Exploring Azerbaijan's Unique Location: A Country Overview

Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a transcontinental country located in the Caucasus region between Eastern Europe and West Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north, the Caspian Sea to the east, Iran to the south, and Georgia and Armenia to the west. The country is slightly smaller than the US state of Maine and has a population of around 10 million people. Its capital and largest city is Baku, which lies on the western shore of the Caspian Sea. Azerbaijan has a rich history, combining the heritage of the ancient Persians and the Seljuk Turks of the 11th century. The country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and has since developed into a modern, diverse nation with a blend of traditions and cultural influences.

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia

Azerbaijan, officially the Republic of Azerbaijan, is a transcontinental country at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia. It is a part of the South Caucasus region, bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia's republic of Dagestan to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia and Turkey to the west, and Iran to the south. The capital and largest city of Azerbaijan is Baku.

Azerbaijan is one of the six independent Turkic states and an active member of the Organization of Turkic States and the TÜRKSOY community. It is also a founding member of GUAM, the Commonwealth of Independent States, and the OPCW. The country has diplomatic relations with 182 countries and holds membership in 38 international organizations, including the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Non-Aligned Movement, the OSCE, and the NATO PfP program.

Azerbaijan is a unitary semi-presidential republic. The vast majority of the country's population (97%) is nominally Muslim, but the Constitution of Azerbaijan does not declare an official religion, and all major political forces in the country are secular. Azerbaijani is the official language, and the country's currency is the Azerbaijani manat.

Azerbaijan is rich in natural resources, with two-thirds of the country containing oil and natural gas. The country's agricultural sector is also thriving, with about 54.9% of its land consisting of agricultural areas. Azerbaijan is considered one of the wealthiest countries in the region, with a strong energy and international trade sector.

The territory of present-day Azerbaijan was first ruled by Caucasian Albania and later by various Persian empires. Until the 19th century, it remained a part of Qajar Iran. However, following the Russo-Persian wars of the 19th century, the Qajar Empire ceded its Caucasian territories, including present-day Azerbaijan, to the Russian Empire. After the collapse of the Russian Empire during World War I, Azerbaijan gained independence in 1918 as the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. However, this independence was short-lived, as the country was incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920. Azerbaijan regained its independence in 1991 following the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Baku is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan

Baku is divided into 12 administrative districts and 48 townships. The city is the scientific, cultural, and industrial centre of Azerbaijan, with many sizeable institutions headquartered there. Baku has hosted many international events, including the 2012 Eurovision Song Contest, the 2015 European Games, and the 2016 Formula One Grand Prix.

Baku has a rich history, with traces of human settlement in the region dating back to the Stone Age. The city was the realm of the Shirvanshahs during the 8th century CE, and it frequently came under assault from the Khazars and the Rus'. Baku's wealth and strategic position attracted the attention of its larger neighbours, and it was ruled by various Persian empires before being ceded to the Russian Empire in the 19th century.

Baku's economy is centred around the petroleum industry, with the presence of oil in the region known since antiquity. Baku is also a major cultural hub, with many museums, theatres, and educational institutions. Baku State University, founded in 1919, is one of the oldest modern universities in the Muslim world.

Baku has wildly varying architecture, ranging from the ancient Old City to modern buildings and the spacious Baku port. The city is known for its harsh winds, reflected in its nickname, the "City of Winds".

Azerbaijan is bordered by Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, and Turkey

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia. It is bordered by Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Iran, and Turkey. The country is officially called the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Russia borders Azerbaijan to the north, specifically Russia's republic of Dagestan. Russia's occupation of the region in the 19th century separated Azerbaijan from Iran.

Georgia borders Azerbaijan to the northwest. Both countries were incorporated into the expanding Russian Empire in the early 19th century.

Armenia borders Azerbaijan to the west and via the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the north and east. The border between the two countries has been the site of intense conflict since 1988 due to the predominantly Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh within Azerbaijan.

Iran borders Azerbaijan to the south. The territory of what is now Azerbaijan was separated from Iran in the first half of the 19th century through the Russo-Persian Wars. The two countries share the same history, religion, and culture, and both have a Shia majority.

Turkey borders Azerbaijan to the west via the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan to the northwest.

The country is rich in oil and natural gas

Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country located at the boundary of Eastern Europe and West Asia. It is rich in oil and natural gas resources, with about two-thirds of the country containing these fossil fuels.

Azerbaijan's oil industry has a long history, dating back to ancient times. In the early 1970s, when Azerbaijan was part of the Soviet Union, the Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashli (ACG) oil field was discovered. It is the country's largest oil field, located about 100 km east of Baku, and comprises a series of individual reservoir horizons 2,000 to 3,500 metres beneath the Caspian seabed. The ACG field is responsible for about 65% of the country's current oil production and is the main source of oil for export.

In addition to the ACG field, there are several other oil fields in Azerbaijan, including the Karabakh offshore oil field, operated by Equinor, and the Umid-Babek offshore gas field, developed by the State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic (SOCAR). Oil is produced both onshore and offshore in the Caspian Sea, with offshore production accounting for about a quarter of the total.

Azerbaijan also has an estimated 1.3 to 2.5 trillion cubic metres of proven natural gas reserves. While the country is not as prominent in global gas as it is in oil, natural gas extraction is expected to significantly contribute to the economy in the coming decades. The largest natural gas field is the BP-operated Shah Deniz field, which is one of the world's largest, supplying gas to the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) pipeline to Europe. Other natural gas fields include the Absheron offshore gas field, operated by Total, and the Shafag-Asiman offshore gas field, operated by BP.

The country's energy mix is heavily concentrated in fossil fuels, with oil and gas accounting for more than 98% of the total supply. While supply security is not a concern, heavy reliance on fossil fuels has led to elevated GHG emissions and exposure to fuel price fluctuation risks. Azerbaijan has recognised the need to diversify its energy sources and is aiming to increase the share of renewables in power production to 30% by 2030.

Azerbaijan is a unitary semi-presidential republic

Azerbaijan gained independence from the Russian Empire in 1918, becoming the first secular democratic Muslim-majority state. However, it was conquered and incorporated into the Soviet Union in 1920. It proclaimed its independence again on 30 August 1991, shortly before the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

The Republic of Azerbaijan is a democratic, constitutional, secular, and unitary republic. Its government functions as an authoritarian regime, and it has been ruled by the Aliyev political family and the New Azerbaijan Party since 1993. The country's system of governance is two-tiered, with the executive power headed by the president. The legislative power is held by the unicameral National Assembly, and the judicial power is vested in the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, and the Economic Court. The president is the head of state and is elected for a seven-year term by direct elections. The prime minister heads the legislature and acts as the head of government.

Azerbaijan has diplomatic relations with 182 countries and is a member of several international organisations, including the United Nations, the Council of Europe, the Non-Aligned Movement, the OSCE, and the NATO PfP program. It is also an observer state of the World Trade Organization. The country's political culture is characterised by pluralism, with multiple political parties participating in political life through representatives in the legislative and local self-governing bodies.

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