The most interesting facts about the country of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan land of fires

Azerbaijan (Azerbaijani Azərbaycan), the official name is the Republic of Azerbaijan (Azerbaijan Azərbaycan Respublikası). The term "Azerbaijan" as the official name of the state was first used on May 28, 1918, when the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was proclaimed.

The toponym "Azerbaijan" comes from the Parthian and Middle Persian name of the ancient state of Atropatena or Media Atropatena. Media Atropatena or simply Atropatena, after the Persian campaign of Alexander the Great, they began to call the northern part of Media, where the last Achaemenid satrap of Media Atropat (Aturpatak) created a kingdom for himself. Another name for it among ancient authors is Malaya Mussel. From the name "Aturpatkan" through the Middle Persian "Aderbadgan" (Persian Âzarâbâdagân‎) comes the modern name Azerbaijan.

On February 5, 1991, the Supreme Council of the Republic of Azerbaijan adopted a resolution recognizing the tricolor flag as the state flag of Azerbaijan. The flag is a three-color cloth (tricolor). The stripes (blue, green and red) are arranged horizontally. An eight-pointed star and a crescent are placed in the center of the flag on a red stripe. Both images are white. The blue color on the flag is the traditional color of the Turkic peoples and symbolizes Turkism, red - progress, green - Islam. The crescent indicates belonging to the religion of Islam, the eight-pointed star means the eight branches of the Turkic peoples.

In the center of the coat of arms is a fire, which symbolizes the "Land of Fires". The colors used on the coat of arms are the colors of the national flag of Azerbaijan. The eight-pointed star symbolizes the eight branches of the Turkic people. Below is a wreath of ears of wheat and oak branches. A wreath of ears symbolizes wealth, fertility. Oak branches symbolize the antiquity of the country.

The capital is Baku. Large cities: Ganja, Stepanakert, Nakhichevan, Sumgayit, Lankaran, Mingachevir, Shirvan, Khirdalan.

It is located in the eastern part of Transcaucasia on the coast of the Caspian Sea. Refers to Western Asia and the Middle East. It has land borders with Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Iran.

The monetary unit is the Azerbaijani manat, equal to 100 qepiks (Azerbaijani qəpik).

The population is over 9 million people. 91st in the world in terms of population. The majority of the population is Azerbaijanis, more than a hundred thousand are Lezgins, Armenians, Russians, Talyshs.

For tourists visiting Azerbaijan, excursion tours are organized with visits to historical sights of Shamakhi, Ismayilli, Baku, Sheki, Gakh, Guba, beach tours in Baku, Nabran, Khudat, Khachmaz, Lankaran, Astara and medical tours and rest on thermal waters in Massaly, Naftalan . Rest on mineral waters in Ganja is also popular. There are over 130 museums in the country.

The earliest surviving structures in Azerbaijan include the temples in the Tsakhur villages of Kum and Lekit and the foundations of the Maiden's Tower in Baku. The architecture of the early feudal period on the territory of Azerbaijan is characterized by huge defensive structures: Beshbermak, Gilgilchay (see also Chirag-gala), Shamakhi (see also Gulistan) and Zakatala. The oldest Islamic buildings are the mosques of the 8th century in Akhsu and the Juma mosque in Shamakhi.

Sights of Azerbaijan:

• Aghdam mosque
• Azykh cave
• Ateshgah
• Bath Gadzhi Gaib
• Upper Mosque of Govkhar Agha
• Gelarsan-Görarsan
• Tomb of Yusif ibn Quseir
• Mukhtarov's Palace
• Palace of the Shirvanshahs
• Palace mosque in Baku
• Maiden's Tower
• Gobustan reserve
• Icheri Sheher (Baku quarter)
• Caravanserai (Sheki)
• Round Castle (Mardakan)
• Mausoleum of Vagif
• Mausoleum of Diri Baba
• Mausoleum of Yahya ibn Muhammad al-Hajj
• Momine Khatun Mausoleum
• Mausoleum of Nizami
• Mausoleum of Seyid Yahya Bakuvi
• Carpet Museum
• Bibi Heybat Mosque
• Mohammed Mosque in Baku
• Tuba-Shahi Mosque
• Khinalig Village Museum
• Museum of Nizami Ganjavi
• Nardaran fortress
• Sabail castle
• Opera and Ballet Theatre
• Quadrangular tower in Ramana
• Quadrangular Castle (Mardakan)

Azerbaijani national food is very diverse, numbering dozens of different dishes: dairy, meat, flour, vegetables, etc. Shish kebabs and dishes in the tandoor are widely used in Azerbaijani cuisine. One of the most famous dishes of Azerbaijani cuisine is pilaf. Popular dishes of Azerbaijani cuisine include: ovdukh - okroshka in Azerbaijani; hamrashi - Azerbaijani soup; kutab with meat; dolma; kebab; dyushbara (Azerbaijani dumplings).

