Baku is long attested under thePerso-Arabic name باکو (Bākū). EarlyArabic sources also refer to the city asBākuh andBākuya,[15] all of which seem to come from aPersian name.[citation needed] The further etymology is unclear.
Apopular etymology[16] in the 19th century considered it to be derived from Persian بادکوبه (Bâd-kube, meaning "wind-pounded city", a compound ofbād, "wind", andkube,[17] which is rooted in the verb کوبیدنkubidan, "to pound", thus referring to a place where wind would be strong and pounding,[18] as is the case of Baku, which is known to experience fierce winter snow storms and harsh winds). This popular name (Badkubə in modern Azerbaijani script) gained currency as a nickname for the city by the 19th century (e.g., it is used inAkinchi, volume 1, issue 1, p. 1), and is also reflected in the city's modern nickname as the "City of Winds" (Azerbaijani:Küləklər şəhəri). Another and even less probable folk etymology explains the name as deriving fromBaghkuy, meaning "God's town".Baga (nowبغbagh) andkuy are theOld Persian words for "god" and "town" respectively; the nameBaghkuy may be compared withBaghdād ("God-given") in whichdād is the Old Persian word for "give".
DuringSoviet rule, the city was spelled in Cyrillic as "Бакы" in Azerbaijani (while the Russian spelling was and still is "Баку",Baku). The modern Azerbaijani spelling, which has been using the Latin alphabet since 1991, isBakı; the shift from the Perso-Arabic letter و (ū) to Cyrillic "ы" and, later, Latin "ı" may be compared to that in other Azerbaijani words (e.g. compareقاپوqāpū in old Perso-Arabic spelling with modern Azerbaijaniqapı, "door") or in suffixes, as و was often used to transcribe thevowel harmony in Azerbaijani (which was also the practice inOttoman Turkish). (See alsoAzerbaijani alphabet.)
Roman stone inscription inGobustan dating back to AD 84–96
Traces of human settlement in the region of present-day Baku date back to theStone Age.Bronze Age rock carvings have been discovered near Bayil, and a bronze figure of a small fish in the territory of the Old City. These have led some to suggest the existence of a Bronze-Age settlement within the city's territory.[19] NearNardaran, a place called Umid Gaya features a prehistoric observatory, where images of the sun and of various constellations are carved into rock together with a primitive astronomic table.[20] Further archeological excavations have revealed various prehistoric settlements, native temples, statues and other artifacts within the territory of the modern city and around it.
In the 1st century AD, theRomans organised two Caucasian campaigns and reached what is today Baku. Near the city, in what is todayGobustan, Roman inscriptions dating from AD 84 to 96 survive – some of the earliest written evidences for a city there.[21]
According to the 6th-century archbishop and historian St. Sophronius of Cyprus, in 71, St.Bartholomew the Apostle was preaching Christianity in the city of Albana or Albanopolis,[22] associated with present-day Baku[23] orDerbent,[24] both located by theCaspian Sea. St. Bartholomew managed to convert even members of the local royal family who had worshipped the idolAstaroth, but was later martyred by beingflayed alive and crucified head down on orders from the pagan king Astyages.[25] The remains of St. Bartholomew were secretly transferred toMesopotamia.[26]
Baku was the realm of theShirvanshahs during the 8th century AD. The city frequently came under assault from theKhazars and (starting from the 10th century) from theRus'.Akhsitan I built a navy in Baku and successfully repelled a Rus' assault in 1170. After a devastating earthquake struckShamakhi, the capital ofShirvan, Shirvanshah's court moved to Baku in 1191.[27]
By the early 16th century, Baku's wealth and strategic position attracted the attention of its larger neighbours; in the previous two centuries, it was under the rule of the Iran-centredKara Koyunlu andAk Koyunlu. The fall of the Ak Koyunlu brought the city immediately into the sphere of the newly formed IranianSafavid dynasty, led by king (shah)Ismail I (r. 1501–1524). Ismail I laid siege to Baku in 1501 and captured it; he allowed the Shirvanshahs to remain in power, under Safavid suzerainty. His successor, kingTahmasp I (r. 1524–1576), completely removed the Shirvanshahs from power and made Baku a part of theShirvan province. Baku remained as an integral part of his empire and of successive Iranian dynasties for the next centuries, until ceded to theRussian Empire through the 1813Treaty of Gulistan. The House of Shirvan, which had ruled Baku since the 9th century, was extinguished in the course of Safavid rule.
