Tourism in Azerbaijan

{{Short description|none}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}

{{anchor|Promotion of tourism}}

File:Qız qalası ümumi 2016.jpg, Baku, one of Azerbaijan's most iconic monuments]]

File:Gəncə Bulvarı.jpg, the center of the Arran School of Architecture, is also the country's second largest city.]]

Tourism in Azerbaijan has been an important sector of the Azerbaijani economy since the 1990s. According to Azerbaijan's Center for Economic and Social Development, the country is in 39th place{{Cite web|url=http://cesd.az/new/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/CESD-Tourism-Paper.pdf|title=CESD Policy Report on Tourism Sector in Azerbaijan}} among 148 countries in tourism competitiveness indicators. The World Travel and Tourism Council reported that Azerbaijan is among the top ten countries with the greatest increase in visitor exports from 2010 to 2016. The country had the world's fastest-developing travel and tourism economy (a 46.1% increase) in 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic-impact-research/2017-documents/global-economic-impact-and-issues-2017.pdf|title=Global Economic Impact and Issues 2017|website=World Travel and Tourism Council|access-date=17 November 2018|archive-date=13 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113052505/https://www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic-impact-research/2017-documents/global-economic-impact-and-issues-2017.pdf|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-40641560|title=Where's hot? This summer's most popular holiday spots|first=Katie|last=Hope|work=BBC News|date=19 July 2017|access-date=24 July 2017}} To promote tourism, Azerbaijan sponsored Atlético Madrid jerseys reading "Azerbaijan – Land of Fire". In 2018, a new tourism brand and a slogan "take another look" were introduced.{{Cite web|url=http://www.breakingtravelnews.com/news/article/wtm-2018-azerbaijan-urges-travels-to-take-another-look/|title=WTM 2018: Azerbaijan urges travellers to take another look}}

{{anchor|Visa|Visa policy|Electronic visa}}Visas

{{Main|Visa policy of Azerbaijan}}

Tourist visas can be obtained from an Azerbaijani embassy or electronically online without an embassy visit. In 2016, a tax-free shopping system was introduced to attract foreign shoppers. Purchases must be made up to 90 days before export to be eligible for the tax refund.

In January 2017, Azerbaijan introduced its electronic visa for a single-entry visit of up to 30 days.{{Cite news|url=http://en.apa.az/azerbaijan-politics/domestic-news/azerbaijan-announces-rules-of-e-visa-issuance-through-asan-visa-system.html|title=Azerbaijan announces rules of e-visa issuance through ASAN Visa system|last=Holding|first=APA Information Agency, APA|access-date=2017-05-18|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320075754/http://en.apa.az/azerbaijan-politics/domestic-news/azerbaijan-announces-rules-of-e-visa-issuance-through-asan-visa-system.html|archive-date=20 March 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} The e-visa{{cite web|url=http://www.evisa.gov.az/|title=Home Page – The Electronic Visa System of Azerbaijan Republic|website=www.Evisa.gov.az|access-date=24 July 2017}} is available to tourists from 93 countries, who can apply on the e-visa website.{{cite web|url=https://www.evisa.gov.az/en/|title=Home Page – The Electronic Visa System of Azerbaijan Republic|website=www.Evisa.gov.az|access-date=24 July 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://mfa.gov.az/en/content/749|title=Asan visa|last=FS|website=mfa.gov.az|access-date=2017-11-03|archive-date=2 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002173514/http://www.mfa.gov.az/en/content/749|url-status=dead}} A visa is not required for citizens of the Commonwealth of Independent States (except Turkmenistan and Armenia) who intend to visit Azerbaijan within 90 days.

