Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is a country on the continents of both Europe and Asia
Brief History
Azerbaijan is a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia—the area between the Black Sea and the Caspian sea. Its capital is Baku which borders the Caspian Sea. Historically, the word Azerbaijan referred to a larger area that formed part of Persia. This area was ruled in turn by the Sassanids, the Umayyad Caliphate, various Trukic groups, and the Ottoman and Russian empires. The Azerbaijan Democratic Republic was established in 1918 and was the first secular democratic republic in the Muslim world. Azerbaijan became part of the Soviet Union only two years later and didn’t regain its independence until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. This tumultuous history made Azerbaijan what it is today.
National Flag
The national flag of Azerbaijan has three equally sized stripes, one blue, one red, and one green. It has a white crescent and an eight-pointed star in the center. The blue in the flag represents Azerbaijan’s Turkish heritage, the red stands for progress, and the green represents Islam. The crescent and star also symbolize Islam.
Geography
Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country, part of both Europe and Asia. It borders Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Iran to the south, and Turkey and Armenia to the west. The Caspian sea forms a natural border to the east of Azerbaijan. The Great Caucasus mountain range goes along the north of Azerbaijan, near the Russian border.
World Land Mass Ranking: 114th
Highest Mountain: Mount Bazardüzü 4,467 meters (14,656 ft) above sea level
Longest River: Kür 1,515 km (941 miles)
Main Languages
Azerbaijani (official) and Russian
Azerbaijan Population: 9.9 million (as of 2019)
Capital City: Baku
Capital City Population: 2.2 million (as of 2016)
Climate
Nine out of the eleven climate zones are present in Azerbaijan, making the climate very diverse. It is predominantly a mountainous country, which affects climates and temperatures. The Caspian sea is also one of the factors that makes the climate of Azerbaijan so diverse. Winters are usually cold and dry, while summers are warm.
Key People
Cuisine
Azerbaijan cuisine is known for its diversity. There is an abundance of fresh greens and vegetables in Azerbaijan, including tomatoes, eggplant, beets, peppers, radishes, and cabbage. Spices and herbs, including coriander, mint, dill, tarragon, thyme, and parsley are also used often in dishes to add flavor. The most commonly used meats are lamb, beef and poultry. In areas near the sea, fish is very common. Some of the most famous dishes in Azerbaijan are Dovga (a soup made from plain yogurt and herbs), Dolma (grape or cabbage leaves filled with minced lamb meat, herbs, and spices), Piti (a soup with lamb, potatoes, peas, herbs, chestnuts, and onions), and Lavangi (a stuffed chicken or fish with walnuts, onions, and plum paste).
Left is a picture of some common Azerbaijani snacks.
Sports
Freestyle wrestling has often been regarded as the national sport of Azerbaijan. Although wrestling is a historically important sport in Azerbaijan, the most popular sports are actually football and chess. Water sports are popular in areas next to the Caspian sea. Many other sports are also popular, such as judo, futsal, gymnastics, boxing, and weightlifting. Overall, there is a wide variety of sport in Azerbaijan.
Left is a picture of the national Azerbaijan football team.
Culture
The culture in Azerbaijan is influenced by Iranian, Turkic, Caucasian, and Russian influences. Dance, folk art, literature, and music are all important parts of Azerbaijan culture. The country was one of the first to be involved in cinematography, the film industry dating back to 1898. Carpet weaving is also an important part of culture in Azerbaijan. There are four groups of carpets: Baku, Ganja, Karabakh, and Shirvan, all named after the geographical area they are from. Over 90% of the population is Muslim, making it the most prominent religion in Azerbaijan.
Left is a picture of some Azerbaijanian musicians.
Download questions about the Azerbaijan here: Azerbaijan (answers are on this page)
Teachers. For more in depth work sheets on Azerbaijan. Click on Kidskonnect Worksheets
For further reading and more info on the Azerbaijan visit https://kids.kiddle.co/Azerbaijan
10 facts about Azerbaijan
1. Neft Daşları is an Azerbaijani city on stilts in the Caspian sea.
2. Arm wrestling is a common pastime in Azerbaijan.
3. Azer” means fire, and Azerbaijan is known as the land of fire.
4. Azerbaijan has two cultural UNESCO World Heritage sites.
5. Azerbaijan is home to over 40% of the world’s mud volcanoes.
6. The horse is the national animal of Azerbaijan.
7. Azerbaijan produces a lot of oil and natural gas.
8. There is a miniature book museum located in Baku’s Old City.
9. The life expectancy in Azerbaijan is 72 years.
10. Grapes are plentiful in Azerbaijan.
Q&A Corner
