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Introduction Our vision Why Azerbaijan Beautiful Baku Our commitment Azerbaijan & the Expo movement International participants Visitors Expected benefits The exhibition site Transportation and access Did you know that...
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Azerbaijan embraces this World Expo philosophy, and our values and history fit closely with those of the Expo movement. We are a proudly multi-faith and multicultural country. For centuries, Azerbaijan has been at the crossroads of continents and civilizations, bringing together people from all backgrounds. The ancient Silk Road passed through the lands of modern-day Azerbaijan for 2 000 years and, much like World Expos today, it served as an important channel for the sharing of knowledge and skills. World Expo 2025 Baku will enable the international community to discover our modernizing country and to experience its rich culture. World Expo 2025 Baku is an innovative and competitive project proposing two new major elements: an under-explored universal theme of human capital (which has never been tackled by previous Expos) and an alternative World Expo destination. As the youngest country to host a World Expo, Azerbaijan will bring the nations of the world together to explore how human ability can be best applied to make a world a better place to live.
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BAKU EXPO 2025
INTRODUCTIO
World Expos are global events that aim to educate, share innovation, promote progress and foster global cooperation.
The theme Azerbaijan proposes for the World Expo 2025 – Developing human capital, building a better future – is of universal concern and at the same time has particular significance for Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan’s recent history provides an illustration of how foresighted policymaking can rapidly improve a nation’s human capital. World Expo 2025 Baku will explore how human capital can be best applied across all aspects of society for the benefit of everyone. Globally, 2025 is a pivotal point in the debate on what it means to be human. In 2025, the world will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) agreed by world leaders in 2015. The SDGs will be under intense scrutiny ahead of the 2030 deadline. Thus, World Expo 2025 Baku will serve as a good platform and create momentum to reflect on the lessons learnt and the way forward towards the global goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The three sub-themes of World Expo 2025 Baku – “Talent: The future of Education”, “Vitality: The future of health” and “Achievement: The future of Work”– are all in alignment with the SDGs of “Quality Education”, “Good Health and Well-being” and “Decent Work and Economic Growth”.
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Human capital is relevant at all scales – for the individual, societies and globally. For the individual, human capital is about reaching our potential and fulfilling personal goals. Once our basic needs are satisfied, we want to be able to navigate our own path and become everything we are able to become in our private, social and work lives. For our societies, harnessing and nurturing human capital is fundamental to economic growth. People are the most valuable resource. Governments, nations and civil society are striving to increase economic productivity, while providing full, safe and equitable employment for all men and women. Dialogue, collaboration and partnerships are crucial for the development of human capital – and this is exactly what Baku’s World Expo platform will offer.
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BAKU EXPO 2025
OUR VISIO
DEVELOPING HUMAN CAPITAL, BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE OUR THEME FOR THE WORLD EXPO 2025
TALENT: THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION The possibilities are endless, but only attainable with education, the nurturing of talent and an assimilation of skills. Baku Expo 2025 will seek to enhance global understanding of how to maximize the potential of our human capital through education. This sub-theme relates to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 4 – Quality Education: ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
VITALITY: THE FUTURE OF HEALTH The ability to work and live a long, meaningful and healthy life is a fundamental human right and the foundation for the achievement of our potential. Baku Expo 2025 will provide a fresh perspective to the exploration of how we nurture the health component of our human capital. This sub-theme relates to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-being: ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
ACHIEVEMENT: THE FUTURE OF WORK Human capital looks to the ultimate goal of productivity from a workforce perspective. But how is productive work redefined in a world of automation and what does it mean for the future of employment? Baku Expo 2025 will bring consistency to the debate, testing how we continue to achieve on a personal, community and, ultimately, a global level. This sub-theme relates to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth: promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. 8
BAKU EXPO 2025
THE OBJECTIVES OF BAKU EXPO 2025 • To provide a unique opportunity for the international community to build momentum around a human capital-focused agenda
• To explore the issues preventing universal access to education. Look at ways to scale existing solutions and develop new solutions driven by innovation
• To bring together the leading healthcare providers and the participating nations, to test and develop new ideas
• To celebrate successes already achieved around the globe in fostering community participation and social dialogue between workers, employers and people in the informal sector of the economy
• To act as a call to action for developing and developed nations to be part of a collaborative dialogue to improve the state of human capital
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WHY AZERBAIJAN