Due to a state of war with Armenia,{{cite web|title=Republic of Azerbaijan Country Report 2014|url=http://ncsej.org/media/5446c0ebc59df.pdf#page=6|access-date=9 July 2019|publisher=NCSEJ}} the government of Azerbaijan has banned the entry of citizens from Armenia, as well as citizens of any other country who are of Armenian descent (including Armenian Russians, Turkish Armenians, etc.),{{cite news|last1=Kucera|first1=Joshua|date=21 January 2019|title=Azerbaijan and Russia in escalating dispute over ban on Armenians|language=en|work=Eurasianet|url=https://eurasianet.org/azerbaijan-and-russia-in-escalating-dispute-over-ban-on-armenians|access-date=9 July 2019}} to the Republic of Azerbaijan.{{cite news|last1=McMahon|first1=Bobby|date=31 August 2018|title=Why Henrikh Mkhitaryan's Europa League 'Ban' From Azerbaijan Is A Red-Herring|language=en|work=Forbes|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/bobbymcmahon/2018/08/31/why-henrikh-mkhitaryans-europa-league-ban-from-azerbaijan-is-a-red-herring/#42e4be9f7d37|access-date=9 July 2019}}

{{anchor|Arrivals by country}}Statistics

File:Tourism in Azerbaijan.svg

Over 1.4 million tourists visited Azerbaijan in 2008. In 2017, a record-high number of 2,691,998 foreign citizens visited Azerbaijan.{{Cite web|url=https://en.trend.az/business/tourism/2845093.html|title = Record high number of tourists visited Azerbaijan in 2017|date = 8 January 2018}} Visitors to the country in 2017 came from the following countries:{{cite web|url=http://www.stat.gov.az/source/tourism/en/002_4en.xls|title=Number of foreign citizens arrived to Azerbaijan by countries}}

class="wikitable sortable" style="display: inline-table;"

|+2017 visitors

style="color:white;"

! style="background-color:#00966E;"| Country

! style="background-color:#00966E;"| Number

{{Flagicon|Russia}}Russia853,082
{{Flagicon|Georgia}}Georgia537,710
{{Flagicon|Iran}}Iran362,597
{{Flagicon|Turkey}}Turkey301,553
{{Flagicon|United Arab Emirates}}United Arab Emirates102,360
{{Flagicon|Iraq}}Iraq62,454
{{Flagicon|Ukraine}}Ukraine57,756
{{Flagicon|Saudi Arabia}}Saudi Arabia33,273
{{Flagicon|Kazakhstan}}Kazakhstan31,994
{{Flagicon|United Kingdom}}United Kingdom29,514
{{Flagicon|Uzbekistan}}Uzbekistan16,093
{{Flagicon|Germany}}Germany13,042
{{Flagicon|Belarus}}Belarus12,320
{{Flagicon|United States}}United States12,291
{{Flagicon|Israel}}Israel10,814
{{Flagicon|Italy}}Italy8,654
{{Flagicon|Turkmenistan}}Turkmenistan7,637
{{Flagicon|Saudi Arabia}}Saudi Arabia7,463
{{Flagicon|China}}China7,363
{{Flagicon|India}}India6,012
{{Flagicon|France}}France5,785
Total2,691,998

class="wikitable sortable" style="display: inline-table;"

|+Visitors by year

style="color:white;"

!style="background-color:#00966E;"|Year

!style="background-color:#00966E;"|Number

2006

|900,000

2007

|1,100,000

2008

|1,400,000

2009 (9 months)

|1,000,988

2010

|1,850,000

2011

|2,239,000

2012

|2,484,048

2013

|2,508,904

2014

|2,297,804

2015

|2,006,176

2016

|2,242,783

2017

|2,691,998

2018

|2,849,600

2019

|3,170,000

2020

|1,299,400

2021

|792,000

2022

|1,602,000

2023

|2,086,000

2024

|2,626,700

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ Tourists in Azerbaijan by nationality (2010–2019)

! Rank !! Nationality !! 2010 !! 2011 !! 2012 !! 2013 !! 2014 !! 2015 !! 2016 !! 2017 !! 2018 !! 2019

