100 incredibly interesting facts about Azerbaijan (Part 1)

I have never come across a list of the top 100 facts about Azerbaijan, so I created this one. Any feedback would be welcome.

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1. If colours could speak, red would speak for Azerbaijan. Red is a symbol of happiness, passion, festivity, and life. Even the name "Azerbaijan" evokes the image of red, as it means "Land of Fire." As a result, in some areas when a young person dies, a broken mirror is placed beside the grave, and a red ribbon is tied around it to symbolize the joy and happiness that were never experienced.

Red is also used in weddings. In the past, the bride would wear a red wedding gown since it signifies life.

In English, the expression "red-faced" refers to someone who is embarrassed or blushing. In Azerbaijan, however, the meaning is quite different. A person who is described as "red" is someone who speaks the absolute truth, even if it may hurt others with their words. However, this blunt honesty is often seen as rude in Azerbaijani culture.

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2. Baku-born Richard Sorge is considered one of the greatest spies in history, often compared to figures like Kim Philby and other Cold War-era spies. Despite his remarkable success, Sorge’s activities were eventually uncovered and he was executed in Japan in 1944.

He got a very cool memorial in Baku. The bust is a representation of Sorge's face, with a solemn expression that reflects his dedication to his mission.

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3. Universal suffrage was introduced in Azerbaijan in 1918 by the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic, thus making Azerbaijan the first Muslim-majority country ever to enfranchise women.

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4. During the Soviet Union era, jazz was initially seen with suspicion due to its roots in Western culture, it gradually became popular in major cities such as Baku, Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), and Riga. As a result, Baku had its own distinctive style of jazz influenced by Azerbaijani folk music, known as "mugham".

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5. The Heydar Aliyev Center in Baku is perhaps Zaha Hadid's most famous and monumental project in Azerbaijan. The building, completed in 2012, is a stunning example of her signature fluid architectural style, characterized by curving, organic forms and futuristic design.

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6. Unlike some countries, Azerbaijan has no native monkeys or apes.

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7. Azerbaijan has the world’s first and only offshore oil city, Neft Daşları (Oil Rocks), built on stilts in the Caspian Sea. It was constructed in 1949 and remains a functional oil extraction facility with roads, buildings, and even hotels floating in the middle of the sea.

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8. According to a common belief, drinking tea with lump sugar instead of sand sugar dates back to the medieval period, when rulers, who were afraid of being poisoned, would check their tea by dunking a piece of sugar into the beverage (it was believed that the poison would react with the sugar).

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9. Baku is often called "The City of Winds" due to its strong winds coming from the Caspian Sea.

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10. The Gobustan Rock Petroglyphs are some of the oldest known rock carvings in Azerbaijan and date back to around 5,000–40,000 years ago.

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11. The world's last Kolkhoz (collective farm) from Soviet times has been preserved in the Azerbaijani village of Ivanovka.

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12. Charles de Gaulle visited Baku in 1944 during his tenure as the leader of the Free French Forces in World War II. The main objective of his trip was to sign a treaty on Franco-Soviet cooperation. After spending one night in the Azerbaijani capital, during which the general attended the national opera in Baku, the delegation continued their journey to Stalingrad.

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13. The Maiden Tower in Baku is one of the oldest and most iconic landmarks in Azerbaijan. It dates back to the 12th century and was part of the Shirvanshah dynasty’s defensive fortifications. It is surrounded by fascinating legends that have been passed down through generations.

The most widely known legend revolves around the Maiden (the girl) and a king. According to the story, a young princess lived in the tower. The king, her father, was told by a fortune teller that his daughter would one day bring him great sorrow, as she would fall in love with a commoner and bring ruin to the royal family. Fearing for his daughter's future, the king locked her in the Maiden Tower, hoping to keep her safe.

However, the princess eventually fell in love with a young man from the city, and they exchanged secret messages through a small opening in the tower. The legend suggests that, upon learning of the secret love affair, the king became furious and ordered the princess’s death. In her despair, the princess threw herself from the tower to escape her father’s wrath, and it is said that her body was found in the sea below.

Some versions of the story also suggest that the tower was named "Maiden Tower" because the princess's love was forbidden, and she was never able to marry.

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14. The Gadesh subculture emerged in the 1950s in Baku. It does share some similarities with gopniks from Russia and chavs from the UK, particularly in terms of style, attitude, and behaviour. A typical Gadesh listens to meykhana (Azerbaijani folk rap), wears a flat cap and flip-flops while spinning tasbeh (prayer beads) in his hands.

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15. On 28 October 1995, a fire broke out in the subway system of Baku, killing 289 people (including 28 children). The fire was deemed to have been caused by an electrical malfunction, but the possibility of sabotage was not excluded. Although a number of people who evacuated the train survived, the fire remains the world's deadliest subway disaster.

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16. The national animal of Azerbaijan is the Karabakh horse (also known as the Azerbaijani horse or Azerbaijan horse). It is a medium-sized horse with a well-built body, a long, graceful neck, and a shiny coat, often of a chestnut colour.

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17. Joseph Stalin was involved in organizing strikes and revolutionary movements among the oil workers in Baku, which led to his arrest by the Tsarist authorities. Eventually, he was exiled to Siberia but later escaped and continued his revolutionary activities.

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18. In Azerbaijan, cotton is often called "white gold" (ağ qızıl) because of its economic importance. Cotton production has historically been a major part of the country's agriculture and textile industry. The name "white gold" highlights its high value, similar to how oil is referred to as "black gold" in Azerbaijan.

