AZERBAIJAN

100 Questions Answered

If you ever wondered where Azerbaijan is or why it is called the land of fire or if you’re looking for a colourful and ancient culture or a country linking Europe and asia, you need look no further than the  http://www.azerbaijaninformation.com Website. 
                                                                                                  Azerbaijan: 100 Questions Answered is the result of a survey undertaken by The European Azerbaijan Society and the Anglo-Azerbaijani Youth Society to find out the most common and interesting questions asked about Azerbaijan.
We hope this information will be useful not only to visitors to Azerbaijan , who want Information about the county from the practical to the obscure, but also anyone who has an interest in Azerbaijan,

whether they are a student, or specialist, a journalist looking for an interesting topic or a business executive wanting a different insight into the country.
The Azerbaijan information website describes the Geography, Geanology, and Climate, and the political ,  social and historical aspects of the fascinating country of Azerbaijan.

Facts & Figures.

1-8.

1. Where is Azerbaijan .
2. Why is Azerbaijan called the land of fire.
3. What do Azerbaijan’s state symbols stand for.
4. What is the population of Azerbaijan and its major cities.
5. What is Azerbaijans’s ethnic make-up.
6. What religions are represented in Azerbaijan.
7. Where are Azerbaijan’s parks and nature reserves.
8. What are Azerbaijan’s main exports and imports.

1. Where is Azerbaijan.  
                                           
The Republic of Azerbaijan is located in the south-east of the Caucasian region with an 825-km coastline along the Caspian sea. Much of the country is mountainous. The Greater Caucasian range rises to the north, where Bazarduzu (4,466 metres) is the highest peak. Below the mountains lies the Kur-Araz lowland.  Azerbaijan has a total area of 86,600 square kilometres (33,400 square miles) including in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. Of  the total area of the country 12 percent is forested, 1.6 per cent is water and 54.9 per cent is agricultural land, of which 31.1 per cent is pasture and 31 percent other land. The country lies between 44 and 52 degrees longtitude east and 38 and 42 degrees latitude north. The Capital, Baku is situated on the 40th parallel. Azerbaijan’s northern border with the Russian Federation is 390 Kilometres long. The longest border is with Armenia to the west, 1007 kilometres.
To the north-west the border with Georgia stretches 480 kilometres. To the south-west, in Nakhchivan, the border with the Turkish Republic is only 15 kilometres long.To the south, Azerbaijan, including Nakhchivan, has a 765 – kilometre border with the Islamic Republic of Iran. Azerbaijan consists of the following administrative entities one autonomous republic (Nakhchivan with a total area of 5500 square kilometres), 66 districts , 70 towns, 13 urban districts (11 in Baku and 2 in Ganja), 239 urban type settlements and 4,279 rural settlements. The Representatives of local authorities (village and settlements) are appointed by the heads of districts and cities who, in turn are directly appointed by the president. On the 12th December 1999 municipal elections were held for the first time. The territory of Azerbaijan also includes the islands of Sari, Kurdili, Pirallahi, Chilof, Khara-Zira and big Zira in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian.

2. Why is Azerbaijan called the Land of fire .

There are several theories as to why Azerbaijan is called the land of fire. One of the earliest names for oil rich Azerbaijan, mentioned in Persian sources, is Aturpatakan. This means “ a place where sacred fire is preserved” . Oil extraction in the Absheron peninsula, which is one of the world’s oldest oil regions, dates back to 7th- 6th centuries BC and is mentioned in the works of ancient and medieval historians. Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus ( 4th century AD) wrote in his History that the ancient states of Azerbaijan used “Midian oil” was called nafta in the local language. The South Caucasus is considered one of the first regions where fire was used. At various sites in the south Caucasus gas ignites on escaping from the ground, creating the effect of a burning hillside . Fire – worship was strong in Azerbaijan and Zoroastrianism spread. This can be seen in the monuments and superstitions which consider fire to be sacred. Moreover, in ancient Greek mythology Prometheus was bound by a chain to the Caucasus Mountains by order of Zeus, because he had stolen fire from the gods and brought it to mankind . 