1{{flag|Russia}}701,110786,684876,013903,242843,851685,555744,125854,331880,029932,984
2{{flag|Georgia}}491,942573,063763,251810,390699,532571,648506,306538,213610,556725,465
3{{flag|Turkey}}214,594242,606295,549361,413314,476288,620313,341301,924291,499316,628
4{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}3122843804795077277,46333,31273,284107,230
5{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}4124695516388212,37953,180102,49894,03168,346
6{{flag|India}}3,7553,7155,0484,7914,8535,5846,01214,24439,05165,118
7{{flag|Ukraine}}31,50040,03042,39351,80258,20155,11955,50857,81857,70759,116
8{{flag|Turkmenistan}}4,0723,9694,9064,7665,3986,8007,63717,10128,30552,127
9{{flag|Iraq}}5496799179917382,14762,98362,54767,51450,723
10{{flag|Kazakhstan}}19,20928,22525,29528,22629,46827,14531,99436,36037,82447,551
11{{flag|Israel}}6,3465,6716,3696,9897,5348,32510,81415,38540,18547,056
12{{flag|Pakistan}}1,9491,7431,6751,7671,8172,1933,99817,57941,30746,602
13{{flag|United Kingdom}}24,16024,64629,12532,84133,56334,89229,51431,75129,41736,914
14{{flag|Kuwait}}3223242333924195281,69916,48129,80330,303
15{{flag|China}}5,8466,2245,0606,4655,9305,0947,36310,27415,73025,542
Others959,3751,012,6921,120,726980,164974,6741,277,5061,409,2151,643,5171,484,033558,668
Total1,962,9062,239,1412,484,0482,508,9042,297,8042,006,1762,248,7732,696,7452,849,5923,170,373

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ Tourists in Azerbaijan by nationality (2020–2023)

! Rank !! Nationality !! 2023 !! 2022 !! 2021 !! 2020

1{{flag|Russia}}624,753446,712258,315225,201
2{{flag|Turkey}}378,045311,804197,907160,504
3{{flag|Iran}}165,214170,450125,35872,783
4{{flag|India}}117,30260,7315,70512,769
5{{flag|Georgia}}104,45082,20662,666184,228
6{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}80,67596,2338,83411,945
7{{flag|Qatar}}58,0623,4111,9121,567
8{{flag|Pakistan}}55,14851,6912,9487,773
9{{flag|Kuwait}}29,69222,6092,2897,076
10{{flag|Israel}}29,09123,9336,6554,238
11{{flag|United Arab Emirates}}45,75941,08517,3207,951
12{{flag|Uzbekistan}}39,65526,3014,2135,283
13{{flag|Ukraine}}31,26727,74117,42816,953
14{{flag|Belarus}}27,61218,5625,7306,036
15{{flag|Turkmenistan}}26,01011,1882,7388,257
Others283,745285,592348,513272,148
Total2,085,7901,602,279791,751795,722

{{cite web |title=Tourism Statistics |url=https://www.stat.gov.az/source/tourism/?lang=en |website=The State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan |access-date=20 June 2025}}

Most of the visitors were from Europe, Asia, and North America. There were 1,818,258 foreigners in Azerbaijan in 2017.{{Cite news|url=http://mct.gov.az/ru/statistika-v-oblasti-turizma|title=Статистика в области туризма {{!}} Министерство Культуры и Туризма Азербайджанской Республики|work=Mədəniyyət və Turizm Nazirliyi|access-date=2018-04-23}} The overwhelming majority were citizens of the Russian Federation, Georgia, Iran, Turkey and UAE. “Azerbaijan expects a massive flow of tourists from the Arab countries, Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, much less will come from Ukraine and Belarus, and only a small flow from European states.{{Cite web|url=http://dlmn.info/ru/v-azerbaydzhane-turisticheskiy-bum-na-novogodnie-prazdniki-do-polumilliona-turistov/|title=Туристический бум|website=dlmn.info|language=ru-RU|access-date=2018-04-23}}