At this time, the city was enclosed within lines of strong walls, which were washed by the sea on one side and protected by a wide trench on land. The Ottomans briefly gained control over Baku as a result of theOttoman-Safavid War of 1578–1590; by 1607, it came under Iranian control again.[28] In 1604 ShahAbbas I (r. 1588–1629) destroyed Baku fortress.
Atashgah is a temple built by Indian traders before 1745, west of the Caspian Sea. The inscription invokes LordShiva inSanskrit at the Atashgah.
Baku had a reputation as a focal point for traders from across the world during theEarly modern period; commerce was active and the area prospered. Notably, traders from theIndian subcontinent established themselves in the region. These Indian traders built theAteshgah of Baku during 17th–18th centuries; the temple was used as aHindu,Sikh, andZoroastrian place of worship.[29]
The Safavids temporarily lost power in Iran in 1722; EmperorPeter the Great of Russia took advantage of the situation and invaded. As a result of theRusso-Persian War of 1722–1723, the Safavids were forced to cede Baku to Russia.[30] By 1730 the situation had deteriorated for the Russians; the successes ofNader Shah (r. 1736–1747) led them to sign theTreaty of Ganja nearGanja on 10 March 1735, ceding the city and all other conquered territories in the Caucasus back to Iran.[31]
The eruption of instability following Nader Shah's death in 1747 gave rise to the variousCaucasian khanates. The semi-autonomous Persian-ruled[32][33]
From the late 18th century,Imperial Russia switched to a more aggressive geopolitical stance towards its two neighbours and rivals to the south, namely Iran and the Ottoman Empire. In the spring of 1796, byCatherine the Great's order, GeneralValerian Zubov's troops starteda large campaign againstQajar Persia.[34] Zubov had sent 13,000 men to capture Baku, and it was overrun subsequently without any resistance. On 13 June 1796, a Russian flotilla entered Baku Bay, and a garrison of Russian troops was stationed inside the city. Later, however, EmperorPaul I of Russia ordered the cessation of the campaign and the withdrawal of Russian forces followingCatherine's death. In March 1797 the tsarist troops left Baku, and the city became part ofQajar Iran again.
The Russians built the firstoil-distilling factory inBalaxani in 1837. The first person to drill oil in Baku was an ethnicArmenianIvan Mirzoev, who is also known as a 'founding father of Baku's oil industry.'[37][38] Drilling for oil began in the 1840s, with the firstoil well drilled in theBibi-Heybat suburb of Baku in 1846.[39] Large-scaleoil exploration started in 1872 when the Russian imperial authorities auctioned parcels of oil-rich land around Baku to private investors. The pioneer of oil extracting from the bottom of the sea was the Polish geologistWitold Zglenicki. Soon after, investors appeared in Baku, including theNobel Brothers in 1873 and theRothschilds in 1882. An industrial area of oil refineries, better known asBlack Town (Russian:Чёрный город), developed near Baku by the early 1880s.[40]
Oil workers digging an oil well by hand at Bibi-Heybat
ProfessorA. V. Williams Jackson of Columbia University wrote in his workFrom Constantinople to the Home of Omar Khayyam (1911):
Baku is a city founded upon oil, for to its inexhaustible founts of naphtha it owes its very existence, its maintenance, its prosperity... At present Baku produces one-fifth of the oil that is used in the world, and the immense output in crude petroleum from this single city far surpasses that in any other district where oil is found. Verily, the words of the Scriptures find illustration here: 'the rock poured me out rivers of oil.Oil is in the air one breathes, in one's nostrils, in one's eyes, in the water of the morning bath (though not in the drinking water, for that is brought in bottles from distant mineral springs), in one's starched linen – everywhere. This is the impression one carries away from Baku, and it is certainly true in the environs.[41]
By the beginning of the 20th century, half of the oil sold in international markets was extracted in Baku.[42] Theoil boom contributed to the massive growth of Baku. Between 1856 and 1910 Baku's population grew at a faster rate than that of London, Paris, New York City, or Tokyo.
