The Azerbaijan Republic is a sovereign state at the junction of Europe and Asia. It is located in the south-eastern part of TransCaucasian region on the south-western shore of the Caspian Sea. Its territory covers 86,6 km 2 . It borders with the Russian Federation on the north; with Georgia and Armenia - on the west; with Turkey - on the south-west; with Iran - on the south and its eastern border lies on the Caspian.
Population - 8,0 million.
Capital - Baku (2 mln). It is the largest sea port on the Caspian.
Landscape and climate of Azerbaijan varies greatly. They are ranging 9 out of 11 climatic planet zones from alpine meadows to subtropical zone.
Azerbaijan is located in moderate and zones. All the year round the Republic is supplied with solar energy and warm in abundance. An average number of fine days per year is equal to 284.
Mild winter and moderately hot summer are typical for the major part of the country. An average temperature in July is + 28 and in January - + 1. In many regions of Azerbaijan the summer temperature raises higher up to + 35-40. In mountain area the climate depends on the location above sea level: the higher, the cooler.
Azerbaijan is reach with its natural resources and oil made the republic world-known. Here there are located deposits of iron ore, gold, molybdenum, arsenic.
Azerbaijan is famous with its numerous mineral springs. The world-scaled unique spa Naftalan is located here and the treatment of patients is carried out with curative oil compounds which are extracted on-site.
Flora and fauna are worth of mentioning. Here one can see relic trees and rare animals and birds species in their natural environment. Climate is extremely favorable everywhere and it might be the main reason for existing a lot of senior citizens in Azerbaijan as the republic with world-proven level for long life expectancy.
Within the small area of the republic there are 14 reserves, 35 hunting areas and national parks to provide environmental protection and preserve wild life for incoming generations. The present level of the Caspian lies 28 m below the World Ocean and is still constantly changing.
The steel-platform township known as "Oil Rocks"(60 miles out to sea) where the oilmen live and work, was built for off-shore oil exploration and this is a true man-made wonder. The Caspian is a unique water area for natural reproduction of beluga, salmon, kutum, sturgeon and other fishes. It is a natural source for manufacturing the world famous caviar of the best quality. The Caspian shoreline is remarkable for its wide-spreading areas of golden soft sand. All the year round bathing is available.
Moreover, the history and culture of Azerbaijan root in ancient times. Traces of a Neanderthal man which were discovered in the Azikh Cave testify the inhabitance of primitive men in this region 250 thousand years ago at the Early Palaeolithic Period.
The caravan paths from Europe to Asia were laid by the ancient merchants through our republic and more than one thousand sites of historic and architectural importance are monumented here and there. These are ancient towns and fortresses, palaces, mausoleums, churches and mosques, tiny chapels on the towers and other traces over long centuries of historical development in Azerbaijan.
The Great Silk Road is under way of a new renaissance now and Azerbaijan is a party constitute a central part of this process. For a long period the Great Silk Road had a considerable impact on economic status of Azerbaijan. The revival of the Great Silk Road will speed up the process of restoration and development of tourism in Azerbaijan.