Baku

Baku
Baku Bak

Baku Boulevard and the Caspian Sea

Coat of arms

Location in Azerbaijan Coordinates: 402343N 495256E Country Government Mayor Area [] 2,130km2 (820sqmi) 28m (92ft) [2] Hajibala Abutalybov [1]

Coordinates: 402343N 495256E [1]

Azerbaijan

Total Elevation Population (2012)

Baku

2
Total Density Time zone Summer(DST) Postal code Area code(s) Vehicle registration Website 2,122,300 996.38/km2 (2,580.6/sqmi) AZT (UTC+4) AZST (UTC+5) AZ1000 (+994) 12 10-90 AZ BakuCity.az [3]

Baku (Azerbaijani: Bak, IPA:[bc]) is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal parts: the downtown and the old Inner City (21.5 ha). Baku's urban population at the beginning of 2009 was estimated at just over two million people.[] Officially, about 25 percent of all inhabitants of the country live in the metropolitan city area of Baku. Baku is divided into eleven administrative districts (raions) and 48 townships. Among these are the townships on islands in the Baku Bay and the town of Oil Rocks built on stilts in the Caspian Sea, 60km (37mi) away from Baku. The Inner City of Baku along with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. According to the Lonely Planet's ranking, Baku is also among the world's top ten destinations for urban nightlife.[] The city is the scientific, cultural and industrial center of Azerbaijan. Many sizeable Azerbaijani institutions have their headquarters there, including SOCAR, one of the world's top 100 companies and others.[4] The Baku International Sea Trade Port, sheltered by the islands of the Baku Archipelago to the east and the Absheron Peninsula to the north, is capable of handling two million tons of general and dry bulk cargoes per year.[5] Baku hosted the 57th Eurovision Song Contest in 2012 and will host the 2015 European Games.

Etymology
The name Baku is widely believed to be derived from the old Persian names of the city - Bd-kube, meaning "Wind-pounded city", in which bd means "wind" and kube is rooted in the verb kubidan, "to pound", thus referring to a place where wind is strong and pounding. Indeed, the city is renowned for its fierce winter snow storms and harsh winds.[] A less probable folk etymology explains the name as deriving from Baghkuy, meaning "God's town". Baga (now bagh) and kuy) are the Old Persian words for "god" and "town" respectively; the name Baghkuy may be compared with Baghdd ("God-given") in which dd is the Old Persian word for "give". Arabic sources refer to the city as Baku, Bakukh, Bakuya, and Bakuye, all of which seem to come from a Persian name. Various different politically motivated hypotheses have been also proposed to explain the etymology of the word Baku to suit a given political agenda . According to L.G.Lopatinski[6] and Ali Huseynzade[7], for example, Baku is derived from Turkic word for "hill". Caucasian history specialist Kerope Patkanov also explains the name as "hill" but in the Lak language.[7] The Turkish Islamic Encyclopedia presents the origin of the word Baku as being derived from the words Bey-Kyoy, which mean "the main city" in Turkic. Another theory suggests that the name Baku is derived from the ancient Caucasian Albanian city which was called Baguan.

Baku

History

Baku, 1861

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower
Name as inscribed on the World Heritage List
[8]

Country Type Criteria Reference

Azerbaijan Cultural iv 958 [10] [9]

UNESCO region

Europe

Inscription history
Inscription Endangered 2000 (24th Session) 20032009

The first written evidence for Baku dates to the 1st century AD.[11] The city became important after an earthquake destroyed Shamakhy in the 12th century, when the ruling Shirvanshah, Akhsitan I, chose Baku as the new capital. In 1501, Safavid Shah Ismail I laid siege to Baku. At this time the city was enclosed within the lines of strong walls, which were washed by the sea on one side and protected by a wide trench on land. In 1540 Baku was again captured by the Safavid troops. In 1604 the Baku fortress was

Baku destroyed by Safavid Shah Abbas I. On 26 June 1723, after a long siege and cannon fire, Baku surrendered to the Russians. According to Peter the Great's decree the soldiers of two regiments (2,382 people) were left in the Baku garrison under the command of Prince Baryatyanski, the commandant of the city. In 1795, Baku was invaded by Agha Muhammad Khan Qajar to defend against tsarist Russia's ambitions to subjugate the South Caucasus. In the spring of 1796, by Catherine II's order, General Zubov's troops began a major campaign in Transcaucasia. Baku surrendered after the first demand of Zubov, who had sent 6,000 troops to capture the city. On 13 June 1796 the Russian flotilla entered Baku Bay and a garrison of Russian troops was placed in the city. General Pavel Tsitsianov was appointed Baku's commandant. Later, however, Czar Paul I ordered him to cease the campaign and withdraw Russian forces. In March 1797 the tsarist troops left Baku, but a new tsar, Alexander I, began to show a special interest in capturing Baku. In 1803, Tsitsianov reached an agreement with the Baku khan to a compromise, but the agreement was soon annulled. On 8 February 1806, upon the surrendering of Baku, Huseyngulu khan of Baku stabbed and killed Tsitsianov at the gates of the city. In 1813, Russia signed the Treaty of Gulistan with Persia, which provided for the cession of Baku and most of the Caucasus from Iran and their annexation by Russia. Professor A. V. Williams Jackson of Columbia University wrote in his work From Constantinople to the Home of Omar Khayyam (1911): Baku is a city founded upon oil, for to its inexhaustible founts of naphtha it owes its very existence, its maintenance, its prosperity.... At present Baku produces one-fifth of the oil that is used in the world, and the immense output in crude petroleum from this single city far surpasses that in any other district where oil is found. Verily, the words of the Scriptures find illustration here: 'the rock poured me out rivers of oil.'

