View source for Place:Baku

{{short description|Capital of Azerbaijan}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name = Baku
| native_name = Bakı
| settlement_type = Capital city
| nickname = City of Winds<br />({{lang|az|Küləklər şəhəri}})
| image_skyline = Montage of Baku 2019.jpg
| image_caption = Shirvanshah's Palace; Old city of Baku; Maiden Tower; Palace of Happines (Mukhtarov street); Evening Baku; Ismailiyye Palace; Heydar Aliyev Center; National Art Museum of Azerbaijan; Azerbaijan Carpet Museum; Filarmony building; Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre; Nizami Cinema Center; Ateshgah Fire Temple; Church of Saviour; Heydar Mosque; and Baku night view
| image_shield = Coat of arms of Baku.svg
| image_flag = <!-- THERE IS NO OFFICIAL FLAG OF BAKU YET, PLEASE DO NOT ADD IT -->
| seal_size = 80px
| image_map = 
| mapsize = 230px
| map_caption = Location of Baku in Azerbaijan##Location of Baku in the Caucasus
| pushpin_map = Azerbaijan#Caucasus mountains#Asia
| pushpin_relief = 1
| coordinates = {{coord|40|23|43|N|49|52|56|E|type:city(2039700)_region:AZ-BA_source:dewiki|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|Azerbaijan}}
| subdivision_type1 = Region
| subdivision_name1 = Baku
| established_title = 
| established_date = 
| leader_title = [[Social:Mayor|Mayor]]
| leader_name = Eldar Azizov
| area_total_km2 = 2,140
| area_footnotes = <ref name="DENSITY">{{Cite web |title=Administrative, density and territorial units and land size by economic regions of Azerbaijan Republic for January 1. 2007 |url=http://www.azstat.org/statinfo/demoqraphic/en/010.shtml#s11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071124164655/http://www.azstat.org/statinfo/demoqraphic/en/010.shtml#s11 |archive-date=24 November 2007 |access-date=17 July 2009}}</ref>
| area_land_km2 = 
| area_water_km2 = 
| population_as_of = 2019
| population_footnotes = <ref name="statgov">{{cite web |url=https://www.stat.gov.az/source/demoqraphy/ap/az/population_2020.zip |title=Population of Azerbaijan |author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website=stat.gov.az |publisher=State Statistics Committee |access-date=22 February 2021 |quote= |archive-date=30 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630134755/https://www.stat.gov.az/source/demoqraphy/ap/az/population_2020.zip |url-status=live }}</ref>
| population_total = 2,616,948<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.stat.gov.az/source/demoqraphy/?lang=en|title=Population|first=Anar|last=Samadov |website=The State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan|access-date=25 March 2020|archive-date=27 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827142620/https://www.stat.gov.az/source/demoqraphy/?lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref>
| population_urban = 
| population_metro = 2,675,000<ref name="citypopulation.de">{{cite web | url=http://www.citypopulation.de/world/Agglomerations.html | title=Major Agglomerations of the World | publisher=Citypopulation.de}}</ref>
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_demonym = Bakuvian<ref>{{Cite book |last=Thomas de Waal |title=The Caucasus: An Introduction |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2010 |isbn=978-0-19-975043-6 |page=16}}</ref>
({{lang|az|Bakılı}})
| timezone = AZT
| utc_offset = +4
| elevation_m = −28
| area_code = +994 12
| postal_code_type = Postal code
| postal_code = AZ1000
| registration_plate = 10, 90, 99, 77
| website = {{URL|www.baku-ih.gov.az}}
| footnotes = {{designation list |embed = yes
|designation1 = WHS
|designation1_offname = Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower
|designation1_date = 2000 <small>(24th [[Organization:World Heritage Committee|session]])</small>
|designation1_number = [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/958 958]
|designation1_criteria = iv
|designation1_type = Cultural
|designation1_free1name = Endangered
|designation1_free1value = 2003–2009
|designation1_free2name = Region
|designation1_free2value = Asia
}}
| name = 
| blank_info_sec1 = 0.824<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web |title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database – Global Data Lab |url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923120638/https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/ |archive-date=23 September 2018 |access-date=2018-09-13 |website=hdi.globaldatalab.org |language=en}}</ref><br />{{color|green|very high}} · 1st
}}

'''Baku''' ({{IPAc-en|US|b|ɑː|ˈ|k|uː|,_|ˈ|b|ɑː|k|uː}}, {{IPAc-en|UK|b|æ|ˈ|k|uː|,_|ˈ|b|æ|k|u:}};<ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Baku}}</ref><ref>{{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/Baku |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201205191002/https://www.lexico.com/definition/baku |archive-date=5 December 2020 |title=Baku |dictionary=Lexico UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Organization:Oxford University Press|Oxford University Press]]}}</ref> {{lang-az|Bakı}} {{IPA-az|bɑˈcɯ||Az-baku.ogg}}) is the capital and largest city of [[Place:Azerbaijan|Azerbaijan]], as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and in the [[Earth:Caucasus|Caucasus]] region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Seven astounding facts about the city of Baku |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2KC0g2TGpjBXGp5x5rm4KKd/seven-astounding-facts-about-the-city-of-baku |access-date=6 September 2020 |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930063703/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2KC0g2TGpjBXGp5x5rm4KKd/seven-astounding-facts-about-the-city-of-baku |url-status=live }}</ref> Baku is {{convert|28|m|ft}} below [[Sea level|sea level]], which makes it the [[Place:List of capital cities by elevation|lowest lying national capital in the world]] and also the largest city in the world below sea level. Baku lies on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, on the Bay of Baku. Baku's urban population was estimated at two million people as of 2009.<ref name="pop">{{Cite web |title=Population by economic and administrative regions, urban settlements at the beginning of the 2009 |url=http://www.azstat.org/statinfo/demoqraphic/en/2_2.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091114093435/http://www.azstat.org/statinfo/demoqraphic/en/2_2.shtml |archive-date=14 November 2009 |access-date=21 November 2009}}</ref> Baku is the primate city of Azerbaijan—it is the sole metropolis in the country, and about 25% of all inhabitants of the country live in Baku's metropolitan area.

Baku is divided into twelve administrative raions and 48 townships. Among these are the townships on the islands of the Baku Archipelago, as well as the industrial settlement of [[Engineering:Neft Daşları|Neft Daşları]] built on oil rigs {{convert|60|km|mi|0|abbr=off}} away from Baku city in the Caspian Sea. The Old City, containing the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower, was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/958/|title=Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower|website=UNESCO|access-date=11 April 2023}}</ref>

The city is the scientific, cultural, and industrial centre of Azerbaijan. Many sizeable Azerbaijani institutions have their headquarters there.  In the 2010s, Baku became a venue for major international events. It hosted the 57th Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, the 2015 European Games, 4th Islamic Solidarity Games, the European Grand Prix in 2016, the Azerbaijan Grand Prix since 2017, the final of the 2018–19 UEFA Europa League, and was one of the host cities for UEFA Euro 2020. The Baku International Sea Trade Port is capable of handling two million tonnes of general and dry bulk cargoes per year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Port of Baku |url=http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/AZE_Port_of_Baku_2192.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721064024/http://www.worldportsource.com/ports/AZE_Port_of_Baku_2192.php |archive-date=21 July 2011 |access-date=23 December 2010 |publisher=World Port Source}}</ref> Baku is renowned for its harsh winds, reflected in its nickname, the "City of Winds".

==Etymology==
Baku is long attested under the Perso-Arabic name باکو (''Bākū''). Early [[Social:Arabic language|Arabic]] sources also refer to the city as '''Bākuh''' and '''Bākuya''',<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Dunlop |first1=D.M. |url=http://nessia.org/files/original/7fb5287183e94fb6ea34e8c74d7f9de9.pdf |title=Historic Cities of the Islamic World |last2=Bennigsen |first2=A. |last3=Bosworth |first3=C.E. |publisher=Brill |year=2007 |editor-last=Bosworth |editor-first=C. Edmund |location=Leiden & Boston |page=47 |access-date=18 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920151802/http://nessia.org/files/original/7fb5287183e94fb6ea34e8c74d7f9de9.pdf |archive-date=20 September 2018 }}</ref> all of which seem to come from a [[Social:Persian language|Persian]] name. The further etymology is unclear.

A [[Social:Folk etymology|popular etymology]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bakucity.preslib.az/en/page/oj8veb7H6a|title=The origin and etymology :: Baku|website=bakucity.preslib.az|access-date=3 January 2021|archive-date=16 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210116062050/https://bakucity.preslib.az/en/page/oj8veb7H6a|url-status=live}}</ref> in the 19th century considered it to be derived from Persian بادکوبه ('''Bâd-kube''', meaning "wind-pounded city", a compound of ''bād'', "wind", and ''kube'',<ref>{{Cite book |last=Everett-Heath |first=John |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780191882913.001.0001/acref-9780191882913;jsessionid=89F701150F43668BCF55A677CA9C3AD3 |title=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Place Names |date=2019-10-24 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-188291-3 |language=en-US |doi=10.1093/acref/9780191882913.001.0001}}</ref> which is rooted in the verb کوبیدن ''kubidan'', "to pound", thus referring to a place where wind would be strong and pounding,<ref name="Web.archive.org">{{Cite web |title=Culture & Religion on Podium: Politicizing Linguistics |url=http://iranchamber.com/podium/culture/020920_politicizing_linguistics.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013212555/http://iranchamber.com/podium/culture/020920_politicizing_linguistics.php |archive-date=13 October 2007 |access-date=25 July 2009}}</ref> 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 in ''Akinchi'', volume 1, issue 1, p.&nbsp;1), and is also reflected in the city's modern nickname as the "City of Winds" ({{lang-az|Küləklər şəhəri|link=no}}). Another and even less probable folk etymology explains the name as deriving from '''Baghkuy''', meaning "God's town". ''Baga'' (now ''بغ'' ''bagh'') and ''kuy'' are the Old Persian words for "god" and "town" respectively; the name ''Baghkuy'' may be compared with ''[[Place:Baghdad|Baghdād]]'' ("God-given") in which ''dād'' is the Old Persian word for "give".

During Soviet rule, the city was spelled in Cyrillic as "Бакы" in Azerbaijani (while the [[Social:Russian language|Russian]] spelling was and still is "Баку", '''{{transliteration|ru|Baku}}'''). The modern Azerbaijani spelling, which has been using the Latin alphabet since 1991, is {{lang|az|Bakı}}; 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. compare {{wikt-lang|az|قاپو}} ''qāpū'' in old Perso-Arabic spelling with modern Azerbaijani {{wikt-lang|az|qapı}}, "door") or in suffixes, as و was often used to transcribe the [[Social:Vowel harmony|vowel harmony]] in Azerbaijani (which was also the practice in Ottoman Turkish). (See also [[Social:Azerbaijani alphabet|Azerbaijani alphabet]].)