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Azerbaijan with its rapidly growing economy is well prepared to host a World Expo. In an effort to convert “black gold into human gold” (oil revenues into human capital), Azerbaijan has tripled its GDP and reduced poverty and unemployment levels down to 5% in the period of 2003-2013. In 2015, the country won a global South-South Award 2015 for achievements in implementing Millennium Development Goals (UN global development goals covering 2000-2015). Today, Azerbaijan is ranked 35 among 138 economies (number one in the Commonwealth of Independent States) in the World Economic Forum’s 2017-18 Global Competitive Index. Today, our economic priorities include further diversification of the economy with a particular emphasis on the strengthening of non-oil industries and transition to a knowledge-based economy. Hosting a World Expo would create an unprecedented opportunity for Azerbaijan to realize some of its long-term strategic goals including development of the regions, diversification of economy, development of human capital through investments in education, health and job sectors and building a greater Baku which will serve the well-being of its population. However, Azerbaijan’s strength is not only in its economy. Azerbaijan is a multi-ethnic country. Representatives of different ethnic groups and faiths have been living here throughout centuries in an atmosphere of peace, tolerance and mutual understanding. Baku has become a recognized international center for multiculturalism and intercultural dialogue. Azerbaijan regularly hosts political, religious and cultural leaders from around the world at events such as the World Summit of Religious Leaders (2010), Global Forum
of the UN Alliance of Civilisations (2016), the biannual Baku International Humanitarian Forum initiated in 2010 and the regular World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue known as “Baku Process”, launched in 2008 and supported by such international organizations as UNESCO, the Council of Europe, the UN Alliance of Civilizations, the World Tourism Organization and ISESCO to name but a few.
BAKU EXPO 2025
For centuries, Azerbaijan has been at the crossroads of cultures and civilizations. With a unique geostrategic location, we are a commercial, political and cultural bridge between East and West, North and South.
Hosting World Expo 2025 would be a natural continuation of our proven track record in delivering large-scale international events. Such events include: the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012; the Chess World Cup and first ever European Games in 2015; the World Chess Olympiad and World Cup Rhythmic Gymnastics Finals in 2016; the Islamic Solidarity Games and Women’s European Volleyball Championship in 2017. Looking ahead, we will host the European Youth Olympic Festival in 2019, and European Karate Championship and European Championship football matches in 2020, and the Formula 1 Azerbaijan Grand Prix, which first staged in 2016 will continue to be organized annually through 2025. Azerbaijan has a modern tourism infrastructure. As well as leading hotel chains, exclusive retail brands and excellent restaurants, a rich and ancient culture and unique architecture make Azerbaijan an attractive place to visit. Today, it is a fast-growing tourist destination. Visits have almost doubled in the last 10 years, and we estimate that in 2017 there will be a 24% increase in international tourism. And last, not least. It will be the first opportunity for Azerbaijan to host the Expo and for Expo participants - to discover a new Expo destination. The Expo in Baku will therefore allow the BIE to widen its geography.
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BAKU EXPO 2025 FINAL
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BEAUTIFUL BAKU
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Today Baku is a major international transport hub with direct air connection with some 50 destinations in Asia, Europe, America, Africa and the Middle East, supported by a world-class transport infrastructure to manage the influx of international visitors. Moreover, by 2025 Baku promisses to extend its direct connection flight net to over 100 destinations.
Baku is a modern 24-hour city. Leading hotel chains, exclusive retail brands, excellent restaurants, and a thriving night life make Baku an attractive and fast-growing tourist destination. 15
BAKU EXPO 2025
Baku, the largest city in the Caucasus and capital of Azerbaijan, sits on the shores of the Caspian Sea and is truly a captivating destination. It is known for its mesmerizing architecture, which makes it definitely worth exploring. Only a few cities around the world have vastly changed over the years as quickly as Baku. With its modern futuristic designs combined with beautiful ancient Azerbaijan architecture that formed within a rich culture, Baku’s beautiful buildings are truly a stunning sight. Amazingly, but less than a decade, it has been transformed by construction and urban planning projects. Eclectic architecture makes it one of the most beautiful cities in the world.
Atashgah Atashgah, the temple of fire worshippers and Zoroastrians, located in Surakhany, 30 kilometers from Baku, is a landmark worthy of mention. The temple in its present view dates back to the 17th century. It was built on a site where natural gas ran onto the surface in the form of inextinguishable flames. The shrine was a holy place of worship for numerous pilgrims, those from India in particular, who believed that this place is sacred and that the local fire is miraculous.
The Shirvanshahs’ Palace The Shirvanshahs’ Palace called “Symphony cast in stone” is one of the most beautiful national monuments of Azerbaijan. It is the perfect example of medieval architecture in Azerbaijan, dating back to the 15th century. The palace is over the highest hill of the Old Town, Icherisheher, combining residential structures, mosques, and mausoleums. With its intricate designs and massive beautiful domes, it is definitely a place to discover.