• Azerbaijan's motto is "Land of Fire".
• Azerbaijan cannot boast of an impressive area. Despite this, the country is located in 9 climatic zones (11 in total).
• Azerbaijan is the birthplace of the first modern oil well and the oldest offshore oil platform "Oil Rocks", which is listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Now "Oil Rocks" is a whole village on stilts with shops, houses and cultural centers.
• Azerbaijan became the first Muslim country in the world to adopt a democratic form of government and provide women with the same opportunities as men.
• Azerbaijani historians assure that the famous Cap of Monomakh was made by craftsmen from the local mountain village of Lahij.
• There are more mud volcanoes on the territory of Azerbaijan than in any other state of our planet. Of the 800 mud volcanoes known today, 350 are located on the territory of Azerbaijan.
• There is also a whole mountain in Azerbaijan that is constantly spewing fire - Yanar Dag is located not far from Baku, and the gas field below it feeds the flame.
• Baku has Little Venice - a man-made canal that runs between shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. There are several rows of islands connected by bridges and walkways, and the best way to get around this area is by gondola.
• Not far from Baku is the salt lake Masazir, the water of which has a pink color. The reservoir has huge salt reserves suitable for industrial production.
• The national symbol of Azerbaijan is the Karabakh horse.
• In 2014, the Carpet Museum was opened in Baku, which is interesting not only for the exposition presented in it, but also because of the building itself - it was built in the form of a rolled carpet.
• From a very young age, girls are taught to crochet as part of the preparation for the traditional Seven Beauties competition. In it, girls must crochet counterclockwise; the winner is the one who knits the best pair of stockings.

Azerbaijan for children

In Baku, with children, you can visit the Ferris wheel, which is located on the coast. Nearby is a landscaped park with benches and playgrounds. During the summer, the water park is open to the public. There are many beautiful and well-maintained parks in the city, where it will also be pleasant to spend time with the whole family. One of the most interesting is Nagorny Park, you can get to it by funicular. The sights of the city include the Baku Zoo. There are also museums attractive for family holidays in Baku, including a small private Baku Museum of Miniature Books. Those who prefer outdoor recreation should visit the Gala Historical and Ethnographic Museum.

At the end of June, the first Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix was held in Baku. To celebrate this event, the oldest British newspaper The Telegraph has collected 25 amazing facts about the "Land of Fire". The information is transmitted by Moscow-Baku.

1. Azerbaijanis love pancakes

Kutaby - stuffed pancakes - is almost a national dish in Azerbaijan. They are stuffed with pumpkin, meat or herbs. Leave your Nutella at home.

3. Difficulties at the borders

To get to Nagorno-Karabakh, which is located in the west of Azerbaijan, you will have to cross the border. Despite the fact that this region has declared autonomy, it is recognized throughout the world as part of Azerbaijan. Karabakh is famous for its majestic mountain ranges, mulberry groves and vineyards, which spread freely in the valleys.

4. Azerbaijanis love tea with jam

No holiday is complete without tea, which is served with a huge number of additions. Tea is often drunk with jam, and thyme, lemon, mint or rose water are also added to it.

5. No sugar, no wedding

During matchmaking, it is the tea tray that becomes the best indicator of how things are progressing. If there is no sugar, then the families have not yet agreed, and if the tea is sweet, then the wedding is coming soon.

6. Heroic horses

Karabakh horses are known for their speed, intelligence and endurance. They are considered the national symbol of Azerbaijan. This breed is endemic to the country and one of the oldest in the world. Once upon a time, horse meat was eaten almost everywhere, but now you are more likely to find lamb and beef on the menu instead.

7. Actually, it's a small country

Azerbaijan has approximately the same area as neighboring countries - Georgia and Armenia. True, other neighbors - Türkiye, Iran and Russia - are much larger. The area of ​​Azerbaijan is 86.6 thousand square meters. km, that is, four times the size of Wales.

For example: “You can’t make good soup out of cheap meat” or “Politeness is not sold in the market”, and “I tried to draw eyebrows, but I finished poking in the eyes.” Well, yes.

