What is the capital of Azerbaijan?

The capital of Azerbaijan is Baku. Built on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, Baku is Azerbaijan's largest city and the biggest urban center on the Caspian Sea.

Baku's location helped it grow as a port and trading city, while the Absheron Peninsula's petroleum resources later transformed its economy. Oil production expanded dramatically in the late 19th century, making Baku one of the world's major oil centers. The city's historic core includes the walled Old City, the Maiden Tower, and the Palace of the Shirvanshahs.

Baku is sometimes confused with Ganja, Azerbaijan's second-largest city and a historic cultural center. Lankaran and Sumqayit are also significant cities, but none is the national capital. At roughly 28 meters below sea level, Baku is widely described as the world's lowest-lying national capital, and its windy climate has earned it the nickname “City of Winds.”