Heydar Aliyev Center An internationally recognized architectural masterpiece by world-known architect Zaha Hadid, the building of the Heydar Aliyev Center has become a signature landmark of modern Baku due to its innovative and cutting-edge design. The building was nominated for awards in 2013 at both the World Architecture Festival and the biennial Inside Festival. In 2014, Heydar Aliyev Center won the Design of the Year Award by a British registered charity Design Museum.
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BAKU EXPO 2025
Azerbaijan Carpet Museum This unique museum has the richest collection of Azerbaijan carpets in the world. There are various works of applied art and impressive colorful pieces by modern weavers and craftsmen. If that is not enough to get you to visit the museum, the exterior of the building shaped like a giant carpet is not to be missed.
Gobustan By contrast, just outside Baku lies the rocky landscape of Gobustan where a collection of ancient petroglyph carvings bear testimony to 40 000 years of rock art. Both Gobustan and the Old City of Baku, Icherisheher, are on UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage list for their outstanding universal value.
Maiden Tower The Maiden Tower is one of the main landmarks of Baku, representing an important symbol of the city and of Azerbaijan. Built in the 4th to 6th centuries AD, it looks out to sea from the southern edge of Baku’s Old City, the Icherisheher. It provides an amazing view from the top featuring Baku’s full beauty.
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UKRAINE
KAZAKHSTAN RUSSIA
TURKEY
IRAN
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The Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan is ready to allocate all necessary funds for the site’s construction and operation. We will ensure the timely importation of goods required for the construction and maintenance of the pavilions and site. International participants will be supported by Azerbaijan’s healthcare and emergency system. We are committed to extending and improving essential transport infrastructure. Azerbaijan has six international airports, a new highway system, and enhanced international rail connections. And the ambitious new Port of Baku will be the largest in the Caspian region when completed in 2018. These major transport investments are a revival of the ancient Silk Road and demonstrate Azerbaijan’s growing geopolitical importance. We are also an incredibly safe city and country and we will ensure the safety and well-being of participants and visitors to Azerbaijan.
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BAKU EXPO 2025
OUR COMMITMEN
CHINA
We are committed to deliver an exceptional World Expo.
AZERBAIJAN AND EXPO MOVEMENT
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We first exhibited at Expo 2000 Hannover, and we have been a full member of the Bureau International des Expositions since 2008. In this short space of time, we have become well known for our participation. Our award-winning pavilion at Expo 2015 Milan – Treasure of Biodiversity – was hugely popular with visitors, and hailed by the press as “absolutely magnificent”. Visited by more than three million people over six months, the pavilion is currently being permanently installed on the seafront in Baku, where it will continue to educate and entertain the public. At Expo 2017 Astana, visitors were welcomed to Azerbaijan’s latest pavilion – Land of Fire: energy from past to future. Hosting World Expo 2025 is an unprecedented opportunity for us to realize some of our long-term strategic goals and for Azerbaijan to rise to the challenge of staging one of the biggest events on the global calendar.
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BAKU EXPO 2025
AZERBAIJAN IS A FULLY-COMMITTED MEMBER OF THE EXPO MOVEMENT.
WORLD EXPO 2025 BAKU site plan
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NTERNATIONAL ARTICIPANTS
Diplomatic privileges will be granted and official participants will also be offered a series of concessions, including preferential visa processing and high-quality accommodation. We estimate there will be 120-150 nations and official NGOs participating, and believe our focus on encouraging the involvement of developing nations will drive participation to the higher end of the range. Participants at Baku Expo 2025 will be able to stay in the Expo Village, which will be designed to provide world-class accommodation to meet their specific needs. Planned as a residential community, the Expo Village will have around 1 500 rooms, although the masterplan has been developed to be flexible, enabling this number to be adjusted as necessary. The Expo Village will be an integral part of Baku Expo 2025. The Village will be built to the highest environmental standards by adopting design principles that meet our aspirations for a carbon neutral development. As well as residential accommodation, a whole array of urban amenities will be woven into the village plan, including public spaces, communal gardens and retail provision. The landscape design will include leisure facilities and open spaces to enjoy, relax or exercise. The architecture will take into account our seasonal changes in temperature. Courtyards will be located around pools of water to provide cooling temperatures, with trees and canopies providing shade.
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BAKU EXPO 2025
We are very much looking forward to welcoming international participants as guests of our country.
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Once a hidden gem, we now have a rapidly maturing tourism sector. A tourist e-visa system has recently been introduced to facilitate delivery of online visas within 72 hours to nationals of some 90 countries.
