Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan.

Ganja. Photograph © by Milos Surla

Azerbaijan, is located in the South Caucasus at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia. The coutry is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to the south. The Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic (an exclave of Azerbaijan) borders Armenia to the north and east, Iran to the south and west, and Turkey to the northwest. The Nagorno-Karabakh region in the southwest of Azerbaijan Proper declared itself independent from Azerbaijan in 1991, but it is not recognized by any nation.

Azerbaijan is a secular state, and has been a member of the Council of Europe since 2001. The Azerbaijani people (Azeris) are the majority population, the majority of who are traditionally adherents of Shi'a Islam. The country is formally an emerging democracy, although with strong authoritarian rule.

Of all the republics to emerge from the former Soviet Union, Azerbaijan is probably one of the least known. On visiting the capital Baku it is evident that this country has been a crossroads between Europe and the East for man years, and this is confirmed by landmarks located throughout the city. The Greeks, Persians, and other ancient peoples visited and left their marks on the country.

In ancient times, Baku was an important stop along the Great Silk Road. The city is one of the oldest continuously inhabited spots in the world. Archaeological excavations have revealed Bronze Age burial chambers.