==History==

===Antiquity===
[[File:Qobustan inscription.jpg|thumb|Roman stone inscription in Gobustan dating back to AD 84–96]]
Traces of human settlement in the region of present-day Baku date back to the Stone 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.<ref>[http://azerisite.narod.ru/2.html Город Баку...] {{Webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140319033931/http://azerisite.narod.ru/2.html |date= 19 March 2014 }} Retrieved on 24 June 2006</ref> Near Nardaran, 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.<ref>Ancient Observatory of Absheron. ''Gobustan'', No 3 (1973)</ref> 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, the Romans organised two Caucasian campaigns and reached what is today Baku. Near the city, in what is today [[Earth:Gobustan National Park|Gobustan]], Roman inscriptions dating from AD 84 to 96 survive – some of the earliest written evidences for a city there.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Azerbaijan – Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace... |url=http://worldheritage.heindorffhus.dk/frame-AzerbaijanBaku.htm |archive-url= https://archive.today/20080102011734/http://worldheritage.heindorffhus.dk/frame-AzerbaijanBaku.htm |archive-date= 2 January 2008 |access-date= 14 October 2007}}</ref>

===Rise of the Shirvanshahs and the Safavid era===
[[File:1541-Battle in the war between Shah Isma'il and the King of Shirvan-Shahnama-i-Isma'il.jpg|left|190px|thumb |A miniature painting marking the downfall of the Shirvanshahs at the hands of the Safavids]]
Baku was the realm of the [[Social:Shirvanshahs|Shirvanshahs]] during the 8th century AD. The city frequently came under assault from the Khazars and (starting from the 10th century) from the [[Place:Kievan Rus'|Rus']]. Shirvanshah Akhsitan I built a navy in Baku and successfully repelled a Rus' assault in 1170. After a devastating earthquake struck Shamakhi, the capital of [[Place:Shirvan|Shirvan]], Shirvanshah's court moved to Baku in 1191.<ref>[http://www.kaspiy.az/rubrics.php?code=316 "Ичери Шехер": быть или не быть] Retrieved on 25 June 2006 {{webarchive |url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080620120625/http://www.kaspiy.az/rubrics.php?code=316 |date= 20 June 2008 }}</ref>

[[File:Sabayil relics.jpg|thumb|Relics from the sunken Sabayil Castle ]]
The Shirvan era greatly influenced Baku and the remainder of present-day Azerbaijan. Between the 12th and 14th centuries, massive fortifications were built in Baku and the surrounding towns. The Maiden Tower, the Ramana Tower, the Nardaran Fortress, the Shagan Castle, the Mardakan Castle, the Round Castle and also the famous Sabayil Castle on the island of the Bay of Baku date from this period. The city walls of Baku were also rebuilt and strengthened.

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-centred Kara Koyunlu and Ak Koyunlu. The fall of the Ak Koyunlu brought the city immediately into the sphere of the newly formed Iranian Safavid dynasty, led by king (''shah'') Ismail I ({{reign | 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, king Tahmasp I ({{reign | 1524 | 1576}}), completely removed the Shirvanshahs from power and made Baku a part of the Shirvan province. Baku remained as an integral part of his empire and of successive Iranian dynasties for the next centuries, until ceded to the [[Place:Russian Empire|Russian Empire]] through the 1813 Treaty 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 the Ottoman-Safavid War of 1578–1590; by 1607, it came under Iranian control again.<ref>{{Cite book |last1= Dumper |first1= Michael |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=3SapTk5iGDkC&pg=PA65 |title= Cities of the Middle East and North Africa |last2= Stanley |first2= Bruce E |publisher= ABC-CLIO |year= 2007 |isbn= 978-1-57607-919-5 |access-date= 4 July 2020 |archive-date= 28 May 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210528124515/https://books.google.com/books?id=3SapTk5iGDkC&pg=PA65 |url-status= live }}</ref> In 1604 Shah Abbas I ({{reign | 1588 | 1629}}) destroyed Baku fortress.

[[File:Ateshgah temple inscription.png|upright|thumb|right| Atashgah is a temple built by Indian traders before 1745, west of the Caspian Sea. The inscription invokes Lord Shiva in Sanskrit at the Atashgah.]]
Baku had a reputation as a focal point for traders from all across the world during the [[History:Early modern period|Early modern period]]; commerce was active and the area prospered. Notably, traders from the [[Earth:Indian subcontinent|Indian subcontinent]] established themselves in the region. These Indian traders built the Ateshgah of Baku during 17th–18th centuries; the temple was used as a Hindu, Sikh, and Zoroastrian place of worship.<ref name="Ziyadov2012">{{Cite book |last= Taleh Ziyadov |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=48CHpkjeCcEC&pg=PA94 |title= Azerbaijan as a Regional Hub in Central Eurasia: Strategic Assessment of Euro-Asian Trade and Transportation |publisher= Taleh Ziyadov |year= 2012 |isbn= 978-9952-34-801-9 |pages= 94– |access-date= 16 August 2018 |archive-date= 28 May 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210528124524/https://books.google.com/books?id=48CHpkjeCcEC&pg=PA94 |url-status= live }}</ref>

=== Downfall of the Safavids and the Khanate of Baku ===
The Safavids temporarily lost power in Iran in 1722; Emperor Peter the Great of Russia took advantage of the situation and invaded.  As a result of the Russo-Persian War of 1722–1723, the Safavids were forced to cede Baku to Russia.<ref>{{Cite web |last= Shukiurov Kerim |title= The Caucasus in the System of International Relations: The Turkmanchay Treaty was Signed 180 Years Ago |url= http://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/the-caucasus-in-the-system-of-international-relations-the-turkmanchay-treaty-was-signed-180-years-ago |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150629192734/http://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/the-caucasus-in-the-system-of-international-relations-the-turkmanchay-treaty-was-signed-180-years-ago |archive-date= 29 June 2015 |access-date= 30 June 2015 |website= Cyberleninka}}</ref> By 1730 the situation had deteriorated for the Russians; the successes of Nader Shah ({{reign | 1736 | 1747}}) led them to sign the Treaty of Ganja near Ganja on 10 March 1735, ceding the city and all other conquered territories in the Caucasus back to [[Religion:Iran|Iran]].<ref>{{Cite book |last= Mikaberidze |first= Alexander |title= Conflict and Conquest in the Islamic World: A Historical Encyclopedia |year= 2011 |isbn= 978-1-59884-336-1 |editor-last= Mikaberidze, Alexander |publisher= ABC-CLIO |page= 329 |chapter= Treaty of Ganja (1735)}}</ref>

The eruption of instability following Nader Shah's death in 1747 gave rise to the various [[Place:Khanates of the Caucasus|Caucasian khanates]]. The semi-autonomous Persian-ruled<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title= Azerbaijan – history – geography |encyclopedia= Encyclopedia Britannica |url= https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-129462/Azerbaijan |access-date= 4 July 2015 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081118105319/https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-129462/Azerbaijan |archive-date= 18 November 2008}}</ref><ref>Russia and Iran, 1780-1828By Muriel Atkin, Page 16-20</ref> Baku Khanate (1747–1806) was one of these. Initially ruled by Mirza Muhammed Khan ({{reign | 1747 | 1768}}), it soon became a dependency of the much stronger Quba Khanate. During this time, the population of Baku remained small (approximately 5,000), and the economy suffered as a result of constant warfare.{{citation needed|date= January 2018}}

=== Russo-Persian Wars and Iran's forced cession ===
[[File:Баку. Набережная. 1861.jpg|left|270px|thumb|Painting of Baku's shoreline in 1861 by Alexey Bogolyubov]]

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, by Catherine II's order, General Valerian Zubov's troops started a large campaign against Qajar Persia.<ref>{{Cite book |title= Relations between Tehran and Moscow, 1797–2014 |url= https://www.academia.edu/9137125 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501122208/http://www.academia.edu/9137125/Relations_between_Tehran_and_Moscow_1979-2014 |archive-date= 1 May 2015 |access-date= 9 March 2015}}</ref> 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, Emperor Paul I of Russia ordered the cessation of the campaign and the withdrawal of Russian forces following the death of his predecessor, Catherine the Great. In March 1797 the tsarist troops left Baku and the city became part of Qajar Iran again.

In 1813, following the Russo-Persian War of 1804–1813, Qajar Iran had to sign the Treaty of Gulistan with Russia this provided for the cession of Baku and of most of Iran's territories in the [[Earth:North Caucasus|North Caucasus]] and [[Place:South Caucasus|South Caucasus]] to Russia. During the next and final bout of hostilities between the two, the Russo-Persian War of 1826–1828, the Iranians briefly recaptured Baku. However, the militarily superior Russians ended this war with a victory as well, and the resulting Treaty of Turkmenchay (1828) made Baku's inclusion in the [[Place:Russian Empire|Russian Empire]] definite.<ref>{{Cite book |last= Mojtahed-Zadeh, Pirouz |title= 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 |publisher= Universal |year= 2007 |isbn= 978-1-58112-933-5 |page= 372}}</ref> When Baku was occupied by the Russian troops during the war of 1804–13, nearly the entire population of some 8,000 people was ethnic Tat.<ref name="books.google.nl">{{Cite book |last= James B. Minahan |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=oZCOAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA262 |title= Ethnic Groups of North, East, and Central Asia: An Encyclopedia |publisher= ABC-CLIO |year= 2014 |isbn= 978-1-61069-018-8 |page= 262 |access-date= 24 August 2017 |archive-date= 28 May 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210528124526/https://books.google.com/books?id=oZCOAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA262 |url-status= live }}</ref> Baku within Russia was the administrative center of the Baku Uyezd, Baku Governorate, and the Baku Gradonachalstvo.

=== Discovery of oil ===
[[File:BibiEybat.jpg|thumb|270px|Oil workers digging an oil well by hand at Bibi-Heybat]]

The Russians built the first [[Chemistry:Oil refinery|oil-distilling factory]] in Balaxani in 1837. The first person to drill oil in Baku was an ethnic Armenian Ivan Mirzoev, who is also known as a 'founding father of Baku's oil industry.'<ref>{{Cite book|last=Daintith|first=Terence|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g1G52SwFjeQC&q=mirzoev+baku&pg=PA157|title=Finders Keepers?: How the Law of Capture Shaped the World Oil Industry|date=2010|publisher=Earthscan|isbn=978-1-936331-76-5|language=en|access-date=13 May 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Altstadt|first=Audrey L.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FgtZAAAAYAAJ|title=Economic Development and Political Reform in Baku: The Response of the Azerbaidzhani Bourgeoisie|date=1980|publisher=Wilson Center, Kennan Institute for Advanced Russian Studies|language=en|access-date=13 May 2021 }}</ref> Digging for oil began in the 1840s, with the first [[Engineering:Oil well|oil well]] drilled in the Bibi-Heybat suburb of Baku in 1846.<ref name="Smil">{{Cite book |last= Smil |first= Vaclav |title= Energy and Civilization: A History |date= 2017 |publisher= The MIT Press |isbn= 978-0-262-03577-4 |location= Cambridge |page= 246}}</ref> It was mechanically drilled,{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} though a number of hand-dug wells pre-dated it. Large-scale oil exploration started in 1872 when 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 geologist Witold Zglenicki. Soon after, investors appeared in Baku, including the Nobel Brothers in 1873 and the [[Finance:Rothschild family|Rothschilds]] in 1882. An industrial area of oil refineries, better known as Black Town ({{lang-ru | Чёрный город}}), developed near Baku by the early 1880s.<ref>{{Cite book |last= Yergin |first= Daniel |title= The Prize, The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power |date= 1991 |publisher= Simon & Schuster |isbn= 978-0-671-79932-8 |location= New York |pages= 57–63}}</ref>

Professor A. V. Williams Jackson of Columbia University wrote in his work ''From Constantinople to the Home of Omar Khayyam'' (1911):
{{quotation|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.<ref>Abraham Valentine Williams Jackson. {{Cite web |title= From Constantinople to the Home of Omar Khayyam |url= https://archive.org/stream/fromconstantino00jackgoog#page/n10/mode/2up |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120318114642/http://www.archive.org/stream/fromconstantino00jackgoog#page/n10/mode/2up |archive-date= 18 March 2012 |access-date= 1 December 2011 |publisher= The Macmillan Company | year = 1911 | page = 25}}</ref>}}

By the beginning of the 20th century, half of the oil sold in international markets was extracted in Baku.<ref>{{Cite book |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=EVABAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA16 |title= Troubled Waters: The Geopolitics of the Caspian Region |publisher= I.B. Tauris |year= 2003 |isbn= 978-0-85771-755-9 |page= 16 |author=R. Hrair Dekmejian |author2=Hovann H. Simonian}}</ref> The oil boom contributed to the massive growth of Baku. Between 1856 and 1910 Baku's population grew at a faster rate than that of [[Place:London|London]], [[Place:Paris|Paris]] or {{wipe|New York City}}.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

Unrest at the time of the 1905 Revolution resulted in massacres among the population and the destruction of many oil facilities.{{cn|date=December 2022}}