In 1917, after theOctober Revolution and amidst the turmoil ofWorld War I and theRussian Revolution, Baku came under the control of theBaku Commune, led by the veteranBolshevikStepan Shahumyan. Seeking to capitalize on the existing ethnic conflicts, by spring 1918, Bolsheviks inspired and condoned civil war in and around Baku. During theMarch Days of 1918, Bolsheviks andDashnaks, seeking to establish control over Baku streets, faced armed Azerbaijani groups. The Azerbaijanis suffered defeat from the united forces of the Baku Soviet and were massacred by Dashnak teams in what was called theMarch Days. An estimated 3,000–12,000 Azerbaijanis were killed in their own capital.[43][44] After the massacre, on 28 May 1918, the Azerbaijani faction of theTranscaucasian Sejm proclaimed the independence of theAzerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) inGanja, thereby founding the first Muslim-majoritydemocratic and secular republic.[45] The newly independent Azerbaijani republic, being unable to defend the independence of the country on their own, asked the Ottoman Empire for military support in accordance with clause 4 of the treaty between the two countries. Shortly after, Azerbaijani forces, with support of theOttoman Army of Islam led byNuru Pasha, started their advance on Baku, eventually capturing the city from the loose coalition ofBolsheviks,SRs,Dashnaks,Mensheviks and British forces under the command of GeneralLionel Dunsterville on 15 September 1918.
After theBattle of Baku of August–September 1918, the Azerbaijani irregular troops, with the tacit support of the Turkish command, conducted four days of pillaging and killing 10,000–30,000[46]Armenians of Baku. Thispogrom became known as the "September Days". Shortly after this, Baku was proclaimed the new capital of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.
The Ottoman Empire, recognising defeat in World War I by October 1918, signed theArmistice of Mudros with the British (30 October 1918); this meant the evacuation of Turkish forces from Baku. Headed by GeneralWilliam Thomson, some 5,000 British troops, including parts of the formerDunsterforce, arrived in Baku on 17 November. Thomson declared himself military governor of Baku and implementedmartial law in the city until "the civil power would be strong enough to release the forces from the responsibility to maintain the public order". British forces left before the end of 1919.[47]
The city underwent many major changes. As a result, Baku played a great role in many branches of Soviet life. Baku was the major oil city of the Soviet Union. From about 1921 the city was headed by the Baku City Executive Committee, commonly known in Russian asBakgorispolkom. Together with Baku Party Committee (known as theBaksovet), it developed the economic significance of the Caspian metropolis. From 1922 to 1930 Baku became the venue for one of the majortrade fairs of the Soviet Union, serving as a commercial bridgehead to Iran and the Middle East.[48]
The major powers continued to note Baku's growing importance as a major energy hub. DuringWorld War II (1939–1945) and particularly during the1942 Nazi German invasion of the southwestern Soviet Union, Baku became of vital strategic importance to theAxis powers. In fact, capturing theoil fields of Baku was a primary goal of theWehrmacht'sOperation Edelweiss, carried out between May and November 1942. However, theGerman Army reached only a point some 530 kilometres (329 miles) northwest of Baku in November 1942, falling far short of the city's capture before being driven back during the SovietOperation Little Saturn in mid-December 1942.
After the 1991dissolution of the Soviet Union, Baku embarked on a process of restructuring on a scale unseen in its history.[49] Thousands ofpanel buildings from the Soviet period were demolished to make way for a green belt on its shores; parks and gardens were built on the land reclaimed by filling up the beaches of theBaku Bay. Improvements were made in general cleaning, maintenance, and garbage collection to bring these services up to Western European standards. The city is growing dynamically and developing at pace on an east–west axis along the shores of theCaspian Sea. Sustainability has become a key factor in future urban development.[50]
Absheron Peninsula satellite image,Landsat 5, 6 September 2010
Baku is situated on the western coast of theCaspian Sea. In the vicinity of the city there are a number ofmud volcanoes (Keyraki, Bogkh-bogkha,Lokbatan and others) andsalt lakes (Boyukshor, Khodasan, etc.).