Azerbaijan had 320 hotels in 2007, 370 in 2008, 452 in 2009, 499 in 2010, 508 in 2011 and 514 in 2012. The country has 230 tourist agencies and 560 hotels and hostels.{{Cite news|url=http://bakushopfest.com/ru/azerbaijan-as-a-tourist-destination/|title=Азербайджан – Новое Туристическое Направление {{!}} Baku Shopping Festival|work=Baku Shopping Festival|access-date=2018-04-23|language=ru-RU|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423234216/http://bakushopfest.com/ru/azerbaijan-as-a-tourist-destination/|archive-date=23 April 2018|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}

State support

Azerbaijan began tourism-development planning for 2002–2005 and 2010–2014. The programs compiled tourism statistics, particularly its effect on the GNP. The Ministry of Tourism made a development study from 2008 to 2016{{Cite web|url=http://www.azerbaijans.com/content_911_en.html|title=Azərbaycanda turizm|website=www.azerbaijans.com|language=az|access-date=2018-04-23}} to increase accommodations and attract foreigners.

In March 2018, Ministry of Culture tourism head Aydin Ismiyev expressed a desire to develop Halal tourism.{{Cite web|url=http://tobaku.ru/v-azerbajdzhane-sozdaetsya-halyal-turizm/|title=В Азербайджане создается "Халяль-туризм" – To Baku|website=tobaku.ru|language=ru-RU|access-date=2018-04-23}} The following month, the 17th international tourism and travel exhibition (AITF 2018) opened.{{Cite web|url=http://polpred.com/news/?cnt=7§or=7|title=Азербайджан. Миграция, виза, туризм|website=polpred.com|access-date=2018-04-23}} Azerbaijan also provides culinary tourism.{{Cite web|url=http://cbc.az/ru/v_story/video1507378964|title=В Азербайджане развивается гастрономический туризм|last=CBC.AZ|website=CBC.AZ|language=en|access-date=2018-04-23}}

Resort areas

In addition to the capital, Baku, Azerbaijan has a number of resort areas with varied climates and a variety of flora and fauna. Notable areas are the cities of Ganja, Nakhchivan, Gabala and Shaki{{Cite web|url=http://www.turizm.ru/azerbaijan/|title=Отдых в Азербайджане 2018|website=www.turizm.ru|language=ru-RU|access-date=2018-04-23}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.alean.ru/azerbaydzhan/gyandzha_gorod/gyandzha_kurort/|title=Гянджа, курорт|website=www.alean.ru|language=ru|access-date=2018-04-23|archive-date=15 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615214753/https://www.alean.ru/azerbaydzhan/gyandzha_gorod/gyandzha_kurort/|url-status=dead}} Shaki is noted for its architectural heritage: the 1763 Palace of Shaki Khans,{{Cite web|url=https://ruspo.ru/countries/azerbajdzhan/sheki/|title=Отдых в Шеки|website=ruspo.ru|access-date=2018-04-23}} mausoleums and fortresses. Nakhchivan was a centre of traditional medicine and has salt mines and mausoleums. Lankaran, near the Caspian Sea, has a history dating back to the 10th century BC.{{cite web |url = http://outdoorcaucasus.com/Azerbaijan |title = Places to visit in Azerbaijan |publisher = outdoorcaucasus.com }}

File:Sea Breeze resort 4.jpg, Azerbaijan]]

Historic monuments

={{anchor|Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower}}Baku's Old City=

File:Baku BoyukQalaStreet6&15 004 7461.jpg

Baku has a number of historic and architectural monuments. The Old City is its ancient core. In December 2000, the Old City (including the Palace of the Shirvanshahs and the Maiden Tower) was named Azerbaijan's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.{{cite web |title=Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah's Palace and Maiden Tower |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/958 |website=UNESCO World Heritage List |access-date=November 17, 2018}}

The Walled City of Baku (Icheri Sheher) hosts over 50 historic and architectural monuments, including Synyg Gala (the Broken Tower). The Palace of the Shirvanshahs, built at the beginning of the 15th century, is a hallmark of Azerbaijani architecture. The complex contains the palace, the Shirvanshah's residence, a mosque with minarets, a bathhouse, and the residence of Seyid Yahya Bakuvi. Construction began in 1441 and was completed in 1558.

