azerbaijan
DESCRIPTION
Extensive introductuion of Azerbaijan. Can be used for presentation at Universities, schools, differents seminars,TRANSCRIPT
AZERBAIJAN:The Land of Fire
AZERBAIJAN:The Land of Fire
Azerbaijan is considered one of the ancient places of the world
Most ancient archeological and paleontological materials recently found in the territory of Azerbaijan prove that first primitive men settled here
1.7-1.8 million years ago. Discovery 1968 year of jaw bone of Azikhantrop
who lived here 300-400 thousand years ago in a cave of Azikh located near Fuzuli city, which is under occupation of Armenia, also is one of the proofs demonstrating that this country
was a settlement of primitive men Based on this discovery, Azerbaijan was includ
ed to the “The oldest inhabitants of the Europe map.
Since an ancient period of time its name was Odlar
Yurdu (Fire Lands).
People who lived here very long time ago were fire worshippers There are eternal hearths remaining from ancient time
People are still surprised when they see “burning soil” in Yanardag
Fascinating from History…Shah Ismail Khatai, the thinker poet and distinguished statesman of Azer
baijan founded Safavi Empire in the 16th century
During Safavi’s period of time Azerbaijan was a great and powerful State.
As a result of the war between Iran and Russia, the Turkmanch
ay Agreement was signed between these two Nations in 1828
Azerbaijan was divided into two parts.
The Southern Azerbaijan part was attached to Iran,
and the Northern part was attached to Russia.
Azerbaijan first became independent in 1918. It was first democratic Parliamentary republic in The Muslim World
(28 May 1918 - 18 April 1920 occupied by Soviet Army)
Restored independence in 1991 Capital: Baku Territory: 86 600 km² Population: 8 436 000 Official language: Azerbaijani State structure: Presidential republic Currency: Azerbaijani manat
The Republic of Azerbaijan
Novel History …Occupied territory The collapse of USSR in late 1991 w
as followed by the change in the geopolitical situation on post-Soviet area. Armenian with Russian Army support in fact open unfair war against Azerbaijan. Armenian military troops, violating the borders of Azerbaijan, entered Karabakh and conjointly with Armenian separatists of Upper Karabakh occupied Azeri lands
20% of Azerbaijan territory under occupation
More that 1mln refuges More were 40000 killed
Nature ….Landscape Azerbaijan is characterized by a diversed landscape. There ar
e two major forms of landscape-plains and mountains.
Mountains cover 60% of the total area of the Azerbaijan republic
Inland Water
Nearly 250 fresh and salty lakes, differing by the sources of feeding and by origin
There are more than 200 mineral water springs with different chemical ingredients
The dense river system of the country covers its territory like a blue spider's web
Azerbaijan accounts for 8400 small and large rivers, including 850 over 5 kilometers in length. But there are only 24 rivers extending to
over 100 kilometers
Vegetation… Azerbaijan has a rich flora. Almost all types of plants, found in
the world are spread on the territory of this relatively small
country Nearly 4500 species of higher, spore-bearing flowering plants Nearly 240 species are endemic and it is home to a number of
rare trees and bushes Forests account for 11.4% of the total area of the country
Fauna… Due to the diverse natural
conditions Azerbaijan formed a colorful animal kingdom
The fauna of plains is represented by a great number of mammals, reptiles, amphibians and numerous sedentary and migrant birds
Unfortunately, the number of Caspian seals decreased from 1.5 million in early 20th century down to 360-400 thousand in 1980th
The Climate The Climate of Azerbaijan is unique, nine of the Earth's eleven climate zones can be found in Azerbaijan
Semi-desert and dry steppe climate covers mainly Central lowland districts. Winter is mostly hot, Summer is red-hot, some days temperature is higher than 40 degree
Semi-desert and dry steppe climate with cold winter and dry hot climate
Mild-hot climate, winter if which is dry, covers lower mountainous zone
Mild-hot climate with dry summer. Mostly covers Lankaran-Astara region
Cold climate with dry winter covers south-east hills of Great Caucasus
Cold climate with dry summer. Covers middle and high mountainous area of Nakhchivan AR
Mild-hot climate with equal distribution of precipitations. Winter is mild, summer is mild-hot
Cold climate with rich precipitations in all seasons
Mountainous tundra climate covers the areas of Great and Small Caucasus higher than 2700 m. In some places snow does not melt till the next winter.
The minerals… The region accounts for most part of metallic minerals: iron,
manganese, titanium, chromium, copper, cobalt, complex ore, antimony, gold, silver, molybdenum, etc
Azerbaijan is famous for its oil and gas deposits
2/3 of the republic is rich in oil and gas
DID YOU KNOW THAT… 10th Century
Arabian historian Masudi-Abdul-Hussein (9th century-957) identified two main sources of black oil and white oil (kerosene) on Absheron.