Baku has acold semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification:BSk) with hot and humid summers, cool and occasionally wet winters, and strong winds all year long. However, unlike many other cities with such climate features, Baku does not see extremely hot summers and substantial sunshine hours. This is largely because of its northerlylatitude and the fact that it is located on a peninsula on the shore of the Caspian Sea.
Baku, and theAbsheron Peninsula on which it is situated, is the most arid part of Azerbaijan (precipitation here is around or less than 200 mm (8 in) a year). This is largely due to therain shadow effect from theCaucasus Mountains, with corresponding latitudes on theBlack Sea on average receiving 2,300 mm (91 in) or more. The majority of the light annual precipitation occurs in seasons other than summer, but none of these seasons is particularly wet.
During Soviet times, Baku, with its long hours of sunshine and dry healthy climate, was a vacation destination where citizens could enjoy beaches or relax in now-dilapidatedspa complexes overlooking the Caspian Sea. The city's past as a Soviet industrial centre left it one of the most polluted cities in the world, as of 2008[update].[51]
At the same time, Baku is noted as a very windy city throughout the year, hence the city's nickname the "City of Winds", and gale-force winds, the cold northern windkhazri and the warm southern windgilavar are typical here in all seasons. Indeed, the city is renowned for its fierce winter snow storms and harsh winds.[18]The speed of thekhazri sometimes reaches 144 km/h (89 mph), which can cause damage to crops, trees and roof tiles.[52]
The daily mean temperature in July and August averages 26.4 °C (79.5 °F), and there is very little rainfall during that season. During summer, thekhazri sweeps through, bringing desired coolness. Winter is cool and occasionally wet, with the daily mean temperature in January and February averaging 4.3 °C (39.7 °F). During winter, thekhazri sweeps through, driven by polarair masses; temperatures on the coast frequently drop below freezing and make it feel bitterly cold. Wintersnow storms are occasional; snow usually melts within a few days after each snowfall.
Climate data for Baku (Maştağa) (1991–2020 normals)
Until 1988, Baku had very large Russian,Armenian, and Jewish populations which contributed tocultural diversity and added in various ways (music, literature, architecture and progressive outlook) to Baku's history. With the onset of theFirst Nagorno-Karabakh War and thepogrom against Armenians starting in January 1990, the city's large Armenian population was expelled.[60][61] After thecollapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijani PresidentHeydar Aliyev returned several synagogues and a Jewish college, nationalised by the Soviets, to the Jewish community; he encouraged the restoration of these buildings. Seven of the original 11 synagogues, including the Gilah synagogue, built in 1896, and the large Kruei Synagogue, were renovated.[62]
Today, the vast majority of Baku's population is made up of ethnicAzerbaijanis, and the rest areTalysh,Russians,Lezgi and others. The intensive growth of the population started in the middle of the 19th century when Baku was a small town with a population of about 7,000 people. The population increased again from about 13,000 in the 1860s to 112,000 in 1897 and 215,000 in 1913, making Baku the largest city in the Caucasus region.[77]
Baku has been a cosmopolitan city at certain times during its history, meaning ethnic Azerbaijanis did not constitute the majority of population.[78] It was only in the 1970s that ethnic Azerbaijanis achieved demographic dominance in Baku.[79] In 2003 Baku additionally had 153,400internally displaced persons and 93,400 refugees.[80][81]
The religion with the largest community of followers is Islam. The majority of the Muslims areShia Muslims, and the Republic of Azerbaijan has the second-highest Shia population percentage in the world, after Iran.[83] The city's notable mosques includeJuma Mosque,Bibi-Heybat Mosque,Muhammad Mosque andTaza Pir Mosque.
Zoroastrianism, although extinct in the city as well as in the rest of the country by the present time, had a longhistory in Azerbaijan and theZoroastrian New Year (Nowruz) continues to be the main holiday in the city as well as in the rest of Azerbaijan.
