Baku Archipelago

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Baku Archipelago
Azerbaijani: Bakı arxipelaqı
Baku, Azerbaijan, satellite image, LandSat-5, 2010-09-06.jpg
LandSat satellite image of Greater Baku showing the islands
Caspian5Baku Bay.png
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 / 40.283; 49.967
Administration
Nargin Island, Vulf Island, etc. on a topographic map. (U.S. Army Map Service) 1954 Map Baku.jpg
Nargin Island, Vulf Island, etc. on a topographic map. (U.S. Army Map Service) 1954

The Baku Archipelago is a group of coastal islands close to Baku, Azerbaijan. The waters surrounding the islands are shallow.

Contents

Islands

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.

Islands located in the bay

These are the islands within the Bay of Baku perimeter:

Islands located off the bay

These islands are detached from the main group:

A section of the Western coast of the Caspian in a 1724 French map with the Baku Archipelago in the southern part. 1724 De L'Isle Map of Persia (Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan) - Geographicus - Persia-delisle-1724. G.jpg
A section of the Western coast of the Caspian in a 1724 French map with the Baku Archipelago in the southern part.

Ecology

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]

Tourism

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]

Construction and modernization

Future location of the Khazar Islands Khazar Islands Baku.png
Future location of the Khazar Islands

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.

See also

Related Research Articles

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Azerbaijan is a country in the Caucasus region, situated at the juncture of Eastern Europe and West Asia. Three physical features dominate Azerbaijan: the Caspian Sea, whose shoreline forms a natural boundary to the east; the Greater Caucasus mountain range to the north; and the extensive flatlands at the country's center. About the size of Portugal or the US state of Maine, Azerbaijan has a total land area of approximately 86,600 km², less than 1% of the land area of the former Soviet Union. Of the three Transcaucasian states, Azerbaijan has the greatest land area. Special administrative subdivisions are the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which is separated from the rest of Azerbaijan by a strip of Armenian territory, and the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region, entirely within Azerbaijan. The status of Nagorno-Karabakh is disputed by Armenia, but is internationally recognized as territory of Azerbaijan.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boyuk Zira</span> Island of the Baku Archipelago in Absheron Region, 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vulf</span> Island of the Baku Archipelago in Absheron Region, Azerbaijan

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Absheron Peninsula</span> Peninsula in Azerbaijan

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Zanbil is a small island in the Caspian Sea off the Bay of Baku, Azerbaijan. It is also known as Duvanni Island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chikil</span> Island of the Baku Archipelago in Absheron Region, Azerbaijan

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Svinoy (Caspian Sea)</span> Island in Absheron Region, Azerbaijan

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boyuk Zira Lighthouse</span> Lighthouse in Azerbaijan

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kura Island</span>

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tava Island</span> Island of the Baku Archipelago in Absheron Region, Azerbaijan

Tava or Plita, is an island in the Bay of Baku, Azerbaijan.

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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.

References

  1. "Fedor I. Soimonov". Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 9 October 2015.
  2. "UNIDO Caspian Pollution Report (en)". Archived from the original on 2012-08-03. Retrieved 2008-09-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. Tourist town to appear on Boyuk Zira island of Baku archipelago
  4. Iliaifar, Amir (February 10, 2012). "$2 billion Azerbaijan Tower to usurp Saudi Arabia's Kingdom Tower as world's tallest". Digital Trends.
  5. Medina, Samuel (February 9, 2012). "Azerbaijan To Build One Kilometer-Tall Skyscraper". Architizer. Archived from the original on July 4, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  6. Alexander, Anila (April 13, 2012). "Azerbaijan Plans World's Tallest Tower At 'New Venice' (PHOTOS)". International Business Times.
  7. AVESTA Khazar Islands New City
  8. Azerbaijan Is Rich. Now It Wants to Be Famous