ISITORS
Azerbaijan will provide financial assistance to developing nations to ensure Baku Expo 2025 is a truly global event, capturing the diversity of humanity and giving an opportunity to all nations to participate in the event and the debate. We have the opportunity to introduce Expo to a new audience. Our location will make it possible for people who have never been within easy reach of a World Expo to visit and experience the event for themselves. And through innovative digital technology, we will reach those unable to attend in person. We expect to see at least 18 million visits in person for Baku Expo 2025. Of which, a significant number – around 10 million – will come from Azerbaijan’s diverse population, including repeat visitors to the site’s regular cultural and educational events. We expect the majority of international attendees – more than 8 million – to come from neighboring countries, not to mention visitors from around a world.
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BAKU EXPO 2025
Azerbaijan has a proud tradition of welcoming visitors and hospitality is an inherent part of Azerbaijani culture.
EXPECTED BENEFIT Baku Expo 2025 will provide wider benefits to the international community beyond the immediate tourist experience. Its location in the Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Caspian regions will open World Expo to visitors who have not previously had access – exemplifying the spirit of Expo by enhancing diversity of attendance. In addition, digital and broadcast engagement will allow participation by the global community who cannot attend in person.
We expect the additional inward investment brought in as a result of hosting Expo to provide positive stimulus to our national economy and the wider region. This will be through exposure of our population to new knowledge, ideas, and skills (linking to our theme, “Developing human capital, building a better future”), as well as new physical capital, technology and business links. It will further raise productivity and support economic growth in the longer-term.
There will be significant economic benefits arising from the 18 million visits to Baku Expo 2025. Of the forecast 8 million international visitors, many will be coming to Baku for the first time – and would not have come in the absence of an Expo. The additional spending by these tourists will support job creation, particularly for young people, and new business formation.
Investment in tourism, prior to and during the Expo, is also expected to accelerate growth in tourist numbers, helping to diversify and strengthen our economy. The creation of a new and inspirational urban park will continue to attract international visitors and form a vital part of our nation’s well-being, long after Expo 2025 has closed its doors.
Hosting an Expo will accelerate our national tourism strategy and complement our plans to improve our infrastructure and connectivity. Economic growth is expected to increase as a result of the infrastructure investment associated with Baku Expo 2025.
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FINALLY, BAKU EXPO 2025 WILL ESTABLISH AN EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL LEGACY THROUGH THE RANGE OF CONTENT GENERATED DURING THE EVENT. THIS WILL BE HELD ONLINE FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.
BAKU EXPO 2025
TS
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Heydar Aliyev International Airport
Darnagul Koroglu Bakmil
Expo site
Halglar Doslugu Shah Ismail Khatai
New bus or tram link
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Metro Station Metro line Metro extension Bus or tram link
Metro extension
The site sits beside 330 hectares of green space, with a championship golf course and new residential community. The site is fully owned by the Government of Azerbaijan and provides a blank canvas to create an inspiring masterplan for the world’s newest urban park. The site is divided into four main zones: the Expo site, Expo Village, amenities and parkland. We anticipate that a significant amount of the site will be open space, to create an urban park feel and reduce crowd congestion. Reflecting our theme, “Developing human capital, building a better future”, it has been designed to create opportunities for individual thought, collective action and global interconnection. The site will be accessible by road, and for most visitors this will be via “park and ride” from transport hubs, with onward “Expo–Express” bus, coach or tram transport. We will invest in new access routes to the site (such as a new coastal road), expand the metro system and a new transport line will connect a new metro station with the site. This additional transport capacity will provide a range of routes and ensure a smooth flow of visitors to Baku Expo 2025. The Baku Expo 2025 site will be the world’s newest urban park. It will be an illustration of the future function of urban spaces and a permanent legacy for residents and visitors to Baku. Moreover, the Azerbaijan pavilion will be transformed to house a permanent exhibition, educating visitors about the country’s achievements in economic, social and humanitarian fields. The site is expected to become one of the country’s main tourist attractions.
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BAKU EXPO 2025
HE EXHIBITION SIT
The site for Baku Expo 2025 will be constructed east of the city center, close to the international airport. Two hundred hectares of undeveloped land will be transformed into a major extension of the city with a fully integrated transport infrastructure.
SELF-BUILT PAVILIONS Some participants at the Expo will choose to design and built their own pavilion fitting in with the rest of the Expo site. Available plots will be of varying size.
Plan showing distribution of self-built areas Small, medium and large self build plots Corporate self build plot
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The host-built pavilions will be designed and built by Baku Expo 2025. These pavilions will be rented out to participants, and some will be used for exhibitions and other activities related to the theme of “Developing human capital, building a better future�. These will be provided as empty shells that the participant may utilize to fit their narrative.
