[114] The national animal of Azerbaijan is the Karabakh horse, a mountain-steppe racing and riding horse endemic to Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan had the biggest number of journalists imprisoned in Europe in 2015, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, and is the 5th most censored country in the world, ahead of Iran and China. In the Avesta's Frawardin Yasht ("Hymn to the Guardian Angels"), there is a mention of âterepâtahe ashaonô fravashîm ýazamaide, which literally translates from Avestan as "we worship the fravashi of the holy Atropatene. Singapur-Dollar • [11][85][86] Among the important accomplishments of the Parliament was the extension of suffrage to women, making Azerbaijan the first Muslim nation to grant women equal political rights with men. The oldest versions of the Book of Dede Korkut consist of two manuscripts copied in the 16th century. In fact, Azerbaijan was among the first countries involved in cinematography. Some of these language communities are very small and their numbers are decreasing. [27], According to a modern etymology, the term Azerbaijan derives from that of Atropates,[28][29] a Persian[30][31][32] satrap under the Achaemenid Empire, who was later reinstated as the satrap of Media under Alexander the Great. [311] Futsal is another popular sport in Azerbaijan. Travel, Currency and Money saving tips for Azerbaijan. Currently, there are 1,607 municipalities across the country. [citation needed], After the Safavids, the area was ruled by the Iranian Afsharid dynasty. Classical literature in Azerbaijani was formed in the 14th century based on the various Early Middle Ages dialects of Tabriz and Shirvan. [1] Die neuen Banknoten und Münzen wurden von Robert Kalina, dem Designer der Eurobanknoten, gestaltet. [180] There are many pipelines in Azerbaijan. The National (now Central) Bank was created in 1992 based on the Azerbaijan State Savings Bank, an affiliate of the former State Savings Bank of the USSR. Cemal Kafadar(1995), "in Between Two Worlds: Construction of the Ottoman states", University of California Press, 1995. Michael E. Meeker, "The Dede Korkut Ethic", International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. This form of art is represented by a wide range of handicrafts, such as chasing, jeweler, engraving in metal, carving in wood, stone, and bone, carpet-making, lasing, pattern weaving and printing, knitting and embroidery. European observers found numerous irregularities in the run-up to the election and on election day. As of 2009[update], there were 1,397,000 main telephone lines[206] and 1,485,000 internet users. [278] Azerbaijiani architecture has heavy influences from Persian architecture. [245] For centuries Azerbaijani music has evolved under the badge of monody, producing rhythmically diverse melodies. [159][160] Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on 26 June 2011 that the defence spending reached $3.3 billion that year. [197], According to a report by the World Travel and Tourism Council, Azerbaijan was among the top ten countries showing the strongest growth in visitor exports between 2010 and 2016,[198] In addition, Azerbaijan placed first (46.1%) among countries with the fastest-developing travel and tourism economies, with strong indicators for inbound international visitor spending last year.[199]. [94] The country now celebrates its Independence Day on 18 October. Libanesisches Pfund • three journalists were killed and several prosecuted in trials described as unfair by international human rights organizations. He was reelected to a third term as president in October 2013.[111]. The BTC is designed to transport up to 50 million tons of crude oil annually and carries oil from the Caspian Sea oilfields to global markets. Azerbaijan's four main islands in the Caspian Sea have a combined area of over thirty square kilometers. The Law on Municipal Service regulates the activities of municipal employees, their rights, duties, labor conditions and social benefits, and outlines the structure of the executive apparatus and the organization of municipal service. It is subdivided into 100 qəpik. Malaysischer Ringgit • The country was a well-known tourist spot in the 1980s. [168] As Western oil companies are able to tap deepwater oilfields untouched by the Soviet exploitation, Azerbaijan is considered one of the most important spots in the world for oil exploration and development. [citation needed], Pushed up by spending and demand growth, the 2007 Q1 inflation rate reached 16.6%. It was his classification that related the four large groups of carpets with the four geographical zones of Azerbaijan, Guba-Shirvan, Ganja-Kazakh, Karabakh and Tabriz. Business registrations increased by 40% in the first six months. [279][280], Among other architectural treasures are Quadrangular Castle in Mardakan, Parigala in Yukhary Chardaglar, a number of bridges spanning the Aras River, and several mausoleums. [244], The profile of Azerbaijan's population consists, as stated above, of Azerbaijanis, as well as other nationalities or ethnic groups, compactly living in various areas of the country. The legislative power is held by the unicameral National Assembly and the Supreme National Assembly in the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic. [268] The 16th-century poet, Muhammed Fuzuli produced his timeless philosophical and lyrical Qazals in Arabic, Persian, and Azerbaijani. [215][216], As of January 2019, 52.8% of Azerbaijan's total population of 9,981,457 is urban, with the remaining 47.2% being rural. Aserbaidschan-Manat • Artificial rivers (canals) and ponds are a part of Azerbaijan's water systems. The people living in Azerbaijan before thousands of years from today worshiped the fire as they considered it as their god. [150] The country is contributing to peacekeeping efforts in Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. Banknoten für den alten Manat gab es in folgender Stückelung: 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, 10.000, 50.000 Manat. [306], Freestyle wrestling has been traditionally regarded as Azerbaijan's national sport, in which Azerbaijan won up to fourteen medals, including four golds since joining the International Olympic Committee. [citation needed], The Security Council is the deliberative body under the president, and he organizes it according to the Constitution.