The Nobel Brothers' oil wells in Balakhani, a suburb of Baku, in the late 19th century

Oil is in the air one breathes, in one's nostrils, in one's eyes, in the water of the morning bath (though not in the drinking water, for that is brought in bottles from distant mineral springs), in one's starched linen everywhere. This is the impression one carries away from Baku, and it is certainly true in the environs.[12] The first oil well was mechanically drilled in the Bibi-Heybat suburb of Baku in 1846, though a number of hand-dug wells predate it. Large-scale oil exploration started in 1872, when Russian imperial authorities auctioned the parcels of oil-rich land around Baku to private investors. Within a short period of time Swiss, British, French, Belgian, German, Swedish and American investors appeared in Baku. Among them were the firms of the Nobel brothers together with the family von Brtzell-Szuch (Carl Knut Brtzell, who also owned the Livadia Palace) and the Rothschild family. An industrial oil belt, better known as Black City, was established near Baku. By the beginning of the 20th century almost half of world production was being extracted in Baku.[13]

Baku in 1960s

In 1917, after the October revolution and amidst the turmoil of World War I and the breakup of the Russian Empire, Baku came under the control of the Baku Commune, which was led by veteran Bolshevik Stepan Shaumyan. Seeking to capitalize on the existing inter-ethnic conflicts, by spring 1918, Bolsheviks inspired and condoned civil warfare in and around Baku. During the infamous March Days, Bolsheviks and Dashnaks seeking to establish control over the Baku streets, were faced with armed Muslim groups. Muslims suffered a crushing defeat by the united forces of the Baku Soviet and were massacred by Dashnak teams. On 28 May 1918, the Azerbaijani faction of

Baku the Transcaucasian Sejm proclaimed the independent Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) in Ganja. Shortly after, Azerbaijani forces, with support of the Ottoman Army of Islam led by Nuru Pasha, started their advance into Baku, eventually capturing the city from the loose coalition of Bolsheviks, Esers, Dashnaks, Mensheviks and British forces under the command of General Lionel Dunsterville on 15 September 1918. Thousands of Armenians in the city were massacred in revenge for the earlier March Days.[14] Baku became the capital of the ADR. On 28 April 1920, the 11th Red Army invaded Baku and reinstalled the Bolsheviks, making Baku the capital of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. During the continuing Nazi German invasion of the southwestern Soviet Union, capturing the oil fields of Baku would have been one of the ultimate goals of Operation Edelweiss, carried out between May and November 1942. The German Army's closest approach to Baku was no closer than some 530 kilometers (330 miles) northwest of Baku in November 1942, falling far short of the city's capture before being driven back during the Soviet Operation Little Saturn in mid-December 1942. With the initiatives for saving the city in the 21st century, Baku embarked on a process of restructuring on a scale unseen in its history.[15] Thousands of buildings from Soviet period were demolished to make way for a green belt on its shores; parks and gardens were built on the land reclaimed by filling up the beaches of the Baku Bay. Improvements were made in the general cleaning, maintenance, and garbage collection, and these services are now at Western European standards. The city is growing dynamically and developing at full speed on an east-west axis along the shores of the Caspian Sea.

Geography
Baku is situated on the western coast of Caspian Sea. In the vicinity of the city there are a number of mud volcanoes (Keyraki, Bogkh-bogkha, Lokbatan and others) and salt lakes (Boyukshor, Khodasan and so on).

Climate
Baku has a subtropical semi-arid climate (Kppen climate classification: BSk) with warm and dry summers, cool and occasionally wet winters, and strong winds all year long. However, unlike many other cities with this climate, Baku does not see extremely hot summers. This is largely because of its northerly latitude and the fact Greater Baku satellite image, Landsat 5, 6 that it is located on a peninsula on the shore of the Caspian Sea. Baku September 2010 and the Absheron Peninsula on which it is situated, is the most arid part of Azerbaijan (precipitation here is around or less than 200mm (8in) a year). The majority of the light annual precipitation occurs in seasons other than summer, but none of these months are particularly wet. During Soviet times, Baku with its long hours of sunshine and dry healthy climate, was a vacation destination where citizens could enjoy beaches or relax in now-dilapidated spa complexes overlooking the Caspian Sea. The city's past as a Soviet industrial center has left it as one of the most polluted cities in the world.[] At the same time Baku is noted as a very windy city throughout the year, and gale-force winds, the cold northern wind khazri and the warm southern wind gilavar are typical here in all seasons. Indeed, the city is renowned for its fierce winter snow storms and harsh winds.[] The speed of the khazri sometimes reaches 144 kph (89mph), which can cause damage to crops, trees and roof tiles.[16] The daily mean temperature in July and August averages 26.4 C (79.5F), and there is very little rainfall during that season. During summer the khazri sweeps through, bringing desired coolness. Winter is cool and occasionally wet, with the daily mean temperature in January and February averaging 4.3 C (39.7F). During winter the khazri sweeps through; driven by masses of polar air; temperatures on the coast frequently drop below freezing and make it

Baku feel bitterly cold. Winter snow storms are occasional, snow usually remains only for a few days after each snowfall. The average annual temperature in Baku and that of the Earth differ by less than 0.1 C (0.18F) : it is 14.2 C (57.6F).[17]
Climate data for Baku Month Average high C (F) Daily mean C (F) Average low C (F) Precipitation mm (inches) Avg. precipitation days (
0.1mm)

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Year
18.1 (64.6) 15.1 (59.2) 12.0 (53.6) 210 (8.27) 49

