BAKU, April 21 - News-Azerbaijan, Mina Kadirova. Baku is the capital of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the largest industrial, economic, and scientific-technical center of Transcaucasia, as well as the largest port on the Caspian Sea and the largest city in the Caucasus.
1 .The name of the city of Baku comes from the Persian باد كوبه bād kubeh - “Badkube” - “wind blow”, probably due to the local strong winds, which gave birth to the rooted nickname “Baku - the city of winds”.
2 Over the past 65 years, the population of Baku has increased 33.4 times, which exceeds all known population growth rates in the world for the 19th and 20th centuries. The population of Baku exceeds the population of such countries as the Vatican (0.9 thousand people), San Marino (27), Monaco (32), Liechtenstein (32), Marshall Islands (68), Grenada (89), Belize (241 ), Iceland (281), Maldives (301), Bahamas (400), Suriname (417), Solomon Islands (444), Equatorial Guinea (453), Guyana (861), Fiji (817), Gabon (1200), Guinea-Bissau (1200), Gambia (1300), Trinidad and Tobago (1300), Estonia (1300), Botswana (1600), Djibouti (1700), Namibia (1700), Dominican Republic (1700), Kuwait (1900), Slovenia (1900).
3 About 72 nationalities live and have previously lived in Baku, and thanks to this, the city is considered one of the most international.
4. The average annual temperature of Baku and the globe coincides to tenths (14.2 degrees)
5 The world's first modern oil well was drilled in Bibi-Heybat, Baku. And also, for the first time, offshore oil production was started in Baku. In 1901, the city produced more than half of the world's oil. It was in Baku that scientists back in 1930 developed a new drilling method, recognized and used throughout the world, in which wells are made not vertical, but inclined.
6 .In Baku at the beginning of the 20th century, 50% of the world's oil was produced, and during the Second World War, Baku supplied the entire Soviet army with fuel, providing up to 85% of its needs.
7. The Nobel Prize, one of the most prestigious international awards, consists of the capital that Alfred Nobel earned from the exploitation of Baku oil. This amount is approximately 12% of the Nobel Prize fund.
8. The first electric train of the USSR was launched in Baku in 1926, along the Baku-Sabunchi line in 1926.
9 . The Baku metro was launched in 1967, and one of the stations was called “April 28” - in honor of the day when Soviet power was established in Azerbaijan. After the republic left the USSR, the station was “raised” for exactly a month. Now it is called “May 28” - in honor of the national holiday of Republic Day.
10 The first musical opera in the Muslim East was staged in Baku - it was the opera “Leili and Majnun”.
11. The Baku circus was the first in the USSR.
12. Azerbaijan ranks first in the world in the number of mud volcanoes, there are about 350 of them, out of a total of 800 in the world. After studying the nature of Mars, theories were put forward that the mud volcanoes of the country are similar in structure to the hills of the red planet.
13 . In 1975, thanks to intensive negotiations between Heydar Aliyev and the head of the Soviet Union, Leonid Brezhnev, the only air conditioning plant at that time was built in Baku, which meant not only prestige, but also huge financial flows for the republic.
14.
Baku is a member of the following international organizations: - World Federation of Sister Cities
- World Heritage Cities Organization (UNESCO)
- World Energy Cities Organization
- International Institute "Eurograd"
- Union of Capitals of the Countries of the Black Sea Economic Commonwealth
15. Filming took place in Baku:
The Last Inch (USSR, 1958)
Amphibian Man (USSR, 1961)
Aibolit-66 (USSR, 1966)
Diamond Arm (USSR, 1968)
My good dad (USSR, 1970)
Tehran-43 (USSR, 1981)
And the whole world is not enough (The World Is Not Enough; UK-USA, 1999)
Marriage by will (Russia, 2009)
10 interesting facts about Azerbaijan
1. It was here that oil was extracted industrially for the first time. In 1847, the first oil well was drilled near Baku.
2. In 1926, the first electric train in the USSR was put into operation in the capital of Azerbaijan. 
3. Azerbaijan won championship in one more area: it is the first Muslim country where women received equal political rights with men.
4. There are more mud volcanoes on the territory of Azerbaijan than anywhere else in the world.
5. Not far from the capital there is a salt lake Masazir with pink waters.
6. Historians claim that Monomakh’s hat was made in Azerbaijan, in the mountain village of Lahij.
7. In the village of Surakhani there is a unique structure, the Zoroastrian temple Ateshgah. The name translates as “House of Fire”: in this area, jets of natural gas burst out of the ground, which ignite when they come into contact with oxygen. The unquenchable flame of the temple attracts pilgrims from all over the world. 
8. Another amazing place where meter-high flames permanently erupt from the ground is Mount Yanar Dag, located not far from the capital.
9. People in Azerbaijan love carpets. Here it is not only an element of everyday life, but also part of the culture. The government even adopted a law “On Carpets”, designed to preserve and develop the traditions of carpet weaving.