The Maiden Tower, in the south-western part of the walled city, was built in two stages. Its bottom part, {{convert|13.7|m}} high, is dated by most experts to the 6th–7th centuries BC. The tower has a total height of {{convert|29.7|m}}, with a diameter of {{convert|16.5|m}}. The wall is {{convert|5|m}} thick at the bottom, tapering to {{convert|4|m}} at the top. The tower has of eight tiers and a {{convert|21|m|ft|adj=mid|-deep}} well. It was built by 12th-century architect Masud ibn Davud, who was probably the father of the architect of the Mardakan Round Tower.Ашурбейли Сара. История города Баку: период средневековья. Баку, Азернешр, 1992; page 149 Its foundation is believed to be a Sasanid-era Zoroastrian site.{{cite web |url=http://www.goroskop.8m.net/avesta1.html |title=A v e s t A |access-date=2009-05-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100428084721/http://www.goroskop.8m.net/avesta1.html |archive-date=28 April 2010 }}

=Ateshgah of Baku=

File:Ateshgah Fire Temple.jpg

The Ateshgah of Baku is a temple in the south-western Suraxanı raion on the Absheron Peninsula, {{convert|30|km}} from Baku. West of the Caspian Sea, it was built by Hindu, Sikh and Parsi traders from the Indian subcontinent during the 17th and 18th centuries. Ateshgah is a fire temple, with its central stone shrine on a pocket of natural gas. The present structure was built around 1713, and the central shrine was funded by the merchant Kanchanagaran in 1810.

The Absheron Peninsula is noted for its shallow oil deposits, which trigger natural oil fires.{{Citation | title=Peoples of Western Asia | author=Marshall Cavendish | year=2007 | publisher=Marshall Cavendish Corporation | isbn=978-0-7614-7677-1 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FZ2_aYHMl4IC | quote=... Oil oozes up out of the ground in the region of the Apsheron ... natural oil fires were revered long ago by Zoroastrians, to whom fire is a sacred symbol ...}} Zoroastrianism has a long history in Azerbaijan, and the region was considered sacred by Zoroastrians due to these natural fires. Scholars have speculated that the temple may have been an ancient Zoroastrian shrine, which was destroyed by invading Islamic armies during the Muslim conquest of Persia and its neighbouring regions.{{Citation | title=My Travels Outside Bombay: Iran, Azerbaijan, Baku | author=Ervad Shams-Ul-Ulama Dr. Sir Jivanji Jamshedji Modi, Translated by Soli Dastur | year=1926 | url=http://www.avesta.org/modi/baku.htm | quote=... 'maybe, that before Moslem epoch it was Zoroastrian Fire Temple, which was destroyed by Arabs and later was restored by Hindu people for their purposes' ... Farroukh Isfandzadeh ... Not just me but any Parsee who is a little familiar with our Hindu brethren's religion, their temples and their customs, after examining this building with its inscriptions, architecture, etc., would conclude that this is not a Parsee Atash Kadeh but is a Hindu Temple ... informed me that some 40 years ago, the Russian Czar, Alexander III, visited this place with a desire to witness the Hindu Brahmin Fire ritual ... gathered a few Brahmins still living here and they performed the fire ritual in this room in front of the Czar ... I asked for a tall ladder and with trepidation, I climbed to the top of the building and examined the foundation stone which was inscribed in the Nagrik [or Nagari] script ... the installation date is mentioned as the Hindu Vikramaajeet calendar year 1866 (equivalent to 1810 A. D.) ...}}

The complex was converted into a museum in 1975 and receives about 15,000 visitors a year. It was nominated as a World Heritage site in 1998 and was declared a state historical-architectural reserve.

File:Gobustan ancient Azerbaycan full.jpg in Gobustan National Park date back to 10000 BC.]]

={{anchor|Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape}}Gobustan National Park=

Gobustan State Historical and Cultural Reserve, located southwest of Baku, is renowned for its ancient rock carvings and unique geological features, including mud volcanoes. Established in 1966, the reserve was designated a national historical landmark to protect its rich archaeological and natural heritage.

