The country has a 713 kilometre coastline with the Caspian Sea and borders Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Turkey and Iran.

It is known around the world for its nickname the "Land of Fire", with the word Azerbaijan literally meaning "protector of fire".

One of the first names for Azerbaijan was Aturpatakan, translating to "a place where sacred fire is preserved".

The country is abundant in natural oil and gas and was a centre for fire worshipping, with the South Caucasus considered as one of the first regions where fire was used.

Fire is a major theme in the capital city Baku, which boasts a distinctive trio of skyscrapers called the Flame Towers.

Shaped like flames, the towers are covered with LED screens which display the movement of a fire.

Capital Baku is also home to the Ateshgah of Baku - also known as the Fire Temple of Baku.

A natural eternal flame at the temple went out in 1969 but is now kept lit by gas.

Burning Mountain, or Yanar Dag, is 27km north of Baku and is one of several natural gas fires which blaze continuously in Azerbaijan.

When snow falls, the flakes dissolve in the air before they touch the ground, with the spectacle most impressive to view at night.

Streams and springs near Yanar Dag can be ignited with a match and are bathed in by local people.

Many will take a sip of the water, despite a high methane content, as they believe it has remedial qualities. 

Famed explorer Marco Polo wrote of the fires on his travels, alongside other Silk Road merchants.

Azerbaijan is also home to about 350 mud volcanoes, many of which are found around Baku and the Caspian Sea.

In 1901, Baku's oilfields were supplying more than half of the world's oil.