=== World War I ===
[[File:Army of Azerbaijan in 1918.jpg|thumb| Soldiers and officers of the army of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic shortly after the Battle of Baku ]]
[[File:Neftchiler Avenue 1918-1920.jpg|thumb|Neftchiler Avenue in Baku, {{circa | 1920}}]]
In 1917, after the October Revolution and amidst the turmoil of [[Social:World War I|World War I]] and the Russian Revolution, Baku came under the control of the Baku Commune, led by the veteran Bolshevik Stepan Shahumyan. Seeking to capitalize on the existing ethnic conflicts, by spring 1918, Bolsheviks inspired and condoned civil war in and around Baku. During the famous March Days of 1918, Bolsheviks and Dashnaks, 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 the March Days. An estimated 3,000–12,000 Azerbaijanis were killed in their own capital.<ref name="smithmusavat">{{Cite journal |last= Smith |first= Michael |date= April 2001 |title= Anatomy of Rumor: Murder Scandal, the Musavat Party and Narrative of the Russian Revolution in Baku, 1917–1920 |journal= Journal of Contemporary History |volume= 36 |issue= 2 |page= 228 |doi= 10.1177/002200940103600202 |quote= ''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.'' |s2cid=159744435}}</ref><ref name="minahan">{{Cite book |last= Minahan |first= James B. |title= Miniature Empires: A Historical Dictionary of the Newly Independent States |year= 1998 |isbn= 978-0-313-30610-5 |page= 22 |publisher= Greenwood Publishing |quote= ''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.''}}</ref> After the massacre, on 28 May 1918, the Azerbaijani faction of the [[Place:Transcaucasian Democratic Federative Republic|Transcaucasian Sejm]] proclaimed the independence of the [[Place:Azerbaijan Democratic Republic|Azerbaijan Democratic Republic]] (ADR) in Ganja, thereby founding the first Muslim-majority [[Social:Democratic republic|democratic]] and secular [[Social:Republic|republic]].<ref>Tadeusz Swietochowski. ''Russia and Azerbaijan: A Borderland in Transition''. Columbia University Press, 1995. {{ISBN|978-0-231-07068-3}}, {{ISBN|978-0-231-07068-3}} and Reinhard Schulze. A Modern History of the Islamic World. I.B.Tauris, 2000. {{ISBN|978-1-86064-822-9}}, {{ISBN|978-1-86064-822-9}}.</ref> 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 the Ottoman Army of Islam led by Nuru Pasha, started their advance on Baku, eventually capturing the city from the loose coalition of Bolsheviks, SRs, Dashnaks, Mensheviks and British forces under the command of General Lionel Dunsterville on 15 September 1918.

After the Battle 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<ref name="Gen">Andreopoulos, George (1997). ''Genocide: Conceptual and Historical Dimensions''. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, {{ISBN|978-0-8122-1616-5}}, p. 236.</ref> Armenians of Baku. This [[Social:Pogrom|pogrom]] 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 the Armistice of Mudros with the British (30 October 1918); this meant the evacuation of Turkish forces from Baku. Headed by General William Thomson, some 5,000 British troops, including parts of the former Dunsterforce, arrived in Baku on 17 November. Thomson declared himself military governor of Baku and implemented martial 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last= Behbudov |first= Tahir |title= British Police in Baku |url= http://www.visions.az/en/news/99/afcf2df0/ |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170831184344/http://www.visions.az/en/news/99/afcf2df0/ |archive-date= 31 August 2017 |access-date= 31 August 2017 |website= Visions of Azerbaijan}}</ref>

=== Soviet period ===
The independence of the Azerbaijani republic was a significant but short-lived chapter in Baku's history. On 28 April 1920, the 11th Red Army invaded Baku and reinstalled the Bolsheviks, making Baku the capital of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic.

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 as ''Bakgorispolkom''. Together with Baku Party Committee (known as the ''Baksovet''), it developed the economic significance of the Caspian metropolis. From 1922 to 1930 Baku became the venue for one of the major trade fairs of the Soviet Union, serving as a commercial bridgehead to Iran and the Middle East.<ref>Etienne Forestier-Peyrat, "[http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/ab_imperio/summary/v2013/2013.4.forestier-peyrat.html Red Passage to Iran: Baku Trade Fair and the Unmaking of the Azerbaijani Borderland, 1922–1930] {{Webarchive|url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115115/http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/ab_imperio/summary/v2013/2013.4.forestier-peyrat.html |date= 4 March 2016 }}", ''Ab Imperio'', Vol 2013, Issue 4, pp. 79–112.</ref>

=== World War II ===
The major powers continued to note Baku's growing importance as a major energy hub. During [[Social:World War II|World War II]] (1939–1945) and particularly during the 1942 Nazi German invasion of the southwestern Soviet Union, Baku became of vital strategic importance to the Axis powers. In fact, capturing the oil fields of Baku was a primary goal of the Wehrmacht's Operation Edelweiss, carried out between May and November 1942. However, the German Army reached only a point some {{convert|530|km|0|abbr=off}} northwest of Baku in November 1942, falling far short of the city's capture before being driven back during the Soviet Operation Little Saturn in mid-December 1942.

=== Fall of the Soviet Union and later ===
After the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, Baku embarked on a process of restructuring on a scale unseen in its history.<ref>{{Cite web |title= Money from oil changes the face of Azerbaijan |url= http://news.az/articles/society/41029 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110726173757/http://www.news.az/articles/society/41029 |archive-date= 26 July 2011 |access-date= 22 July 2011 |publisher= news.az}}</ref> Thousands of buildings from the Soviet period were demolished{{by whom|date=February 2021}} 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 the Baku 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 full speed on an east–west axis along the shores of the Caspian Sea. Sustainability has become a key factor in future urban development.<ref>
{{Cite web
 |title= Baku White City – Sustainability |url= http://www.bakuwhitecity.com/en/page/4-sustainability |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170426060345/http://www.bakuwhitecity.com/en/page/4-sustainability |archive-date= 26 April 2017 |access-date= 2017-04-25 |website= www.bakuwhitecity.com
}}
</ref>

== Geography ==
[[File:Baku, Azerbaijan, satellite image, LandSat-5, 2010-09-06.jpg|thumb|Absheron Peninsula satellite image, [[Engineering:Landsat 5|Landsat 5]], 6 September 2010]]
Baku is situated on the western coast of Caspian Sea. In the vicinity of the city there are a number of [[Earth:Mud volcano|mud volcano]]es (Keyraki, Bogkh-bogkha, Lokbatan and others) and [[Chemistry:Salt lake|salt lake]]s (Boyukshor, Khodasan and so on).

=== Climate ===
Baku has a cold semi-arid climate ([[Earth:Köppen climate classification|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 northerly [[Earth:Latitude|latitude]] and the fact that it is located on a peninsula on the shore of the Caspian Sea.

Baku, and the Absheron Peninsula on which it is situated, is the most arid part of Azerbaijan (precipitation here is around or less than {{convert|200|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} a year). This is largely due to the [[Earth:Rain shadow|rain shadow]] effect from the Caucasian Mountains, with corresponding latitudes on the Black Sea on average receiving {{convert|2300|mm|in|0|abbr=on}} or more.<!-- Batumi and Rize among others. --> 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-dilapidated spa 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|lc=y}}.<ref name="ForbesPollution">{{Cite news |last=Tiffany M. Luck |date=26 February 2008 |title=The World's Dirtiest Cities |work=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/2008/02/26/pollution-baku-oil-biz-logistics-cx_tl_0226dirtycities.html |url-status=live |access-date=17 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202072636/http://www.forbes.com/2008/02/26/pollution-baku-oil-biz-logistics-cx_tl_0226dirtycities.html |archive-date=2 December 2010}}</ref>

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 wind ''khazri'' and the warm southern wind ''gilavar'' are typical here in all seasons. Indeed, the city is renowned for its fierce winter snow storms and harsh winds.<ref name="Web.archive.org" />
The speed of the ''khazri'' sometimes reaches 144&nbsp;km/h (89&nbsp;mph), which can cause damage to crops, trees and roof tiles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global ICT Conference: 25–28, November, 2004: Baku, Azerbaijan |url=http://www.global-ict.mincom.gov.az/aboutazerb.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719093010/http://www.global-ict.mincom.gov.az/aboutazerb.php |archive-date=19 July 2011 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Global-ict.mincom.gov.az}}</ref>

The daily mean temperature in July and August averages {{convert|26.4|°C|°F}}, and there is very little rainfall during that season. During summer the ''khazri'' sweeps through, bringing desired coolness. Winter is cool and occasionally wet, with the daily mean temperature in January and February averaging {{convert|4.3|°C|°F}}. During winter the ''khazri'' sweeps through, driven by polar [[Earth:Air mass|air mass]]es; temperatures on the coast frequently drop below freezing and make it feel bitterly cold. Winter [[Earth:Winter storm|snow storms]] are occasional; [[Physics:Snow|snow]] usually melts within a few days after each snowfall.

{{Weather box
|width=auto
|location=Baku
|metric first=yes
|single line=yes
|Jan record high C = 20.4
|Feb record high C = 21.8
|Mar record high C = 27.8
|Apr record high C = 27.8
|May record high C = 35.0
|Jun record high C = 40.5
|Jul record high C = 42.7
|Aug record high C = 41.9
|Sep record high C = 39.4
|Oct record high C = 30.1
|Nov record high C = 25.0
|Dec record high C = 26.0
|Jan high C=6.6
|Feb high C=6.3
|Mar high C=9.8
|Apr high C=16.4
|May high C=22.1
|Jun high C=27.3
|Jul high C=30.6
|Aug high C=29.7
|Sep high C=25.6
|Oct high C=19.6
|Nov high C=13.5
|Dec high C=9.7
|year high C=18.1
|Jan mean C=4.4
|Feb mean C=4.2
|Mar mean C=7.0
|Apr mean C=12.9
|May mean C=18.5
|Jun mean C=23.5
|Jul mean C=26.4
|Aug mean C=26.3
|Sep mean C=22.5
|Oct mean C=16.6
|Nov mean C=11.2
|Dec mean C=7.3
|year mean C=15.1
|Jan low C=2.1
|Feb low C=2.0
|Mar low C=4.2
|Apr low C=9.4
|May low C=14.9
|Jun low C=19.7
|Jul low C=22.2
|Aug low C=22.9
|Sep low C=19.4
|Oct low C=13.6
|Nov low C=8.8
|Dec low C=4.8
|year low C=12.0
|Jan record low C = -13.7
|Feb record low C = -8.4
|Mar record low C = -7.0
|Apr record low C = -6.1
|May record low C = 0.2
|Jun record low C = 10.0
|Jul record low C = 11.2
|Aug record low C = 11.9
|Sep record low C = 9.1
|Oct record low C = 1.2
|Nov record low C = -2.8
|Dec record low C = -5.5
|Jan precipitation mm=21
|Feb precipitation mm=20
|Mar precipitation mm=21
|Apr precipitation mm=18
|May precipitation mm=18
|Jun precipitation mm=8
|Jul precipitation mm=2
|Aug precipitation mm=6
|Sep precipitation mm=15
|Oct precipitation mm=25
|Nov precipitation mm=30
|Dec precipitation mm=26
|year precipitation mm=210
|Jan precipitation days=6
|Feb precipitation days=6
|Mar precipitation days=5
|Apr precipitation days=4
|May precipitation days=3
|Jun precipitation days=2
|Jul precipitation days=1
|Aug precipitation days=2
|Sep precipitation days=2
|Oct precipitation days=6
|Nov precipitation days=6
|Dec precipitation days=6
|unit precipitation days=0.1 mm
|unit snow days = 1&nbsp;cm
|Jan snow days = 4
|Feb snow days = 3
|Mar snow days = 0
|Apr snow days = 0
|May snow days = 0
|Jun snow days = 0
|Jul snow days = 0
|Aug snow days = 0
|Sep snow days = 0
|Oct snow days = 0
|Nov snow days = 0
|Dec snow days = 3
|year snow days =10
|Jan sun=89.9
|Feb sun=89.0
|Mar sun=124.0
|Apr sun=195.0
|May sun=257.3
|Jun sun=294.0
|Jul sun=313.1
|Aug sun=282.1
|Sep sun=222.0
|Oct sun=145.7
|Nov sun=93.0
|Dec sun=102.3
|year sun=2207.4
|Jan uv = 1
|Feb uv = 2
|Mar uv = 4
|Apr uv = 6
|May uv = 8
|Jun uv = 9
|Jul uv = 9
|Aug uv = 8
|Sep uv = 6
|Oct uv = 3
|Nov uv = 1
|Dec uv = 1
|source 1=World Meteorological Organisation (UN),<ref name="WMO">{{Cite web |title=World Weather Information Service |url=http://worldweather.wmo.int/007/c00018.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100318004035/http://worldweather.wmo.int/007/c00018.htm |archive-date=18 March 2010 |access-date=22 March 2010}}</ref> [[Organization:Hong Kong Observatory|Hong Kong Observatory]]<ref>[http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/europe/gr_tu/baku_e.htm "Climatological Information for Baku, Azerbaijan"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119064926/http://www.weather.gov.hk/wxinfo/climat/world/eng/europe/gr_tu/baku_e.htm |date=19 January 2012 }} – Hong Kong Observatory</ref> <small>for data of sunshine hours</small>
|date=November 2012

