Azerbaijan – land of fire Gulhayat M. Abdullayeva

Welcome to Azerbaijan

Republic of Azerbaijan Capital: Baku Population 9.6 million Area 86,600 sq. km (33,400 sq. miles) Major languages Azeri, Russian Major religion Islam Life expectancy 68 years (men), 74 years (women) (UN) Main exports Oil, oil products

Antiquity The earliest evidence of human settlement in the territory of Azerbaijan dates back to the late Stone Age and is related to the Guruchay culture of the Azykh Cave. Petroglyphs in Gobustan dating back to 10,000 BC indicating a thriving culture. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site considered to be of "outstanding universal value".

Architecture of Azerbaijan Azerbaijani architecture typically combines elements of East and West. Many ancient architectural treasures such as the Maiden Tower and Palace of the Shirvanshahs in the Walled City of Baku survive in modern Azerbaijan. Entries submitted on the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list include the Ateshgah of Baku, Momine Khatun Mausoleum, Hirkan National Park, Binegadi National Park, Lökbatan Mud Volcano, Baku Stage Mountain, Caspian Shore Defensive Constructions, Shusha National Reserve, Ordubad National Reserve and the Palace of Shaki Khans

The Maiden Tower and The Palace of the Shirvanshahs in Old Baku is a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 11th–12th century.

Museums in Baku Villa Petrolea Baku Museum of Modern Art The Palace of Shaki Khans located in Shaki Villa Petrolea Baku Museum of Modern Art

The 13th-century Bibi-Heybat Mosque The 13th-century Bibi-Heybat Mosque. The mosque was built over the tomb of a descendant of Muhammad. Mardakan Castle, Baku Atesgah of Baku (the "Fire Temple") is a 16th century Zoroastrian compound near Baku. Momine Khatun Mausoleum in Nakhchivan  built in the 12th century

Tourism Tourism is an important part of the economy of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has also becoming a popular destination for religious, spa, and health care tourism. During winter, the Shahdag Mountain Resort offers skiing with state of the art facilities. The government of Azerbaijan has set the development of Azerbaijan as an elite tourist destination as a top priority. It is a national strategy to make tourism a major, if not the single largest, contributor to the Azerbaijani economy. Shahdag Mountain Resort is the country's largest winter resort. Mountain-skiing tourist complexes

Subtropical forests near Lerik, close to the Iranian border Mud volcanoes in Gobustan.

Mountain road leading to Khinalug. Waterfall in Lerik

Skyscrapers in Baku Flame Towers Azersu Tower SOFAZ Tower

Ganja is Azerbaijan's second largest city with a population close of about 825,900.

Landscape Azerbaijan is home to a vast variety of landscapes. Over half of Azerbaijan's land mass consists of mountain ridges, crests, yailas, and plateaus which rise up to hypsometric levels of 400–1000 meters, in some places up to 100–120 meters, and others from 0–50 meters and up. Nine out of 11 existing climate zones are present in Azerbaijan. Both the absolute minimum temperature ( −33 °C or −27.4 °F ) and the absolute maximum temperature ( 46 °C or 114.8 °F ) were observed in Julfa and Ordubad.

Landscape Mount Bazarduzu, the highest peak of Azerbaijan, as seen from Mount Shahdagh Murovdag is the highest mountain range in the  Lesser Caucasus. The landscape of Khinalug valley.

Fauna and Flora of Azerbaijan The first reports on the richness and diversity of animal life in Azerbaijan can be found in travel notes of Eastern travelers. Animal carvings on architectural monuments, ancient rocks and stones survived up to the present times. There are 106 species of mammals, 97 species of fish, 363 species of birds, 10 species of amphibians and 52 species of reptiles which have been recorded and classified in Azerbaijan. The national animal of Azerbaijan is the Karabakh horse. The Karabakh horse is the national animal of Azerbaijan.

Culture National Museum of History Nizami Museum of Literature National Art Museum

The Azerbaijani carpet and Kalaghai, a UNESCO Masterpiece of Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

Music and dances of Azerbaijan

Cuisine The traditional cuisine is famous for an abundance of vegetables and greens used seasonally in the dishes.  Climatic diversity and fertility of the land are reflected in the national dishes, which are based on fish from the Caspian Sea and local meat. Dushbara, a traditional Azerbaijani meal. Appetizers and snacks

Pilaf, as a king of all dishes, is always served at the center of the table. Saffron-rice plov is the flagship food in Azerbaijan Azerbaijani dolma

black tea is the national beverage. At the end of the meal, tea is served with the nation’s world-famous sweet pastries – Pakhlava, Shekerbura, Gogal, Badambura, Keta and others. Different kinds of jams are served with the tea as well – walnut, sour cherry, cornel, sweet white cherry, and even rose petal. black tea is the national beverage.

Thank you for your attention