Plan showing locations of host built pavilions Host built pavillion
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BAKU EXPO 2025
HOST-BUILT PAVILIONS
Expo-Express bus service Taxi / Valet / IP cars VIP / VVIP cars Visitor cars Logistics vehicles Expo Village vehicles
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Vehicle route Pedestrian route Drop off Load zone
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Expo Village
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TRANSPORTATIO AND ACCES
Transport diagram
ARRIVAL BY PRIVATE CAR Areas will be set aside for car parking by private cars, within parkland adjacent to each entrance and accessed from new and upgraded roads. As a comparison, Milan Expo provided a total of 562 500 square metres of parking space, divided into four different areas, of which only 212 500 square metres were in close proximity to the site. Further studies will be undertaken to ensure that we achieve a suitable balance in the provision of parking areas, between shuttle bus operations and private cars. A taxi feeder system will be designed to achieve efficient loading while also maximising safety for vehicles and pedestrians. Three taxi stands will be located at dropoff areas at the Expo site entrances.
ARRIVAL FOR VIPs VIP parking areas for invited guests and premium ticket holders will be located close to each entrance, separated from other parking and drop-off zones. Most VIPs will arrive via the coastal road to the south of the Expo site, so that necessary security easures and protocols will cause a minimum of disruption to the wider transport operations. A valet parking service at the VIP parking areas will be provided for premium visitors. Helipads will be provided for helicopters serving VVIPs and high-level dignitaries from participating countries. This will provide a fast, highly secure and convenient method of transport to and from the Expo site for high profile visitors. Helipads will be located within the secure Expo site to allow for quick and secure access.
SERVICING THE SITE Services for the site will also utilise the new coastal route via the southern entrance. A vehicle screening area will monitor access to the logistics compound on the southwest corner of the site. The logistics compound will give access to a warehouse zone where all supplies and materials will also be screened, before entering the Expo site. After screening, supplies will be distributed to the internal service areas or directly to the pavilions, via the perimeter service route. 33
BAKU EXPO 2025
ARRIVAL BY “EXPO-EXPRESS� BUS Simple, effective and plentiful transport will be provided for the duration of the Expo. The principal mode of transport for visitors to and from the Expo Site will be the Expo-Express bus service, that will transport visitors between the Expo site and transport hubs in Baku. The main entrances for general visitors will be from the north-western, eastern and southern approaches to the site. The size of the drop-off and pick-up zones for buses at the Expo site has been based on estimated waiting times and bus capacity. In total, an area of up to 36 000 square metres may be allocated to parking for buses, split across the arrival points.
DID YOU KNO THAT THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC IN THE MUSLIM WORLD WAS ESTABLISHED IN AZERBAIJAN IN 1918.
AZERBAIJAN WAS THE FIRST COUNTRY IN THE MUSLIM WORLD TO GIVE WOMEN VOTING RIGHTS, WELL IN ADVANCE OF MANY EUROPEAN COUNTRIES. THE FIRST THEATER IN THE MUSLIM ORIENT WAS CREATED IN AZERBAIJAN, AND THE FIRST OPERA WAS ALSO STAGED HERE.
In 1949, a vast oil field was discovered under the Caspian Sea. The field was named Oil Rocks (Neft Dashlari, in Azerbaijani). Oil had to be extracted from the open sea, 100 km away from the coastline. State-of-the-art sea oil development infrastructure was created by domestic engineers to meet this challenge. It was a milestone in the evolution of the country’s oil industry. At the time, Oil Rocks, a city in the open sea, was the world’s largest offshore oilfield, both in terms of deposit capacity and volume of extractable oil. Interest in the first offshore city on the sea is understandable and Oil Rocks has iconic status for every country involved in developing continental shelf oil and gas. It paved the way for the modern offshore drilling.
Azerbaijan is an incredibly beautiful area of unique natural contrasts: nine of eleven main climatic types on the Earth, from subtropics to alpine meadows, are represented there; the four seasons can be watched simultaneously; there is the splendid flora of humid sub-tropics and everlasting snow and glaciers of Shahdag and Murovdag, Gabala forests, full of spring flavors, and hot steppes of Mil, Mugan, and Shirvan, and mist and rains over tea and citrus plantations in the foothills of the Talish Mountain Range and the Absheron Peninsula’s gusty “Khazri” (the Caspian north wind), all neighboring each other. Azerbaijan also ranks 1st in the number of mud volcanoes in the world. The world’s largest mud volcanoes are also located in Azerbaijan.