Azerbaijan

It is the Land of Fire and the Pearl of the Caucasus, a country where Eastern colours blend beautifully with Western development. Azerbaijan has unique nature, a remarkable culture, centuries of history with its own customs and traditions, and excellent cuisine that will satisfy even the most discerning gourmets. Above all, it is a land of Caucasian hospitality.

Azerbaijan lies on the eastern side of Transcaucasia (the South Caucasus) on the shores of the Caspian Sea. It has more than 9.8 million inhabitants and covers 86,600 square kilometres. Baku is the capital and largest city. The national language is Azerbaijani, but Russian is also widely used and many younger people speak English. Azerbaijan borders Iran, Turkey, Russia, Georgia and Armenia, and its eastern shores are washed by the Caspian Sea.

Azerbaijan has an extraordinary historical and cultural heritage, with more than 7,500 natural, archaeological, architectural and historic monuments. The rock art of Gobustan, the Momine Khatun and Garabaghlar mausoleums, the Palace of the Shaki Khans, the Maiden Tower, the castles of Absheron, medieval manuscripts decorated with exquisite miniatures, antique carpets and works of literature, art and sculpture are just a small part of the country’s rich and priceless legacy.

Azerbaijan is often called the “land of fire”. The ancient inhabitants of the region are known to have worshipped fire, and the country still preserves traces of that era: rock carvings, statues of gods and ancient temples. Two of the most vivid examples are the fire worshippers’ temple (Ateshgah) in Surakhani near Baku and Yanar Dag, the “burning mountain”. These lands were held sacred for centuries by followers of Zoroastrianism, Hinduism and Sikhism.

The climate varies by region because of the country’s diverse geography, ranging from Mediterranean to continental and subtropical. In the capital, average winter temperatures are between 4 °C and 8 °C and summer temperatures between 22 °C and 30 °C.