Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan: Land Between Mountains and Sea
Azerbaijan lies at the crossroads of Europe and Asia along the southern Caucasus, with landscapes ranging from Caspian Sea coasts to alpine meadows. Its capital, Baku, is uniquely positioned below sea level, offering distinct contrasts in climate and terrain.
Fast facts
- Country
- Azerbaijan
- Region
- Transcaucasia
- Population
- Approx. 10 million
- Currency
- Azerbaijani manat (AZN)
- Known for
- Flame temples, mud volcanoes, carpet weaving, Caspian coastline
Azerbaijan occupies a strategic position on the southern slopes of the Caucasus Mountains, bordered by Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, and the Caspian Sea. About 40% of the country is lowland, with diverse altitudes creating sharply zoned environments from semi-desert plains to alpine meadows. The capital city, Baku, is notable for being the world's lowest-lying national capital, situated 28 meters below sea level on the Absheron Peninsula. The region around Baku experiences an arid climate due to the Caucasus Mountains' rain shadow, contrasting with the humid subtropical Länkäran Lowland in the southeast known for dense forests.
Gobustan Mud Volcanoes
Visit Gobustan to see roughly 350 mud volcanoes, representing over half of the world's known total, along with ancient rock art sites.
Baku Below Sea Level
Baku sits 28 meters below sea level on the Caspian coast, making it the largest city worldwide at this elevation.
Länkäran's Dense Forests
In the southeast, the Länkäran Lowland's humid subtropical climate supports evergreen vegetation and thick beech and oak forests.
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