Heydar Aliyev Avenue, home to the headquarters of multiplepublicly owned companies and enterprises in Azerbaijan. Along with theBay of Baku, it hosts the majority of the country'sskyscrapersSatellite image of Baku at night
Baku is the economic hub of Azerbaijan, hosting many of thecountry's major companies and serving as the center for key industries such as oil and gas, finance, trade, and technology. The city is home to major financial institutions, multinational corporations, and various businesses that contribute to the country's economy. Baku accounts for approximately 65% of Azerbaijan's total GDP.[84] Azerbaijaniconglomerates such asPASHA Holding which is headquartered in Baku, andAF Holding, operate in the city. Baku also attracts a significant portion of the country'sworkforce, with many people relocating for job opportunities and business prospects. As of the end of the first quarter of 2023, 52% of hired workers in Azerbaijan were employed in Baku.[85] In addition to its role as the economic hub, Baku is home to the largest port in theCaspian Sea, theBaku International Sea Trade Port, more commonly known as Port of Baku.[86] It handles a wide range of cargo, includingcontainers,bulk goods, and liquid cargo, with an annual capacity of 15 million tons of cargo. The port also plays an essential role in theTrans-Caspian International Transport Route, facilitating trade between East Asia, Central Asia, Europe, and theCaucasus through integrated sea, rail, and road transport.[87][88]
Baku's largest industry is petroleum, and its petroleum exports make it a large contributor to Azerbaijan'sbalance of payments. The existence of petroleum has been known since the 8th century. In the 10th century, the Arabian traveler, Marudee, reported that both white and black oil were being extracted naturally from Baku.[89] By the 15th century, oil for lamps was obtained from hand-dug surface wells. Commercial exploitation began in 1872, and by the beginning of the 20th century theBaku oil fields were the largest in the world. Towards the end of the 20th century, much of the onshore petroleum had been exhausted, and drilling had extended into the sea offshore. By the end of the 19th centuryskilled workers and specialists flocked to Baku. By 1900 the city had more than 3,000 oil wells, of which 2,000 were producing oil at industrial levels. Baku ranked as one of the largest centres for the production ofoil industry equipment before World War II. The World War IIBattle of Stalingrad was fought to determine who would have control of Baku oil fields. Fifty years before the battle, Baku produced half of the world's oil supply.[90]
The oil economy of Baku is undergoing a resurgence, with the development of the massiveAzeri-Chirag-Guneshli field (Shallow water Gunashli bySOCAR, deeper areas by a consortium led byBP), development of theShah Deniz gas field, the expansion of theSangachal Terminal and the construction of theBTC Pipeline. TheSouth Caucasus Pipeline (SCP), also known as the Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum Pipeline, transports natural gas from Azerbaijan'sShah Deniz gas field to Turkey, with further connections to Europe. Spanning over 690 kilometers, the pipeline has been operational since 2007 and plays a central role in theSouthern Gas Corridor, which aims to diversify Europe's energy sources with an annual export capacity of up to 25 billion cubic metres of gas.[91]
Deniz Mall, one of the largest shopping centers in Baku andSouth CacuasusNational Flag Square of Baku is home to the largest flag ever raised, towering over the skyline of the capital city
Baku is one of the most important tourist destinations in the Caucasus, with hotels in the city earning 7 million euros in 2009.[93] Many sizable worldhotel chains have a presence in the city. Baku has many populartourist and entertainment spots, such as the downtownFountains Square, the One and Thousand Nights Beach,Shikhov Beach andOil Rocks. Baku's vicinities featureYanar Dag, an ever-blazing spot of natural gas. On 2 September 2010 with the inauguration ofNational Flag Square, Baku set theworld record for tallestflagpole;[94][95] on 24 May 2011, the city ofDushanbe in Tajikistan set a new record with a 3 metres (9.8 feet)-higher flagpole.[96] A few years later, the Flag Pole was dismantled and the National Flag Square was closed off with fences. It was opened once again after years of repair on 8 November 2024, to commemorate theVictory Day over Armenia's forces in Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. The National Flag Square features a museum, with a collection of about 400 items, along with flags of Khanates and Empires that have been prevalent in the region.[97]
Back area of the Crescent Mall
