Religions: Muslim 93.4%, Russian Orthodox 2.5%, Armenian Orthodox 2.3%, other 1.8% (1995 est.)
Nationality: noun: Azerbaijani (s)
         adjective: Azerbaijani
Languages: Azeris 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, other 6% (1995 est.)
National capital: Baku (Baki)
Independence: 30 August 1991 (from Soviet Union)
National holiday: Independence Day, 28 May

Azerbaijan occupies the southern part of the Greater Caucasian range descending to the Caspian Sea at the stretch of 800 km. The Republic has a unique geopolitical and geographical position, lying on the juncture of Europe and Asia (380 25"-410 55" of n.l. and 440 50"-500 52"e.l.) and retains it significance for Republic (5.5 thousand sq.km) compromises 86.6 thousand sq.km. To the north Azerbaijan borders on Russian Federation (extending for 17.9 km), to the west with the Republic of Armenia (785 km). To the northwest with the Georgian Republic (322 km), to the southwest with Turkey (11 km) in the south with the Islamic Republic of Iran (618 km). Azerbaijan is surrounded be mountains, occupying more than half of its territory: to the north is the Greater Caucasus with the highest peak of the country Bazaar - dyuzy - 4480m (its southern part reaches, Azerbaijan), to the southwest is the massive Trancaucasian upland extended to Armenia and Georgia, mounted by the Lesser Caucasus, to the south the Talysh Mountains join them.

Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, is located on the western shore of the Caspian Sea and is one of Azerbaijan's largest cities. The centre of Baku is the old town, which is also fortress. Most of the walls, strengthened after the Russian conquest in 1806, survive. Bake is a major culture and education centre, with a university and other institutions of higher education. One of these specializes in the petroleum and chemical industries. Archaeology evidence indicates that Baku was an ancient settlement. Persia controlled the site by the 11th century, though for a time during the 13t and 14th centuries it was captured and possessed by the Mongols. As of the 1989 census, Baku had a population of 1.8 million. Although not in the high-risk area for earthquakes, Baku does experience extremes of temperatures. The winters are cold with severe north/north-westerly winds and little precipitation, while the summers bring serious influx of mosquitoes and flies. Lenkoran (Lankaran) is a small coastal city near the extreme southern border with Iran, with a large population of Iranian Talysh. The Talysh have preserved their old traditions and customs. The Lenkoran region is an important producer of spring and winter vegetables. Tea, rice, grapes, tobacco, and citrus trees thrive in the warm climate. The population has preserved many old traditions, and industries are centred around food processing and fine carpets. The narrow Lenkoran's Lowland along the Caspian Sea was once densely forested, but only small portion of forest still remain, and the region is heavily cultivated. The mild winters draw numerous migratory birds.
There is a place called the Fountains Square. This is where usually people go out and enjoy themselves. There are restaurants, cafes, and bars.
In Azerbaijan there are only 2 train lines. You don't have to change lots of time to get to one place. It is easy to use.

HISTORY

The present day citizens of Azerbaijan are the heirs of a rich history, the successors of a long progression of cultures and civilizations. Azerbaijan is located on the western coast of the Caspian Sea, occupies on of the Asian continent' strategic crossroads between East and West. Archaeologists date the first human settlements in present day Azerbaijan to the Stone Age. Today, Azerbaijan is home to more than 70 different racial groups, including Azerbaijanis, Kurds, Jews, Russians, Armenians, Lezghins, and many others. Historically Azerbaijan was divided into two parts: the northern and the southern. Northern Azerbaijan covered which is essentially the territory of the present day Republic of Azerbaijan, while southern Azerbaijan covered an area in which is now northern Iran. The root of present day Azerbaijan trace back to the forth century B.C., with the emergence of the two kingdoms of Caucasian Albanian in the north, and the Atropatan in the south. In fact many historians believe the word "Azerbaijan" itself comes from Atrapatan. By the second century A.D., Caucasian Albania had developed into a major regional power. Ancient literal true describes Caucasian Albania as a separate state with a diverse economic base. Its borders were essentially the borders of present day Azerbaijan, and included the regions of Nakhchivan and Daghlig-Garabagh mountains. By the third century, numerous cities displayed as trade, artistic, or administrative centres, among them Baku, Barda, Ganja and Nakhchivan. During seventh century, Caucasian Albania fell to the Arab Caliphate, leading to the Islam of the region. The majority of people converted to Islam and the influence of Islamic culture exerted itself through out the kingdom. The Azerbaijani Turks today accept both these Turkish nomads and the Albanians as their ancestor. By the ninth century, the Albanian Kingdom, by then a vassal of the Arab Caliphate, had lost much of the control it once exercised over northern Azerbaijan. The succeeding centuries saw Azerbaijan ruled by a series of mainly Turkic empires from Central Asia, a development that led to the eventual Turkification of the region. By the beginning of the 16th century, the Safavid dynasty of southern Azerbaijan assumed the throne in Persia and eventually incorporated the Shirvan kingdom, as well as Nakhchivan and Garabagh, into its rule. The first two decades of the 18th century mark a decisive moment in Azerbaijan's history: the beginning of Russian influence in the area, as Peter I (the Great) brought the Caspian coast under his control. With the final break up of the Safavid dynasty in the middle of the 18th century, the remains of their empire in the Caucasian fell to a number of independent khanates, among them khanates, of Baku, Garabagh, Guba and Nakhchivan. But for the 1918-1920 period of Azerbaijan's independence, this pattern persisted until the final dissolution of the Soviet empire. The latter half of the nineteenth century was a time of great economic development of Azerbaijan, based largely on the discovery of huge oil reserves. Baku attracted investors and oil developers from all over the world, among them Alfred Nobel and his brothers. With the collapse of Tsarist rule in Russia at the end of the World War 1, Azerbaijan, along with the other Caucasian nations of Armenia and Georgia, seized the opportunity to declare independence. On May 28, 1918 still celebrating today as Independence Day - the people of Azerbaijan established their own independent state, the Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan. The international community was quick to recognize the new country, including the United States. Newly independent Azerbaijan was the first nation in the region to adopt a secular, democratic form of government. After two short years, Russia again moved to assert its rule over Azerbaijan. In April 1920, units of the Russian Bolshevik II the Army invaded Azerbaijan and overthrew the government. With the Red Army occupying its territory, Azerbaijan languished as a colony of the Soviet State. Soviet authorities ceded the Azerbaijani territory Zangezur to Armenia, this cutting off Nakhchivan from the rest of Azerbaijan. When Azerbaijan was forcibly annexed into the USSR, its total territory was 114,000 sq. km; on regaining its independence in 1991, Azerbaijan's territory was 86, 600 sq km.