3. What do Azerbaijan’s state symbols stand for .

Under the Constitution Azerbaijan’s state symbols are the state flag, state emblems and national anthem. On 9th November 1918, the government of the Azerbaijani Democratic Republic adopted the tricolour national flag. The flag was rejected by the Soviet regime, which took over after the collapse of the Azerbaijani Republic on the 28th April 1920. The tricolour was restored on 17th November 1990, when the Supreme Majlis of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic decided to approve it as its national flag. At the same time the Supreme Soviet of the Nakhchivan AR asked the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijani SSR to recognize the tricolour flag as the national symbol of Azerbaijan. On 5th February 1991 the Supreme Soviet of the Azerbaijani SSR duly adopted the tricolour as the national flag of Azerbaijan.

Blue signifies Turkic origin
Red signifies modernity and democracy
Green signifies islam,The crescent and octagonal star Represent the moon and the sun,eternity and secularity.
                                                                                                                                               

The state emblem was adopted by law and charter, signed by the Azerbaijani president on 19th January 1993.

The shield on the emblem stands for defence
The tricolour circular lines stand for the flag
The  ogtagonal star on the circular lines stands for the sun
The tongues of flame in the middle of the octagonal star stand for the land of fire
The wheat ears signify abundance
The branches of the oak tree signify eternity.

The Azerbaijani National Anthem, written by Uzeyir Hajivbayov with lyrics by Ahmed Javad, was adopted as the
National anthem under a law signed by the Azerbaijani president on the 27th May 1993.

Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan!
You are a country of heroes!
We will die that you might live!
We will shed our blood to defend you!
Long live your tricolour banner!
Thousands of people have sacrificed their lives
You have become a battlefield.
Every soldier fighting for you has become a hero
We pray for your prosperity,
We sacrifice our lives to you
Our sincere love for you come from the bottom of our hearts.
To defend your honour,
To raise your banner
All the young people are ready
Glorious motherland,
Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan!

4. What is the population of Azerbaijan.

  Baku City at Night

 
Azerbaijan is the most populous of the republics of the Caucuses. More than 8.5 million people live here, of whom over 379,500 live in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.
In 2007  152,000 children were born in Azerbaijan, that is 416 per day. The birth rate was 18 per 1000 of the population, while the ratio of live births was 11 per 1000. Average life expectancy is 72 : 69 for men and 75 for woman. Children under 15 constitute one-quarter of the population while those of working age make up about 60 percent. O f the population , 49.3 per cent are men while 50.7 per cent are women. Some 80 per cent of the population is concentrated in valleys and lowlands that are irrigated and suitable for farming and where the large industrial centres lie. The average population density of Azerbaijan is 97 persons per square kilometre. The urban population makes up 51.7 per cent (4,501,000). After baku (1,893,300) the largest towns are Ganja (308,000 inhabitants) Sumgayit (296,900), Mingachevir (95,500), Nakhchivan (76,000), Shirvan (74,600), Sheki (56,000) and Khankandi (54,800 in 1989). The capital of Azerbaijan is Baku, the city covers 192,000 hectares.