Baku has several shopping malls, including Ganjlik Mall, Deniz Mall, Crescent Mall, Port Baku Mall, 28 Mall,Park Bulvar, City Park and Metro Park. The retail areas contain shops from chain stores up to high-end boutiques. Ganjlik Mall particularly stands out, as it is the largest mall in the city of Baku.[98] Crescent Mall is the newest shopping center in Baku, opening on 28 May 2024. It adds to the city's growing collection of malls, bringing a variety of stores, restaurants, and entertainment options to the area.[99]
Nizami Street is considered to be one of the most popular tourist attractions in Baku
The city is listed 48th in the 2011list of the most expensive cities in the world conducted by theMercer Human Resource Consulting.[100]Nizami Street, also known as Targovaya, and theNeftchilar Avenue, a street known for being home to many luxury and high fashion shops such asGucci,Dolce & Gabbana,Tom Ford,Burberry,Celine, are among the most expensive streets in the world.[101] Monthly expenses for a single person in Baku are estimated to be around 945 manat without rent (US$555), which is significantly lower in comparison to other countries.[102] For example, average cost of living for a person in Los Angeles, California, is about US$1308,[103] while inSeoul, South Korea, its US$1074.[104] Living costs in Baku per person are below average when comparing to other developed countries, however, average reported salary of a Bakuvian sits at 997 manat, or about US$586.[105]
TheAbsheron Museum of History and Local Studies(Azerbaijani:Abşeron Tarix-Diyarşünaslıq Muzeyi) started its activities on 21 November 1983. The area of the museum, which was thoroughly renovated in 2015, is 296 square meters and consists of 5 halls. Currently, about 3000 exhibits are preserved in the museum and 1800 items are displayed in the exposition. Exhibits reflecting the history, geography, nature, everyday life and culture of Absheron region are preserved in the museum.[118][119] The museum consists of 4 halls, 1 fund room and 1 room for employees. The exhibition area is 250 square meters, the manager's room is 1 square meter, the fund room is 10 square meters, and the staff room is 25 square meters. In 2018, the number of visitors to the museum was 1,932.[120]
Baku has wildly varying architecture, ranging from theOld City core to modern buildings and the spacious layout of Baku port. Many of the city's landmarks were built during the early 20th century, when architectural elements of the European styles were combined ineclectic style.[121] Baku has an original and unique appearance, earning it a reputation as theParis of the East.[122] Baku joinedUNESCO'sNetwork of Creative Cities as a Design City on 31 October 2019 on the occasion of World Cities' Day.[123]
There are a number of ancienthamams in Baku dating back to the 12th, 14th and 18th centuries. Hamams play a very important role in the architectural appearance of Baku.[124]
Teze Bey is the most popular hamam (traditional Islamic bath) in Baku. It was built in 1886 in the centre of Baku, and in 2003 it was fully restored and modernised. Along with its modern amenities, Teze Bey features a swimming pool and architectural details inspired by Oriental, Russian and Finnish baths.
Gum Hamam was discovered during archaeological excavations underneath the sand; hence the name: Gum hamam (sand bath). It was built sometime during the 12th–14th centuries.
In ancient times, Bairamali Hamam was called "Bey Hamam". The original structure was built sometime during the 12th–14th centuries and was reconstructed in 1881.
Agha Mikayil Hamam was constructed in the 18th century by Haji Agha Mikayil on Kichik Gala Street in the Old City (Icherisheher). It is still operating in its ancient setting. The Hamam is open to women on Mondays and Fridays and to men on the other days of the week.[125]
Late modern and postmodern architecture began to appear in the early 2000s. With economic development, old buildings such as Atlant House were razed to make way for new ones. Buildings with all-glass shells have appeared around the city, the most prominent examples being the International Mugham Center,Azerbaijan Tower,Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre,Flame Towers,Baku Crystal Hall,Baku White City,SOCAR Tower andDENIZ Mall. These projects also caught the attention of international media as notable programmes such asDiscovery Channel'sExtreme Engineering did pieces focusing in on changes to the city.[126]
The Old City of Baku, also known as the Walled City of Baku, refers to the ancient Baku settlement. Most of the walls and towers, strengthened after the Russian conquest in 1806, survived. This section is picturesque, with its maze of narrow alleys and ancient buildings: the cobbled streets past thePalace of the Shirvanshahs, twocaravansaries, the baths and theJuma Mosque (which used to house theAzerbaijan National Carpet and Arts Museum but is now a mosque again). The old town core also has dozens of small mosques, often without any particular sign to distinguish them as such.
