Azerbaijan - Tourism and Travel

The Republic of Azerbaijan, in the southeastern Caucasus Mountains, on the Caspian Sea, is located in both Europe and Asia.

It includes the region of Naxcivan, which is divided from the rest of the country by Armenia.

Azerbaijan is 33,436 square miles (88,600 square kilometers) in area.

The capital of Azerbaijan is Baku.

8,832,000 people live in Azerbaijan.

91% are Azeri, 2% are Lazs, 2% are Armenian and 2% are Russian.

The official language is Azeri. Some people speak Russian.

The majority of the people are Shi'a Muslim. There are also a large number of Sunni Muslim and a small number of Christians - Armenian Orthodox and Russian Orthodox..

Oil production is the most important industry.

Azerbaijan has many oil reserves in and around the Caspian Sea. These were some of the first oil fields in the world to be exploited.

There are many mineral resources.

Cotton and tobacco are the most important cash crops.

Sturgeon fishing is also important. 80% of the world's sturgeon comes from the Caspian Sea.

Azerbaijan is a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

It has a presidential system of government.

The official currency is the new manat, which equals 100 gopik.

Both Armenia and Azerbaijan claim the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh.

See also: Azerbaijan Asia