6.6 6.3 9.8 16.4 22.1 27.3 30.6 29.7 25.6 19.6 13.5 9.7 (43.9) (43.3) (49.6) (61.5) (71.8) (81.1) (87.1) (85.5) (78.1) (67.3) (56.3) (49.5) 4.4 4.2 7.0 12.9 18.5 23.5 26.4 26.3 22.5 16.6 11.2 7.3 (39.9) (39.6) (44.6) (55.2) (65.3) (74.3) (79.5) (79.3) (72.5) (61.9) (52.2) (45.1) 2.1 2.0 4.2 9.4 14.9 19.7 (35.8) (35.6) (39.6) (48.9) (58.8) (67.5) 22.2 (72) 22.9 19.4 13.6 8.8 4.8 (73.2) (66.9) (56.5) (47.8) (40.6)

21 20 21 18 18 8 2 6 15 25 30 26 (0.83) (0.79) (0.83) (0.71) (0.71) (0.31) (0.08) (0.24) (0.59) (0.98) (1.18) (1.02) 6 6 5 4 3 2 1 2 2 6 6 6

Avg. snowy days ( 1cm) Mean monthly sunshine hours

4 89.9

3 89.0

0 124.0

0 195.0

0 257.3
[]

0 294.0

0 313.1

0 282.1
[18]

0 222.0

0 145.7

0 93.0

10

102.3 2,207.4

Source #1: World Meteorological Organisation (UN), Hong Kong Observatory Source #2: Meoweather (Snowy days)
[]

for data of sunshine hours

Administrative divisions
Today, Baku is divided into 11 raions (administrative districts) and 5 settlements of city type.[19][20] The mayor, presently Hajibala Abutalybov, embodies the executive power of the city.[21]
Binagadi raion (Binqdi rayonu) Garadagh raion (Qarada rayonu) Khatai raion (Xtai rayonu) Khazar raion (Xzr rayonu) Nasimi raion (Nsimi rayonu) Nizami raion (Nizami rayonu) Pirallahy raion (Pirallah rayonu) Sabail raion (Sbail rayonu) Sabunchu raion (Sabunu rayonu) Surakhany raion (Suraxan rayonu) Yasamal raion (Yasamal rayonu)

Narimanov raion (Nrimanov rayonu)

Demographics

Baku

Year 1886 1897 1926 1939 1959 1970 1979 1999 2009

Azeris

Russians

Armenians

Jews

% Others 0.5 2,810 3

% 3.2

Total 86,611

[22] 37,530 [23] 40,341 [24] 118,737 [25] 215,482 [26] 211,372 [27] 586,052 [28] 530,556

43.3 21,390 36 37,399

24.7 24,490 33.4 19,099 36.9 76,656 43.6 118,650 34.7 137,111 27.7 207,464 22.7 167,226 6.7 5.3 378 104

28.3 391 17.1 3,369

11,696 10.5 111,904

26.2 167,373 27.4 343,064 32.9 223,242 46.3 351,090 52.4 229,873 119,371

16.9 19,589 4.3 70,978 15.7 453,333 15.1 31,050 3.9 79,377 10.1 787,623 21.3 24,057 3.7 56,725 8.7 16.4 29,716 2.3 88,193 6.9 16.5 22,916 2.3 62,865 6.2 0.02 5,164 0 6,056 0.3 89,689 5 0.6 83,023 4.1 652,507 1,262,515 1,013,436 1,788,854 2,045,815

[29] 1,574,252 88

[30] 1,848,107 90.3 108,525

Until 1988 Baku had very large Russian, Armenian, and Jewish populations which contributed to cultural diversity and added in various ways (music, literature, architecture and progressive outlook) to Baku's history. With the onset of the Karabakh War and the pogrom against Armenians starting in January 1990, the city's large Armenian population was expelled.[31][32] Under Communism, the Soviets took over the majority of Jewish property in Baku and Kuba. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijani President Heydar Aliyev returned several synagogues and a Jewish college, nationalized by the Soviets, to the Jewish community. He encouraged the restoration of these buildings and was well liked by the Jews of Azerbaijan. Renovation has begun on seven of the original 11 synagogues, including the Gilah synagogue, built in 1896, and the large Kruei Synagogue.[33]

Ethnic groups
Today the vast majority of the population of Baku are ethnic Azerbaijanis (more than 90%). The intensive growth of the population started in the middle of the 19th century when Baku was a small town with a population of about 7,000 people. The population increased again from about 13,000 in the 1860s to 112,000 in 1897 and 215,000 in 1913, making Baku the largest city in the Caucasus region.[34] Baku has been a cosmopolitan city at certain times during its history, meaning ethnic Azerbaijanis did not constitute the majority of population.[35] In 2003 Baku additionally had 153,400 internally displaced persons and 93,400 refugees.[36]

Religion

Baku

The urban landscape of Baku is shaped by many communities. The religion with the largest community of followers is Islam. The majority of the Muslims are Shia Muslims, and the Republic of Azerbaijan has the second highest Shia population percentage in the world after Iran.[37] Zoroastrianism had a long history in Azerbaijan, evident in sites such as the Fire Temple of Baku[38] or ceremonies like Nowruz, along with Manichean. The city's notable mosques include Juma Mosque, Bibi-Heybat Mosque, Muhammad Mosque and Taza Pir Mosque.
The 13th century Bibi-Heybat Mosque. The mosque was built over the tomb of a descendant There are some other faiths practiced among the different ethnic [] of the Prophet Muhammad. groups within the country. By article 48 of its Constitution, Azerbaijan is a secular state and ensures religious freedom. Religious minorities include Russian Orthodox Christians, Catholic Levantines, Ashkenazi Jews and Sufi Muslims.