|source 2 = Meoweather (Snowy days)<ref name="Snow">{{Cite web |title=Baku, Azerbaijan |url=http://www.meoweather.com/history/Azerbaijan/na/40.3952778/49.8822222/Baku.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816004725/http://www.meoweather.com/history/Azerbaijan/na/40.3952778/49.8822222/Baku.html |archive-date=16 August 2012 |access-date=25 February 2013 |publisher=Meoweather}}</ref> infoclimat.fr (extremes)<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.infoclimat.fr/climatologie/normales-records/1991-2020/baku-bine-airport/valeurs/37864.html
|title=Normales et records pour la période 1991-2020 à Baku
| publisher = infoclimat.fr
| access-date = May 9, 2022}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=May 2022}}}}

== Administrative divisions ==
Baku is divided into 12 ''rayonlar (sub-rayons)'' (administrative districts) and 5 settlements of city type.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 March 2010 |title=Baku's History |url=http://www.bakupages.com/pages/baku/baku_en.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100402040421/http://www.bakupages.com/pages/baku/baku_en.php |archive-date=2 April 2010 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Bakupages.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Baku's History |url=http://www.kishmish.az/content/Baku_e.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706130825/https://www.kishmish.az/content/Baku_e.html |archive-date=6 July 2011 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Kishmish.az}}</ref>

{{colbegin|colwidth=22em}}
* Binagadi (Binəqədi) raion
* Garadagh (Qaradağ) raion
* Khatai (Xətai) raion
* Khazar (Xəzər) raion
* Narimanov (Nərimanov) raion
* Nasimi (Nəsimi) raion
* Nizami raion
* Pirallahi (Pirallahı) raion
* Sabail (Səbail) raion
* Sabunchu (Sabunçu) raion
* Surakhani (Suraxanı) raion
* Yasamal raion
{{colend}}

== Demographics ==
Until 1988, Baku had very large Russian, Armenian, and [[Religion:Jews|Jewish]] populations which contributed to [[Social:Cultural diversity|cultural diversity]] and added in various ways (music, literature, architecture and progressive outlook) to Baku's history. With the onset of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War and the pogrom against Armenians starting in January 1990, the city's large Armenian population was expelled.<ref>Azerbaijan: The status of Armenians, Russians, Jews and other minorities, report, 1993, INS Resource Informacion Center, p.10</ref><ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |title=Azerbaijan – The Soviet and post-Soviet periods |encyclopedia=Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-44300/Azerbaijan#481451.hook |access-date=17 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418173138/https://www.britannica.com/eb/article-44300/Azerbaijan#481451.hook |archive-date=18 April 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref>
Under Communism, the Soviets took over the majority of Jewish property in Baku and Kuba. {{Citation needed|date=June 2023}} After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijani President Heydar 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 July 2006 |title=JewishVirtualLibrary.org |url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Azerbaijan.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714014134/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/vjw/Azerbaijan.html |archive-date=14 July 2011 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=JewishVirtualLibrary.org}}</ref>
{{clear}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="float:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! colspan="2" | Tatars{{efn|Later known as Azerbaijanis.}}
! colspan="2" | Russians
! colspan="2" | Armenians
! colspan="2" | Jews
! colspan="2" | Others
! rowspan="2" | TOTAL
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|1851<ref>{{in lang|ru}} ''Kavkazskii Kalendar na 1852&nbsp;g.'', pp. 305–307</ref>
|5,000+
|67.3
|
|
|405
|5.5
|
|
|
|
|7,431
|-
|1886<ref>{{in lang|ru}} Свод статистических данных о населении Закавказского края, извлечённых из посемейных списков 1886 года, г. Тифлис, 1893</ref>
|37,530
|43.3
|21,390
|24.7
|24,490
|28.3
|391
|0.5
|2,810
|3.2
|86,611
|-
|1897<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/emp_lan_97_uezd.php?reg=323|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119173918/http://demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/emp_lan_97_uezd.php?reg=323|title=Демоскоп Weekly - Приложение. Справочник статистических показателей.|archive-date=19 January 2012|website=www.demoscope.ru}}</ref>
|40,341
|36.0
|37,399
|33.4
|19,099
|17.1
|3,369
|3.0
|11,696
|10.5
|111,904
|-
|1903<ref name="The Azerbaijani Turks page 32">The Azerbaijani Turks: Power and Identity Under Russian Rule, Audrey L. Altstadt, page 32, Hoover Press, 1992, {{ISBN|978-0-8179-9183-8}}</ref>
|44,257
|28.4
|59,955
|38.5
|26,151
|16.8
|
|
|28,513
|18.3
|155,876
|-
|1913<ref name="The Azerbaijani Turks page 32" />
|45,962
|21.4
|76,288
|35.5
|41,680
|19.4
|9,690
|4.5
|41,052
|19.1
|214,672
|-
|1916<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.prlib.ru/item/417322 |title=Кавказский календарь на 1917 год |publisher=Tipografiya kantselyarii Ye.I.V. na Kavkaze, kazenny dom |year=1917 |edition=72nd |publication-place=Tiflis |pages=182–185 |language=Russian |trans-title=Caucasian calendar for 1917 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104233151/https://www.prlib.ru/item/417322 |archive-date=4 November 2021}}</ref>
|69,366{{Efn|This is the number of Shia Muslims within the Baku Gradonachalstvo.}}
|26.4
|79,702
|30.4
|62,357
|23.8
|6,412
|2.4
|44,585
|17.0
|262,422
|-
|}

{{clear}}
{|class="wikitable" style="float:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! colspan="2" | Turks{{efn|Later known as Azerbaijanis.}}
! colspan="2" | Russians
! colspan="2" | Armenians
! colspan="2" | Jews
! colspan="2" | Others
! rowspan="2" | TOTAL
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|1917<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Smith |first=Michael G. |date=2014-05-18 |title=The March Events and Baku Commune of 1918 |url=https://brill.com/view/journals/ruhi/41/2/article-p197_6.xml |journal=Russian History |language=ru |volume=41 |issue=2 |pages=199 |doi=10.1163/18763316-04102006 |s2cid=144029589 |issn=1876-3316}}</ref>{{Efn|Described as a "rough" census organised in October 1917.}}
|67,190
|28.2
|77,123
|32.4
|52,184
|21.9
|12,427
|5.2
|29,244{{Efn|11,904 or 5.0% were Persians.}}
|12.3
|238,168 
|-
|1926<ref>{{in lang|ru}} Всесоюзная перепись населения 1926 года, т. 14, Закавказская СФСР, г. Москва, 1929</ref>
|118,737
|26.2
|167,373
|36.9
|76,656
|16.9
|19,589
|4.3
|70,978
|15.7
|453,333
|-
|}

{{clear}}
{|class="wikitable" style="float:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! colspan="2" | Azerbaijanis
! colspan="2" | Russians
! colspan="2" | Armenians
! colspan="2" | Jews
! colspan="2" | Others
! rowspan="2" | TOTAL
|-
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
!Number
!%
|-
|1939<ref>Soviet 1939 census</ref>
|215,482
|27.4
|343,064
|43.6
|118,650
|15.1
|31,050
|3.9
|79,377
|10.1
|787,623
|-
|1959<ref>Soviet 1959 census</ref>
|211,372
|32.9
|223,242
|34.7
|137,111
|21.3
|24,057
|3.7
|56,725
|8.7
|652,507
|-
|1970<ref>Soviet 1970 census</ref>
|586,052
|46.3
|351,090
|27.7
|207,464
|16.4
|29,716
|2.3
|88,193
|6.9
|1,262,515
|-
|1979<ref>Soviet 1979 census</ref>
|530,556
|52.4
|229,873
|22.7
|167,226
|16.5
|22,916
|2.3
|62,865
|6.2
|1,013,436
|-
| colspan="12" |'''January 1990: Baku pogrom. Massacre and expulsion of Armenian population'''
|-
|1999<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ethnic composition of Azerbaijan 1999 |url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/azerbaijan-ethnic1999.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130729015208/http://pop-stat.mashke.org/azerbaijan-ethnic1999.htm |archive-date=29 July 2013 |access-date=30 June 2015}}</ref>
|1,574,252
|88.0
|119,371
|6.7
|378
|0.02
|5,164
|0.3
|89,689
|5.0
|1,788,854
|-
|2009<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ethnic composition of Azerbaijan 2009 |url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/azerbaijan-ethnic2009.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207161726/http://pop-stat.mashke.org/azerbaijan-ethnic2009.htm |archive-date=7 February 2012 |access-date=30 June 2015}}</ref>
|1,848,107
|90.3
|108,525
|5.3
|104
|0.01
|6,056
|0.6
|83,023
|4.1
|2,045,815
|}

=== Ethnic groups ===
[[File:Christmas in Baku on January 6, 1904 and Armenian church.jpg|thumb|The Armenian Saint Gregory the Illuminator's Church, Baku]]
Today, the vast majority of Baku's population is made up of ethnic Azerbaijanis, and the rest are Talysh, 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Country-data.com |url=http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-946.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706060044/http://www.country-data.com/cgi-bin/query/r-946.html |archive-date=6 July 2010 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Country-data.com}}</ref>

Baku has been a cosmopolitan city at certain times during its history, meaning ethnic Azerbaijanis did not constitute the majority of population.<ref>Audrey Altstadt, Conflict, Cleavage and Change in Central Asia and the Caucasus, {{wipe|Cambridge University Press}}, 1997, p. 112, table 4.1, Ethnic composition of Baku, 1897, 1903,1913</ref> It was only in the 1970s that ethnic Azerbaijanis achieved demographic dominance in Baku.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Goff |first1=Krista A. |title=Nested Nationalism: Making and Unmaking Nations in the Soviet Caucasus |date=2021 |publisher=Cornell University Press |page=28|isbn=978-1501753299}}</ref> In 2003 Baku additionally had 153,400 internally displaced persons and 93,400 refugees.<ref>{{Cite web |script-title=ru:Баку |url=http://www.baku-online.com/ru/baku.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701132551/http://www.baku-online.com/ru/baku.htm |archive-date=1 July 2007 |access-date=15 July 2007 |language=ru}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Герейханов |first1=Гаджи Пирмурадович |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=360iAQAAIAAJ |title=Угрозы национальной безопасности России на Северном Кавказе: этноконфессиональный аспект |last2=Лукьянов |first2=Алексей Григорьевич |last3=Моренов |first3=Игорь Сергеевич |publisher=Граница |year=2004 |isbn=978-5-94691-100-9 |access-date=5 February 2019 |archive-date=17 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017135432/https://books.google.com/books?id=360iAQAAIAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Religion ===
[[File:Северная сторона мечети.jpg|thumb|The 13th-century Bibi-Heybat Mosque. The mosque was built over the tomb of a descendant of the Islamic prophet [[Biography:Muhammad|Muhammad]].<ref name="Bibi">{{Cite web |last=Sharifov |first=Azad |title=Legend of the Bibi-Heybat Mosque |url=http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/63_folder/63_articles/63_bibiheybat.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605015723/http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/63_folder/63_articles/63_bibiheybat.html |archive-date=5 June 2011 |access-date=11 July 2010 |publisher=Azerbaijan International Magazine}}</ref>]]
The religion with the largest community of followers is Islam. The majority of the Muslims are [[Religion:Shia Islam|Shia Muslims]], and the Republic of Azerbaijan has the second highest Shia population percentage in the world after [[Religion:Iran|Iran]].<ref>Juan Eduardo Campo, ''Encyclopedia of Islam'', p.625</ref> The city's notable mosques include Juma Mosque, Bibi-Heybat Mosque, Muhammad Mosque and Taza Pir Mosque.

