18 October: Azerbaijan Independence Day

Azerbaijan declared Independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Here are some things you may not know about the country:

1. The country first became a republic in May 1918, but this republic only lasted 23 months before Lenin noticed there was a lot of oil there and invaded in order to absorb it into the Soviet Union. 18 October 1991 was when it became independent from Russia.
2. Talking of oil. Azerbaijan was the location of the world's first oil well in the nineteenth century. The Nobel family of Norway, who created the much lauded Nobel prizes, acquired much of its wealth from Azerbaijan's oil industry.
3. Before that, it was also the location of the world's first fireplace, built in Azikh Cave, the largest cave in Azerbaijan, around 700,000 years ago.
4. It is probably this, and the fact that the rich oil and gas deposits would ignite and burn naturally, that gave the country its name. Azerbaijan means "Land of Fire".
5. Another first is Neft Dashlar, a town in the Caspian Sea - it was the first town ever to be built on stilts. Construction started in 1947.
6. The capital and largest city is Baku.
7. The highest peak of Azerbaijan is mount Bazardüzü (4,466 m), while the lowest point lies in the Caspian Sea (−28 m). The largest lake is Sarysu (67 km²), and the longest river is Kur (1,515 km).
8. It was the first Muslim country to grant equal political rights to women, and the first to establish a modern university.
9. Lotfi A. Zadeh, who discovered fuzzy logic, was from Azerbaijan.
10. Tea is the most popular drink, although their method of sweetening it is rather different. Instead of putting sugar in the tea, they put a lump of sugar or jam in their mouths and drink the tea through it.