Economy
Baku's largest industry is petroleum, and its petroleum exports make it a large contributor to Azerbaijan's balance of payments. The existence of petroleum has been known since the 8th century. In the 10th century, the Arabian traveler, Marudee, reported that both white and black oil were being extracted naturally from Baku.[39] By the 15th century, oil for lamps was obtained from hand-dug surface wells. Commercial exploitation began in 1872, and by the beginning of the 20th century the Baku oil fields were the largest in the world. Towards the end of the 20th century much of the onshore petroleum had been exhausted, and drilling had The State Oil Fund manages the financial assets generated by oil [] extended into the sea offshore. By the end of the 19th exploration and development in Azerbaijan. century skilled workers and specialists flocked to Baku. By 1900 the city had more than 3,000 oil wells, of which 2,000 were producing oil at industrial levels. Baku ranked as one of the largest centres for the production of oil industry equipment before World War II. The World War II Battle of Stalingrad was fought to determine who would have control of the Baku oil fields. Fifty years before the battle, Baku produced half of the world's oil supply.[40] Currently the oil economy of Baku is undergoing a resurgence, with the development of the massive Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli field (Shallow water Gunashli by SOCAR, deeper areas by a consortium led by BP), development of the Shah Deniz gas field, the expansion of the Sangachal Terminal and the construction of the BTC Pipeline. The Baku Stock Exchange is Azerbaijan's largest stock exchange, and largest in the Caucasian region by market capitalization. A relatively large number of transnational companies are headquartered in Baku. One of the more prominent institutions headquartered in Baku is the International Bank of Azerbaijan, which is run by Dr. Jahangir Hajiyev and employs over 1,000 people. International banks with branches in Baku include HSBC, Socit Gnrale and Credit Suisse.[41]

Baku

Tourism and shopping

Baku is one of the most important tourist destinations in the Caucasus, with hotels in the city earning 7 million euros in 2009.[42] Many sizable world hotel chains have a presence in the city. Baku has many popular tourist and entertainment spots, such as the downtown Fountains Square, the One and Thousand Nights Beach, Shikhov Beach and Oil Rocks. Baku's vicinities feature Yanar Dag, an ever-blazing spot of natural gas. On 2 September 2010, with the inauguration of National Flag Square, Baku became home to the world's tallest flagpole, according to the Guinness Book of Records.[43][44]
Panorama over Azure in Baku

Baku has several shopping malls; the two most famous city center malls are AF MALL and Park Bulvar. The retail areas contain shops from chain stores up to high-end boutiques. The city is listed 48th in the 2011 list of the most expensive cities in the world conducted by the Mercer Human Resource Consulting.[45] Its Nizami street is one of the most expensive streets in the world.

Culture
The city has many amenities that offer a wide range of cultural activities, drawing both from a rich local dramatic portfolio and an international repertoire. It also boasts many museums such as Baku Museum of Modern Art and Azerbaijan State Museum of History, most notably featuring historical artifacts and art. Many of the city's cultural sites were celebrated in 2009 when Baku was designated an Islamic Culture Capital.[46] Baku was also chosen to host the Eurovision Dance Contest 2010. Among Baku's prestigious cultural venues are Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall, Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. The main movie theatre is Azerbaijan Cinema. Festivals include the Baku International Film Festival, Baku International Jazz Festival, Novruz Festival, Gl Bayram (Flower Festival) and the National Theater Festival.[47][48] International and local exhibitions are provided in Baku Expo Center.

Architecture
Baku has wildly varying architecture, ranging from the Old City core to modern buildings and the spacious layout of the Baku port. Many of the city's most impressive buildings were built during the early 20th Century, when architectural elements of the European styles were combined in eclectic style.[49] Baku thus has an original and unique appearance, earning it a reputation as the 'Paris of the East'.[50] Late modern and postmodern architecture began to appear in the early 2000s. With economic development, old buildings such as Atlant House were razed to make way for new ones. Buildings with all-glass shells have appeared around the city, the most prominent examples being the Azerbaijan Tower, Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center, Flame Towers, Baku Crystal Hall, Baku White City and SOCAR Tower. These projects also brought the attention of international media as notable programs as Discovery Channel's Extreme Engineering featured changes in the city.[51] The Old City of Baku, also known as the Walled City of Baku, refers to the ancient Baku settlement. Most of the walls and towers, strengthened after the Russian conquest in 1806, survived. This section is picturesque, with its maze of narrow alleys and ancient buildings: the cobbled streets past the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, two caravansaries, the baths and the Juma Mosque (which used to house the Azerbaijan National Carpet and Arts Museum but is now a mosque again). The old town core also has dozens of small mosques, often without any particular sign to distinguish them as such.

Baku In 2003, UNESCO placed the Inner City on the List of World Heritage in Danger, citing damage from a November 2000 earthquake, poor conservation as well as "dubious" restoration efforts.[52]

10

Parks and gardens

Baku has large sections of greenery either preserved by the National Government or designated as green zones. The city, however, continues to lack a green belt development as economic activity pours into the capital, resulting in massive housing projects along the suburbs.[53] Baku Boulevard is a pedestrian promenade that runs parallel to Baku's seafront. The boulevard contains an amusement park, yacht club, musical fountain, statues and monuments. The park is popular with dog-walkers and joggers, and is convenient for tourists. It is adjacent to the newly built International Center of Mugham and the musical fountain.

Park in Baku

Other prominent parks and gardens include Heydar Aliyev Park, Samad Vurgun Park, Narimanov Park, Alley of Honor and the Fountains Square. The Martyrs' Lane, formerly the Kirov Park, is dedicated to the memory of those who lost their lives during the Nagorno-Karabakh War and also to the 137 people killed on Black January.

