Travel to Azerbaijan

Where is Azerbaijan located? The name of the republic translates as "Country of Fire", a country located on the European and Asian continents, and combining elements of the traditions and culture of two different continents. It is a country of delicious food, proud, hardworking, and hospitable Azerbaijanis, incredible landscapes, and unprecedented history. 

Significantly, there are 9 out of 11 global climatic zones in Azerbaijan. The country is washed by the Caspian Sea and 60% of its territory is mountainous, with an average annual temperature identical to the average annual temperature of the earth - 14.2 degrees Celsius.

When Azerbaijan appeared

The first written mention of the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, dates back to the fifth century AD. Since then, Baku has been part of forty Azerbaijani states. But when did the Azerbaijan we know today appear? Azerbaijan first regained its independence in 1918, but soon, in 1920, the Republic of Azerbaijan was occupied by the soviet union, which prevented the further rapid development of the world's first democratic Muslim state. 

Azerbaijan managed to regain its independence after the final collapse of the soviet union in 1991, and since then the proud Azerbaijani people have continued to form, develop and preserve centuries-old traditions.

Azerbaijan what religion

According to the Constitution of Azerbaijan, the country is a secular republic, meaning that religion is clearly separated from the state. Because Azerbaijan is a multinational and multi-confessional state, various religious movements have spread in the country at different times in its history, including paganism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. However, the main religion of Azerbaijan for centuries has been Islam. More than 99.2% of the population profess Islam, of which 84.2% are Shiite Muslims and 15% are Sunni Muslims. 

Azerbaijan is a country in which religion has given rise to most traditions and habits and has an impact on the way of life of Azerbaijanis. But at the same time, Azerbaijan became the first Muslim country in the world to equalize the rights of women and men by introducing democracy.

Azerbaijan: what to see

Of course, the first thing that comes to mind when traveling to any country is its capital. Baku is the largest city among the cities of the Caucasus, and it is also home to the largest port in the Caspian Sea. The capital is home to more than 70 nationalities and ethnicities.

Did you know that it was Baku that gave us the Nobel Prize? The world's first oil well was drilled in the capital of Azerbaijan, and it was there that brothers Alfred, Ludwig and Robert Nobel founded the first foreign oil company. Thanks to the shares of the company owned by Alfred Nobel, 12% of the world-famous prize was received.

What to see in Baku? You should start exploring the capital of Azerbaijan from the old town. The city is surrounded by a wall, and you can find two monuments that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Maiden Tower, the oldest building in Baku, dates back to the 12th century. According to legend, the tower was built by a famous shah at the time who wanted to marry his own daughter. She was against this decision, so she jumped from the tower into the Caspian Sea.  

The Shirvanshahs' Palace - the complex was built in the 14th century after the capital of Azerbaijan was moved to Baku. The former residence of the rulers of Shirvan, which today houses the Museum of Azerbaijani Culture, consists of residential premises, a mosque, tombs, a mausoleum, and a bathhouse.

Little Venice, a beautiful park on the seaside boulevard with artificially created canals, was built in the 60s of the last century. In 2012, the park underwent a general reconstruction and the canals were expanded.

The Flame Towers are one of the most recognizable landmarks and a must-see in Baku. The three glass towers, shaped like flames, reflect sunlight during the day and turn on LED lights at night to simulate flames. These giants can be seen from almost any corner of the city.

The burning Mount Janardag is a place of eternal fire that never goes out. It was about this mountain, with flames reaching a height of 1 meter and spreading 15 meters wide along the hill, that the famous traveler Marco Polo wrote. Azerbaijan is home to a large concentration of gas and oil fields, and the country has the world's largest number of mud volcanoes and places of natural gas flow and combustion.

Lake Geigel is a high mountain lake formed in 1139 as a result of a large-scale earthquake. During the powerful aftershocks, a large piece of rock broke away from Mount Kyapaz and blocked the channel of the Akhsu River.

Pink Lake Masazir - you can find this natural attraction near Baku. It is one of the 8 dead salt lakes in the world. The color of the water changes depending on the light, time of year, and salt concentration in the water. This lake is over 10 meters square and is expected to be used for salt extraction. The waters are also saturated with chlorides and sulfates, and the shores seem to be perpetually snow-covered, due to crystallized salt.

The colored Khizi Mountains are a true miracle of nature, and can only be seen in two places on earth - in Azerbaijan and in Death Valley (USA). One of the most beautiful roads in Azerbaijan, 40 kilometers long, runs from the Guba-Baku highway west to the mountain village of Altiagaj. Approximately halfway through the road, you will pass a beautiful valley of rocky shale mountains painted in striking colors - red, orange, pink and coal-black. It is believed that these incredible colors are caused by groundwater, which affects the degree of oxidation of iron rocks in the rocks. Also, the formation of these mountains dates back to prehistoric times, which is why you should look carefully under your feet while walking: you may find tiny fossils or even the remains of selenites (squid-like mollusks) from the Cretaceous period.