In 2003, UNESCO placed the Inner City on theList of World Heritage in Danger, citing damage from aNovember 2000 earthquake, poor conservation as well as "dubious" restoration efforts.[127] In 2009 the Inner City was removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger.[128]
The music scene in Baku can be traced back to ancient times and villages of Baku, generally revered as the fountainhead ofmeykhana andmugham in the Azerbaijan.[130][131]
Many clubs that are open until dawn can be found throughout the city. Clubs with an eastern flavour provide special treats from thecuisine of Azerbaijan along with local music. Western-style clubs target younger, more energetic crowds.[140] Most of thepublic houses and bars are located nearFountains Square and are usually open until the early hours of the morning.
Baku has large sections of greenery, either preserved by the National Government or designated as green zones. The city, however, continues to lack a green belt development as economic activity pours into the capital, resulting in massive housing projects along the suburbs.[141]
Baku Boulevard is a pedestrian promenade that runs parallel to Baku's seafront. The boulevard contains an amusement park,yacht club,musical fountain, statues and monuments. The park is popular with dog-walkers and joggers and is convenient for tourists. It is adjacent to the newly builtInternational Centre of Mugham and the musical fountain.
Baku hosts aFormula One race on theBaku City Circuit. The first was the2016 European Grand Prix, with the track going around the old city. The track measures 6.003 km (3.730 mi), and it has been on the Formula One calendar since its 2016 debut.
The city also hosted three group games and one quarter-final of theUEFA Euro 2020 European Football Championship.[142]
The largest sports hub in the city isBaku Olympic Stadium with 69,870 seating capacity, whose construction was completed in 2015.UEFA Europa League Final 2019 was played at theOlympic Stadium in Baku on 29 May 2019 betweenEnglish sidesChelsea andArsenal.[151] The city's main football clubs isNeftçi Baku of who first has nine Premier League titles, making Neftchi the most successful Azerbaijani football club. Baku also has several football clubs in the premier and regional leagues, includingAZAL andRavan inPremier League. The city's second-largest stadium,Tofiq Bahramov Stadium hosts a number of domestic and international competitions and was the main sports centre of the city for a long period until the construction of Baku Olympic Stadium.
Throughout history, the transport system of Baku used the now-defuncthorsecars, trams andnarrow gauge railways. As of 2011[update], 1,000black cabs are ordered by Baku Taxi Company, and as part of a programme originally announced by the Transport Ministry of Azerbaijan, there is a plan to introduce London cabs into Baku.[152][153] The move was part of £16 million agreement betweenManganese Bronze subsidiaryLTI Limited and Baku Taxi Company.[154][155]
Local rail transport includes theBaku Funicular and theBaku Metro, a rapid-transit system notable for its art, murals, mosaics and ornate chandeliers. Baku Metro was opened in November 1967 and includes 3 lines and 25 stations at present; 170 million people used Baku Metro over the past five years.[156] In 2008, the Chief of Baku Metro, Taghi Ahmadov, announced plans to construct 41 new stations over the next 17 years. These will serve the newbus complex as well as the international airport.[157] In 2019, theBaku suburban railway opened.
