Azerbaijani: Bakı arxipelaqı | |
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 LandSat satellite image of Greater Baku showing the islands | |
 Location of the Baku Archipelago in the Caspian Sea | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Caspian Sea, |
| Coordinates | 40°17′N49°58′E / 40.283°N 49.967°E |
| Administration | |
The Baku Archipelago is a group of coastal islands close to Baku, Azerbaijan. The waters surrounding the islands are shallow.
Besides their Azeri name, most islands have a Russian name that originated in the first modern cartography of the Caspian Sea made by hydrographer Fedor I. Soimonov in the 18th century. [1] The archipelago is made up of the following islands, in addition to a few small sandbanks.
These are the islands within the Bay of Baku perimeter:
These islands are detached from the main group:
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The vegetation of the islands in the Baku Archipelago has been quite damaged by the pollution caused by the oil wells in the same bay, so that most islands are almost devoid of vegetation.
Formerly this archipelago provided an ideal ecosystem for the Caspian seal. Sturgeons are still found where the waters are not too polluted. Certain birds that visit Baku Bay, like teal ducks, herring gulls, and grebes find refuge in these islands that are uninhabited except for gas-extraction installations and a lighthouse. There is an automatic monitoring station for water pollution in the area located in Svinoy Island. [2]
Lately, tourism has been intensively developing in the Baku Archipelago. The Boyuk Zira island, of the islands located on the offshore of Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, is on its way to a major expansion. The island will be divided into several areas; a park, a residential area, a military port etc. The park will be fragmented from the other areas, as its areas are subjected to strong winds. Baku is famous for its Old City, and to commemorate this, old style house will be built within the town’s fortress. When it comes to religions, Azerbaijan is known as of the most tolerant countries in the world. A mosque, a church, and a synagogue are planned to be built. During the reign of the Soviet Union, Boyuk Zira has been known as a place where the Stalin’s prisoners were sent - to pay tribute to this, a common grave is set to be placed. Moreover, a mall, a school, and a clinic should be functioning on the island. Public events, such as summits, are projected to take place on the island. To ensue these, different venues including clubs and entertainment events are planned to take place on the other side of island, so that the residents will not be disturbed. This project has interested a lot of foreign investors, and a total of two to three billion manat ($255 000 000 - $382 000 000) has been set to implement this. [3]
The Khazar Islands are a planned development of artificial islands 25 km (16 mi) south of Baku. [4] [5] [6]
According to Avesta management [7] a new Azerbaijan Tower will be 200 m higher than the current tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa. Besides business buildings and hotels, the project also promises to provide houses in capacity of 800.000 for its residents. According to Avesta, the project is planned to be completed by the period between 2020-2025, [8] but as of 2023, progress seems to have been halted.
Bulla Island, also Xara Zira, Khara Zira or Khere Zire, is an island south of the Bay of Baku, Caspian Sea. It is the largest island of the Baku Archipelago, located off Baku, Azerbaijan.
Boyuk Zira, also known as Nargin, is an island in the Caspian Sea. It is one of the islands of Baku Archipelago located in the Baku bay near Baku city. Nargin Island is part of the Baku Archipelago, which consists of the following islands: Boyuk Zira, Dash Zira, Qum Island, Zenbil, Sangi-Mugan, Chikil, Qara Su, Khara Zira, Gil, Ignat Dash and a few smaller ones.
Chilov is an island in the Caspian Sea. It is located off the Absheron Peninsula, 55 kilometres (34 mi) east of Baku.
Vulf, or Volf , and also known as Dash Zira or Kichik Zira(Kiçik Zirə), is an island of Azerbaijan, in the Caspian Sea. The word "Zira" originated in the Arabic word "Jazīra", meaning "island". Vulf is tiny and uninhabited. It is one of the many islands that protect the Bay of Baku.
Bay of Baku is a natural harbor of the Baku port and local yacht club, on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula and on the western shore of the Caspian Sea.
Gil Island, also Glinyanii Island is an island of Azerbaijan in the Caspian Sea.
Zanbil is a small island in the Caspian Sea off the Bay of Baku, Azerbaijan. It is also known as Duvanni Island.
Chikil, also known as Oblivnoy, is an uninhabited island off the Bay of Baku, Azerbaijan. This island is part of the Baku Archipelago, which consists of the following islands: Boyuk Zira, Dash Zira, Qum Island or Peschanny, Zenbil, Sangi-Mugan, Chikil, Qara Su, Khara Zira, Gil, Ignat Dash and a few smaller ones.
Qara Su, Qarasu or Los Island, is an uninhabited sandy island located south of the Bay of Baku, Azerbaijan.
Svinoy, Sangi-Mugan Island or Muğan daşı, is an island in the Caspian Sea located south of Baku, Azerbaijan.
The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, often described as the world's largest lake and sometimes referred to as a full-fledged sea. An endorheic basin, it lies between Europe and Asia: east of the Caucasus, west of the broad steppe of Central Asia, south of the fertile plains of Southern Russia in Eastern Europe, and north of the mountainous Iranian Plateau. It covers a surface area of 371,000 km2 (143,000 sq mi), an area approximately equal to that of Japan, with a volume of 78,200 km3 (19,000 cu mi). It has a salinity of approximately 1.2%, about a third of the salinity of average seawater. It is bounded by Kazakhstan to the northeast, Russia to the northwest, Azerbaijan to the southwest, Iran to the south, and Turkmenistan to the southeast.
The Khazar Islands, also known as Caspian Islands, is a stalled development of artificial islands 25 km (16 mi) south of Baku, Azerbaijan consisting of 41 islands extending 3,000 hectares into the Caspian Sea.
The Azerbaijan Tower was a planned megatall skyscraper that had been intended to be constructed on the Khazar Islands, 25 km (16 mi) south of Baku, Azerbaijan.
Boyuk Zira Lighthouse is a lighthouse in the north of Boyuk Zira Island, in the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan.
Ibrahim Ibrahimov, also known as Haji Ibrahim Nehramli, is an Azerbaijani politician, businessman, and property developer. He is known for the close connections to the ruling regime and for initiating the Khazar Islands with the Azerbaijan Tower, which he planned to be the tallest building in the world.
Kura or Kurkosa, also known as Kurinskiy in the Russian language, is the largest island of Azerbaijan. It lies in the Caspian Sea, off the coast of the Aran Region, 33 kilometers (21 mi) to the south of Neftchala and about 150 kilometers (93 mi) to the SSE of Baku.
Tava or Plita, is an island in the Bay of Baku, Azerbaijan.
Kura Rock or Kura Stone, is an islet off the coast of Azerbaijan.
Dashli ada, Ignat Dash or Kamen Ignatiya is an island in the Caspian Sea. It is one of the islands of Baku Archipelago located in the Bay of Baku, 74 km to the south of Baku. Dashli ada is part of the Baku Archipelago, which consists of the following islands: Boyuk Zira, Dash Zira, Qum Island, Zenbil, Sangi-Mugan, Chikil, Qara Su, Khara Zira, Gil and a few smaller ones. The island is located 32.2 km east of Cape Bandovan. The closest island to Dashly - Adsiz Ada - is 13.9 km to the north. The island is of volcanic origin and has a mud volcano.
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