World Atlas Azerbaijan

Author: Sun Zhuangzhi
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-05-01
Features: In the southeastern part of the Caucasus region of Western Asia, on the western coast of the Caspian Sea, there is a country in the Caucasus with the largest area and the most population, which is Azerbaijan. It is said that the country is large and has a large population, but in fact, it is relatively so. The total area of the country is only 86,600 square kilometers, and the current population is only 8.2025 million. In Asia, it can only be considered a small country. The name "Azerbaijan" in Arabic means "the land of fire." It is located in a subtropical region, with hot and dry summers and relatively warm winters. Azerbaijan has a long history of civilization and has also gone through many hardships. It has been plagued by invasions and from foreign peoples throughout history. On August 8, 1991, the Republic of Azerbaijan declared independence and became a young member of the global family. Azerbaijan is rich in mineral resources such as oil, natural gas, iron ore, polymetallic minerals, and alunite. The country has a very long history of oil and natural gas extraction, with abundant oil reserves and high quality. The capital, Baku, is renowned for its oil industry and is known as the "Oil City." In the 1920s, Azerbaijan's oil production accounted for 95% of the former Soviet Union's total. After independence, the proven reserves of offshore oil in the Caspian Sea of Azerbaijan have been increasing year by year. Currently, the country produces over 10 million tons of oil annually, most of which is exported. Oil development is a major pillar of the economy. Azerbaijan has a unique culture. The majority of the population is Muslim. Due to its secular principles, religion has no direct impact on the country's political life. The capital, Baku, has a population of over 1 million and is a highly Westernized metropolis as well as a major port on the Caspian Sea. The education system is relatively well-developed. Azerbaijan has numerous historical relics and scenic spots, attracting a large number of tourists every year. Azerbaijan is also a multi-ethnic country, with the Azerbaijani people accounting for over 90% of the total population. They are passionate, love singing, and dancing. Due to past intense ethnic conflicts, the people of Azerbaijan now cherish their peaceful and tranquil lives. After independence, Azerbaijan has pursued a peaceful and friendly foreign policy, hoping to engage in cooperation with all countries in the world. Currently, Azerbaijan has close relations with Turkey, Russia, the United States, Iran, and European countries. China's relations with Azerbaijan have developed rapidly, with increasing friendly exchanges in various fields. This book is one of the key projects of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' series "Countries of the World," and is the first comprehensive monograph on Azerbaijan in China. It actually introduces various aspects of Azerbaijan, including its history, geography, politics, economy, foreign relations, culture, and education, and has the nature of an encyclopedia. Due to the scarcity of information, especially in areas such as history, culture, education, military, and sports, it is difficult to find complete introductions. Almost all new materials are in Russian or English. The author overcame many difficulties, translated a large amount of textual material, and reorganized it to present this beautiful and mysterious country to readers as comprehensively and systematically as possible.