BakuCard is a single Smart Card for payment on all types of city transport. The intercity buses and metro use this type of card-based fare-payment system.[158][159]
Baku Railway Station is the terminus for national and international rail links to the city. TheKars–Tbilisi–Baku railway, which directly connects Turkey, Georgia and Azerbaijan, began to be constructed in 2007 and opened in 2017.[160] The completed branch will connect Baku withTbilisi in Georgia, and from there trains will continue toAkhalkalaki, andKars in Turkey.[161]
Sea transport is vital for Baku, as the city is practically surrounded by theCaspian Sea to the east. Shipping services operate regularly from Baku across the Caspian Sea toTurkmenbashi (formerly Krasnovodsk) in Turkmenistan and toBandar Anzali andBandar Nowshar in Iran.[162] The commuter ferries, along with the high-speed catamaranSeabus (Deniz Avtobusu), also form the main connection between the city and theAbsheron peninsula.[163]
Baku Port was founded in 1902 and claims to be the largest Caspian Sea port. It has six facilities: the main cargo terminal, the container terminal, the ferry terminal, the oil terminal, the passenger terminal and the port fleet terminal. The port's throughput capacity reaches 15 milliontonnes of liquid bulk and up to 10 million tons of dry cargoes.[164] In 2010, theBaku International Sea Trade Port began to be reconstructed. The construction was planned to take place in three stages and to be completed by 2016. The estimated costs were US$400 million.[165] From April to November, Baku Port is accessible to ships loading cargoes for direct voyages from Western European and Mediterranean ports. The State Road M-1 and theEuropean route E60 are the two main motorway connections between Europe and Azerbaijan. The motorway network around Baku is well-developed and is constantly being extended.
According to the Ministry of Healthcare, healthcare facilities in Baku are "highly developed compared with the regions and doctors are waiting to work there. The regions, meanwhile, lack both doctors and clinics providing specialized medical treatment." Resulting in citizens travelling for many hours to Baku to receive adequate medical treatment.[168]
^Mikaberidze, Alexander (2011). "Treaty of Ganja (1735)". In Mikaberidze, Alexander (ed.).Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World: A Historical Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. p. 329.ISBN978-1-59884-336-1.
^Mojtahed-Zadeh, Pirouz (2007).Boundary Politics and International Boundaries of Iran: A Study of the Origin, Evolution, and Implications of the Boundaries of Modern Iran with Its 15 Neighbours in the Middle East by a Number of Renowned Experts in the Field. Universal. p. 372.ISBN978-1-58112-933-5.
^Smith, Michael (April 2001). "Anatomy of Rumor: Murder Scandal, the Musavat Party and Narrative of the Russian Revolution in Baku, 1917–1920".Journal of Contemporary History.36 (2): 228.doi:10.1177/002200940103600202.S2CID159744435.The results of the March events were immediate and total for the Musavat. Several hundreds of its members were killed in the fighting; up to 12,000 Muslim civilians perished; thousands of others fled Baku in a mass exodus.
^Minahan, James B. (1998).Miniature Empires: A Historical Dictionary of the Newly Independent States. Greenwood Publishing. p. 22.ISBN978-0-313-30610-5.The tensions and fighting between the Azeris and the Armenians in the federation culminated in the massacre of some 12,000 Azeris in Baku by radical Armenians and Bolshevik troops in March 1918.
^Andreopoulos, George (1997).Genocide: Conceptual and Historical Dimensions. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press,ISBN978-0-8122-1616-5, p. 236.
^Behbudov, Tahir."British Police in Baku".Visions of Azerbaijan.Archived from the original on 31 August 2017. Retrieved31 August 2017.
^abThe Azerbaijani Turks: Power and Identity Under Russian Rule, Audrey L. Altstadt, page 32, Hoover Press, 1992,ISBN978-0-8179-9183-8
^Кавказский календарь на 1917 год [Caucasian calendar for 1917] (in Russian) (72nd ed.). Tiflis: Tipografiya kantselyarii Ye.I.V. na Kavkaze, kazenny dom. 1917. pp. 182–185. Archived fromthe original on 4 November 2021.
^Audrey Altstadt, Conflict, Cleavage and Change in Central Asia and the Caucasus,Cambridge University Press, 1997, p. 112, table 4.1, Ethnic composition of Baku, 1897, 1903,1913
^Goff, Krista A. (2021).Nested Nationalism: Making and Unmaking Nations in the Soviet Caucasus. Cornell University Press. p. 28.ISBN978-1501753299.
^abc"ВСЕ ОСТАЕТСЯ ЛЮДЯМ" [Everything remains for people]. Vol. 29, no. 19725. Vyshka. 25 July 2008.Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved4 February 2010.
The list includes towns, historical towns, neighborhoods, and residential areas (e.g. Yeni Yasamal) within the Baku metropolitan area. Some of these are official administrative divisions, while others are historically commonly used names in local parlance. Suburban district centers are indicated inbold.
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