Azerbaijan — map and facts

#### About Azerbaijan Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country situated at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, bordered by the Caspian Sea to the east. It is a former Soviet republic that declared independence in 1991 and has since transformed into a significant energy-producing nation. Baku, the capital and largest city, is renowned for its blend of modern architecture and ancient heritage, including the UNESCO-listed Old City. The country has leveraged its vast oil and gas reserves to fuel rapid economic growth and urban development, making it one of the most prosperous nations in the South Caucasus region.

#### Geography and Landscape Azerbaijan occupies approximately 86,600 square kilometres and features remarkably diverse terrain. The Greater Caucasus Mountains dominate the north, while the Lesser Caucasus extend through the southwest. The Kura-Aras Lowland forms the country's central heartland, and the Caspian coastline stretches along the eastern edge. The Absheron Peninsula, where Baku is situated, juts into the Caspian Sea. Azerbaijan also administers the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, an exclave separated from the main territory by Armenia. The climate ranges from subtropical in the southeast to alpine in the high mountains, producing extraordinary ecological diversity within a relatively compact area.

#### History Human settlement in Azerbaijan dates back thousands of years, with the region forming part of ancient Caucasian Albania and later the Median and Achaemenid Persian empires. Arab conquests in the seventh century introduced Islam, which remains the predominant religion. The territory subsequently passed through Seljuk Turkish, Mongol, and Safavid Persian rule before Russian annexation in the early nineteenth century. After a brief period of independence as the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic from 1918 to 1920, the country was absorbed into the Soviet Union. Following independence in 1991, Azerbaijan fought a war with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, a conflict that resumed in 2020 and concluded with Azerbaijan regaining full control of the territory in 2023.