[315][316][317] Notable chess players from country's chess schools that made a great impact on the game in world, includes Teimour Radjabov, Shahriyar Mammadyarov, Vladimir Makogonov, Vugar Gashimov and former World Chess Champion Garry Kasparov. [94] As a consequence of the failed coup which occurred in August in Moscow, on 18 October 1991, the Supreme Council of Azerbaijan adopted a Declaration of Independence which was affirmed by a nationwide referendum in December 1991, while the Soviet Union officially ceased to exist on 26 December 1991. [187] In some areas it is profitable to grow grain, potatoes, sugar beets, cotton[188] and tobacco. The Kura and Aras are the major rivers in Azerbaijan, they run through the Kura-Aras Lowland. [141], The short-lived Azerbaijan Democratic Republic succeeded in establishing diplomatic relations with six countries, sending diplomatic representatives to Germany and Finland. [243] Other than that the Azerbaijani system has undergone little structural change. [193] During winter, the Shahdag Mountain Resort offers skiing with state of the art facilities. 24, No. [241] According to the United Nations Development Program Report 2009, the literacy rate in Azerbaijan is 99.5 percent. G. Lewis, on the other hand, dates the composition "fairly early in the 15th century at least. [290], There are three state-owned television channels: AzTV, Idman TV and Medeniyyet TV. [170][171], In 2008, Azerbaijan was cited as one of the top 10 reformers by the World Bank's Doing Business Report.[172].

Selling itself as the 'Land of Fire', Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan) is a tangle of contradictions and contrasts. [1] It had the ISO 4217 code AZM and replaced the Soviet ruble at a rate of 10 rubles to 1 manat. In 1920, the country was incorporated into the Soviet Union as the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic. Today, national traditions are well preserved in the country despite Western influences, including globalized consumer culture. Many ancient architectural treasures such as the Maiden Tower and Palace of the Shirvanshahs in the Walled City of Baku survive in modern Azerbaijan.

Azerbaijan has deployed 151 of its Peacekeeping Forces in Iraq and another 184 in Afghanistan. [44] The country's name was also spelled in Cyrillic script from 1940 to 1991 as "Азәрбајҹан". [251], Since the mid-1960s, Western-influenced Azerbaijani pop music, in its various forms, that has been growing in popularity in Azerbaijan, while genres such as rock and hip hop are widely produced and enjoyed. Sri-Lanka-Rupie, Brunei-Dollar • Additionally the armed forces embrace several military sub-groups that can be involved in state defense when needed.

[2], Ausgaben der Noten der “Azərbaycan Milli Bankı” und Azərbaycan Mərkəzi Bankı. Animal carvings on architectural monuments, ancient rocks, and stones survived up to the present times. Note: The cities under the direct authority of the republic in italics. [citation needed], The Constitution of Azerbaijan states that it is a presidential republic with three branches of power – Executive, Legislative, and Judicial. can be used as a substitute for the manat symbol. Katar-Riyal • [295], Christianity is officially recognized, but in practice it is often oppressed. [270] Several documented versions of Koroglu epic remain at the Institute for Manuscripts of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan.

Hypsometric marks within the Caucasus region vary from about −28 meters at the Caspian Sea shoreline up to 4,466 meters (Bazardüzü peak). A unique literary style known as qoshma (Azerbaijani: qoşma for improvization) was introduced in this period, and developed by Shah Ismail and later by his son and successor, Shah Tahmasp I.

[290] Therefore, it is not surprising that this apparatus soon showed up in Baku – at the start of the 20th century, this bay town on the Caspian was producing more than 50 percent of the world's supply of oil. A lowercase m. or man. [220], The official language is Azerbaijani, which is a Turkic language. [citation needed], Azerbaijani architecture typically combines elements of East and West. In November 2010 the Azerbaijani carpet was proclaimed a Masterpiece of Intangible Heritage by UNESCO. [318] [11][12] The modern Republic of Azerbaijan proclaimed its independence on 30 August 1991,[13] shortly before the dissolution of the USSR in the same year. [189], Some products previously imported from abroad have begun to be produced locally. Azerbaijan–the name of the country–is also considered to have originated from t… excerpt: The Book of Dede Korkut is an early record of oral Turkic folktales in Anatolia, and as such, one of the mythic charters of Turkish nationalist ideology. More than 130 Azerbaijanis were named Heroes of the Soviet Union. In contrast to the mugham traditions of Central Asian countries, Azerbaijani mugham is more free-form and less rigid; it is often compared to the improvised field of jazz. [34] The Medes forged a vast empire between 900 and 700 BC, which was integrated into the Achaemenid Empire around 550 BC. [174], According to World Bank's Doing Business report 2019, Azerbaijan improved its position in the Ease of doing business rank from 57 to 25. [90] Some 250,000 people from Azerbaijan were killed on the front. [183] In 2016 Azerbaijan used 2.1 global hectares of biocapacity per person – their ecological footprint of consumption. [143] Full diplomatic relations, including mutual exchanges of missions, were first established with Turkey, Pakistan, the United States, Iran[142] and Israel.