Baku

Baku

Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan. It lies on the western shore of the Caspian Sea and on the southern side of the Abşeron Peninsula, around a wide, winding isthmus of the Bay of Baku. Sheltered by the islands of the Baku Archipelago, the bay is the best harbor in the Caspian Sea, while the Abşeron Peninsula offers protection from the fierce northerly winds. The name Baku is probably a contraction of the Persian bad kube ('blown by mountain winds'). Baku owes its importance to its oil industry and administrative functions. Baku was first mentioned in 885 AD, although archaeological evidence suggests that a settlement existed here several centuries before Christ. Today's Baku is centered around the Icheri-Shekher old town or fortress. The ancient city is extremely picturesque, with a maze of narrow alleys and ancient buildings. The walled city, together with the Palace of Shīrvān-Shāhok and Maiden’s Tower, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Around the walls of the fortress, the streets and buildings of modern Baku rise on the slopes of the hills surrounding the bay. A beautiful park has been created along the waterfront. Divided into 11 districts, Greater Baku covers almost the entire Abşeron Peninsula, as well as islands at the tip of the peninsula, and another island built on stilts 100 km from Baku in the Caspian Sea.