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19. Before entering any Azerbaijani house, you will most likely be asked to remove your shoes and will be given a clean pair of indoor slippers to wear. It is deemed rude to wear shoes inside a house.

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20. In 2024, Azerbaijani judoka Hidayat Heydarov achieved remarkable success. He was able to win the European, World, and Olympic titles in a single year, marking a historic achievement in the sport.

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21. In Azerbaijani culture, there is a significant respect and reverence for bread. One of the traditions that exemplifies this is the practice of kissing bread when it falls to the ground. It is often referred to as the most important part of the meal, and wasting or disrespecting bread is seen as a bad omen.

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22. In Azerbaijani weddings, the celebration traditionally ends with a special dance called vaghzali. It is a dance for when the bride departs from her family house to the house of the bridegroom.

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23. Despite having energy resources, Azerbaijan does not have any nuclear power plants, relying instead on oil, gas, and hydropower.

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24. Azerbaijan has the highest concentration of mud volcanoes in the world. Out of around 1,000 mud volcanoes on Earth, more than 350 are in Azerbaijan. Most of them are located in the Gobustan region.

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25. In Azerbaijani culture and folklore, owls, or "bayquş" in Azerbaijani, are associated with bad luck, often seen as omens of misfortune and destruction, particularly when a single owl hoots in the evening.

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26. The village of Nij in Azerbaijan is home to the Udi people, who speak the ancient Udi language—one of the few surviving languages from the Caucasian Albanian civilization.

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27. Azerbaijan’s National Flag Square once held the record for the tallest flagpole in the world (162m) before being surpassed by Tajikistan in 2011.

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28. Azerbaijan has a Miniature Book Museum in Baku, which holds the world’s largest collection of tiny books, including a 3.5mm Quran!

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29. Despite its size, Azerbaijan has more than 4,500 plant species and 12% of the world’s bird species.

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30. The first opera in the Muslim World was written in Azerbaijan – The opera "Leyli and Majnun" was composed by Uzeyir Hajibeyov in 1908.

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31. Azerbaijani carpets are so valuable, they were once used as currency – Traditional Karabakh and Shirvan carpets were considered a form of wealth.

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32. By the turn of the 20th century, Azerbaijan was producing over half of the world's oil. 

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33. The true identity of the author of Ali and Nino has been a mystery for years. While the book was published under the pen name Kurban Said, scholars and historians have debated the real identity of the author.

The novel tells the story of a tragic romance between Ali, a Muslim Azerbaijani boy, and Nino, a Christian Georgian girl, set against the backdrop of World War I and the Russian Revolution.

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34. The Icelandic singer Björk once complimented Azerbaijani mugham singer Alim Qasimov, by naming him as her "favourite singer alive today".

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35. Hospitality is a cornerstone of Azerbaijani culture. It is polite to accept at least a small portion of what is offered, especially tea, and if you don’t want to drink it, it is customary to leave a little in the cup as a sign of appreciation.

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36. In Azerbaijan, fortune-telling has become a significant and sometimes lucrative business, with advertisements and services readily available.

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37. Baku Metro opened in 1967, making it the first metro system in the Caucasus and the fourth in the former USSR.

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38. Respect for elders is a deeply ingrained custom in Azerbaijan. It is customary to visit elders, especially during special occasions like holidays and family gatherings.

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39. PlayStation lounges are quite popular in Baku. These lounges provide a space where people can come together to play video games, compete with friends

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40. Aghdam is often referred to as one of the world's ghost towns due to its destruction during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its current abandoned state. Following its occupation by Armenian forces in 1993 and the displacement of its Azerbaijani population, Aghdam was left in ruins.

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41. Maintaining a clean and organized home is an important tradition in Azerbaijan. A clean house is believed to attract positive energy and good fortune, while an untidy space is thought to invite negative forces.

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42. Khari Bulbul is a rare, orchid-like flower that grows only in Shusha and symbolizes love, longing, and strength.

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43. In some Azerbaijani regions, candies (wrapped) are often thrown over the heads of the newlyweds or at guests as a symbol of sweetness, happiness, and prosperity in the couple's life together.

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44. The Shaki Khan Palace is a historical gem that has one of the most beautiful stained-glass windows in Azerbaijan.

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45. Ganja is the birthplace of Nizami Ganjavi, one of Azerbaijan's greatest poets. His mausoleum in the city is a major historical site.

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46. The Baku Seaside Boulevard is one of the longest promenades in the world. It stretches for several kilometers along the Caspian Sea and is home to parks, museums, and restaurants, offering locals and tourists alike a beautiful place to relax.

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47. Azerbaijan has not yet won an Oscar (Academy Award) for Best Foreign Language Film or any other major category.

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48. Halloween in Azerbaijan is not traditionally celebrated, but it has gained popularity in recent years, particularly among younger generations in Baku.

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49. There’s an urban myth in Baku about a black dog that roams certain neighborhoods late at night. According to the myth, the dog is unusually large and intelligent, and it is said to be the spirit of a deceased person. People claim that if you encounter the dog, it will follow you until you reach your home, and once there, it will vanish into the shadows.

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50. Novruz holds great significance in Azerbaijani culture as it is an expression of national identity and heritage. During Novruz, it is customary to visit friends and family, offer gifts, and share meals. Special gifts such as sweets, and clothing are exchanged as a way of wishing each other good fortune for the new year.