Nightlife
Baku boasts a vibrant nightlife. Many clubs that are open until dawn can be found throughout the city. Clubs with an eastern flavor provide special treats from the cuisine of Azerbaijan along with local music. Western-style clubs target younger, more energetic crowds.[54] Most of the public houses and bars are located near Fountains Square and are usually open until the early hours of the morning. Baku is home to restaurants catering to every cuisine and occasion. Restaurants range from luxurious and expensive to ordinary and affordable.[55] In the Lonely Planet "1000 Ultimate Experiences", Baku placed 8th among the top 10 party cities in the world.[][56]

Music and media

The music scene in Baku can be traced back to ancient times and villages of Baku, generally revered as the fountainhead of meykhana and mugham in the Azerbaijan.[57][58] In recent years, the success of Azerbaijani performers such as AySel, Farid Mammadov, Safura, Elnur Hseynov and Arash in Eurovision has significantly boosted the profile of the Baku music scene, prompting international attention. Following the victory of Azerbaijan's representative Eldar & Nigar at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, Baku hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.[59][60]

Baku Crystal Hall during Eurovision Song Contest 2012

2005 was a landmark in the development of jazz in the city. Its been home to legendary jazz musicians like Vagif Mustafazadeh, Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, Rafig Babayev and Rain Sultanov.[61][62] Among Baku's prominent annual fairs and festivals is Baku International Jazz Festival, which includes the world's most identifiable jazz names.[63][64] Baku also has a thriving International Center of Mugham, which is located in Baku Boulevard, Gulustan Palace and Buta Palace, one of the principal performing arts centers and music venues in the city.[65]

Baku The majority of Azerbaijan's media companies (including television, newspaper and radio, such as ANS, Azad Azerbaijan TV, Ictimai TV and Lider TV) are headquartered in Baku. The films The World Is Not Enough and The Diamond Arm are set in the city, while Amphibian Man includes several scenes filmed in Old City. Out of the city's radio stations ANS ChM, Ictimai Radio, Radio Antenn, Burc FM, and Lider FM Jazz are some of the more influential competitors with large national audiences. ANS ChM was one of the first private and independent FM radio broadcasting service in the Caucasus and Central Asia regions when it was established in May 1994.[] Some of the most influential Baku newspapers include the daily Zaman (The Time), Bakinskiy Rabochiy (The Baku Worker), Echo and the English-language Baku Today. Baku is also featured in the Battlefield 4's gameplay mission.[66]

11

Sports
In the Azerbaijan Basketball League, Baku is represented by Gala BC Baku, BC Aztop Baku, NTD Devon Baku whose home is the Palace of Hand Games.[67] The city also is home of the volleyball clubs such as Rabita Baku, Azerrail Baku, Lokomotiv Baku, Igtisadchi Baku and VC Baku. First class sporting facilities were built for the indoor games, including the Palace of Hand Games and Heydar Aliyev Sports and Exhibition Complex. It hosted many sporting events, including FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships in 2007 and 2009, 2005 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, 2007 FILA Wrestling World Championships and 2010 European Wrestling Championships, 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships, 2009 Women's Challenge Cup and European Taekwondo Championships in 2007.[68][69] Since 2011 the city annually hosts WTA tennis event called Baku Cup.[70] In 2012 City Challenge GmbH brought its first motorsports event to the city.

Heydar Aliyev Sports and Exhibition Complex during 2009 Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships

Baku is also one of world's leading chess centres, having produced famous grandmasters like Teimour Radjabov, Vugar Gashimov, Garry Kasparov, and Rauf Mammadov, as well as the arbiter Faik Hasanov. The city also annually hosts the international tournaments such as Baku Chess Grand Prix, President's Cup, Baku Open and currently bidding to host 42nd Chess Olympiad in 2014.[71][72] The Synergy Baku Cycling Project participates in the Tour d'Azerbadjan a 2.2 multi-stage bicycle race on the UCI Europe Tour. Baku will host the 2015 European Games which will be the first European Games to be held. Baku made a bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics and later made a bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[73] However, Baku failed to become a Candidate City both times.[74]

Baku Football The city's three main football clubs are Neftchi Baku, FC Baku and Inter Baku of whom first two play at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium. Baku also has several clubs in the premier and regional leagues, including AZAL and Ravan Baku in Premier League. The Baku Olympic Stadium, a planned 65,000 seat football stadium, is currently under construction and will be based on Boyuk Shor settlement.[75]
Club League Venue Capacity 11,000

12

Neftchi Baku Azerbaijan Premier League Bakcell Arena FC Baku Inter Baku AZAL Ravan Baku

Azerbaijan Premier League FC Baku's Training Base 2,000 Azerbaijan Premier League Shafa Stadium Azerbaijan Premier League AZAL Stadium Azerbaijan Premier League Bayil Stadium 8,000 3,000 5,000