10. The Azerbaijan Carpet Museum is easy to find: the building looks like a rolled carpet! 
Read also
What is interesting about the best hotel in the world? It is unlikely that you will be able to visit it - the sum of five zeros for a room is not affordable for most tourists, and the best is a very relative concept - some people like it, but others don’t! Today we will tell you about the worst hotel in the world, which...
According to 2017 statistics, most often Russian tourists contacted insurance companies regarding illnesses in Turkey. This country accounts for more than a third of all requests. Experts explain this by the large number of tourists and the relative ease of obtaining medical services.
1. Before turning to medication, give the body the opportunity to stabilize on its own. The fastest thing you can do at the first symptoms is to take a horizontal position. 2. Ginger works wonders.
The country of Azerbaijan, located in the Transcaucasus, is the birthplace of delicious food, unprecedented hospitality and rich history. Since the Soviet Union, local resorts have enjoyed great popularity, which declined after the collapse of the USSR, but is again gaining momentum these days. And many are also attracted here by the amazing nature, incredibly beautiful mountains and ancient culture, the spirit of which literally permeates everything here.
Facts about Azerbaijan
- More people live in Moscow than in the whole of Azerbaijan.
- In 1918, the Republic of Azerbaijan became the first secular democracy in the entire Muslim world.
- The design of the Azerbaijani manat, the local currency, was developed by the same designer who worked on the design of the euro.
- About 50% of the entire territory of Azerbaijan is covered by mountains ().
- Geographically, several regions of this country belong to Eastern Europe.
- The unofficial name of Azerbaijan is “land of fire”. This, by the way, is also the motto of the state.
- The climate here is very diverse. In lowland areas in summer there is a heat of +40 degrees, and in winter it is not cold here, but in the mountains in December-January an air temperature of -30 does not surprise anyone. In total, 9 out of 11 climate types are found in Azerbaijan.
- About 240 species of Azerbaijani plants are not found anywhere else in the world.
- The Absheron Peninsula, which belongs to Azerbaijan, is considered one of the most unfavorable places in the world from an environmental point of view. The soil, water and air are polluted here.
- There are about 800 mud volcanoes in Azerbaijani territories.
- Part of Iran is called Southern or Iranian Azerbaijan ().
- Primitive people lived on the territory of modern Azerbaijan 1.5 million years ago.
- Due to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan broke off diplomatic relations with Armenia ().
- About 20% of all Azerbaijanis live in the capital, Baku. In general, more than half of the country’s population lives in cities.
- More than 99% of Azerbaijanis profess Islam.
- There are 6 Orthodox churches in Azerbaijan, 3 of which are located in the capital.
- Bread is as widespread and popular here as rice is in Asia.
- Traditions of preparing pilaf vary depending on the region. In total, about 50 classic types of this national dish are prepared in Azerbaijan.
- In 1967, the world's first museum dedicated to carpets opened here.
- The most popular sport in Azerbaijan has been football for many decades. Chess, however, is not far behind in popularity, and many of the strongest chess players in the world are Azerbaijanis.
- In the valley of the Azerbaijani Araz River there is one of the oldest salt deposits in the world, which is still working. Salt mining began here about 5 thousand years ago.
- Almost 150 scientific institutions operate on the territory of Azerbaijan.
- The unique Azerbaijani Lake Masazir is notable for the fact that its water is pink.
- The average annual temperature of the Azerbaijani capital is equal to the average annual temperature of the Earth.
- The Gobustan archaeological reserve, famous for its ancient rock paintings and located in Azerbaijan, is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- The world's first oil well was once drilled on the territory of this country.
- In 1926, the first electric train in the Soviet Union was launched in Azerbaijan.
- A huge amount of wine is made here. Azerbaijani winemaking is developing rapidly, and local wines are actively exported to other countries.
- Mount Yanardag in Azerbaijan is called the Burning Mountain. One of its ridges is actually burning due to the fact that natural gas comes to the surface here.
Even today, there is a lot of controversy surrounding the colorful country of Azerbaijan. Should the country be classified as Asia or is it part of modern Europe? The distant country is famous for its carpets, temples and, probably, the best pilaf on the entire globe. But that's not all! Azerbaijan is very attractive both from the point of view of tourist recreation, and from the point of view of culture and unusual traditions.
A nice bonus only for our readers - a discount coupon when paying for tours on the website until October 31:
- AF500guruturizma - promotional code for 500 rubles for tours from 40,000 rubles
- AFTA2000Guru - promotional code for 2,000 rubles. for tours to Thailand from 100,000 rubles.
- AF2000TGuruturizma - promotional code for 2,000 rubles. for tours to Tunisia from 100,000 rubles.
On the website onlinetours.ru you can buy ANY tour with a discount of up to 3%!
And you will find many more profitable offers from all tour operators on the website. Compare, choose and book tours at the best prices!
Let's be transported to a glorious country and try to study in as much detail as possible the local traditions and culture unique to this region.