Within the park lies the Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, home to more than 6,000 petroglyphs dating from approximately 5,000 to 40,000 years ago. These rock engravings depict scenes of prehistoric life, including primitive humans, animals, ritual dances, bullfights, boats with armed oarsmen, warriors with lances, camel caravans, and representations of the sun and stars.

The site also contains remnants of inhabited caves, settlements, and burial grounds, reflecting continuous human presence from the Upper Paleolithic period to the Middle Ages. Covering an area of {{convert|537|ha|acre}}, the site was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007 in recognition of its universal value.{{cite web |title=Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1076 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre |access-date=2 May 2025 |language=en}}

=Mardakan castles=

Mardakan, a settlement in Baku, has two ancient towers. The quadrangular tower was built in the 12th century by Akhsitan, the son of Shirvanshah Mechehrin, to commemorate a military victory. The {{convert|22|m|adj=on}} tower has a wall {{convert|2.6|m}} thick at the bottom, tapering to {{convert|1.6|m}} at the top. The inside of the tower is divided into five tiers. The second tower is round and {{convert|12.5|m}} tall. Its inner part consists of three circles. The inscription on the tower wall reads that it was built by the architect Abdulmejid Masud in 1232.

File:Shaki khan palace 1.jpg

=Palace of Shaki Khans=

The Palace of Shaki Khans in Shaki, {{convert|246|km}} from Baku, was a summer residence of the Shaki Khanate which was built in the early 18th century. It features decorative tiles, fountains, and several stained-glass windows. The exterior is decorated with dark blue, turquoise and ochre tiles in geometric patterns; the murals, coloured with tempera, are inspired by the poetry of Nizami Ganjavi.David C. King. Azerbaijan, Marshall Cavendish, 2006, p. 99

Apart from being uniquely beautiful, one of the outstanding features is that no nails or glue was used in the construction of the building.

{{anchor|Heydar Aliyev Center|Flame Towers}}Modern architecture

The white Heydar Aliyev Center, designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize winner Zaha Hadid, is a symbol of modern Baku. It contains two ornamental pools and an artificial lake.{{cite web|url=http://www.heydaraliyevcenter.az/#main|title=Heydər Əliyev Mərkəzi|website=www.HeydarAliyevCenter.az|access-date=24 July 2017}}

File:Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center.jpg|alt=Heydar Aliyev Cultural Center|Heydar Aliyev Center

{{anchor|Khinalig|Lahij|Laza|Shahdag winter-summer tourism complex|Tufandag winter-summer tourism complex}}Mountain tourism

Mountain tourism is a popular attraction in Azerbaijan, particularly during the winter season. Two major mountain resorts, Tufandag in the Gabala district and Shahdag in the Gusar district, have been developed to promote winter tourism and alpine sports. Located at altitudes between {{convert|2500|–|3000|m}} above sea level, these resorts provide suitable conditions for skiing, snowboarding, and a range of other winter recreational activities.

Shahdag Mountain Resort (named after the Greater Caucasus mountain), about {{convert|32|km}} from Qusar, is Azerbaijan's first ski resort.{{cite web|url=http://azerbaijan.travel|title=Azerbaijan Travel|website=Azerbaijan.travel|access-date=24 July 2017}} It has private homes, hotels, cottages, villages and tent camping in summer. Winter activities include snowmobiling, horseback riding, sledding and tubing, and the resort has a snow park for children.{{cite web|url=http://shahdag.az/|title=Shahdag Mountain Resort|website=shahdag.az|access-date=24 July 2017}} Tufandag, about {{convert|4|km}} from Gabala, has a cable car, skiing, an entertainment center for children and a hotel.{{cite web|url=http://tufandag.az|title=Tufandag Yay Qis istirahet kompleksi|website=Tufandag.az|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-date=22 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190322124611/http://www.tufandag.az/|url-status=dead}}{{cite web |url = http://outdoorcaucasus.com/trips |title = Outdoor trips |publisher = outdoorcaucasus.com }}

