Caspian Highland Escape

Azerbaijan is a country located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, bordered by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to the south. Capital and Largest City is Baku, located on the Caspian Sea coast. Its landscape is diverse, including the Caspian Sea coast, the flatlands of the Kura-Aras Lowland, and the mountainous regions of the Greater and Lesser Caucasus. Inhabited since the Paleolithic age. It was part of various empires, including the Persian, Roman, and Ottoman Empires. Became the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic in 1918, the first democratic and secular republic in the Muslim world. Later, it became part of the Soviet Union and regained independence in 1991. Azerbaijani (Azeri) is the official language, a member of the Turkic language family. Predominantly Muslim, with a majority of Shia Muslims and a significant Sunni minority. Rich cultural heritage with influences from Persian, Turkish, and Russian cultures. Known for its traditional music, dance and carpets.