  Guba       Ganja
 

5. What is Azerbaijan’s ethnic make-up ?

The geographical position of Azerbaijan and its people’s cosmopolitan traditions have attracted various ethnic groups to live here. Most of them are ancient Caucasian peoples. From the ethnic, physiological and cultural point of view they are kindred nations to the Azerbaijanis. From 1828 Armenians and in the mid 19th century Russians were resettled to the territory of Azerbaijan. According to the last census in 1999, the ethnic make-up of the country is as follows:Azerbaijanis – 7,205,500, (90.6 %) , Lezgins – 178,000 (2.2 % ), Russians- 141,700 (1.8%) , Armenians - 120,700 (1.5%) , Talish – 76,800 (1%) , Avars – 50,900 (0.6%) , Akhiska (Meskheti) Turks – 43,400 (0.5%) , Tatars – 30,000 (0.4%) , Ukrianians – 29,000 (0.4%) , Tzakhurs – 15,900  (0.2%) , Georgians – 14,900 (0.2%), Kurds – 13,100 – (0.2%), Tats – 10,900 (0.13%), Jews – 8,900 (0.1%), Udins – 4,200 ( 0.05%), and other peoples 9,600 (0.12%) . The official language of the Azerbaijani Republic is Azerbaijani. Azerbaijani is the first language of 99.2 % of the population and of 99.8% of ethnic Azerbaijanis.
 A Market in Azerbaijan
 
6. What religions are represented in Azerbaijan.

  A Mosque in Azerbaijan.   A Church in East Azerbaijan

Religious freedom is stipulated in the Azerbaijani Constitution. Under the constitution religion is separate from the state and all religions are equal before the law. There is no official religion in the country. The majority of the population in Azerbaijan is Muslim . Here the Shi’a and the Sunni faiths do not differ from one another , but formally two thirds of muslims consider themselves to be Shi’a and one third sunni. There are 5 Russian Orthodox , Three Georgian Orthodox, one Armenian Gregorian, one Catholic , and 13 Old believers, churches ,( some of which are Molokan churches) , as well as three Jewish synagogues, one Lutheran church, six Baptist churches and one place of worship for the Baha’I and Hare Krishna faiths respectively.

MUSLIMS – 93.4 %
Russian Orthodox – 2.5 %
Armenian – 2.3 %   
Other – 1.3 % .

7. Where are Azerbaijans parks and nature reserves.

Villa Petrolea, the first the first park in Azerbaijan, was laid in 1882 in Baku on the initiative of Ludwig Nobel (1883-88), an oil baron and philanthropist. There are now 8 national parks in Azerbaijan. – the seaside National Park, known a the boulevard ( Sabail and Nasimi districts in central Baku), the absheron (Azizbeyov district), shirvan ‘’’ (salyan, Neftchala and Garadagh district of Baku), Agh-Gol (Aghjabedi and beylaqan districts), Altiaghaj (Khizi and siyazan districts), Hirkan ( lankaran  and Astara districts), Hasan Aliyev ( Ordubad District, Nakhchivan), and Goygol . (Goygol, Dashkasan and Goranboy districts).
There are 14 National Nature Reserves in Azerbaijan Shahbuz (Shahbuz district), Nakhchivan), Turyanchay (Aghdash, Yevlakh, and Gabala districts), Pirgulu(Shamakhi District), Garayazi (Aghstafa and Gazakh districts), Shirvan (Salyan Districts), Ismayilli (Ismayilli district), Ilisu (Gakh District), Goygol ( Goygol District), Basitchay (Zengilan District), Eldar Shami ( Samukh District), Gara Gol (Lachin District), Gizilaghaj ( Lankaran and Masalli districts), Zagatala and balakan districts) and Korchay ( Goranboy district).

8.What are Azerbaijans main exports and imports

 Oil and oil products are Azerbaijan’s main exports. The contract of the century, signed between the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and leading world oil companies, led to an increase in oil exports from 1998. this rapid growth was the result of the exploration of new oil deposits and high oil price on the world market. Other leading exports are foodstuffs(vegetables,fruits,meat etc.), technology and equipment, textiles(mainly seedless raw cotton), chemicals, metals and plastics. Imports are more diversified, though they will still indirectly reflect the needs of the oil industry. Technology, transport components and other equipment for the oil industry make up the Lion’s share of total imports.Mineral products including oil products,
Metals, chemicals, plastics and food products also constitute an important share of imports.Other imports include wood, paper, products for the printing industry and textiles. According to recent statistics, Azerbaijan has import and export operations with 135 countries around the world. Exports make up 50.8% of foreign trade, while imports account for 49.2 % .