There are some other faiths practised among the different ethnic groups within the country. By article 48 of its Constitution, Azerbaijan is a [[Philosophy:Secular state|secular state]] and ensures religious freedom. Religious minorities include Russian Orthodox Christians, Catholic Levantines, [[Religion:Georgian Orthodox Church|Georgian Orthodox Christians]], Albanian-Udi Apostolic Christians, [[Religion:Lutheranism|Lutherans]], Ashkenazi Jews, and Sufi Muslims. Baku is the seat of the [[Organization:Catholic Church|Catholic]] Apostolic Prefecture of Azerbaijan.

[[Religion:Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrianism]], although extinct in the city as well as in the rest of the country by the present time, had a long history in Azerbaijan and the Zoroastrian New Year (Nowruz) continues to be the main holiday in the city as well as in the rest of Azerbaijan.

== Economy ==
Baku's largest industry is petroleum, and its petroleum exports make it a large contributor to Azerbaijan's [[Finance:Balance of payments|balance 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The History of Oil in Azerbaijan by Natig Aliyev |url=http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/22_folder/22_articles/22_historyofoil.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424163308/http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/22_folder/22_articles/22_historyofoil.html |archive-date=24 April 2009 |access-date=22 May 2009 |publisher=Azer.com}}</ref> 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 the Baku 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 century [[Social:Skilled worker|skilled worker]]s 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 of oil industry equipment before World War II. The World War II Battle 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Aghazade |first=Emil |date=4 July 2005 |title=Азербайджан: сто лет надежд |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/russian/business/newsid_4649000/4649873.stm |url-status=live |access-date=12 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406161830/http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/russian/business/newsid_4649000/4649873.stm |archive-date=6 April 2012}}</ref>

The oil economy of Baku is undergoing a resurgence, with the development of the massive Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli field (Shallow water Gunashli by SOCAR, deeper areas by a consortium led by [[Company:BP|BP]]), development of the Shah Deniz gas field, the expansion of the Sangachal Terminal and the construction of the BTC Pipeline.

The Baku Stock Exchange is Azerbaijan's largest [[Finance:Stock exchange|stock exchange]], and largest in the [[Earth:Caucasus|Caucasian]] region by [[Social:Market capitalization|market capitalization]]. A relatively large number of transnational companies are headquartered in Baku. One of the more prominent institutions headquartered in Baku is the International Bank of Azerbaijan, which employs over 1,000 people. International banks with branches in Baku include [[Company:HSBC|HSBC]], [[Company:Société Générale|Société Générale]] and [[Company:Credit Suisse|Credit Suisse]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abdullayev |first=Rovshan |title=Which foreign banks has Azerbaijan capital been trusted in? |url=http://www.nhmt-az.org/ts_general/eng/news/n-6.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518140408/http://www.nhmt-az.org/ts_general/eng/news/n-6.htm |archive-date=18 May 2011 |access-date=6 December 2010}}</ref>

{{multiple image
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}}

=== Tourism and shopping ===
Baku is one of the most important tourist destinations in the Caucasus, with hotels in the city earning 7&nbsp;million euros in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hotels in Baku earned 6,8&nbsp;million euros last year |url=http://azerbaijan24.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/224-hotels-in-baku.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917135847/http://azerbaijan24.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/224-hotels-in-baku.html |archive-date=17 September 2010 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Azerbaijan24.com}}</ref> Many sizable world hotel chains have a presence in the city. Baku has many popular tourist and entertainment spots, such as the downtown Fountains Square, the One and Thousand Nights Beach, Shikhov Beach and Oil Rocks. Baku's vicinities feature Yanar Dag, an ever-blazing spot of natural gas. On 2 September 2010 with the inauguration of National Flag Square, Baku set the world record for tallest flagpole;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Azerbaijani flag flies on world's tallest flagpole |url=http://news.az/articles/22041 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100904092905/http://www.news.az/articles/22041 |archive-date=4 September 2010 |access-date=2 September 2010 |publisher=news.az}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=İşte dünyanın en yüksek bayrak direği |url=http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/id/25128411/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20100904080023/http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/id/25128411/ |archive-date=4 September 2010 |access-date=2 September 2010 |publisher=ntvmsnbc.com |language=tr}}</ref> on 24 May 2011, the city of [[Place:Dushanbe|Dushanbe]] in Tajikistan set a new record with a {{convert|3|m|abbr=off}}-higher flagpole.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guinness World Records |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-1/tallest-unsupported-flagpole |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227105920/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records-1/tallest-unsupported-flagpole/ |archive-date=27 February 2014 |access-date=6 June 2014 |website=guinnessworldrecords.com}}</ref> A few years later, the Flag Pole was dismantled and the National Flag Square was closed off with fences.

Baku has several shopping malls; the most famous city centre malls are Port Baku, Park Bulvar, Ganjlik Mall, Metro Park, 28 MALL, Aygun city and AF MALL. The retail areas contain shops from chain stores up to high-end boutiques.

The city is listed 48th in the 2011 list of the most expensive cities in the world conducted by the Mercer Human Resource Consulting.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 July 2011 |title=Bakı dünyanın ən bahalı 48-ci şəhəridir, 13 July 2011, Azadlıq Radiosu. Retrieved 13 July 2011 |newspaper=Azadlıq Radiosu |url=http://www.azadliq.org/content/article/24264196.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928223823/http://www.azadliq.org/content/article/24264196.html |archive-date=28 September 2011 |access-date=17 December 2011 |publisher=Azadliq.org}}</ref> Its Nizami Street and also the Neftchilar Avenue are among the most expensive streets in the world.

== Culture ==
In 2007 the Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid, was opened.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heydər Əliyev Mərkəzi |url=http://heydaraliyevcenter.az/#1_AboutUs |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224031726/http://heydaraliyevcenter.az/#1_AboutUs |archive-date=24 February 2018 |access-date=2018-11-30 |website=heydaraliyevcenter.az}}</ref> Baku also has many museums such as Baku Museum of Modern Art and Azerbaijan State Museum of History, most notably featuring historical artifacts and art. Many of the city's cultural sites were celebrated in 2009 when Baku was designated an Islamic Culture Capital.<ref>{{Cite web |website=Azerbaijan Business Center |title=Closing ceremony of Cultural Year "Baku- Islamic Culture Capital-2009" conducted in Azerbaijan |url=http://abc.az/eng/news/41154.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811020803/https://abc.az/eng/news/41154.html |archive-date=11 August 2011 |access-date=5 February 2010}}</ref> Baku was chosen to host the Eurovision Dance Contest 2010. It has also become the first city hosting the first European Games in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baku 2015 European Games |url=http://www.baku2015.com/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512145118/http://www.baku2015.com/ |archive-date=12 May 2015 |access-date=2018-11-30 |website=Baku 2015 |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center.jpg|thumb|right|Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center]]

=== Theatres ===
[[File:Azerbaijan_State_Academic_Opera_and_Ballet_Theatre_main_façade,_2015.jpg|thumb|right|Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater]]

* Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre
* Azerbaijan State Academic Drama Theatre
* Azerbaijan State Russian Drama Theatre named after Samad Vurgun
* Baku Puppet Theatre (formally Azerbaijan State Puppet Theatre named after Abdulla Shaig)
* Azerbaijan State Theatre of Young Spectators
* Azerbaijan State Theatre of Musical Comedy
* Baku State Circus
* "Oda" Theatre
* Baku Marionette Theatre
* Baku Municipal Theatre
* Azerbaijan State Pantomime Theatre
* Mugham Azerbaijan National Music Theatre
* Azerbaijan State Theatre of Song named after Rashid Behbudov
* "UNS" Theatre
* "Yugh" Theatre

Among Baku's cultural venues are Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Hall, Azerbaijan State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre. The main movie theatre is Azerbaijan Cinema. Festivals include Baku International Film Festival, Baku International Jazz Festival, Novruz Festival, ''Gül Bayramı'' (Flower Festival) and the National Theater Festival.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.news.bakililar.az/news_v_azerbayjane_otmechayut_35946.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524071617/http://www.news.bakililar.az/news_v_azerbayjane_otmechayut_35946.html|title=В Азербайджане отмечают праздник цветов.|archive-date=24 May 2013}}</ref><ref>[http://www.zaman.com.tr/haber.do?haberno=982418&title=azerbaycanda-gul-bayrami-ve-aliyevin-dogum-gunu-kutlaniyor Azerbaycan'da Gül Bayramı ve Aliyev'in doğum günü kutlanıyor] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120124185225/http://www.zaman.com.tr/haber.do?haberno=982418&title=azerbaycanda-gul-bayrami-ve-aliyevin-dogum-gunu-kutlaniyor |date=24 January 2012 }} {{in lang|tr}}</ref> International and local exhibitions are presented at the Baku Expo Centre.

{{As of|2012}}, the city along with Ganja and Lankaran participates in [[Earth:Earth Hour|Earth Hour]] movement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Azerbaijan to join Earth Hour |url=http://www.news.az/articles/57316 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129231717/http://www.news.az/articles/57316 |archive-date=29 November 2014 |access-date=17 November 2014 |website=www.news.az}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=IDEA campaign to hold Earth Hour action |url=http://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/2008366.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129040113/http://en.trend.az/azerbaijan/society/2008366.html |archive-date=29 November 2014 |access-date=17 November 2014 |website=en.trend.az|date=30 March 2012 }}</ref>

===Museums===
<gallery class="center" perrow="5" widths="180" heights="120">
File:National Museum of History of Azerbaijan 10.JPG|National Museum of History
File:Nizami Museum of Azerbaijan Literature, Baku, 2015.jpg|Nizami Museum of Literature
File:National Art Museum of Azerbaijan (de Burs House) edited.jpg|National Art Museum
File:Villa Petrolea front.jpg|Villa Petrolea
File:Baku Museum of Modern Art entrance.jpg|Baku Museum of Modern Art
</gallery>
* The Museum Centre
* Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography
* Azerbaijan State Carpet Museum
* Azerbaijan Museum of Geology

===Libraries===
* National Library of Azerbaijan
* ANAS Central Library of Science
* Presidential Library (former Library of the Armenian Philanthropic Society)

=== Architecture ===
[[File:Maiden Tower in Baku 2015.jpg|thumb|Maiden Tower in Old Baku, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built in the 11th–12th century, recognised as the symbol of the city.]]
[[File:Baku, Azerbaiyán, 2016-09-26, DD 207-209 PAN.jpg|thumb|Multani Caravanserai, Baku]]
Baku has wildly varying architecture, ranging from the Old 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 in [[Eclecticism|eclectic]] style.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baku's Architecture:A Fusion of East and West |url=http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/24_folder/24_articles/24_architecture.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116060241/http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/24_folder/24_articles/24_architecture.html |archive-date=16 November 2011 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Azer.com}}</ref> Baku has an original and unique appearance, earning it a reputation as the 'Paris of the East'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.window2baku.com/006development.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515072252/http://www.window2baku.com/006development.htm|title=Общие сведения|archive-date=15 May 2010|website=www.window2baku.com}}</ref> Baku joined [[Organization:UNESCO|UNESCO]]'s Network of Creative Cities as a Design City on 31 October 2019 on the occasion of World Cities' Day.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-30 |title=UNESCO celebrates World Cities Day designating 66 new Creative Cities |url=https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-celebrates-world-cities-day-designating-66-new-creative-cities |access-date=2019-11-05 |website=UNESCO |language=en |archive-date=31 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191031145734/https://en.unesco.org/news/unesco-celebrates-world-cities-day-designating-66-new-creative-cities |url-status=live }}</ref>

==== Hamams ====

There are a number of ancient hamams in Baku dating back to the 12th, 14th and 18th centuries. Hamams play a very important role in the architectural appearance of Baku.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gadimova |first=Nazrin |date=8 January 2014 |title=Traditional hamams in all its glory in Baku |url=https://www.azernews.az/travel/62986.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180123131702/https://www.azernews.az/travel/62986.html |archive-date=23 January 2018 |access-date=19 May 2017 |website=AzerNews.az |language=en}}</ref>

===== Teze Bey Hamam =====
Teze Bey is the most popular hamam (traditional 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 =====
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.

===== Bairamali hamam =====
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 =====
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.

==== Modern architecture ====
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 and DENIZ Mall. These projects also caught the attention of international media as notable programmes such as Discovery Channel's [[Engineering:Extreme Engineering|Extreme Engineering]] did pieces focusing in on changes to the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heydar Aliyev Cultural Centre And Flame Towers |url=http://science.discovery.com/tv/build-bigger/projects/azerbaijan/heydar-aliyev-cultural-centre.html |access-date=25 April 2011 |publisher=Discovery Communications }}{{dead link|date=September 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

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 the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, two caravansaries, the baths and the Juma Mosque (which used to house the Azerbaijan 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 the List of World Heritage in Danger, citing damage from a November 2000 earthquake, poor conservation as well as "dubious" restoration efforts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower – UNESCO World Heritage Centre |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/958 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302171720/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/958 |archive-date=2 March 2012 |access-date=22 May 2009 |publisher=Whc.unesco.org}}</ref> In 2009 the Inner City was removed from the List of World Heritage in Danger.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Centre |first=UNESCO World Heritage |title=Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/958 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922173754/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/958 |archive-date=22 September 2018 |access-date=22 September 2018 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |language=en}}</ref>

=== Visual arts ===
The three main institutions for exhibiting modern and [[Philosophy:Contemporary art|contemporary art]] in Baku are:
* Baku Museum of Modern Art
* Heydar Aliyev Centre
* Yarat Contemporary Art Space ({{lang-az|Yarat Müasir İncəsənət Mərkəzi}})<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cascone|first=Sarah|date=2014-11-12|title=Azerbaijan Will Open New Contemporary Art Center in 2015|url=https://news.artnet.com/exhibitions/azerbaijan-new-contemporary-art-center-to-open-in-2015-165827|access-date=2020-12-12|website=artnet News|language=en|archive-date=28 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210528124526/https://news.artnet.com/art-world/new-london-museum-exhibits-celebrity-feces-and-preserved-butts-164416|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Music and media ===
[[File:Pht-Vugar Ibadov eurovision (31).jpg|thumb|Baku Crystal Hall during the Eurovision Song Contest 2012]]

The music scene in Baku can be traced back to ancient times and villages of Baku, generally revered as the fountainhead of meykhana and mugham in the Azerbaijan.<ref>[http://www.baki-xeber.com/new/2009/06/22/get=29330 "Meyxana", ya "bədihə" sözü aləmi bir-birinə qatıb] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707205524/http://www.baki-xeber.com/new/2009/06/22/get%3D29330 |date=7 July 2011 }} {{in lang|az}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://e-library.musigi-dunya.az/sonoteka/son_garabah_text_az3.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706130826/http://e-library.musigi-dunya.az/sonoteka/son_garabah_text_az3.html|title=E-library|archive-date=6 July 2011|website=e-library.musigi-dunya.az}}</ref>

In recent years, the success of Azerbaijani performers such as AySel, Farid Mammadov, Sabina Babayeva, Safura and Elnur Hüseynov in the Eurovision Song Contest has boosted the profile of Baku's music scene, prompting international attention. Following the victory of Azerbaijan's representative Eldar & Nigar at the Eurovision Song Contest 2011, Baku hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2012.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cadwalladr |first=Carole |date=15 May 2011 |title=Azerbaijan win Eurovision as Blue and Jedward finish mid-table |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2011/may/15/azerbaijan-win-eurovision-blue-jedward |url-status=live |access-date=15 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623130139/http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2011/may/15/azerbaijan-win-eurovision-blue-jedward |archive-date=23 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Azerbaijan win Eurovision contest with Running Scared |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13402732 |url-status=live |access-date=8 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130214075907/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-13402732 |archive-date=14 February 2013}}</ref>

2005 was a landmark in the development of Azerbaijani jazz in the city. It has been home to legendary jazz musicians like Vagif Mustafazadeh, Aziza Mustafa Zadeh, Rafig Babayev and Rain Sultanov.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Emergence of Jazz in Azerbaijan |url=http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/54_folder/54_articles/54_vmustafazade.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413214226/http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/54_folder/54_articles/54_vmustafazade.html |archive-date=13 April 2010 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Azer.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=MediaDesignTech |title=History of Jazz in Azerbaijan |url=http://jazz.az/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100218131412/http://www.jazz.az/ |archive-date=18 February 2010 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Jazz.az}}</ref> Among Baku's prominent annual fairs and festivals is Baku International Jazz Festival, which features some of the world's most identifiable jazz names.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baku International Jazz Festival has been opened in Azerbaijan |url=http://azerbaijan24.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/241-baku-jazz-festival-azerbaijan-news-2009.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100511051246/http://azerbaijan24.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/241-baku-jazz-festival-azerbaijan-news-2009.html |archive-date=11 May 2010 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Azerbaijan24.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Baku International Jazz Festival Official Site |url=http://festival.jazz.az/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328060626/http://festival.jazz.az/ |archive-date=28 March 2010 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Festival.jazz.az}}</ref>

Baku also has a thriving International Centre of Mugham, which is located in Baku Boulevard, Gulustan Palace and Buta Palace, one of the principal performing arts centres and music venues in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Director-General hails the importance of living traditions at the Mugham Festival in Baku, Azerbaijan |url=http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=44910&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091111193812/http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID%3D44910%26URL_DO%3DDO_TOPIC%26URL_SECTION%3D201.html |archive-date=11 November 2009 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Portal.unesco.org}}</ref>

The majority of Azerbaijan's media companies (including television, newspaper and radio, such as, Azad Azerbaijan TV, Ictimai TV, Lider TV and Region TV) are headquartered in Baku. The films ''The World Is Not Enough'' and ''The Diamond Arm'', among others, are set in the city, while ''Amphibian Man'' includes several scenes filmed in Old City.

The city's radio stations include: ''Ictimai Radio'', ''Radio Antenn'', ''Burc FM'', ''Avto FM'', ''ASAN Radio'' and ''Lider FM Jazz''

Some of Baku's newspapers include the daily ''Azadliq'', ''Zaman'' (The Time), ''Bakinskiy Rabochiy'' (Baku Worker), ''Echo'' and the English-language ''Baku Today''.

Baku is also featured in the video game ''[[Software:Battlefield 4|Battlefield 4]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Battlefield 4 a sneaky screen from Baku |url=http://www.xboxplayers.com/video/battlefield-4-a-sneaky-screen-from-baku/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513002241/http://www.xboxplayers.com/video/battlefield-4-a-sneaky-screen-from-baku/ |archive-date=13 May 2013 |access-date=19 May 2013 |website=xboxplayers.com}}</ref>

=== Nightlife ===
Many clubs that are open until dawn can be found throughout the city. Clubs with an eastern flavour provide special treats from the cuisine of Azerbaijan along with local music. Western-style clubs target younger, more energetic crowds.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Baku and Azerbaijan |url=http://thelandmarkhotel.az/site/?sec=mdata&mid=49&lang=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012034133/http://thelandmarkhotel.az/site/?sec=mdata&mid=49&lang=2 |archive-date=12 October 2009 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Thelandmarkhotel.az}}</ref> Most of the public houses and bars are located near Fountains Square and are usually open until the early hours of the morning.

Baku is home to restaurants catering to every cuisine and occasion. Restaurants range from luxurious and expensive to ordinary and affordable.<ref>{{Cite web |last=M |title=Food and Restaurants in Azerbaijan and Baku |url=http://t-i.ifrance.com/az-food.html |access-date=16 June 2011 |publisher=T-i.ifrance.com}}{{dead link|date=September 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>

=== Parks and gardens ===
[[File:Panoramabild Baku Filarmonia Park.JPG|upright=1.6|thumb|{{center|Philarmony garden}}]]
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.<ref>[http://www.all-pages.com/city_info/3/45/426/4667.html Экология и охрана окружающей среды в Азербайджане] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515123423/http://www.all-pages.com/city_info/3/45/426/4667.html |date=15 May 2010 }} {{in lang|ru}}</ref>

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 built International Centre of Mugham and the musical fountain.

Other parks and gardens include Heydar Aliyev Park, Samad Vurgun Park, Narimanov Park, Alley of Honor and the Fountains Square. The Martyrs' Lane, formerly the Kirov Park, is dedicated to the memory of those who died during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and also to the 137 people killed on Black January.

== Sports ==
[[File:Ilham Aliyev watched the opening ceremony of the 2018 Formula-1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix and final race 32.jpg|thumb|2018 Azerbaijan Grand Prix]]
[[File:Chelsea won UEFA Europa League final at Olympic Stadium and President Ilham Aliyev watched the final match 15.jpg|thumb|Chelsea playing against Arsenal at Baku Olympic Stadium during the 2019 UEFA Europa League Final]] Baku hosts a Formula One race on the Baku City Circuit. The first was the 2016 European Grand Prix, with the track going around the old city. The track measures 6.003&nbsp;km (3.735&nbsp;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 the UEFA Euro 2020 European Football Championship.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Euro 2020: England might have to play games at Hampden Park |work=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/euro-2020-england-might-have-to-play-games-at-hampden-park-9745363.html |url-status=live |access-date=30 June 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925212633/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/euro-2020-england-might-have-to-play-games-at-hampden-park-9745363.html |archive-date=25 September 2015}}</ref>

Since 2002, Baku has hosted 36 major sporting events and selected to host the 2015 European Games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Azerbaijan is a country known for its love of sport and sportsmanship. |url=http://www.baku2015.com/en/azerbaijan/sport.aspx |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130926191539/http://www.baku2015.com/en/azerbaijan/sport.aspx |archive-date=26 September 2013 |access-date=27 January 2014 |website=www.baku2015.com}}</ref> Baku is also to host the fourth edition of the Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017.

Baku is also one of world's leading chess centres, having produced famous grandmasters like Teimour Radjabov, Vugar Gashimov, Garry Kasparov, Shahriyar Mammadyarov and Rauf Mammadov, as well as the arbiter Faik Hasanov. The city also annually hosts the international tournaments such as Baku Chess Grand Prix, President's Cup, Baku Open and bidding to host 42nd Chess Olympiad in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Azerbaijan bids to host Chess Olympiad |url=http://news.az/articles/14716 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505160713/http://www.news.az/articles/14716 |archive-date=5 May 2010 |access-date=16 August 2010 |publisher=news.az}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Chess players from 11 countries to join "Baku Open 2010" |url=http://www.today.az/news/sports/72148.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817160928/http://www.today.az/news/sports/72148.html |archive-date=17 August 2010 |access-date=16 August 2010 |publisher=today.az}}</ref>

First class sporting facilities were built for the indoor games, including the Palace of Hand Games and Heydar Aliyev Sports and Exhibition Complex. It hosted many sporting events, including FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, Rhythmic Gymnastics European Championships in 2007 and 2009, 2005 World Rhythmic Gymnastics Championships, 2007 FILA Wrestling World Championships and 2010 European Wrestling Championships, 2011 World Amateur Boxing Championships, 2009 Women's Challenge Cup and European Taekwondo Championships in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.volleyball.it/redazione/index.php?action=viewArticle&articleId=53144|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722070329/http://www.volleyball.it/redazione/index.php?action=viewArticle&articleId=53144|title=Cev Cup: Final Four femminile a Baku|archive-date=22 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.azerisport.com/volleyball/20100303120451115.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728160959/http://azerisport.com/volleyball/20100303120451115.html|title=Уралочка, Ямамай и ЦЗ. Добро пожаловать в бакинский ад!|archive-date=28 July 2011|website=www.azerisport.com}}</ref> Since 2011 the city annually hosts WTA tennis event called Baku Cup.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2011 WTA Tournament Calendar |url=http://www.wtatour.com/page/Calendar/0,,12781,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101110011431/http://www.wtatour.com/page/Calendar/0%2C%2C12781%2C00.html |archive-date=10 November 2010 |access-date=26 November 2010 |publisher=WTA}}</ref>

The Synergy Baku Cycling Project participates in the Tour d'Azerbaïdjan a 2.2 multi-stage bicycle race on the UCI Europe Tour.

Baku made a bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics and 2020 Summer Olympics,<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 September 2011 |title=Azerbaijan bids for 2020 Olympics in Baku – Olympics – ESPN |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=oly&id=6915971 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111104501/http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=oly&id=6915971 |archive-date=11 January 2012 |access-date=15 September 2011 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> but failed to become a Candidate City both times.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olympic News – Official Source of Olympic News – Olympic.org |url=http://www.olympic.org/news?articleid=160523&articlenewsgroup=-1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430030307/http://www.olympic.org/news?articleid=160523&articlenewsgroup=-1 |archive-date=30 April 2015 |access-date=30 June 2015}}</ref>

The largest sports hub in the city is Baku Olympic Stadium with 69,870 seating capacity whose construction was completed in 2015. UEFA Europa League Final 2019 was played at the Olympic Stadium in Baku on 29 May 2019 between English sides Chelsea and Arsenal.<ref>{{Cite web |last=UEFA.com |title=Chelsea win the 2019 UEFA Europa League |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=2604835.html |access-date=2019-05-31 |website=UEFA.com |date=29 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=15 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215024306/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/newsid=2604835.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The city's main football clubs is Neftçi 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, including AZAL and Ravan in Premier 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.

In the Azerbaijan Women's Volleyball Super League, Baku is represented by Rabita Baku, Azerrail Baku, Lokomotiv Baku and Azeryol Baku.

== Transport ==
[[File:Bakutaxi.jpg|thumb|Baku black cab, introduced in 2011]]
[[File:Avtovağzal_stansiyası_1.jpg|thumb|Baku Metro]]
Throughout history the transport system of Baku used the now-defunct horsecars, trams and narrow gauge railways. {{As of|2011}}, 1,000 black 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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Meidment |first=Neil |date=3 March 2011 |title=Manganese Bronze seals biggest London taxi order |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-manganese-bronze-idUSTRE7225WO20110303 |url-status=live |access-date=4 March 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120619074110/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/03/us-manganese-bronze-idUSTRE7225WO20110303 |archive-date=19 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jaglom |first=Ben |title=Manganese takes black cab to Azerbaijan |url=http://www.growthcompany.co.uk/news/1607588/manganese-takes-black-cab-to-azerbaijan.thtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307042107/http://www.growthcompany.co.uk/news/1607588/manganese-takes-black-cab-to-azerbaijan.thtml |archive-date=7 March 2011 |access-date=4 March 2011}}</ref> The move was part of £16&nbsp;million agreement between Manganese Bronze subsidiary LTI Limited and Baku Taxi Company.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1,000 London taxis for Azerbaijan |url=http://business.scotsman.com/business/1000-London-taxis-for-Azerbaijan.6728118.jp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629145409/http://business.scotsman.com/business/1000-London-taxis-for-Azerbaijan.6728118.jp |archive-date=29 June 2011 |access-date=4 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=British firm wins £16m Azerbaijan order for its Chinese built taxis |url=http://www.worksmanagement.co.uk/article/31946/British-firm-wins-16m-Azerbaijan-order-for-its-Chinese-built-taxis.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505132109/http://www.worksmanagement.co.uk/article/31946/British-firm-wins-16m-Azerbaijan-order-for-its-Chinese-built-taxis.aspx |archive-date=5 May 2013 |access-date=4 March 2011}}</ref>

Local rail transport includes the Baku Funicular and the Baku 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&nbsp;million people used Baku Metro over the past five years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baku Metro Chief: "Baku-Sumgait metro line is not planned" |url=http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=86101 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120005727/http://en.apa.az/news.php?id=86101 |archive-date=20 January 2012 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=En.apa.az}}</ref> 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 new bus complex as well as the international airport.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 October 2008 |title=41 new underground stations to be constructed in Azerbaijani capital in the next 17 years |work=Today.az |url=http://www.today.az/news/business/48132.html |url-status=live |access-date=14 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090909102201/http://www.today.az/news/business/48132.html |archive-date=9 September 2009}}</ref> In 2019, the Baku suburban railway opened.

[[Finance:BakuCard|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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to pay your fare-Bakı Metropoliteni |url=http://www.metro.gov.az/en/howtouse |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509051621/http://www.metro.gov.az/en/howtouse |archive-date=9 May 2017 |access-date=2 April 2017 |website=www.metro.gov.az |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BakuBus.az |url=https://www.bakubus.az/en/menus/3/ticket_and_prices |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403013411/https://www.bakubus.az/en/menus/3/ticket_and_prices |archive-date=3 April 2017 |access-date=2 April 2017 |website=www.bakubus.az |language=en}}</ref>

Baku Railway Station is the terminus for national and international rail links to the city. The Kars–Tbilisi–Baku railway, which directly connects Turkey, Georgia and [[Place:Azerbaijan|Azerbaijan]], began to be constructed in 2007 and opened in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Azerbaijani FM: Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad to be built in 2012 |date=15 October 2010 |url=http://en.trend.az/capital/business/1767013.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018053243/http://en.trend.az/capital/business/1767013.html |archive-date=18 October 2010 |access-date=26 January 2011 |publisher=trend.az}}</ref> The completed branch will connect Baku with [[Place:Tbilisi|Tbilisi]] in Georgia, and from there trains will continue to Akhalkalaki, and Kars in Turkey.<ref>Railway Gazette International February 2009 p54 with map</ref>

[[File:Baku_Funicular_station.jpg|thumb|right|Baku Funicular]]
Sea transport is vital for Baku, as the city is practically surrounded by the Caspian Sea to the east. Shipping services operate regularly from Baku across the Caspian Sea to Turkmenbashi (formerly Krasnovodsk) in Turkmenistan and to Bandar Anzali and Bandar Nowshar in Iran.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 February 2010 |title=Baku Sea Port expects for passenger trip Anzali-Baku |url=http://en.trend.az/capital/transport/1641349.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100219235222/http://en.trend.az/capital/transport/1641349.html |archive-date=19 February 2010 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=En.trend.az}}</ref> The commuter ferries, along with the high-speed catamaran ''Seabus'' (''Deniz Avtobusu''), also form the main connection between the city and the Absheron peninsula.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ferry Service across Caspian sea |url=http://azerbaijan24.com/transport/38-transport-azerbaijan/60-ferryservicebaku.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329212348/http://azerbaijan24.com/transport/38-transport-azerbaijan/60-ferryservicebaku.html |archive-date=29 March 2010 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Azerbaijan24.com}}</ref>

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&nbsp;million tonnes of liquid bulk and up to 10&nbsp;million tons of dry cargoes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baku Sea Port |url=http://www.bakuseaport.az/eng.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416011348/http://www.bakuseaport.az/eng.html |archive-date=16 April 2008 |access-date=7 March 2008 |publisher=Bakuseaport.az}}</ref> In 2010, the Baku 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&nbsp;million.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Azerbaijan, Baku |url=http://m-hesse.com/Aserbaidschan_Reisebericht.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110115070748/http://www.m-hesse.com/Aserbaidschan_Reisebericht.html |archive-date=15 January 2011 |access-date=1 February 2011 |publisher=m-hesse.com}}</ref> 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 the European 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.
The Heydar Aliyev International Airport is the only commercial airport serving Baku. The new Baku Cargo Terminal was officially opened in March 2005. It was constructed to be a major cargo hub in the CIS countries and is actually now one of the biggest and most technically advanced in the region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heydar Aliyev International Airport (BAK/UBBB), Baku, Azerbaijan |url=http://www.airport-technology.com/projects/baku/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100312085043/http://www.airport-technology.com/projects/baku/ |archive-date=12 March 2010 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Airport-technology.com}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|reason=domain on WP:BLACKLIST|date=June 2016}} There are also several smaller military airbases near Baku, such as Baku Kala Air Base, intended for private aircraft, [[Engineering:Helicopter|helicopter]]s and charters.<ref>[http://az.apa.az/print.php?id=146672 Fevralın 14-ü Azərbaycan Hərbi Hava Qüvvələrinin (HHQ) yaranma günüdür] {{in lang|az}} {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706131439/http://az.apa.az/print.php?id=146672 |date=6 July 2011 }}</ref>

== Education ==
[[Organization:Baku State University|Baku State University]], the first established university in Azerbaijan was opened in 1919 by the government of the [[Place:Azerbaijan Democratic Republic|Azerbaijan Democratic Republic]]. In the early years of the Soviet era, Baku already had Azerbaijan State Oil Academy, [[Organization:Azerbaijan Medical University|Azerbaijan Medical University]] and Azerbaijan State Economic University. In the post-WWII period, a few more universities were established such as [[Organization:Azerbaijan Technical University|Azerbaijan Technical University]], [[Organization:Azerbaijan University of Languages|Azerbaijan University of Languages]] and the Azerbaijan Architecture and Construction University. After 1991 when Azerbaijan gained independence from the Soviet Union, the fall of communism led to the development of a number of private institutions, including [[Organization:Qafqaz University|Qafqaz University]] and [[Organization:Khazar University|Khazar University]] which are considered the most prestigious academic institutions. Apart from the private universities, the government established the [[Organization:Academy of Public Administration (Azerbaijan)|Academy of Public Administration]], the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy and various military academies. The largest universities according to the student population are Baku State University and Azerbaijan State Economic University. In addition, there are the Baku Music Academy and the Azerbaijan National Conservatoire in Baku established in the early 1920s. Publicly run kindergartens and elementary schools (years 1 through 11) are operated by local wards or municipal offices.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}

The Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences, the main state research organisation in Azerbaijan is locating in Baku as well. Moreover, Baku has numerous libraries, many of which contain vast collections of historic documents from the Roman, Byzantine, Ottoman and Soviet periods, as well as from other civilisations of the past. The most important libraries in terms of historic document collections include the Nizami Museum of Azerbaijan Literature, the National Library of Azerbaijan, the Mirza Alakbar Central Library, the Samad Vurgun Library and Baku Presidential Library.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}

=== Secondary schools ===
* Elite Gymnasium

== Health care ==
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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Azerbaijan: Energy-Rich, Healthcare-Poor |url=http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav073008af.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120131055011/http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav073008af.shtml |archive-date=31 January 2012 |access-date=25 April 2011 |publisher=Eurasianet.org}}</ref>

