Azerbaijan is the country which is on a joint of two continents - Europe and Asia. In the north we border on Russia, in the south with Iran, in the West on Armenia and Georgia, and from the east the country is washed with waters of Caspian Sea.

Azerbaijan is a country with a rich and ancient history. Here during many millennia, the rich cultural heritage included in a treasury of a world civilization, was created. Jaw of the person living here and subjects of material culture found in Azykh cave have age of 250 thousand years.

Historians refer the first formations of the Azerbaijan statehood to the first millennium of B.C. The Absheron peninsula, where a capital Baku is located, started to be settled 40 thousands years ago. Archeologists till now find the rests of dwellings, stone instruments, other traces of activity of the human being. The most interesting in this respect is a museum of figures engraved at rock in Gobustan.

One their interesting district is Nakhichevan where a tomb of Noh is located. The history of Azerbaijan is also connected with names of Apostles of Bartholomew and Elisei, which preached here. In Sheki region there is a church which has been constructed in 62 year by apostle Elisei. Other monuments concerning various religions are interesting too, like pagan and Zoroastrian temples, synagogues, churches, mosques and other religious monuments. During centuries great powers waged wars for capturing of this territory. Local residents had to be at war with phalanxes of Alexander the Great, legions of Roman Empire, armies of the Persian tsars, to reflect attacks of nomadic hordes from Near Volga steppes. But in peace times trade with the different countries was actively conducted. Many trading ways from the East to the West, and including the well-known Silk way, ran through Azerbaijan. In Middle Ages Azerbaijan was divided into khanates; fortresses in unapproachable mountain areas begun to be built, remains of which can be visited with excursions.

Today Azerbaijan is the state, which consistently builds a democratic society that aspires to integration into global economic system, having for this purpose all necessary conditions.

Representatives of many nations and nationalities live in modern Azerbaijan. Especially it would be noted that nationality of Khinalig which live only in one mountainous village Khinalig, whose language is unique and does not concern to any one of known language groups. Large number of the nations and the nationalities occupying the country has caused a variety of cuisine. Each region is famous with its special dishes and drinks. It is a true paradise for gourmets.

Occupying rather small territory, Azerbaijan has unique natural-climatic features. From 11 climatic zones of our planet 9 are available in territory of Azerbaijan: from subtropics up to high-mountainous Alpine meadows. Difference of height is from 28 meters below the sea level of world ocean (Baku) up to 4466 meters higher than a level of World Ocean (mountain Bazaar duzu). In the north of Azerbaijan there are mountains of the Great Caucasian ridge, in the northwest - mountains of Lesser Caucasus, and in the south Talysh (Girkan) mountains. Steppes are located in the central part of the country.

The largest lake of the world the Caspian Sea is also unique. Being the closed reservoir, Caspian Sea possesses original flora and fauna. The fauna of the sea totals more than 400 species, and 245 species of the plants. The most valuable breeds of fishes are sturgeon type fishes like white fish, the sturgeon, stellate sturgeon.

Up to 250 mud volcanoes exist in territory of Azerbaijan. Basically they are located in area from Lokbatan up to Alyat. Mud volcanoes form the unique landscape like in cadres from fantastic films.

More than 1000 rivers run in territory of the country. The largest river is the Kura. Azerbaijan is famous with its numerous mineral waters. Most known of them are Istisu, Turshu, Badamly. Large sweet water lakes in Azerbaijan are not available but there are many small lakes, up to 250.

There are more than 4200 species of flora in the republic. Some from them are relicts and it could not be found nowhere in the world, for example, Eldar pine, a silk acacia, an iron tree. Mountain forests are attractive for rest and tourism. The fauna of Azerbaijan is rich too. The fauna is presented with 12000 species, from which 623 species are vertebrates. Only in Kyzyl-Agach reserve about 250 species of birds are nested within a year.

We invite you to visit hospitable Azerbaijan, the country of pleasant contrasts!