What animals live in Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan sits between the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian Sea, so it has a surprising range of wild neighbors! Brown bears roam the forested mountain slopes, and Caucasian leopards — rare and secretive — still prowl the high ridges. The Caspian Sea coastline is home to sturgeon, a big ancient fish that has swum those waters for millions of years. Up in the mountains you might spot golden eagles riding the wind currents, watching for prey far below. Goitered gazelles sprint across the lowland plains, and wild boars root through the forest floors. Azerbaijan sits along a major bird migration route too, so twice a year the skies fill with flamingos, pelicans, and ducks passing through on long journeys. God packed a lot of variety into this one small country!

What do kids eat in Azerbaijan?

Kids in Azerbaijan often eat plov, which is a warm rice dish cooked with meat, onions, and dried fruits like raisins and apricots. It smells wonderful and fills up a whole family. Bread called lavash — thin and soft like a big flat wrap — shows up at almost every meal. For something sweet, kids might snack on pakhlava, a pastry made with layers of dough, walnuts, and honey syrup. In summer, fresh pomegranates and figs grow right there in the country, so families eat a lot of fresh fruit. Meals in Azerbaijan are usually shared with the whole family around one big table, which is a really warm tradition.

How do people say hello in Azerbaijan?

In Azerbaijan, the most common greeting is 'Salam!' — which means 'Hello' or 'Peace be with you.' It comes from the Arabic word for peace, and you will hear it everywhere from the busy streets of the capital city Baku to small mountain villages. When people greet each other more formally, they might say 'Salamlar' or ask 'Necəsiniz?' — which means 'How are you?' Azerbaijanis are known for being warm and hospitable hosts, and a greeting is often followed by an invitation for tea. Most people in Azerbaijan are Muslim, which means very few have yet heard the good news about Jesus. That makes every friendly 'Salam' a reminder that missionaries need open doors to share who the true Prince of Peace really is.

What sports or games do kids play in Azerbaijan?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Kids in Azerbaijan love football — that's soccer to some of you — and you'll find them kicking balls around in neighborhoods and courtyards all over the country. Wrestling is a big deal too, especially a traditional style called 'gulesh' that has been passed down for generations. Rusty wants to add that backgammon, called 'nard' in Azerbaijan, is played everywhere — parks, tea houses, you name it. Older kids learn it young and get quite serious about it. Chess is also hugely popular, and Azerbaijan has produced some world-class chess players. These games take real patience and sharp thinking, which Azerbaijani kids seem to love practicing!

What's the weather like in Azerbaijan?

Azerbaijan has pretty different weather depending on where you stand! The lowlands near the Caspian Sea are warm and dry, while the mountains in the west get cold winters with real snow. So packing a bag there would depend a lot on which part you were headed to. In the capital city, Baku, strong winds blow in off the Caspian Sea so often that the city is sometimes called 'the city of winds.' Summers get hot and sunny, while winters are cool but not usually brutal. Up in the Caucasus Mountains though, shepherds and villagers deal with heavy snow and freezing temperatures that last for months — a very different world from the sunny coast just a few hours away.

Tell me a fun fact about Azerbaijan.

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Azerbaijan sits right where Europe and Asia meet, which makes it one of the most interesting crossroads on the whole map. It actually has more mud volcanoes than anywhere else on Earth — there are hundreds of them, and they bubble up cold, gloopy mud instead of hot lava. Rusty wants to add this one: Azerbaijan has been called the 'Land of Fire' for thousands of years because natural gas seeps up through the ground and sometimes catches fire right at the surface. There is even a hillside called Yanar Dag where flames have been burning on the ground for decades. People who lived there long ago thought it was magical — but now we know it is just how God designed the geology of that place, with fuel stored right beneath their feet.

What is school like for kids in Azerbaijan?

In Azerbaijan, most kids start school at age six and study for eleven years. Schools teach subjects like math, Azerbaijani language, history, and science — not so different from what many kids study elsewhere! The school week runs Monday through Saturday in some places, which means less weekend time than kids in some other countries get. Azerbaijani is the main language of instruction, though Russian is also spoken by many families there. One thing that makes Azerbaijan unique is that it uses the Latin alphabet for Azerbaijani — they switched from the Cyrillic alphabet (the one Russian uses) back in the 1990s. Most kids in Azerbaijan grow up in families that are Muslim by tradition, which means many of them may never have heard the good news about Jesus. That is one reason missionaries and local believers work hard to share the gospel there, so children and families can come to know the true God.

Who are the unreached people in Azerbaijan?

Herman here, with Rusty nodding along! Azerbaijan is home to several groups of people who have rarely or never heard the good news about Jesus. The largest group is the Azerbaijani people themselves — often called Azeris — who number in the millions and are mostly Muslim. Many have grown up never meeting a Christian or hearing why Jesus came to earth. Rusty wants you to know there are also smaller groups inside Azerbaijan, like the Lezgins, Talysh, and Avars, who are also largely unreached. That means very few believers live among them, and in some cases there is little or no part of the Bible in their own language. God loves every single one of these people, and He is already at work calling some of them to Himself — missionaries and local Christians are bringing that message one conversation at a time.

How can I pray for the people of Azerbaijan?

Great question — prayer is one of the most real things you can do for people far away! Azerbaijan is a country in the Caucasus mountains where most people are Muslim and have never heard the good news about Jesus. You can pray that God opens their hearts to hear about Jesus and trust Him as their Savior. There are also brave local Christians in Azerbaijan who sometimes face hard times for following Jesus — neighbors or authorities may pressure them or make life difficult. Pray that those believers stay strong and faithful, that more Azerbaijani leaders rise up to share the gospel with their own people, and that missionaries have open doors and courage to bring God's Word to every corner of that country.

What is a holiday or celebration in Azerbaijan?

Herman here, with Rusty right beside me! One of the biggest celebrations in Azerbaijan is Novruz, which marks the arrival of spring and the new year on the Persian calendar. Families clean their houses, jump over bonfires, and cook a special wheat dish called samani. It is a festive time with music, dancing, and lots of good food shared with neighbors. Rusty wants you to know that most people in Azerbaijan are Muslim, so they also observe Eid al-Fitr, which comes at the end of Ramadan, a month of fasting. During Eid, families gather, give gifts, and share meals together. As we think about these celebrations, we can pray that Azerbaijani families — right in the middle of their feasts and fireside gatherings — would hear the good news about Jesus and come to know Him as the true Savior.

What language do people speak in Azerbaijan?

Most people in Azerbaijan speak Azerbaijani, which is sometimes called Azeri. It belongs to the same language family as Turkish, so the two languages are a lot alike — like cousins. If you know a little Turkish, you could actually understand some Azerbaijani words! Russian is also spoken by many people there, especially older generations who grew up when Azerbaijan was part of the Soviet Union. That is a big reason Bible translators have worked hard to make sure God's Word is available in clear, everyday Azerbaijani — so people can read about Jesus in the language of their own heart.

What's a famous place to visit in Azerbaijan?

Herman here, with Rusty peering over my shoulder at the map! One of the most famous places in Azerbaijan is the Old City of Baku, called Icherisheher. It sits right on the Caspian Sea and has ancient stone walls, narrow winding streets, and towers that are hundreds of years old. People have lived inside those walls for thousands of years! Rusty especially likes the Maiden Tower inside the Old City — it is a mysterious round stone tower that nobody is completely sure how to explain. Scholars still debate what it was originally built for. The whole Old City is now protected as a world heritage site, and visitors come from many countries to walk its old cobblestone paths and imagine the merchants and travelers who passed through long ago. Azerbaijan has a rich history, and God has placed His image-bearers in this land for a very long time.

Azerbaijan — Kids Missions Explorer

Karabakh Horse

This rare, golden-coated breed has been raised in Azerbaijan for thousands of years and was once prized by Persian and Russian royalty.

Flamingo

Thousands of flamingos wade through the shallow, salty waters of Lake Aggol each year, turning the horizon a soft shade of pink.

Plov

This saffron-scented rice dish, often cooked with lamb, dried fruits, and chestnuts, is considered the centerpiece of any celebration in Azerbaijan.

Dolma

Tender grape leaves or vegetables are stuffed with spiced meat and rice, then simmered until they are soft and deeply savory.

Lavash

This thin, soft flatbread is baked on the walls of a clay oven and eaten at almost every meal, often wrapped around herbs and cheese.

Azerbaijan

Things you should know about Azerbaijan

Wildlife you might meet

What’s on the table

Did you know?

Life in Azerbaijan

Missions in Azerbaijan

Pray for Azerbaijan