== Notable residents ==
File:Zadeh, L.A. 2005.jpg|[[Biography:Lotfi A. Zadeh|Lotfi A. Zadeh]], artificial intelligence researcher, founder of [[Fuzzy mathematics|fuzzy mathematics]], [[Fuzzy set|fuzzy set]] theory, and [[Fuzzy logic|fuzzy logic]]
File:Landau.jpg|[[Physicist]] [[Biography:Lev Landau|Lev Landau]], [[Organization:Baku State University|Baku State University]] student, winner of the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1962
File:Stamps of Azerbaijan, 2007-813.jpg|[[Biography:Kerim Kerimov|Kerim Kerimov]], one of the founders of the [[Astronomy:Soviet space program|Soviet space program]]
File:Kasparov-34.jpg|Garry Kasparov, chess grandmaster, former World Chess Champion
File:Mushfig.JPG|Mikayil Mushfig, Bakuvian poet and victim of the Stalinist purges
File:Tofiq Bahramov.jpg|Tofiq Bahramov, a [[Place:Soviet Union|Soviet]] footballer and [[Social:Referee (association football)|football referee]] from [[Place:Azerbaijan|Azerbaijan]]
File:Вагит Алекперов.jpg|Vagit Alekperov, President of the leading Russian oil company LUKOIL
File:Muslim Magomaev.jpg|Muslim Magomayev, one of the most famous singers of the USSR
File:RIAN archive 438589 Mstislav Rostropovich.jpg|Mstislav Rostropovich, Grammy Award–winning cellist
File:Gusman Yliy.jpg|Yuli Gusman, film director and actor, founder and CEO of the Nika Award
File:Natalla Arsieńnieva1927.jpg|Natallia Arsiennieva, Belarusian playwright, poet and translator
File:Владимир Меньшов 2018 (cropped) (cropped).jpg|Vladimir Menshov, Soviet and Russian actor and film director
File:Ələkbər Məmmədov.jpg|Alakbar Mammadov, Soviet footballer, four-time champion player in the Soviet Top League
File:Matvej Skobelev.jpg|Matvey Skobelev, Russian revolutionary and politician
File:Salatyn and Son.JPG|Salatyn Asgarova, Azerbaijani journalist, National Hero of Azerbaijan
</gallery>

== International relations ==

=== Twin towns and sister cities ===
Baku is twinned with:<ref name="Azerbaijan twinnings">{{Cite web |title=Twin-cities of Azerbaijan |url=http://www.azerbaijans.com/content_1719_en.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809115218/http://www.azerbaijans.com/content_1719_en.html |archive-date=9 August 2013 |access-date=2013-08-09 |website=Azerbaijans.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The main directions of foreign relations of the executive authorities of Baku |url=http://www.bakucity.az/main/index_en.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714191259/http://www.bakucity.az/main/index_en.html |archive-date=14 July 2007 |access-date=15 July 2007}}</ref><sup>[in [[Physics:Chronology|chronological]] order]</sup>

{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Country
!City
!State / Province / Region / Governorate
!Date
|-
|Senegal
|{{flagicon|SEN}} [[Place:Dakar|Dakar]]
|''Dakar Region''
|1967<ref name="ANL">{{Cite web |last=Musa Gasymly |year=2005 |title=АЗЕРБАЙДЖАН В МЕЖДУНАРОДНЫХ КУЛЬТУРНЫХ СВЯЗЯХ(1946–1990 гг.) |trans-title=Azerbaijan's cultural affairs (1946–1990) |url=http://www.anl.az/el/m/ks.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100404085053/http://www.anl.az/el/m/ks.htm |archive-date=4 April 2010 |access-date=4 February 2010 |publisher=Artanuchi |location=Tbilisi}}</ref><ref name="Azeuro">{{Cite news |date=25 July 2008 |title=ВСЕ ОСТАЕТСЯ ЛЮДЯМ |trans-title=Everything remains for people |volume=29 |publisher=Vyshka |issue=19725 |url=http://vyshka.azeurotel.com/arxiv/2008/29/2.html |url-status=live |access-date=4 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707202527/http://vyshka.azeurotel.com/arxiv/2008/29/2.html |archive-date=7 July 2011}}</ref><ref name="Dakartwinmon">{{Cite web |year=2014 |title=Monument in Dakar, on which "City Baku" was written in Russian and "City Dakar" in French |url=https://duesseldorfdakarcycling.wordpress.com/2014/08/17/finally-dakar-28-07-2014/ |website=duesseldorfdakarcycling.wordpress.com |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226123623/https://duesseldorfdakarcycling.wordpress.com/2014/08/17/finally-dakar-28-07-2014/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|Italy
|{{flagicon|ITA}} Naples
|''Campania''
|1972<ref>{{Cite web |last=Flexibe Solutions |date=26 October 2007 |title=Embassy of Azerbaijan Republic in Italy |url=http://www.azembassy.it/browse.php?lang=eng&page=010201 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110523084602/http://www.azembassy.it/browse.php?lang=eng&page=010201 |archive-date=23 May 2011 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Azembassy.it}}</ref>
|-
|Iraq
|{{flagicon|IRQ}} [[Place:Basra|Basra]]
|''Basra Governorate''
|1972<ref name=ANL/>
|-
|Bosnia and Herzegovina
|{{flagicon|BIH}} [[Place:Sarajevo|Sarajevo]]
|''Sarajevo Canton''
|1975<ref name=ANL/><ref name=Azeuro/>
|-
|United States
|{{flagicon|USA}} Christiansted
|''Virgin Islands''
|1976<ref name="Azerbaijan International" />
|-
|United States
|{{flagicon|USA}} Houston
|''{{wipe|Texas}}''
|1976<ref name="Azerbaijan International">{{Cite journal |last=Maud Beck |date=Winter 2006 |title=Sister Cities: Baku and Houston. Celebrating 30 Years as Sister Cities |url=http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/ai144_folder/144_articles/144_sister_cities.html |url-status=live |journal=Azerbaijan International |pages=68–71 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100202044849/http://azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/ai144_folder/144_articles/144_sister_cities.html |archive-date=2 February 2010 |access-date=4 February 2010}}</ref>
|-
|France
|{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Earth:Bordeaux|Bordeaux]]
|''[[Place:Aquitaine|Aquitaine]]''
|1979<ref name=ANL/><ref name="Bordeaux twinnings 2">{{Cite web |title=Bordeaux-Atlas français de la coopération décentralisée et des autres actions extérieures |url=http://www.cncd.fr/frontoffice/bdd-recherche-resultat.asp?searchField=bordeaux&x=36&y=14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207152951/http://www.cncd.fr/frontoffice/bdd-recherche-resultat.asp?searchField=bordeaux&x=36&y=14 |archive-date=7 February 2013 |access-date=2013-07-29 |website=Délégation pour l'Action Extérieure des Collectivités Territoriales (Ministère des Affaires étrangères) |language=fr}}</ref>
|-
|Iran
|{{flagicon|IRN}} [[Place:Tabriz|Tabriz]]
|''East Azerbaijan Province''
|1980<ref name=Azeuro/>
|-
|Turkey
|{{flagicon|TUR}} İzmir
|''İzmir Province''
|1985<ref>{{Cite web |title=İzmir Metropolitan Municipality |url=http://www.izmir.bel.tr/en/StandartPages.asp?menuID=1476&MenuName= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719141205/http://www.izmir.bel.tr/en/StandartPages.asp?menuID=1476&MenuName= |archive-date=19 July 2011 |access-date=17 April 2010 |publisher=Izmir.bel.tr}}</ref>

|-
|Vietnam
|{{flagicon|VIE}} Vũng Tàu
|''Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu province''
|1985<ref name=ANL/>
|-
|Russia
|{{flagicon|RUS}} [[Place:Moscow|Moscow]]
|''[[Place:Moscow|Moscow]] City''
|-
|Russia
|{{flagicon|RUS}} Saint Petersburg
|''Saint Petersburg City''
|-
|United States
|{{flagicon|USA}} Honolulu County
|''Hawaii''
|1998<ref>{{Cite web |title=International Relations |url=http://www1.honolulu.gov/ecodev/internationalrelations.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628103551/http://www1.honolulu.gov/ecodev/internationalrelations.htm |archive-date=28 June 2012 |access-date=2013-07-08}}</ref>
|-
|Turkey
|{{flagicon|TUR}} Sivas
|''Sivas Province''
|2000<ref name="Sivas twinnings">{{Cite web|url=http://www.yeniulke.net/3044/uzaklar_yakinlasti|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227151859/http://www.yeniulke.net/3044/uzaklar_yakinlasti|title=Uzaklar Yakinlaşti – Sivas Twin Towns|archive-date=27 December 2013}}</ref>
|-
|Brazil
|{{flagicon|BRA}} Rio de Janeiro
|''State of Rio de Janeiro''
|2013<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 December 2013 |title=Баку и Рио-де-Жанейро стали городами-побратимами – 1NEWS.AZ |url=http://www.1news.az:80/politics/20131205120515968.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207022044/http://www.1news.az/politics/20131205120515968.html |archive-date=7 December 2013}}</ref>
|-
|Ukraine
|{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Place:Kyiv|Kyiv]]
|''[[Place:Kyiv|Kyiv]] City''
|-
|Israel
|{{flagicon|ISR}} Haifa<ref name="algemeiner.com">{{Cite web |title=Azerbaijani US Ambassador: Israel Is a Pragmatic Partner and Good Friend, We Want it to Be Normal for Muslims and Jews to Be Allies |url=https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/03/29/azerbaijani-us-ambassador-israel-is-a-pragmatic-partner-and-good-friend-we-want-it-to-be-normal-for-muslims-and-jews-to-be-allies/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170410213814/https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/03/29/azerbaijani-us-ambassador-israel-is-a-pragmatic-partner-and-good-friend-we-want-it-to-be-normal-for-muslims-and-jews-to-be-allies/ |archive-date=10 April 2017 |access-date=10 April 2017 |website=Algemeiner.com}}</ref>
|''Haifa District''
|-
|South Africa
|{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Place:Johannesburg|Johannesburg]]
|''[[Place:Johannesburg|Johannesburg]] City''
|-
|South Africa
|{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Place:Pretoria|Pretoria]]
|''[[Place:Pretoria|Pretoria]] City''
|-
|Turkey
|{{flagicon|TUR}} [[Place:Ankara|Ankara]]
|''[[Place:Ankara|Ankara]] City''
|-
|Saudi Arabia
|{{flagicon|KSA}} Jeddah
|''Jeddah City''
|
|}

=== Partner cities ===
* {{flagicon|GER}} [[Place:Mainz|Mainz]], Germany
* {{flagicon|FRA}} [[Place:Paris|Paris]], France 
* {{flagicon|AUT}} [[Place:Vienna|Vienna]], Austria
* {{flagicon|GEO}} [[Place:Tbilisi|Tbilisi]], Georgia 
* {{flagicon|KAZ}} [[Place:Astana|Astana]], Kazakhstan 
* {{flagicon|BLR}} [[Place:Minsk|Minsk]], Belarus 
* {{flagicon|RUS}} [[Place:Moscow|Moscow]], Russia
* {{flagicon|RUS}} Volgograd, Russia
* {{flagicon|RUS}} Kizlyar, Russia
* {{flagicon|UZB}} [[Place:Tashkent|Tashkent]], Uzbekistan
* {{flagicon|CHN}} Chengdu, China

== See also ==
* Baku Gradonachalstvo
* 1920 Baku Congress
* Alexander III visit to Baku
* Administrative divisions of Azerbaijan
* List of cities in Azerbaijan
* Mingachevir
* Nakhchivan
* Sumgait

== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikivoyage}}
* {{Cite news |last=UNESCO/ICOMOS |date=29 April 2003 |title=Joint UNESCO-ICOMOS Mission to the Walled City of Baku |work=[[Organization:UNESCO|UNESCO]]/[[Organization:International Council on Monuments and Sites|ICOMOS]] |url=http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001305/130571e.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0013/001305/130571e.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100424091230/http://www.ovpm.org/en/azerbaijan/baku Baku's profile at the Organization of World Heritage Cities website]
* [https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/958 UNESCO World Heritage Site listing Walled City of Baku]

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[[Category:Capitals in Asia]]

{{Sourceattribution|Baku}}