Azerbaijan Encyclopedia, Facts, Map, Photos & National Anthem

Country Name: Azerbaijan – Republic of Azerbaijan
System of government: Republic
Capital: Baku
Location: Crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia in the South Caucasus region. In east bounded by the Caspian Sea, In north is Russia (Dagestan), Northwest is Georgia, West is Armenia, South is Iran and Southwest is Turkey (bordering the Nakhchivan exclave)
Area: 33,436 square miles (86,600 square kilometers)
Population: 10,650,239 (2024 Estimate)
National composition: Azerbaijan has a predominantly homogenous population, with ethnic Azerbaijanis making up the vast majority of its citizens
Religion: Azerbaijan is a predominantly Muslim country, with roughly 93% to 99% of its population identifying with Islam, though it is constitutionally a secular republic
Official language: Azerbaijani
Currency: Azerbaijani manats
Administrative divisions:  67 districts (rayon) and 11 cities (şəhər)
Other major cities: Sumgait, Ganja, Mingachevir, Nakhchivan, Shirvan, Sheki, Lankaran
Highest elevation: Mount Bazardüzü (Bazardüzü dağı), reaching an elevation of 4,466 meters (14,652 feet)
Chief rivers: Kura (Kur) and its primary tributary, the Araz (Aras), both of which drain into the Caspian Sea
Climate: Very diverse

Anthem: Azərbaycan marşı
(English: March of Azerbaijan)

Azerbaijan Location Map:

GEOGRAPHY

A fire glows on a hillside along the Caspian Sea, leaving scorch marks on the rocks. But unlike a campfire or wildfire, this one won’t burn out. The feature is known as Yanar Dağ and it’s been blazing for at least 65 years. Natural gases seeping through the ground underneath continuously feed the flames. It’s only fitting that the site sits in a country named Azerbaijan, which is known as “The Land of Fire.”

NATURE

Located in Asia, Azerbaijan is bordered by the Caspian Sea on the east. Swans, flamingos, and pelicans all flock to this region. Much of the north and west are covered by the Caucasus Mountains, where roe deer, brown bears, and lynx thrive.

In parts of Azerbaijan, including just outside the capital city of Baku, the land is dotted with oil and gas reserves. These are areas where oil and gas can be extracted from the earth and used as fuel. Volcanoes have formed above some of the reserves. But instead of spewing lava, the volcanoes erupt with a muddy mix of water, sand, gas, and sometimes oil.

PEOPLE & CULTURE

Azerbaijan is home to around ten million people today. About half of the population lives in bustling urban areas such as Baku.

Some of the country’s inhabitants continue to create traditional crafts. For instance, a group of people called the Talysh make handmade carpets just as their ancestors did hundreds of years ago. And traditional music from a stringed instrument called a kobuz is still popular. Like the Yanar Dağ fire, these time-honored customs aren’t going away anytime soon.

Azerbaijan Related Photos:

 

Azerbaijan National Anthem: