Chilov

Chilov is a small island located in the Caspian Sea.

It is situated off the Absheron Peninsula. The island sits 25 km from the eastern end of that peninsula. It is also 100 km away from the city of Baku. Administratively, the island belongs to the Khazar district of Baku.

This location makes it a significant part of the local geography in Azerbaijan.

The physical shape of Chilov is quite complex. It is not a perfect circle or a simple rectangle. Instead, the island has an irregular shape. It features many different headlands and inlets. A headland is a piece of land that sticks out into the sea. An inlet is a small area of water that reaches into the land. The island is about 10 km across. Its total area is approximately 6 km2. The highest elevation on the island is only 8 metres.

Chilov is a very important place for many types of birds. It is part of the Absheron archipelago Important Bird Area (IBA). BirdLife International designated this area because of its many bird populations. The island supports many birds that come to stay for the winter. These include whooper swans and common pochards. You can also find tufted ducks and great crested grebes there. Common coots are another species found on the island. Additionally, Caspian gulls use the island as a place for breeding.

The history of the island is closely tied to natural resources. In 1781, a Russian Rear Admiral named Count Mark Voynovich led an expedition. He was exploring the Caspian Sea at that time. During this expedition, he discovered oil and gas deposits near Chilov. These discoveries changed how people viewed the area. The presence of these resources made the island a place of great interest for scientists and workers.

Scientific exploration continued many years later. In 1944, a geological expedition was established by the Azerbaijan Academy of Sciences. This group began conducting geological explorations on Chilov Island. This work helped people understand the ground and the resources beneath it. During this time, Agagurban Aliyev drilled the very first oil well on the island. This marked a major step in the industrial use of the island's resources.

Chilov also served a military purpose during the 20th century. In the 1950s, the USSR stationed an air defense military unit on the island. Their job was to organize the air defense of Baku from the eastern side. To do this, they deployed a C75 anti-aircraft missile system. This system was designed to protect the region from threats in the air. This period shows how the island's location was used for more than just science or oil.

The military presence on the island eventually came to an end. Between 1992 and 1993, Russian troops were completely withdrawn from the island. This change marked a new chapter in the history of Chilov. Today, the island remains a notable feature of the Caspian Sea. It connects the natural world of bird migration with a complex human history of industry and defense.