Azerbaijan: Capital, Flag and Fun Facts

About Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan lies in the eastern Caucasus, between the Greater Caucasus mountains and the Caspian Sea. Its landscapes range from snowy peaks and forests to dry lowlands dotted with bubbling mud volcanoes. It is often called the 'Land of Fire' because natural gas flames burn from the ground in places.

About Baku

Baku lies on the southern side of the Absheron Peninsula on the Caspian Sea, about 28 metres below sea level, making it the lowest-lying national capital in the world. Its walled Old City, with the Maiden Tower, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Fun facts about Azerbaijan

1. Nearly half of all the mud volcanoes on Earth are found in Azerbaijan.
2. At Yanar Dag, the 'burning mountain' near Baku, a natural gas fire burns on a hillside without stopping.
3. Gobustan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has more than 6,000 ancient rock engravings on a rocky plateau.
4. Mount Bazardüzü, in the Greater Caucasus, is Azerbaijan's highest point at 4,466 metres.
5. Azerbaijan has a long coastline on the Caspian Sea, the largest inland body of water in the world.
6. The Historic Centre of Sheki, with its Khan's Palace, became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019.