9. There is a city on stilts

The history of the village of Oil Stones began with an oil rig and several platforms that were laid right over the Caspian Sea. Today it is a whole city on stilts! It was built in 1949, and entire districts with their bakeries, shops, cultural institutions and hotels were formed around it.

10. There is a lot of gas here

Fiery Mountain (Yanardag) fully justifies its name: it is constantly surrounded by flames, which are fed from huge natural reservoirs underground. This mountain, located near Baku, has attracted travelers and conquerors for centuries. In the 13th century, the traveler Marco Polo wrote about mysterious fires that burned throughout the peninsula. Natural gas is the wealth of Azerbaijan; in 2013, 29 billion cubic meters of fuel were produced.

11. And grapes

And although Azerbaijan earns most of all thanks to oil and gas, cereals, grapes, cotton, and livestock are also grown here.

12. Currency modeled on the euro

Azerbaijan's currency, the manat, looks very similar to the euro in terms of size, color, and fonts. But each note reflects a different aspect of national identity. On the banknote of 5 manats you will find an excerpt from the national anthem, and twenty manats are decorated with a sword, shield and helmet - these are symbols of power.

In Baku, you will definitely want to try your hand at arm wrestling. There is a Federation and a professional Armwrestling League, this sport is very popular. You can try your hand at the gym and at the bar.

14. The smell of eggs? Blame volcanoes

There are more mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan than in any other country in the world - more than 400. When volcanoes erupt, the flame rises into the air to a height of up to a kilometer, and when they sleep, they release bursting bubbles with odorous gases.

15. They love good carpets here.

The Azerbaijani Carpet Museum, opened in 2014 on the waterfront in Baku, is housed in a building that looks like a giant rolled carpet. Inside you will find carpets from all eras, from all over the country. This spectacle can only be rivaled by a demonstration of the art of weavers.

16. The national sport is played to music.

Chovkan is somewhat similar to polo: it is played with a curved wooden stick, and the players sit on horseback. This is where the similarity ends: after all, the game takes place to the music, and all the players are dressed in embroidered national costumes.

17. If you want to be cool, learn to crochet

From a very young age, girls are taught to crochet as part of the preparation for the traditional Seven Beauties competition. In it, girls must crochet counterclockwise; the winner is the one who knits the best pair of stockings.

18. Baku is a crazy city

The capital of Azerbaijan is often compared to Dubai: both cities love gold and intricate architecture. Main attractions: The Heydar Aliyev Center designed by Zaha Hadid, the mirror-like SOCAR tower and the Flame Towers.

19. You can sail around the capital by boat

Baku has Little Venice - a man-made canal that runs between shops, restaurants and entertainment venues. There are several rows of islands connected by bridges and walkways, and the best way to get around this area is by gondola.

20. Speak Russian

The inhabitants of Azerbaijan speak Azerbaijani, but Russian is the second language here. Less English is spoken, so take a phrase book with you.

21. Bread is sacred

When bread gets stale, you can't just throw it in the trash. To show respect for bread, it is necessary to put it in a special bag separately from the rest of the garbage. If the bread fell, then you need to pick it up and kiss it - this is a kind of apology.

22. They don't like freedom of the press here.

When the European Games were held in Baku in 2015, investigative journalists and civil society activists were banned from entering the country.

23. Many have gold teeth. At least one

A beaming golden smile is a common sight in Azerbaijan, especially among the older generation. For some, it's a boon; for others, it's like a substitute for a savings account.

24. There is one of the last collective farms here

Ivanovka is a vestige of the Soviet era, a real collective farm. However, for most of the inhabitants of Azerbaijan, the Soviet way of life is forever a thing of the past.

25. Children are bathed in salt water.

It is believed that if you bathe a baby in salt water, he will be strong, courageous and truthful. And children's hair and nails are cut only after the first birthday.