Mountain tourism in Azerbaijan is promoted by the Mountain Sports Club (MSC), established in 1999. Members of the club have undertaken expeditions to notable peaks, including Mount Shahdagh.{{Cite web|url=http://mountain.az/?page_id=131|title=Горный туризм|website=Горный Спортивный Клуб – Азербайджан – Баку|access-date=2018-04-23}}

Khinalig, in the Quba region on the southeastern ridge of the Caucasus Mountains, is Azerbaijan's highest mountain village. Its highest peak is {{convert|2250|m}} above sea level. There are a number of caves around the village, which has a small museum with local artifacts such as tools, toys, clothes and manuscripts.{{cite web|url=https://lifeinbaku.wordpress.com/baku-absheron-and-the-regions-of-azerbaijan/the-rural-part-of-azerbaijan/xinaliq-azerbaijans-highest-village/|title=Xinaliq – Azerbaijan's highest village|date=20 May 2014|website=Wordpress.com|access-date=24 July 2017}}

The village of Lahij,{{cite web|url=http://azerbaijan.travel/az/region/152-Lahic|title=Azerbaijan Travel|website=Azerbaijan.travel|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713011333/http://azerbaijan.travel/az/region/152-Lahic|archive-date=13 July 2017|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} in the southern Greater Caucasus range of northern Azerbaijan about {{convert|1505|m}} above sea level, is a center of ancient art. Lahij is known for its forests, mountains, waterfalls, historic monuments and ancient artifacts.{{cite web|url=http://www.ismayilli.org/about/|title=İsmayıllı Rayonu – İsmayıllı|website=www.Ismayilli.org|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-date=13 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190313154317/http://www.ismayilli.org/about|url-status=dead}} Laza is a village at the foot of {{convert|4243|m|adj=on}} Mount Shahdagh.{{cite web|url=https://theculturetrip.com/europe/azerbaijan/articles/a-journey-around-quba-s-mountain-villages/|title=A Journey Around Quba's Mountain Villages in Azerbaijan|first=Ioanna|last=Sakellaraki|website=TheCultureTrip.com|access-date=24 July 2017}}

File:Shahdag01.jpg|alt=Shahdag Mountain Resort|Shahdag Mountain Resort in winter

File:Lahic 1138.jpg|alt=Lahij|Historic houses built in the traditional architectural style in the historical village of Lahij, inhabited by the Tat-speaking population

File:Khinalig village.jpg|Khinalig village

{{anchor|Zangezur National Park|Shirvan National Park|Ag-Gol National Park|Hirkan National Park|Altyaghach National Park|Absheron National Park|Shakhdag National Park|Göygöl National Park}}National parks

{{main|Environment of Azerbaijan|National parks of Azerbaijan}}

Azerbaijan has eight other national parks. Zangezur National Park (formerly Ordubad National Park) was renamed and expanded in 2009. The park has 58 species of animals (35 vertebrates and 23 insects) and 39 endangered plant species. It is home to the Anatolian leopard, mountain sheep, bezoar goat, white-tail sea eagle, golden eagle, and little bustard.

The semi-arid Shirvan National Park has a lake covering about {{convert|40|km2}}. It is home to many bird species (including turaj, little bustard, bustard, swans and flamingoes), which winter and nest in the marshy areas. Djeyran gazelles are the most populous mammals in the region.

Ag-Gel National Park, also semi-arid, is on the Mil plain of the Kur-Araz Lowland. Over 140 species of birds are found, including 89 species of nesting birds such as partridge, spoonbill, swan, teal and bustard. The park is on the Ramsar Convention list of internationally important wetlands.{{cite web |title=Ramsar Sites Information Service |url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris-search/Azerbaijan?pagetab=1 |access-date=18 November 2018}}

Hirkan National Park, on the Lankaran Lowland and in the Talysh Mountains, is 99% forested and strictly protected. The park preserves relictual and endemic plant species from the Tertiary, and contains 150 types of trees and bushes such as the Hirkan box tree, iron tree, chestnut leave oak, fig tree, Hirkan pear tree, silk acacia, Caucasus palm tree, Caspian Gleditsia, butcher's broom and alders. The fauna includes the Persian leopard, Talysh pheasant and golden eagle.

