Baku Bakı |
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Clockwise: Details of the façade of the Ismailiyya building, Philharmony Fountain in front of the Magomayev Philharmonic Hall, a vessel on the Bay of Baku with the skyline of the city, and the Maiden Tower – clickable image
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Nickname(s): City of Winds | ||
Location in Azerbaijan | ||
Coordinates: 40°23′43″N 49°52′56″E / 40.39528°N 49.88222°ECoordinates: 40°23′43″N 49°52′56″E / 40.39528°N 49.88222°E | ||
Country | Azerbaijan | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | Hajibala Abutalybov | |
Area | ||
• City | 2,130 km2 (820 sq mi) | |
Elevation | −28 m (−92 ft) | |
Population (2012) | ||
• City | 2,122,300 | |
• Density | 996.38/km2 (2,580.6/sq mi) | |
• Urban | 2,725,000 | |
• Metro | 4,000,000 | |
Demonym(s) |
Bakuvian Azerbaijani: Bakılı |
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Time zone | AZT (UTC+4) | |
Postal code | AZ1000 | |
Area code(s) | (+994) 12 | |
Vehicle registration | 10–90 AZ | |
Website | www |
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Official name | Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower | |
Type | Cultural | |
Criteria | iv | |
Designated | 2000 (24th session) | |
Reference no. | 958 | |
Endangered | 2003–2009 | |
State Party | Azerbaijan | |
Region | Europe and Asia |
Bakuvian
Baku (Azerbaijani: Bakı, IPA: [bɑˈcɯ]) is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. Baku is located 28 metres (92 ft) below sea level, which makes it the lowest lying national capital in the world and also the largest city in the world located below sea level. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, alongside the Bay of Baku. At the beginning of 2009, Baku's urban population was estimated at just over two million people. Officially, about 25 percent of all inhabitants of the country live in Baku's metropolitan area.
Baku is divided into eleven administrative districts (raions) and 48 townships. Among these are the townships on the islands of the Baku Archipelago, and the town of Oil Rocks built on stilts in the Caspian Sea, 60 kilometres (37 miles) away from Baku. The Inner City of Baku, along with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower, were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. According to the Lonely Planet's ranking, Baku is also among the world's top ten destinations for urban nightlife.
The city is the scientific, cultural and industrial center of Azerbaijan. Many sizeable Azerbaijani institutions have their headquarters there. The Baku International Sea Trade Port is capable of handling two million tons of general and dry bulk cargoes per year. In recent years, Baku has become an important venue for international events. It hosted the 57th Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, the 2015 European Games, the 2016 European Grand Prix and will host the 4th Islamic Solidarity Games in 2017 and UEFA Euro 2020.