The country of Azerbaijan, spreading in the Transcaucasus, is the birthplace of delicious food, unprecedented hospitality and rich history. With the Soviet Union, local resorts enjoyed great popularity, which declined after the collapse of the USSR, but is gaining momentum again today. And many more are attracted here by the amazing nature, incredibly beautiful mountains and ancient culture, the spirit of which literally everything is saturated 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 Azerbaijani manats, local money, 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.
• Azerbaijan's unofficial name is "the land of fires". By the way, this is also the motto of the state.
• The climate here is very diverse. In low-lying areas, it is +40 degrees in summer, and it is not cold here in winter, but in the mountains in December-January, the air temperature of -30 does not surprise anyone. In total, 9 types of climate out of 11 are found in Azerbaijan.
• About 240 species of Azerbaijani plants are found nowhere else in the world.
• The Absheron Peninsula belonging to Azerbaijan is considered one of the most unfavorable places in the world in terms of ecology. Soil, water and air are polluted here.
• There are about 800 mud volcanoes in the 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 severed 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, and 3 of them are located in the capital.
• Bread is as widespread and popular here as rice is in Asia.
• The traditions of cooking pilaf differ 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.
• Football has been the most popular sport in Azerbaijan for many decades. Chess, however, is not far behind in popularity, and many of the strongest chess players in the world are Azerbaijanis.
• One of the world's oldest salt deposits is located in the valley of the Azerbaijani Araz River, which is still operating. Salt mining began here about 5 thousand years ago.
• Almost 150 scientific institutions function in the territory of Azerbaijan.
• The unique Azerbaijani lake Masazir is notable for the fact that the water in it is pink.
• The average annual temperature of the Azerbaijani capital is equal to the average annual temperature of the Earth.
• The archaeological reserve of Gobustan, 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 particular country.
• In 1926, the first electric train in the Soviet Union was launched in Azerbaijan.
• They make a huge amount of wine here. Azerbaijani winemaking is developing rapidly, and local wines are actively exported to other countries.
• Mount Yanardag, which is in Azerbaijan, is called the Burning Mountain. One of its ridges is really on fire due to the fact that natural gas comes to the surface here.

86.6 thousand km 2 (12% forest, 1.7% water basin, 54.9% arable land, including 31.1% meadows and pastures, 31.4% other land). The country is located between 44° and 52° east longitude, 38° and 42° north latitude, Baku is located at 40° parallel. State borders: in the south with Iran 765 km and with Turkey 15 km, in the north with Russia 390 km, in the northeast the border with Georgia is 480 km, in the west with Armenia 1007 km.

The first libraries appeared on the territory of Azerbaijan during the period of existence of the earliest state formations. The first libraries were created in the 5th century. In 7, libraries appeared at mosques and madrasahs. In the Middle Ages, the following types of libraries existed in Azerbaijan: palace, special scientific and personal. Among the palace libraries, the library of the Palace of the Shirvanshahs (12th century), the Tabriz libraries (13th century) should be noted.

The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) was established on May 28, 1918. This historic day entered the life of the Azerbaijani people as a major event. This is the first republic in the East that provided all citizens, regardless of nationality, political and religious affiliation, gender, with equal rights and created a solid foundation for the future independence of Azerbaijan.

During World War II, Baku was the main source of oil for the front. With a total population of 3.4 million people from the Azerbaijan USSR, 681 thousand people were called up to the front, including 10 thousand women. 300 thousand Azerbaijanis died on the battlefields. For military prowess and feats committed during the Second World War, 128 natives of Azerbaijan received the title of Hero of the Soviet Union. General Azi Aslanov received this title twice.

The independence and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, the country's economic development, Azerbaijan's participation in world-scale projects, the peaceful negotiation process of the settlement of the Armenian-Azerbaijani, Nagorno-Karabakh conflict - all this is associated with the name of the national leader of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev.

Nagorno-Karabakh: date of occupation - 1988-1993, area - 4400 sq. km. (Shusha, Khankendi, Khojaly, Askeran, Khojavend, Agdere, Hadrut); Lachin region: date of occupation - May 18, 1992, square km; Kalbajar region: date of occupation - April 2, 1993, area sq. km. Aghdam region: date of occupation - July 23, 1993, square km; Jabrayil region: date of occupation - August 23, 1993, square km; Fuzuli region: date of occupation - August 23, 1993, square km; Gubadly region: date of occupation - August 31, 1993, square km; Zengilan region: date of occupation - October 30, 1993, area sq. km.

In the occupied territories, 600 schools, 250 kindergartens, 65 vocational institutions, 2 higher educational institutions were destroyed. As a result of the occupation of the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Armenian armed forces destroyed and destroyed houses of culture, 15 city and 503 rural houses of culture and clubs, 8 district, 32 city, 10 children's and 683 rural libraries, 6 culture and recreation parks, 47 children's music schools, 3 theaters, 3 galleries, 464 historical monuments, about 40 thousand historical items and 4.6 million books. As a result of the capture of Shushi, our spirituality was dealt a very heavy blow. Only in the city of Shusha were ravaged and destroyed 8 museums, 31 libraries, 17 clubs, 8 houses of culture.

