku city
President of Azerbaijan: Ilham Heydarovich Aliyev
Language of Azerbaijan: Azerbaijani, Russian, written language based on Latin script
Religion of Azerbaijan: Islam
Monetary unit of Azerbaijan: 1 manat = 100 kapik
Internet zone:.az
Azerbaijan telephone code: +994
Time: GMT + 4 hours, summer time: GMT + 5 hours

Currency
The national currency is the Azerbaijani manat (AZM). Foreign currency and traveler's checks are exchanged for Azerbaijani manats in all banks. In addition, currency can be exchanged at official currency exchange offices located everywhere; the exchange receipt must be kept until leaving the country. Anyone who changes currency from private individuals runs the risk of becoming a victim of fraud and is himself responsible for possible abuses.

Credit cards
As a rule, you can pay in hotels using a credit card. However, it is recommended to find out in advance whether your credit card will be accepted. In the most important business centers, large stores, and metro stations there are ATMs with which you can get cash.

Azerbaijan is truly an amazing country. Everything about it is unique - nature, culture, history, customs and traditions, architecture and much more. It is also called the “land of fire” (from “azer” - fire). Indeed, even before our era, tribes of fire worshipers lived here. And from these times, the most ancient evidence has been preserved on the territory of Azerbaijan - rock paintings, statues of deities, ancient temples.

In addition, the country has been known since ancient times for its burning hearths - ateshgahs (fire temples). There is a place in Absheron called Yanardag (burning mountain). In Nakhchivan, Kalbajar, Lankaran, Babadag... hot water flows out of the ground. In Surakhany there is an eternally burning and never extinguishing Ateshgah (temple of fire). The ancient states of Atropatena and Albania once existed on the territory of Azerbaijan. Each city of Azerbaijan carries something special. The center of the ancient Cuban Khanate - the city of Cuba - is known for its medieval fortresses and mosques, and the Tengi Canyon and Afurdzhinsky Falls deserve special attention. One of the oldest cities, Sheki, is famous for its luxurious palaces, some of which have now turned into hotels. If you think that you have never seen Azerbaijan, you are mistaken. We know him from all of our favorite films “The Diamond Arm” and “Amphibian Man”. After all, these wonderful films were filmed here. Today these filming locations are very popular among tourists.

Azerbaijan will surprise you with its natural conditions: the country is home to the sea and rivers, high mountain ranges and plains, semi-deserts and forests. Beautiful landscapes, waterfalls and mountain rivers, springs with clear water, deep gorges, green meadows, thermal and mineral springs, clean mountain air await you...

Tourists relax here at the resorts of the Caspian Sea, enjoy diving, water skiing, motorcycles, and boats. Those who want to improve and improve their health go to numerous famous resorts in Azerbaijan. Thanks to their unique microclimate, Lankaran and Talysh are considered one of the best balneological resorts. As a memory of your trip to this unique country, you will have famous Cuban carpets, real wine, high-quality silk, gold jewelry and many other souvenirs.
Additional information about Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan - Cities
Baku, Azerbaijan

Baku, Azerbaijan

Baku is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, located at the junction of Europe and Asia. The very name of the capital is interpreted as “blow of the wind”, “city of winds” or “hill”, “city on a hill”. The port city of Baku is the cultural, industrial, and political capital of Azerbaijan, located on the western coast of the Caspian Sea, on the shores of the bay of the same name in the southern part of the Absheron Peninsula, rich in its oil fields.
More about Baku

Ganja, Azerbaijan

Ganja is called the mother of cities in Azerbaijan. This is one of the oldest and most beautiful cities in Azerbaijan. From time immemorial it has been famous for its rich culture, original architecture, magnificent silk and carpets. All this made Ganja the cultural and political center of the entire Middle East. Ganja is the birthplace of the great Azerbaijani poet Nizami Ganjavi. Mikhail Lermontov wrote his famous Persian poems here.
More about Ganja

Cuba, Azerbaijan

The city of Kuba (Guba) is located 170 km north of Baku, right on the picturesque mountain slopes. In the past, it was the capital of the Kuban Khanate, which arose in the mid-18th century. The unsurpassed beauty of the mountains of this region was praised by famous people: Alexander Dumas the father, Russian writer Bestuzhev-Marlinsky, Norwegian traveler Thor Heyerdahl and others. Indeed, the landscapes of Cuba are difficult to describe in words. It’s as if nature has gathered its brightest colors here: the lush greenery of alpine meadows, the boiling tops of snow caps, transparent blue rushing mountain rivers.
More about Cuba

Lankaran, Azerbaijan

Lankaran is a subtropical paradise, a resort town. Located in the southeast of Azerbaijan, almost on the border with Iran. In the east, the city is washed by the waters of the Caspian Sea. The nature of Lankaran naturally combines steep mountain peaks and fertile lowlands, and pebble sea coasts. 100 km from Lenkoran lies one of the most beautiful cities of the Middle Ages - Khanege, in which the fortress walls (XII-XIV centuries), the mosque and tomb of Pir Hussein, a minaret and other ancient buildings have been preserved.
More about Lankaran

Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan

Nakhichevan (Nakhchivan) is one of the oldest cities in Azerbaijan. At the end of the 8th - beginning of the 7th century. BC. the city was part of Manna, then Media.
In the VI century. BC. was captured by the Akhmenid state. In the II century. BC. it is part of Atropatena. In the 10th century, Nakhichevan became the capital of the Atabek Eldegezid state, and in the 11th century the capital of the Seljuk state. Nakhichevan region is reputed to be a wonderful resort.
Mineral springs are found here in abundance. The main attractions of the city are the mausoleums of Yusuf ibn-Kuseyir, Momine Khatun, the Alinja-Kala fortress (in the vicinity of Nakhichevan) and the famous Khudaferin bridges across the Araks. More about Nakhichevan

Sheki, Azerbaijan

This town began its history 2700 years ago. And it is rightfully considered one of the oldest settlements and cultural centers of Azerbaijan. Sheki is famous for its harsh, but at the same time impressive nature: powerful mountain ranges, blue ribbons of mountain streams, dark green coniferous forests. In the past, Sheki was the capital of the Sheki Khanate, which, after its conquest in 1805, was included in the Russian Empire. Throughout its centuries-old history, this city has been subjected to many destructions. The old city was almost completely destroyed, so in 1772 Sheki was rebuilt in a new location. The beauty of Sheki was once admired by Alexander Dumas the father, Leo Tolstoy, and Mikhail Lermontov.
More about Sheki

Shemakha, Azerbaijan

Only 130 km separates Baku from one of the oldest and most interesting cities in the country - Shemakha. In the 9th-16th centuries, this city was the capital of Shirvan and the residence of the Shirvanshahs (before it was moved to Baku). Located at the intersection of caravan routes, it was one of the major trade and craft centers in the Middle East. Shemakha lands are famous for their vineyards, pastures, wines and cognacs. There are neither severe frosts nor scorching heat here - the unique nature, mild climate, mineral springs - all this attracts tourists from all over the world.
More about Shamakhi