In 1846 - more than a decade before the Americans made their famous discovery of oil in Pennsylvania - Azerbaijan drilled its first oil well in Bibi-Heybat
In 1901, Baku produced more than half of the world's oil (11 million tons), and 95 percent of all Russian Empire oil
As of January 1, 1916, the four main companies, which led the Baku oil industry included the Nobel Brothers Petroleum Company (Alfred and Robert Nobel) and “Standard Oil” of John D. Rockefeller
Ludvig Nobel Zeynalabdin Taghiyev
The students of Oil Academy
Naftalan is a rare type of oil that is used only for medicinal purposes. Azerbaijani doctors have prescribed it for years to successfully treat various skin, joint and bone diseases such as psoriasis, arthritis and rheumatism
Naftalan is extracted from only one place in Azerbaijan - in the north - central part of the country. The town takes its name from the oil, "Naftalan", which comes from the Azeri for "neft alan" (oil buyer)
Naftalan is different from other types of oil in that its purified form has a high concentration of naphthene hydrocarbons, about 55 percent. Other kinds of oil have a much lower concentration, about three to five percent
Naftalan - The Miracle OilAzerbaijan's Therapeutic Oil
Culture … Folklore The classical music of Azerbaijan is call
ed mugam and is usually a suite with poetry and instrumental interludes
UNESCO proclaimed the Azerbaijani mugam tradition a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity
on November 7, 2003.
There are a number of Azerbaijani dances, these folk dances of the azerbaijani people are old and extremely melodious. It has a very fast rhythm, so the dancer must have inherent skill
Culture… Opera, classic music, ballets
Azerbaijan prides itself with having created the first opera of the Middle East -"Leyli and Majnun" (1908) by Uzeyir Hajibeyov (1885-1948), which is based on the poetry of Nizami (1141-1209)
The Azerbaijan State Theater of Opera and Ballet was built in 1910
1908 Leyli and Majnun1910 Husband & Wife*1911 Mashadi Ibad* 1913 Arshin Mal Alan* 1915 Ashug Garib1919 Shah Ismayil 1935 Nargiz 1937 Koroglu 1945 Vatan (Motherland) 1953 Sevil 1957 Azad 1960 Vagif 1972 Bridal Rock
Major Operas by Azerbaijani Composers: Uzeyir Hajibeyov,Gara Garayev, Fikrat Amirov & others
Culture….. Architecture
Architecture went through many different stages over the centuries. Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower included in UNESCO World Heritage Site
Culture…..the decorative and applied art
Azerbaijan is famous for its carpets. Carpet is one of the oldest and most traditional forms of art in Azerbaijan. You'll find two types of carpets: knotted and flat-weaved
The form of antiquity is represented by a wide range of handicrafts, such as chasing, jeweler, engraving in metal, carving in wood, stone and bon
Azerbaijan Cuisine, Food Food is an important part of t
he country's culture and is deeply rooted in the history, traditions and values of the nation
Azerbaijani cuisine has over 30 kinds of soups, including those prepared from plain yogurt. There is a wide variety of kebabs including lamb, beef, chicken, and fish
(baliq) kebabs I like: Plov Kababs Qutabs with Yogurt
and…of course CAVIAR!
This comes from three different varieties of Caspian sturgeon, rated top to bottom as beluga, osietra and servyuga, and is actually affordable
The 113 gram pots run from $25-$55, depending upon the type of fish and grade
Society…People, ethnic, language
Ethnic groups: Azeri 90.6%, Dagestan 2.2%, Russian 1.8%, Armenian 1.5%, other 3.9%
Languages: Azerbaijani (Turkish group) 89%, Russian 3%, Armenian 2%, and other 6%.
Literacy: 97%.
Population birth rate 17.52 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Life expectancy total population: 66.31 years
male: 62.2 years female: 71 years (2008 est.)
Society… RELIGIONS Azerbaijan is a secular country, in article 48 of
Constitution said that everyone has a right to choose any faith, to adopt any religion or to not practice any religion
Approximately 93.4 to 96 percent of the
population is nominally Muslim
Judaism (Nearly 16 000 Jews reside in the country )
Christianity (is represented by Orthodoxy,
Catholicism and Protestantism)
Azerbaijan has a highest rates of diabetes mortality in the European Region
8.7% of population (every 12) is thalassemia carrier. About 200 children are born with thalassemia major every year
Society… Public Health
Deaths by cause, all ages
Cardiovascular disease – 51%Chronic respiratory disease - 4%Injuries - 4%Communicable,maternal and perinatal, nutritional deficiencies - 17%Other chronic diseases - 10%Diabetes - 3%Cancer -11%
To remember …..Khojali Genocide
on 26 February of 1992 the Armenian armed forces attacked the Khojaly town of the Republic of Azerbaijan. As a result of aggression Khojaly was razed to the ground; 613 men were killed, 56 men reduced to ashes alive, 112 men were missing, thousands of persons wer
e kidnapped, 6 families were completely annihilated