The Khojaly genocide entered the history of Azerbaijan as one of the most terrible and tragic pages. 613 people were killed, including 63 children; women - 106, elderly - 70 people. 8 families were completely destroyed 25 children lost both parents, 130 children lost one parent A person was injured, of which 76 children; People who were held hostage by a person A person is missing

Ilham Aliyev was elected President of the Republic of Azerbaijan on October 15. Having become president, Ilham Aliyev actively took up the development of domestic production, the oil sector. The task of further liberalizing the economy and stimulating domestic investment was set at the forefront of internal development.

I believe in the happy future of Azerbaijan. I am confident that our country will continue to develop and strengthen. Democracy in Azerbaijan will be further developed, political pluralism and freedom of speech will be ensured. Our country will become a modern state.

Since ancient times, Azerbaijan has become famous not only for the works of fine art, but also for the works of architecture, which is one of the branches of folk art. Maiden Tower and the complex of the Shirvanshahs' Palace in Baku; the mausoleums of Momine Khatun and Yusif ibn Kuseir, created by the famous architect Ajami, are rare pearls of architectural art.

On the implementation of mass publications in the Azerbaijani language with Latin script On the approval of the list of works, the publication of which is planned in the Azerbaijani language with Latin script in years On the improvement of the activities of libraries in Azerbaijan On the publication of works of outstanding classics of world literature in the Azerbaijani language information sphere in the Republic of Azerbaijan for years”

Today there are libraries in the library-information network of Azerbaijan. Since 1996, the Azerbaijani government has issued the Law "On the situation of library work and measures to improve the work of libraries in the Republic of Azerbaijan". In the same year, the Law "On library work" was adopted in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

The library has regular readers. The readership is years of age. The library is also popular among subscribers of other age groups.

Department of Acquisition and Electronic Catalog. Information and bibliographic department. Scientific and methodological department. Department of International Communications and Interlibrary Loan. Library Information Department. Subscription department. Sector of military patriotism and public affairs. Art Department.

The book fund of the library consists of books, including publications in Azerbaijani, Russian, 162 in English. The library has a department of art, consisting of 1721 records, 1946 musical scores, including works of Azerbaijani and world musical heritage.

The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan Abulfas Karayev, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Azerbaijan Vasily Istratov, Commissioner for Human Rights of Azerbaijan Elmira Suleymanova, Director of the Presidential Library Mail Ahmedov and other officials.

Employees of city and district libraries belonging to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism have the opportunity to take refresher courses on a regular basis. One of these trainings was devoted to Web design and the IRBIS-64 program (Automation of library and information systems).

The site of the library named after J. Jabbarly (created in 2009 is of great interest to young people and is constantly updated.

At the moment, the electronic catalog IRBIS-64 has 3068 titles in the Azerbaijani language, there are also 5491 newspaper articles in Russian. There are 758 retro books in Azerbaijani, 787 in Russian, 22 retro books in various languages ​​in the electronic file cabinet.

After the Eurovision and the First European Games were held in Baku, perhaps no one in Europe had any doubts that Azerbaijan is a modern state that connects Europe and Asia. The oldest daily British newspaper The Daily Telegraph has devoted a material to Azerbaijan in the "Travel" section, where it reveals some features of Azerbaijani culture and mentality.

The country loves pancakes

Kutab - spring roll - a national dish of Azerbaijan. They are stuffed with pumpkin, vegetables, meat or simply fragrant herbs, then wrapped and fried in a pan. Forget Nutella, Azerbaijani pancakes are simply delicious.

Homeland of the ancient man

At the very bottom of the Azikh cave in the western part of Azerbaijan, archaeologists have found tools that were made 1.5 million years ago. There are a huge number of prehistoric remains in the six halls of the cave complex. It is believed that these caves have been inhabited for two million years.

Problems at the borders

In the west of Azerbaijan, one can cross the border and get into Nagorno-Karabakh, a self-proclaimed autonomous region. Nagorno-Karabakh is an internationally recognized region within Azerbaijan. It is famous for its incredibly beautiful mountain ranges, mulberry groves and vineyards that grow in the valleys of the region.

Azerbaijanis drink tea with jam

No social event is complete without tea, which is served with a variety of treats. The tea is usually drunk with jam and flavored with thyme, lemon, mint or rose water.

