Azerbaijan is a transcontinental country located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia, known for its rich fossil fuel industry and Turkic-Islamic culture. Its capital is Baku, a major Caspian Sea port, and the country features diverse landscapes, from the Caucasus Mountains to fertile plains. Historically, it has been under various empires before becoming independent from the Soviet Union in 1991, though it continues to navigate complex relations, particularly with neighboring Armenia.