Transport
Throughout history the transport system of Baku used the now-defunct horsecars, trams and narrow gauge railways. As of 2011, 1000 black cabs are ordered by Baku Taxi Company, and as part of a programme originally announced by the Transport Ministry of Azerbaijan, there is a plan to introduce London cabs into Baku.[76][77] The move was part of 16 million agreement between Manganese Bronze and Baku Taxi Company.[78][79] Local transport includes the Baku Metro, a rapid-transit system notable Baku black cab, introduced in 2011 for its art, murals, mosaics, and ornate chandeliers. Baku Metro was opened in November 1967 and includes 22 stations at present; 170 million people used Baku Metro over the past five years.[80] In 2008, the Chief of the Baku Metro, Taghi Ahmadov, announced plans to construct 41 new stations over the next 17 years. These will serve the new bus complex as well as the international airport.[81] Plans are afoot to introduce a single Smart Card for payment on all types of city transport. The metro is now the only form of transport in Baku to use any type of card-based fare-payment system.[82] Baku's Central Railway Station is the terminus for national and international rail links to the city. The KarsTbilisiBaku railway, which will directly connect Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan, began to be constructed in 2007 and is scheduled for completion in 2013.[83] The completed branch will connect Baku with Tbilisi in Georgia, and from there trains will continue to Akhalkalaki, and Kars in Turkey.[84] Sea transport is vital for Baku, as the city is practically surrounded by the Caspian Sea to the east. Shipping services operate regularly from Baku across the Caspian Sea to Turkmenbashi (formerly Krasnovodsk) in Turkmenistan and to Bandar Anzali and Bandar Nowshar in Iran.[85] The commuter ferries, along with the high-speed catamaran Seabus (Deniz Avtobusu), also form the main connection between the city and the Absheron peninsula.[86] The Baku Port was founded in 1902 and since then has been the largest Caspian Sea port. It has six facilities: the main cargo terminal, the container terminal, the ferry terminal, the oil terminal, the passenger terminal and the port fleet terminal. The port's throughput capacity reaches 15 million tons of liquid bulk and up to 10 million tons of dry cargoes.[87] Beginning in 2010, the Baku International Sea Trade Port is being reconstructed. The construction will take in three stages and will be completed by 2016. The estimated costs are 400 Million US$.[88] From April to November the Baku Port is accessible to ships loading cargoes for direct voyages from Western European and Mediterranean ports.

Baku The State Road M-1 and the European route E60 are the two main motorway connections between Europe and Azerbaijan. The motorway network around Baku is well developed and is constantly being extended. The Heydar Aliyev International Airport is the only commercial airport serving Baku. The new Baku Cargo Terminal was officially opened in March 2005. It was constructed to be a major cargo hub in the CIS countries and is actually now one of the biggest and most technically advanced in the region.[89] There are also several smaller military airbases near Baku, such as Baku Kala Air Base, intended for private aircraft, helicopters and charters.[90]

13

Public services
Education
Baku hosts many universities, junior colleges, and vocational schools. Baku State University, the first established university in Azerbaijan was opened in 1919 by the government of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic. In the early years of the Soviet era, Baku already had Azerbaijan State Oil Academy, Azerbaijan Medical University, and Azerbaijan State Economic University. In the post-WWII period, a few more universities were established such as Azerbaijan Technical University, Azerbaijan University of Languages, and Azerbaijan Architecture and Construction University. After 1991 when Azerbaijan gained independence from the Soviet Union, the fall of communism led to the development of a number of private institutions, including Qafqaz University and Khazar University which are the most prestigious ones currently. Apart from the private universities, the government established Academy of Public Administration, Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy and various military academies. The largest universities according to the student population are Baku State University and Azerbaijan State Economic University. In addition, there are Baku Music Academy and Azerbaijan National Conservatoire in Baku established in early 1920s. Publicly run kindergartens and elementary schools (years 1 through 11) are operated by local wards or municipal offices. Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, the main state research organization in Azerbaijan is locating in Baku as well. Moreover, Baku has numerous libraries, many of which contain vast collections of historic documents from the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Soviet periods, as well as from other civilisations of the past. The most important libraries in terms of historic document collections include the Nizami Museum of Azerbaijan Literature, National Library of Azerbaijan, Mirza Alakbar Central Library, Samad Vurgun Library and Baku Presidential Library.

Health care
The city has many public and private hospitals, clinics and laboratories within its bounds and numerous medical research centers.[91] Many of these facilities have high technology equipment, which has contributed to the recent upsurge in "medical tourism" to Baku, particularly from post-Soviet countries such as Georgia and Moldova, whose governments send lower-income patients to the city for inexpensive high-tech medical treatments and operations.

Notable residents
Because of its intermittent periods of great prosperity as well as being the largest city in the Caucasus and one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse in the Soviet Union, Baku prides itself on having produced a disproportionate number of notable figures in the sciences, arts and other fields. Some of the houses they resided in display commemorative plaques. Some of the many prestigious residents include: Academy Award winners Rustam Ibrahimbeyov and Vladimir Menshov, one of the founders and head of the Soviet space program Kerim Kerimov, Nobel Prize winner and physicist Lev Landau and famous musicians such as Gara Garayev, Uzeyir Hajibeyov, Muslim Magomayev, Vagif Mustafazadeh, and Alim Qasimov. World-famous cellist Mstislav Rostropovich was born and raised in Baku, as was world famous chess player, Gary Kasparov.

Baku

14

International relations
Twin towns and sister cities
Baku is twinned with:[92][in chronological order]
Country Senegal Italy Iraq Bosnia and Herzegovina United States France Iran Turkey Vietnam United States City Dakar Naples Basra Sarajevo Houston Bordeaux Tabriz Izmir Vng Tu Honolulu State / Province / Region / Governorate Dakar Region Campania Basra Governorate Sarajevo Canton Texas Aquitaine East Azerbaijan Province zmir Province Date 1967 1972 1972 1975 1976 1979 1980 1985 [][] [93] [] [][] [] [] [] [94]

B RaVng Tu Province 1985[] Hawaii 1998 [95]

Partner cities
Aberdeen, Scotland Mainz, Germany Stavanger, Norway Partnership relations also exist at different levels with:[96] Berlin, Paris, Vienna, Tbilisi, Astana, Minsk, Moscow, Volgograd, Kizlyar, Tashkent and Chengdu.