No sugar - no wedding

During matchmaking, tea is an indicator of further developments. If it is served without sugar, then this is a sign that the discussion needs to continue; if the tea is sweet, then, of course, the wedding will take place.

Horse Heroes

The Karabakh horse, known for its speed, intelligence and endurance, is considered the national symbol of Azerbaijan. This animal is endemic, one of the oldest breeds in the world.

Actually a small country.

The size of Azerbaijan is insignificant compared to Turkey, Iran and Russia bordering on it. However, Azerbaijan's area of ​​86,600 km² is about four times the size of Wales.

The country loves proverbs

Famous examples are “You can’t cook good soup from cheap meat”, “Politeness is not sold at the market”, “Not in the eyebrow, but in the eye”.

Azerbaijan has a city built on stilts

The village of Oil Rocks was originally represented by the only drilling rig in the Caspian Sea and several walking paths. Today it is a whole city on stilts with shops, cultural centers and hotels.

Huge gas reserves

The fiery mountain (Yanar Dag) erupts flames, the source of which are huge underground gas fields. The mountain, located not far from Baku, has attracted travelers and conquerors for many centuries. In the XIII century, the explorer Marco Polo wrote about the mysterious fires that blaze in those places. Natural gas is a serious source of income in Azerbaijan: 29 billion cubic meters of fuel were produced in 2013.

Huge number of vineyards

Despite the fact that the country receives a large profit from the sale of oil and gas, Azerbaijan also grows crops, grapes, cotton, and breeds farm animals.

The country's currency is similar to the euro

Azerbaijan's currency, the manat, is very similar to euro banknotes - the sizes, colors and fonts are similar. But each banknote represents a different aspect of national identity: the five-manat banknote features an excerpt from the national anthem, the 20-manat banknotes are adorned with a sword, shield and helmet.

Azerbaijanis are a strong nation

If you are in Baku, you can take part in an arm wrestling competition. Armwrestling Federation, which represents the country's professional league. This is a very serious occupation in the gyms and bars of Baku.

The smell of eggs? Blame volcanoes

There are more mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan than in any other country in the world - more than 400. When volcanoes erupt, the flame rises up to a kilometer. In a calm state, they bubble and emit harmful gases.

Azerbaijan loves good carpets

The Carpet Museum in Azerbaijan was opened in 2014 on the waterfront of Baku, in a building designed in the form of a giant rolled carpet. Inside you can see carpets of all times, from all over the country. In addition, contemplation is accompanied by a demonstration of the carpet production process.

National game with musical accompaniment

Chovgan resembles polo: it is played on horseback with curved wooden sticks. But that's where the similarity ends. The game is accompanied by music, and all players are dressed in national costumes - embroidered tunics, hats, and pantaloons.

All children can crochet

Girls are taught to crochet from a very early age, in preparation for the traditional Seven Beauties tournament: girls have to knit socks against the clock, and whoever knits the best pair is declared the winner.

Baku people are very unusual

The capital of Azerbaijan is often compared to Dubai because of its outlandish architecture and love of gold. Architectural highlights include the magnificent Heydar Aliyev Center designed by Zaha Hadid; mirror skyscraper SOCAR; and the Flame Towers, which symbolize Azerbaijan's oil and gas reserves.

You can go boating in the capital

Baku has a "Little Venice", an artificial water channel, along the course of which there are restaurants and entertainment venues. Little Venice has islands connected by bridges and walkways - but the best way to see it is by gondola.

Long history of the Russian language

Azerbaijanis speak Azerbaijani, but Russian is the second language. Not many people speak English, so take a phrase book with you.

Bread is sacred

When bread gets stale, Azerbaijani chefs don't just throw it in the trash - they take it out in bags, separate from the rest of the garbage, as a sign of respect. If you dropped bread on the floor, then according to tradition, you must kiss it as an apology.

One of the last collective farms is located in the country

A relic of Soviet times, the Ivanovka collective farm is represented by a whole community. ( The collective farm named after Niktin is a truly unique phenomenon for Azerbaijan. In 1996, an agrarian reform took place in the country, the land was transferred to private ownership. But no one began to encroach on the Nikitinites. They lived on a collective farm - let them live further, they decided in Baku. This exception was made for the sake of preserving this community, for the sake of preserving the compactness of the Russian population according to their wishes, - ed. ed.)

Children are bathed in salt water

It is believed that if you bathe newborn children in salt water, they will be strong, honest and courageous.