Social Studies- Azerbaijan

Physical Geography

Shares borders with Iran, Armenia, Georgia, and Russia. Contains the Caucasus mountains in the north which is considered Europe while the rest is Asia. It is slightly smaller than Maine

Current Issues

Trade with Russia is declining. Azerbaijan is struggling with keeping trade connections to the west and remaining loyal to Russia. The Caspian Sea is also one of the most polluted areas in the world.

Major Religions

Mostly Shiite Muslims, contains a minority of Sunni Muslims and Orthodox Churches

Natural Resources

Natural Gas, iron ore, petroleum, nonferrous metals, bauxite

Head of Government

President Ilham Aliyev

Independence

30 August 1991

Population

9,872,765

History

Azerbaijan supplied nearly half of the world's oil in the 1800's. The first oil well was drilled in Azerbaijan.

Major Languages

Azerbaijani, Russian, Armenian

Capital

Baku