Gallery

Panorama of Baku

Old Baku "Icheri Sheher"

Nizami Street

Baku Opera and Ballet Theatre

View from Baku

Maiden Tower

Baku

15

Icheri Sheher

Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall

Baku seaside Boulevard

Azerbaijan's Flag

View of Baku

Cranes at the Baku Port

Aerial view of Baku, May 2012

View of Baku taken from the International Space Station

References
[1] http:/ / toolserver. org/ ~geohack/ geohack. php?pagename=Baku& params=40_23_43_N_49_52_56_E_type:city(2039700)_region:AZ_source:dewiki [2] The State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan, 2.5 Population by sex, economic and administrative regions, urban settlements at the beginning of 2012, retrieved on October 2, 2012 (http:/ / www. azstat. org/ statinfo/ demoqraphic/ en/ AP_/ AP_1. shtml) [3] http:/ / www. bakucity. az/ [6] .. O . , 1909 [7] . The Name Baku (http:/ / window2baku. com/ eng/ 9002toponimbaku. htm) [8] http:/ / whc. unesco. org/ en/ list [9] http:/ / whc. unesco. org/ en/ list/ 958 [10] http:/ / whc. unesco. org/ en/ list/ ?search=& search_by_country=& type=& media=& region=& order=region [12] Abraham Valentine Williams Jackson. [14] Furuz Kazemzadeh, Struggle For Transcaucasia (19171921), New York Philosophical Library, 1951, p. 143144 [18] "Climatological Information for Baku, Azerbaijan" (http:/ / www. weather. gov. hk/ wxinfo/ climat/ world/ eng/ europe/ gr_tu/ baku_e. htm) Hong Kong Observatory [21] Territories, number, density of population and territorial units by economic and administrative regions of Azerbaijan Republic by 1 January 2009 (http:/ / www. azstat. org/ statinfo/ demoqraphic/ en/ 010. shtml#s9) [22] , 1886 , . , 1893 [23] 1897 . . (http:/ / demoscope. ru/ weekly/ ssp/ emp_lan_97_uezd. php?reg=323) [24] 1926 , . 14, , . , 1929 [25] Soviet 1939 census [26] Soviet 1959 census [27] Soviet 1970 census [28] Soviet 1979 census [29] Ethnic composition of Azerbaijan 1999 (http:/ / pop-stat. mashke. org/ azerbaijan-ethnic1999. htm) [30] Ethnic composition of Azerbaijan 2009 (http:/ / pop-stat. mashke. org/ azerbaijan-ethnic2009. htm) [31] Azerbaijan: The status of Armenians, Russians, Jews and other minorities, report, 1993, INS Resource Informacion Center, p.10 [35] Audrey Altstadt, Conflict, Cleavage, and Change in Central Asia and the Caucasus, Cambridge University Press, 1997, p. 112, table 4.1, Ethnic composition of Baku, 1897, 1903,1913 [37] Juan Eduardo Campo,Encyclopedia of Islam, p.625 [38] Meena Iyer, Faith & philosophy of Zoroastrianism (2009), p.323 [47] . (http:/ / www. news. bakililar. az/ news_v_azerbayjane_otmechayut_35946. html) [48] Azerbaycan'da Gl Bayram ve Aliyev'in doum gn kutlanyor (http:/ / www. zaman. com. tr/ haber. do?haberno=982418& title=azerbaycanda-gul-bayrami-ve-aliyevin-dogum-gunu-kutlaniyor) [50] (http:/ / www. window2baku. com/ 006development. htm) [53] (http:/ / www. all-pages. com/ city_info/ 3/ 45/ 426/ 4667. html) [56] Beograd na vrhu liste gradova sa najboljim nonim provodom (http:/ / www. blic. rs/ zabava. php?id=120531)

Baku
[57] "Meyxana", ya "bdih" sz almi bir-birin qatb (http:/ / www. baki-xeber. com/ new/ 2009/ 06/ 22/ get=29330) [58] QARABA MUAM MKTB (http:/ / e-library. musigi-dunya. az/ sonoteka/ son_garabah_text_az3. html) [67] (http:/ / azerisport. com/ articles. php?item_id=20091219035128857& sec_id=6) [68] Cev Cup: Final Four femminile a Baku (http:/ / www. volleyball. it/ redazione/ index. php?action=viewArticle& articleId=53144) [69] , . ! (http:/ / azerisport. com/ volleyball/ 20100303120451115. html) [74] IOC selects three cities as Candidates for the 2020 Olympic Games (http:/ / www. olympic. org/ news?articleid=160523& articlenewsgroup=-1) [84] Railway Gazette International February 2009 p54 with map [90] Fevraln 14- Azrbaycan Hrbi Hava Qvvlrinin (HHQ) yaranma gndr (http:/ / az. apa. az/ print. php?id=146672) [95] (http:/ / hawaii. gov/ dbedt/ oia/ voia-sister-states)

16

External links
UNESCO/ICOMOS (29 April 2003). "Joint UNESCO-ICOMOS Mission to the Walled City of Baku" (http:// unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001305/130571e.pdf). UNESCO/ICOMOS. Baku's profile at the Organization of World Heritage Cities website (http://www.ovpm.org/en/azerbaijan/ baku) UNESCO World Heritage Site listing Walled City of Baku (http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/958) Photos of Baku (http://ingvarr.net.ru/photo/105)
Precededby Alexandria, Djibouti, Lahore Capital of Islamic Culture 2009 Succeededby Tarim

