Baku (or Bakı in Azerbaijani) is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. Baku is located 92 feet (28 meters) below sea level, which makes it the lowest lying national capital in the world and also the largest city in the world located below sea level. Baku lies on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, alongside the Bay of Baku. At the beginning of 2009, Baku's urban population was estimated at just over two million people. Officially, about 25 percent of all inhabitants of the country live in Baku's metropolitan area. Baku is the sole metropolis in Azerbaijan.

Baku is divided into twelve administrative raions and 48 townships. Among these are the townships on the islands of the Baku Archipelago, and the town of Oil Rocks built on stilts in the Caspian Sea, 37 miles (60 kilometers) away from Baku. The Inner City of Baku, along with the Shirvanshah's Palace and the Maiden Tower, were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

The city is renowned for its harsh winds, which is reflected in its nickname, the "City of Winds."

Information from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baku

Tags:   Azerbaijan Azərbaycan Republic of Azerbaijan Azərbaycan Respublikası AZ Absheron Peninsula Abşeron yarımadası Absheron Abşeron Baku Bakı Transcaucasia South Caucasus Asia Western Asia Former Soviet Union Former USSR Post Offices Central Asia

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Baku (or Bakı in Azerbaijani) is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. Baku is located 92 feet (28 meters) below sea level, which makes it the lowest lying national capital in the world and also the largest city in the world located below sea level. Baku lies on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, alongside the Bay of Baku. At the beginning of 2009, Baku's urban population was estimated at just over two million people. Officially, about 25 percent of all inhabitants of the country live in Baku's metropolitan area. Baku is the sole metropolis in Azerbaijan.

Baku is divided into twelve administrative raions and 48 townships. Among these are the townships on the islands of the Baku Archipelago, and the town of Oil Rocks built on stilts in the Caspian Sea, 37 miles (60 kilometers) away from Baku. The Inner City of Baku, along with the Shirvanshah's Palace and the Maiden Tower, were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

The city is renowned for its harsh winds, which is reflected in its nickname, the "City of Winds."

Information from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baku

Tags:   Azerbaijan Azərbaycan Republic of Azerbaijan Azərbaycan Respublikası AZ Absheron Peninsula Abşeron yarımadası Absheron Abşeron Baku Bakı Transcaucasia South Caucasus Asia Western Asia Former Soviet Union Former USSR Post Offices Central Asia

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Manama (المنامة‎ or al-Manāma in Arabic) is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 157,000 people. Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population. After periods of Portuguese and Persian control and invasions from the ruling dynasties of Saudi Arabia and Oman, Bahrain established itself as an independent nation during the 19th century period of British hegemony.

Although the current twin cities of Manama and Muharraq appear to have been founded simultaneously in the 1800s, Muharraq took prominence due to its defensive location and was thus the capital of Bahrain until 1921. Manama became the mercantile capital and was the gateway to the main Bahrain Island. In the 20th century, Bahrain's oil wealth helped spur fast growth and in the 1990s a concerted diversification effort led to expansion in other industries and helped transform Manama into an important financial hub in the Middle East.

Information from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manama

Tags:   Bahrain البحرين al-Baḥrayn Kingdom of Bahrain مملكة البحرين Mamlakat al-Baḥrayn Capital Governorate محافظة العاصمة Manama المنامة al-Manāma Bahrain Island جزيرة البحرين Jazīrah al-Baḥrayn al-Awal Island Bahrein Asia Middle East Western Asia Persian Gulf States Gulf States Post Offices BRN British Colonial Architecture

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Manama (المنامة‎ or al-Manāma in Arabic) is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 157,000 people. Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population. After periods of Portuguese and Persian control and invasions from the ruling dynasties of Saudi Arabia and Oman, Bahrain established itself as an independent nation during the 19th century period of British hegemony.

Although the current twin cities of Manama and Muharraq appear to have been founded simultaneously in the 1800s, Muharraq took prominence due to its defensive location and was thus the capital of Bahrain until 1921. Manama became the mercantile capital and was the gateway to the main Bahrain Island. In the 20th century, Bahrain's oil wealth helped spur fast growth and in the 1990s a concerted diversification effort led to expansion in other industries and helped transform Manama into an important financial hub in the Middle East.

Information from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manama

Tags:   Bahrain البحرين al-Baḥrayn Kingdom of Bahrain مملكة البحرين Mamlakat al-Baḥrayn Capital Governorate محافظة العاصمة Manama المنامة al-Manāma Bahrain Island جزيرة البحرين Jazīrah al-Baḥrayn al-Awal Island Bahrein Asia Middle East Western Asia Persian Gulf States Gulf States Post Offices BRN British Colonial Architecture

© All Rights Reserved

Manama (المنامة‎ or al-Manāma in Arabic) is the capital and largest city of Bahrain, with an approximate population of 157,000 people. Long an important trading center in the Persian Gulf, Manama is home to a very diverse population. After periods of Portuguese and Persian control and invasions from the ruling dynasties of Saudi Arabia and Oman, Bahrain established itself as an independent nation during the 19th century period of British hegemony.

Although the current twin cities of Manama and Muharraq appear to have been founded simultaneously in the 1800s, Muharraq took prominence due to its defensive location and was thus the capital of Bahrain until 1921. Manama became the mercantile capital and was the gateway to the main Bahrain Island. In the 20th century, Bahrain's oil wealth helped spur fast growth and in the 1990s a concerted diversification effort led to expansion in other industries and helped transform Manama into an important financial hub in the Middle East.

Information from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manama

Tags:   Bahrain البحرين al-Baḥrayn Kingdom of Bahrain مملكة البحرين Mamlakat al-Baḥrayn Capital Governorate محافظة العاصمة Manama المنامة al-Manāma Bahrain Island جزيرة البحرين Jazīrah al-Baḥrayn al-Awal Island Bahrein Asia Middle East Western Asia Persian Gulf States Gulf States Post Offices BRN British Colonial Architecture

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