Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Need to know ~ Places
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur ad
The Countries of Armenia and Azerbaijan
Sos Village, Nagorno-Karabakh, August 2012
Photo: Камалян001, CC0
Why current?
2020-10-29
Armenia and Azerbaijan are two neighboring countries located in the Caucasus region between Europe and Asia. Since late September 2020, the countries have been clashing over a territory called Nagorno-Karabakh. For decades, this area has been a disputed territory. While it is located within the official borders of Azerbaijan, it is inhabited mostly by ethnic Armenians. In the 1990s, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh, backed by the country of Armenia, fought for independence from Azerbaijan. The war never really ended. Instead, a ceasefire was brokered in 1994, and the conflict was temporarily put on pause. Since the 1990s, Nagorno-Karabakh declared itself independent from Azerbaijan, calling itself the Republic of Artsakh. This separation has never been officially recognized, but Armenia was basically in control of the territory, as well as the surrounding areas, all within the borders of Azerbaijan. An uneasy peace was maintained, until now.
At the end of last month, simmering tensions stemming from the disputed territory exploded, and fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan broke out again. Each side blames the other for starting the current conflict. Meanwhile, civilians in the area are caught in the crossfire, getting killed in bombings and by intensifying violence.
It is likely that the conflict will continue to escalate. Many people have already died in the past weeks. Other players, like Russia and Turkey, are involved, directly and indirectly. This means that the war could expand.
If you’d like to see more of Nagorno-Karabakh, you can watch this short film:
See Armenia, on Google Earth: https://earth.google.com/armenia
See Azerbaijan, on Google Earth: https://earth.google.com/azerbaijan
More about Armenia and Azerbaijan
Armenia
- Population: 2.9 million
- Capital city: Yerevan, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, built almost 30 years before Rome
- Mountainous Armenia is located in the Caucasus, a region crisscrossed by the Caucasus Mountains and flanked by the Black Sea on one side and the Caspian Sea on the other.
- Lake Sevan is the largest lake in the Caucasus and covers one-sixth of Armenia.
- Home to lots of wildlife. The country’s rugged landscape and many mountains create zones in which diverse ecosystems have evolved, giving rise to a wide variety of plants and animals. Sadly, about a quarter of the country’s animal species are currently endangered, including the spectacular mouflon (relative of the domesticated sheep), the Sevan trout, and the Persian leopard.
- The land is fluttering with birds. 345 of the 530 bird species found on the European continent can be seen in Armenia.
- Used to be a republic of the Soviet Union.
- The large majority of Armenians are Christian. In fact, the oldest Christian church in the world is the Armenian Apostolic Church, founded in 1 AD.
- Mt. Ararat is revered by Armenians. However, it is located in present-day Turkey.
- Armenian cuisine revolves around lavash, a kind of flat bread made since ancient times. Traditionally, it is baked in an underground oven made of clay. But it’s possible to make lavash in your own kitchen.
- Two fruits – the apricot and the pomegranate – are important to Armenia. The apricot has been a part of Armenian culture for centuries. In fact, apricot seeds have been unearthed at some of the earliest archaeological sites in the country. The pomegranate, as a symbol of life and abundance, is represented in a lot of Armenia’s traditional art and design.
- Many traces of ancient life have been found in Armenia. The oldest leather shoe in the world was found in the southern part of the country. It’s 5500 years old!
- Chess is enormously popular in Armenia, and Armenians have been the winners of numerous chess world championships.
Azerbaijan
- Population: 10.1 million
- Capital city: Baku, the largest city in the Caucasus region
- Baku lies on the western shore of the Caspian Sea. At 28 meters below sea level, it is the lowest-lying capital city in the world.
- Over half of the population of Azerbaijan lives in cities. People living in more remote rural areas, follow many old traditions that are considered relics by urbanites.
- Like Armenia, Azerbaijan also used to be a republic of the Soviet Union.
- Almost 97% of the population is Muslim.
- Azerbaijan has a rich variety of landscapes, from mountains to lowlands. The great animal and plant diversity of the country comes from the range of habitats that exist in these different zones.
- The extraordinary Yanar Dag (or “Burning Mountain”) is a natural fire that has been burning continuously for some 65 years on the side of a hill by the Caspian Sea. The fire is fed by natural gas coming up through the ground and fueling the blaze.
- There are more than 400 mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan – more than in any other country. These are domes made of mud, water, and gases that occasionally eject – well, mud. They do not produce lava.
- Azerbaijan has lots of oil and gas reserves.
- The national animal of Azerbaijan is the Karabakh horse, an ancient breed originally from the Nagorno-Karabakh area. Karabakh horses are famous for their strength, stamina, and speed.
- Azerbaijan – just like its neighbor, Armenia – is home to some remarkable archaeological sites. In the western part of the country is Azokh Cave, where researchers have found remains and artifacts dating back 1.5 million years.
- A popular part of Azerbaijani cuisine are savory pancakes called Kutabi. They are stuffed with fillings made of greens, meat, or vegetables, and lots of fresh herbs, often served with yogurt on the side.
- Drinking tea is an essential part of socializing in Azerbaijan. It is often sweetened with jam.
Sources: Gall, Carlotta,The New York Times, “In Azerbaijan, a String of Explosions, Screams and Then Blood,” https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/28/world/europe/azerbaijan-barda-armenia-rockets-karabakh.html?campaign_id=51&emc=edit_NN_p_20201030&instance_id=23633&nl=morning-briefing®i_id=60906990§ion=longRead&segment_id=42833&te=1&user_id=d88c155d079d3791e83e86e097839e50, October 28, 2020; The Guardian,“Why are Armenia and Azerbaijan fighting and what are the implications?” https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/28/why-are-armenia-and-azerbaijan-fighting-what-are-implications; bbc.com, “Armenia and Azerbaijan fight over disputed Natorno-Karbakh,” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-54314341, September 27, 2020; Suny, Ronald Grigor, Britannica, “Armenia,” https://www.britannica.com/place/Armenia; Telegraph Travel, The Telegraph, “25 amazing things you probably didn’t know about armenia,” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/articles/amazing-facts-you-probably-didnt-know-about-armenia/; Suny, Ronald Grigor, Britannica, “Azerbaijan,”https://www.britannica.com/place/Azerbaijan; Plush, Hazel, The Telegraph, 27 fascinating things you didn’t know about Azerbaijan,” https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/azerbaijan/articles/things-you-didnt-know-about-azerbaijan/ .