Altyaghach National Park is 90.5% covered by temperate deciduous broadleaf forest, and major tree species include iron trees, Caucasus hornbeam, Oriental beech, cud and birches. The park is home to the rare East Caucasian tur (Capra cylindricornis), a mountain-dwelling caprine found only in the eastern half of the Caucasus Mountains. Other species include roe deer, bear, wild boar, lynx, fox, rabbit, squirrel, and wolf.

The Soviet-era predecessor of Absheron National Park was the Absheron State Nature Preserve which was created in July 1969 to protect gazelle, Caspian seal, and waterbirds. The area's climate is also semi-arid (Köppen classification BSk). Vegetation is sparse due to soil dryness and salinity. Seacoast sand plants make up 42.6% of vegetation, meadow grasses 13.2% and annual salt grasses 5.2%. Ephemeral plants develop in early spring. Fauna is similar to that in Shirvan National Park: gazelle, jackal, fox, rabbit, badger, in Caspian waters seal and various fishes, birds such as silver gull, wheezing swan, grey and red-headed black- and white-eyed black ducks, white bittern, sandpiper, marsh belibagli, sea bozcha, and other migrant birds.

Shahdag National Park, in northern Azerbaijan on the border with Russia and Georgia, was created in 2006. The World Bank allocated a $17 million loan and $8 million grant in 2007, and the government of Japan provided an $8 million grant for the southern Caucasus' largest national park.{{cite web|url=http://today.az/news/business/41034.html|title=World Bank allocates Azerbaijan $17 million for national park|date=19 May 2007|agency=RIA Novosti|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011232703/http://today.az/news/business/41034.html|archive-date=11 October 2017}}

Göygöl National Park, created in 2008, is Azerbaijan's newest national park. Its Soviet-era predecessor was the Goy Gol State Reserve, established in 1925. The park, in the east on the northern slopes of the Lesser Caucasus, includes Lake Göygöl. It contains over 420 plant species (including 20 which are endemic to the area) and is home to brown bears, Caucasian red deer, roe deer, and lynx. Bird species include the lammergeyer, raven, and mountain partridge.

File:Daglar anbaras svln4821 sekilleri photos resimleri ordubad.jpg|alt=Zangezur National Park|Zangezur National Park

File:Goygol lake (Göygöl).jpg|alt=Göygöl National Park|Göygöl National Park

Museums

Most museums are located in major cities, such as Baku (including the Baku Museum of Miniature Books), Ganja, Nakhchivan, Sumgait, Lankaran, Mingachevir and Shaki.

File:First building of the National Art Museum of Azerbaijan 9.jpg|alt=National Art Museum of Azerbaijan|National Art Museum of Azerbaijan

File:Baku Museum of Modern Art inside.jpg|alt=Baku Museum of Modern Art|Baku Museum of Modern Art

File:Azərbaycan xalça muzeyi 1.jpg|alt=Azerbaijan Carpet Museum|Azerbaijan Carpet Museum

{{anchor|Permission schedule|Hunting fees (per unit)}}Hunting

Azerbaijan permits the hunting of Dagestan goat, wild boar, rabbit, forest dove, quail, partridge, water birds (goose, duck, coot), woodcock, and chamois. Hunting is prohibited in the Aghdam, Khanlar, Goranboy, Dashkasan, Gadabay and Ter Ter regions, the Caspian Sea islands, green zones, protected areas and near cities and resort areas.{{cite web|url=https://www.azernews.az/nation/82961.html|title=Hunting season opens in Azerbaijan|date=3 June 2015|website=Azernews.az|access-date=18 November 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180714150655/https://www.azernews.az/nation/82961.html|archive-date=14 July 2018}}

See also

References

{{reflist}}