Baku

Baku is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, situated on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula along the Bay of Baku. As the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the Caucasus region, it lies 28 metres below sea level, which establishes it as the lowest lying national capital in the world.

The landscape features a cold semi-arid climate marked by strong winds across all seasons, earning the settlement its well-known nickname, the City of Winds. Because of the rain shadow effect created by the Caucasus Mountains, the Absheron Peninsula serves as the most arid part of Azerbaijan, receiving around 200 mm or less of precipitation annually. Atmospheric conditions are heavily influenced by persistent air currents, including the cold northern wind called the khazri and the warm southern wind called the gilavar. Gale-force winds, fierce winter snow storms, and occasional high-velocity gusts from the khazri are typical of the regional environment.

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Baku functions as the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, standing as the preeminent metropolis on the Caspian Sea and across the entire Caucasus region. Positioned along the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula on the Bay of Baku, the urban territory supports an estimated population exceeding two million people.

The geography of the municipality is distinguished by its unique vertical placement, sitting 28 metres below sea level. This characteristic establishes the settlement as the lowest-lying national capital on Earth and the largest city in the world situated entirely below sea level. The municipal landscape incorporates twelve administrative raions alongside 48 distinct townships. These include island communities located within the Baku Archipelago as well as the industrial settlement of Neft Daşları, which is constructed directly upon offshore oil rigs situated 60 kilometres out in the Caspian Sea.

Atmospheric and meteorological conditions across the municipal territory are defined by intense meteorological activity. The locality experiences fierce winter snowstorms and exceptionally powerful gales, a phenomenon that has long characterized the regional environment. These severe atmospheric patterns are reflected in the historical Persian designation of the area as a wind-pounded place, as well as the enduring modern moniker recognizing the settlement as the City of Winds.

Urban administrative divisions and regional planning encompass a vast territory functioning as the scientific, cultural, and industrial hub of the country. Approximately twenty-five percent of the total inhabitants of Azerbaijan reside within this metropolitan zone. While historical descriptions emphasize the pervasive presence of petroleum extraction throughout the surrounding terrain and environs, the modern spatial organization balances heavy industrial installations with ancient architectural landmarks, including the historic Old City situated within the coastal expanse.