Azerbaijan – Located where Eastern Europe meets Western Asia, between Russia and Iran, Azerbaijan is an industrialized nation with a substantial petroleum industry centered in Baku, near the coast of the Caspian Sea. Azerbaijan’s population is 94% Muslim, with 60% Twelver Shia, followed by a substantial Sunni community. While in Baku, many tourists enjoy visiting the Temple of Zoroastrians - Ateshgah (the house of fire) in the village of Surakhany (17th century). Among the monuments of Baku that are most popular with tourists are The Old City (Icheri Sheher), whose narrow streets contain many restaurants and shops offering many local crafts of materials like copper and ceramics, the Mausoleum of Seyd Yakhya Bakuvi, Giz Galasy (The Maiden's Tower) and a wide variety of museums featuring every aspect of the country’s culture. Giz Gaslasy dates back to the 12th century and was integral to the defense of the northern borders of Azerbaijan.

Considered to be a city that is both old and young, Baku is more westernized than the rest of the country, with a few western style clinics. However, once outside of the capital the quality of care slides dramatically. Near Baku, at the Baku State Reserve of History, Ethnology and Arts, visitors can find Gobustan Petroglyphs, an art archive from early man that features a large number of rock drawings, dwellings, ancient settlement sites and mounds that dates back 15,000 years to the Lower Paleolithic period.

The complete list of historical monuments in Azerbaijan is too extensive to include here, but if you are interested in the history of early man, this is one country you dare not fail to visit. Medical insurance is advised. Visas are required; however, it is possible to obtain a 30 day single entry visa at the airport. Because of the potential for danger, visitors are advised to stay away from all demonstrations that may be taking place during their visit.

GNT recommends the following websites on Azerbaijan:

http://www.azerbaijan.az/ This resource has lots of information (including hotel information), but to fully enjoy and benefit from it you must investigate it thoroughly.

http://www.azerb.com/ - This website covers an incredibly large amount of information of all types.

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