If historical documents are to be believed, the world's first modern oil well was drilled near the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku. In general, oil production in these parts has been carried out since ancient times, so it is not surprising that the “Oil Rocks” platform is considered the oldest oil platform at sea, which is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. By the way, the first deposit of this mineral in Siberia was found by Azerbaijani Farman Salmanov. Russia still produces oil from this field, replenishing its budget with multibillion-dollar revenues.
An unusual historical fact has been preserved about two Azerbaijani cities - Tovuz and Goygol. If you believe the same primary sources, then the builders of the settlements are indigenous Germans. It was in the capital of Azerbaijan that the first electric train in the USSR started. This happened in 1926.
The Soviet army was regularly supplied with oil products and fuel from Baku. It is said that nine out of ten Soviet tanks were filled with Baku fuel. Just imagine, this small city accounted for more than half of all world oil production in the last century!
It was in this country that for the first time among all those professing the Muslim religion, women received equal political rights with men. And it was in this country that a democratic republic was proclaimed for the first time in the entire Islamic world.
Uniqueness of the country
Azerbaijan cannot boast of an impressive area. Despite this, the country is located in 9 climatic zones (11 in total)! Therefore, no one can challenge the uniqueness of the natural and climatic conditions of Azerbaijan.
Remember the Monomakh's Cap, famous throughout the former socialist camp? There is a version that the unique historical value comes from Azerbaijan. Local historians are ready to provide enough evidence that the Hat was made by craftsmen from the mountain village of Lahij.
The largest number of mud volcanoes in the world are located on the territory of Azerbaijan. Just imagine, out of 800 of these natural phenomena known today, at least 350 are located on the territory of Azerbaijan. By the way, American NASA scientists, who are engaged in a detailed study of the surface of Mars, have found that some hills on the “red planet” are extremely reminiscent in structure and structure of the same mud volcanoes of Azerbaijan.
Also, French archaeologists managed to prove that the oldest salt deposit is located in Azerbaijan. It is located in the Araz River valley. Scientists are confident that mining here began for the first time five thousand years ago.
Prominent Azerbaijanis
The country is famous for its famous inventors, scientists, and cultural figures. In what areas of social and political life have people from Azerbaijan failed to achieve outstanding results and win world recognition?
Russian tactical artillery was invented by a military leader from Azerbaijan - Ali aga Shikhlinsky, who headed one of the corps of the Imperial Russian Army.
For the first time, the Muslim East was able to enjoy a unique opera performance performed by U. Hajibeyov. It was called "Leili and Majnun". For the first time, the first ballet in the entire Middle East was staged on platforms in Azerbaijan. The author of the ballet “Maiden Tower” was A. Badalbeyli.
There were many heroes among the soldiers of the Soviet army who had Azerbaijani roots. For example, the victory banner over the Brandenburg Gate was hoisted by fighters from this eastern country - Mamedov, Akhmedzade, Berezhnaya and Andreev.
The founder of odd logic, known throughout the world, is considered to be the Azerbaijani Lufi Zate.
Reading time: 5 min
Baku is a city of a harmonious combination of ultra-modernity and ancient Muslim traditions. Azerbaijan attracts travelers from all over the world with its delightful architecture of eastern antiquity, the Soviet era and postmodernism, exhibitions of magnificent carpets and tapestries, unique nature reserves, healing mud volcanoes, drinking tea in friendly company from the famous pot-bellied glasses, forty types of pilaf and other local culinary masterpieces! For citizens of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan there is a separate advantage - a visa is not required when entering any of the cities of Azerbaijan. You can enjoy the beauties of civilization and natural heritage for 90 days.
Initially, oil production began here. Azerbaijan can rightfully be considered the world's storehouse of black gold! Oil production continues to this day to supply our country and neighboring countries.
Baku was considered one of the most beautiful and promising cities in the USSR. Tourists from all over the world came here, bypassing the famous Leningrad and Moscow. Noticing the high attraction of travelers to Baku, the Soviet government decided to develop a tourism focus here. Therefore, the first electric train of the Soviet Union was launched in Baku for the first time!
Modern methods of transportation
Nowadays only the most modern vehicles are used here to travel within the country.
Azerbaijan is famous for its healing mud volcanoes
Nowhere in the world is there such a unique collection of useful geysers! There are about 350 active volcanoes here, and there are 800 in total worldwide.
Azerbaijan in Dali's painting
In 1943, Salvador Dali painted the famous painting “The Geopolitical Infant”. Of course, this is not just a canvas and not just a baby - it is a metaphor for the world. The woman in the painting points her finger at Azerbaijan as a man emerges from a rift in North America. Researchers believe that Azerbaijan, according to Dali, is the center of the universe.
Baku is called the “city of lights”
One might think that this is due to the active activity of city residents even at night. In fact, in the Ateshgah Fire Temple, a sacred flame has been burning for many centuries due to the release of gas in Surakhani.
