Baku Archipelago

These are many small islands.

They sit in the sea near Baku. The water is not deep here.

Some birds like to rest on the land. Fish can also be found in the water.

Oil wells are near the islands. This makes it hard for plants to grow.

People want to build a new town there. It may have a park and a school.

Many people hope to visit soon. Do you want to see them?

The Baku Archipelago is a group of islands.

They sit in the Caspian Sea near Baku. Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan. The water around these islands is shallow. Many islands have two names. They have an Azeri name and a Russian name.

Life on the islands has changed. Oil wells nearby have caused pollution. This makes it hard for plants to grow. In the past, Caspian seals lived here. Now, some sturgeons live in the water. Birds like ducks and gulls also visit. Most islands have no people living on them. Only gas stations and a lighthouse are there.

People want to build a new town on Boyuk Zira.

This island may have a park and a school. It might even have a mosque and a church. There is a plan for the Khazar Islands too. These would be man-made islands. One plan includes a very tall tower. It would be 200 meters taller than the Burj Khalifa. Work on these projects has slowed down since 2023.

The Baku Archipelago is a group of coastal islands.

These islands sit in the Caspian Sea near Baku, Azerbaijan. The waters around these islands are quite shallow. Most islands have two different names. They have an Azeri name and a Russian name. These Russian names came from maps made in the 18th century. A man named Fedor I. Soimonov made those early maps.

Nature on these islands has faced some hard times. Oil wells in the bay have caused pollution. This pollution has damaged the plants on the islands. Because of this, most islands have very little greenery left. In the past, these islands were a great home for Caspian seals. Now, you can still find sturgeons in the cleaner water. Many birds, like teal ducks and herring gulls, visit the islands. Most of the islands have no people living on them. Only a lighthouse and gas stations are there.

There is a big plan to change Boyuk Zira island.

This island might become a large area for people. It could have a park, a school, and a clinic. Developers want to build houses and a mall there too. They also plan to build a mosque, a church, and a synagogue. This would show how tolerant Azerbaijan is. A military port and a residential area are also part of the plan. The park will be separate because the winds are very strong there.

History is also part of this island's story. During the time of the Soviet Union, Boyuk Zira was used differently. It was a place where prisoners were sent. To remember this, a common grave is planned for the island. New buildings might even look like the old houses in Baku. This would help the new town feel like the famous Old City. Some parts of the island will be for quiet living. Other parts will have clubs and events for visitors.

There is even a plan for man-made islands called the Khazar Islands.

These would sit 25 km south of Baku. One idea is to build a tower called the Azerbaijan Tower. It would be 200 m taller than the Burj Khalifa. This huge project could hold 800,000 residents. Investors have set aside two to three billion manat for these changes. However, progress on these projects seems to have slowed down since 2023.

The Baku Archipelago is a collection of coastal islands located in the Caspian Sea. These islands sit near the city of Baku, which is the capital of Azerbaijan.

The waters surrounding the archipelago are characterized by being quite shallow. Most of these islands carry two distinct names. They have an official Azeri name and a Russian name. These Russian names originated from the first modern cartography of the Caspian Sea. This mapping was conducted in the 18th century by a hydrographer named Fedor I. Soimonov.

The islands can be categorized by their location within the sea. Some islands are situated within the perimeter of the Bay of Baku. These include Boyuk Zira, also known as Nargin, and Dash Zira, also known as Vulf. Other islands in the bay include Qum, Peschanniy Tava, and Plita. There are also several islands that are detached from the main group. These offshore islands include Chilov, Sangi-Mugan, Zanbil, and Duvanni. Other detached islands are Chikil, Qara Su, Los Xara Zira, and the Podvodnyye Islands, which consist of Bulla Qutan and Baburi. Smaller features like Gil, Kura Island, and Kura Rock also belong to the group.

Ecology in the archipelago has been significantly impacted by human industry. The vegetation on many islands has been damaged by pollution. This pollution comes from oil wells located in the same bay. As a result, most of the islands are almost devoid of plant life. In the past, this area provided an ideal ecosystem for the Caspian seal. While the seals are no longer as common, sturgeons are still found in waters that are not too polluted. Many birds find refuge on these uninhabited islands. These include teal ducks, herring gulls, and grebes. Most of the islands have no permanent residents, except for gas-extraction installations and a lighthouse. An automatic monitoring station for water pollution is located on Svinoy Island.

Tourism is currently undergoing intensive development within the archipelago. A major expansion is planned for the island of Boyuk Zira. This project aims to divide the island into several distinct functional areas. Developers plan to build a residential area, a military port, and a mall. A school and a clinic are also expected to be part of the infrastructure. To commemorate the famous Old City of Baku, houses will be built in an old style within a town fortress. The plan also includes a park, though it will be fragmented from other areas. This separation is necessary because the park areas are subject to very strong winds. To ensure peace for residents, entertainment venues and clubs will be placed on the opposite side of the island.

Religious tolerance is a key theme in the planned development of Boyuk Zira. Azerbaijan is known as one of the most tolerant countries in the world. To reflect this, planners intend to build a mosque, a church, and a synagogue on the island. The island also holds a difficult history from the era of the Soviet Union. During that time, Boyuk Zira was a place where prisoners were sent. To pay tribute to these individuals, a common grave is set to be placed on the island. This development project has attracted significant interest from foreign investors. A total of two to three billion manat has been set aside for implementation. This amount is roughly equivalent to $255,000,000 to $382,000,000.

Beyond Boyuk Zira, there is a massive plan for the Khazar Islands. These are intended to be artificial islands located 25 km south of Baku.

This project involves large-scale construction and modernization. One ambitious part of the plan is the Azerbaijan Tower. This building is intended to be 200 m higher than the Burj Khalifa, which is the current tallest building in the world. The Khazar Islands project also promises to provide housing for 800,000 residents. This would include various business buildings and hotels. The project was originally planned to be completed between the years 2020 and 2025.

While these plans are grand, the current status of the archipelago is changing. The massive construction and modernization efforts face various timelines. As of 2023, progress on these large-scale projects seems to have been halted. The archipelago remains a site of tension between industrial use and future urban expansion. The balance between oil extraction and ecological preservation continues to be a factor for the region. The islands remain a vital part of the geography surrounding the Caspian Sea and the city of Baku.