Azerbaijan is the once and future center of oil production in the Caucasus. It was where oil was first discovered in the region, and newly discovered fields offshore in the Caspian suggest wealth to come. Azerbaijan's ancient culture dates back at least 3,000 years, and is renowned for producing ornate rugs and tapestries.
The country is also notable for its ancient petroglyphs and medieval mosques, found at various points along the Great Silk Road. Azerbaijan is slightly infamous for the Nagorno-Karabakh region, an ethnic Armenian enclave that was the focus of a bitter conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Nagorno-Karabakh declared its independence not long ago, but major issues remain unresolved; there is currently a cease-fire in place and the area remains dangerous.
Western Azerbaijan is mountainous, and eastern sections are semi-arid steppe. Temperature differences between day and night can be extreme. Summers can be extremely hot near the coast, especially in Baku; winters are very cool and rainy. Azerbaijan experiences occasional severe earthquakes, and coastal areas are subject to cyclical flooding by the Caspian Sea.
Inhabitants are 90% Azeri, ethnically related to Iranians; the other 10% are Dagestani, Russian and Armenian. Most people speak Azeri, a Turkic language related most closely to modern Turkish. English is spoken mostly by those who deal regularly with tourists in upscale hotels and resorts. About 93% of Azerbaijanis are Sunni Muslim, though most are not very ardent in their beliefs.
Entry into Azerbaijan is usually by air into Baku, a city of about 1.7 million inhabitants. Air flights are offered by airlines including Azerbaijan Airlines, Aeroflot, Lufthansa, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, and Siberia Airlines.
About a third of Azerbaijan's train network is in need of reconstruction making travel difficult. Trains are slow and dirty, but inexpensive, and are the main mode of inter-city transport. The road network is limited, hazardous and in poor repair.
The phone system also is in bad shape: much of it is archaic and in disrepair and much of the countryside is not connected at all. ATMs can be found in Baku; credit cards are accepted only at upscale hotels, some restaurants and banks.
Visitors to Azerbaijan are constantly the object of attention because of their perceived wealth. The country is nominally secure, but be vigilant. Thieves in Azerbaijan use children as accomplices; the children give hugs to travelers in order to determine where valuables are located.
Staples of the Azerbaijani diet are meat dishes, especially pilaf (rice fried with meat and sometimes fruit); the food is generally appetizing and safe. Prices for Western amenities have largely been deregulated, so hotel and restaurant prices in Baku and other large cities can be just as expensive as in the West. Bargains exist for those willing to stray from the beaten path.
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