Article Sources and Contributors

17

Article Sources and Contributors

Baku Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=555862431 Contributors: *drew, 1297, 208.60.198.xxx, 5aul, Aaron of Mpls, Abu Amal Bahraini, Achangeisasgoodasa, Adam Carr, Adunbar505, Aelfthrytha, Aeusoes1, Agha Nader, Aghvank, Ahmadpontymageed, Ahoerstemeier, Akasanof, Alansohn, AlbertusIII, Alborz Fallah, Alejandritinho, AlexanderKaras, AlexiusHoratius, Alsandro, Altenmann, Amazonien, Anar440, Anarki-Wiki, Anastasia.Bukh, Anatoly Vorobey, Andiloew, Andranikpasha, Andrew1922, Andrwsc, Angel670, Angus Wright, Angusmclellan, Animum, Anthony Appleyard, Arash the Bowman, Arcturus, Aresceo, ArnieBabe, Artaxiad, Astronaut, Ata0318, Ataby, Attilios, Avala, Awellstead, Axeman89, AzaToth, Azer akhundov, Azeri girl, BD2412, Babakexorramdin, Babygrundo, Baki66, Bakuguide, Bakulas, Bakurealty, Balas 571, Balcer, Balthazarduju, Bamse, Banhtrung1, BanyanTree, BaomoVW, Baristarim, Baronnet, Beagel, BehnamFarid, Bejnar, Betacommand, BoH, Bob Burkhardt, Bobak, Bogomolov.PL, Boitano, Bojin, Bolivia13, Bomac, Brandmeister, Brandmeister (old), Bubba73, CBM, CSZero, CalicoCatLover, Calltech, Caponer, Carlossuarez46, Cawhee, Cburnett, Cezzvil, Chanheigeorge, ChemTerm, Chinneeb, Chris the speller, Ckatz, Clintville, Colonies Chris, CommonsDelinker, Conversion script, Criticalthinker, Crobzub, Cs-wolves, D6, DAJF, DBaba, DMG413, DO'Neil, Daa89563, Dadshev, Dalton1980, Daniel Callegaro, Darwinek, Dave.Dunford, Davo88, Dawgthehunter, Decora, Deeptrivia, DemirBajraktarevic, Denniss, DerBorg, Deror avi, Dlchambers, Dmitry Chulkov, DocWatson42, Docu, Dolovis, Doluca, Don-kun, Dr. Blofeld, Drmies, Droll, Drunken Pirate, Ds02006, Duke of hereti, DuncanHill, E&W Mex, E0steven, E10ddie, Earthlyreason, Edward, Edward321, Ehasanov, Ehud Lesar, El C, Eliezg, Elinnea, Elockid, Elsanaturk, Enchanter, Enysjg, Erechtheus, Ev, Evlekis, Explendido Rocha, Extra999, Fabiform, Faisaltt, Farhad, Favonian, Fcastillo, Fedayee, FilaInNewHaven, Fireaxe888, Flik nostalgia, Flower Priest, Fmelikov, Foreverprovence, Frankie816, Fratrep, Frietjes, Frost joyce, Fuad765, Fullstop, Future Perfect at Sunrise, Futurebird, G. 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Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:A view to Baku and it's Boulevard.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:A_view_to_Baku_and_it's_Boulevard.JPG License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: User:Reval tallinn File:WP baku siegel.png Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:WP_baku_siegel.png License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Jahn Henne file:Azerbaijan location map.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Azerbaijan_location_map.svg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Uwe Dedering, Don-kun File:Flag of Azerbaijan.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Azerbaijan.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: SKopp and others File:. . 1861.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:.___._1861.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Original uploader was Open-sea at ru.wikipedia File:Maiden tower Baku 20060624.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Maiden_tower_Baku_20060624.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 2.5 Contributors: Fuad2006 File:102 329 nobel oilwells.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:102_329_nobel_oilwells.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: unknown File:Oldbaku (2).jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Oldbaku_(2).jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Contributors: DerWolF File:Baku, Azerbaijan, satellite image, LandSat-5, 2010-09-06.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Baku,_Azerbaijan,_satellite_image,_LandSat-5,_2010-09-06.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: NASA File:Bibi Heybat Mosque Baku 1.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Bibi_Heybat_Mosque_Baku_1.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Emin Bashirov File:Logo oilfund.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Logo_oilfund.JPG License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: User:SOFAZ File:Baku Azure.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Baku_Azure.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Azer akhundov File:Baku 0574.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Baku_0574.JPG License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Gulustan File:Pht-Vugar Ibadov eurovision (31).jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Pht-Vugar_Ibadov_eurovision_(31).jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: User:Vugarbadov File:Bedii Gimnastika 026.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Bedii_Gimnastika_026.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Contributors: . Original uploader was TiFFOZi iz Baku at ru.wikipedia File:Bakutaxi.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Bakutaxi.jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: Duke Q, FSII, Machine-gun, Mr.choppers File:Flag of Senegal.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Senegal.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Original upload by Nightstallion File:Dakar CoA.gif Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Dakar_CoA.gif License: GNU Free Documentation License Contributors: Agamitsudo, Chatsam, Hiuppo, Massimop, 1 anonymous edits File:Logo council region dakar.png Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Logo_council_region_dakar.png License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0,2.5,2.0,1.0 Contributors: T L Miles File:Flag of Italy.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Italy.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Anomie File:CoA Citt di Napoli.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:CoA_Citt_di_Napoli.svg License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Contributors: F l a n k e r, Fale File:Flag of Campania.png Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Campania.png License: Public Domain Contributors: Gennarous 04:35, 16 April 2008 (UTC) File:Flag of Iraq.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Iraq.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Unknown, published by Iraqi governemt, vectorized by User:Militaryace based on the work of User:Hoshie File:Flag of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Flag_of_Bosnia_and_Herzegovina.svg License: Public Domain Contributors: Kseferovic File:Coat of arms of Sarajevo.svg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Coat_of_arms_of_Sarajevo.svg License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported Contributors: User:Common Good, User:MesserWoland

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