Category CAPITAL CITIES

Which is the lowest lying national capital in the world?

Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan is located 28 metres below sea level, making it the lowest lying national capital in the world. Baku is also the largest city in the world that is below sea level. The name Baku is supposedly a shorter version of the Persian ‘bad kube’ (‘blown upon by mountain winds’). The city’s importance lies in its oil industry and its administrative functions. Baku’s urban population was calculated to be about two million people in 2009. About 25 per cent of all inhabitants in Azerbaijan live in Baku’s city area. Baku is the one and only metropolis in the country.

Baku’s economy is mostly based on petroleum. Presence of oil in the city was known since olden days. The city is also a major cultural and educational centre. It is home to the Baku State University (founded 1919), Khazar University (1991), and Azerbaijan Technical University (1950); there are also many other institutions of higher education, including one specializing in the oil industry.

The city is famous for its harsh winds, which gave it the nick name, the “City of Winds”. Baku is the birthplace of Lev Davidovich Landau, who won the 1962 Nobel Prize for Physics.

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What makes La Paz special?

La Paz is the world’s highest national capital. It is the administrative capital of Bolivia, which lies between 3,250 and 4,100 metres above sea level. The city centre is located in a deep, broad canyon that was formed by the Choqueyapu River.

Founded in 1548, it was first named Nuestra Senora de La Paz (Our Lady of Peace) by the conquistador Captain Alonso de Mendoza on the site of an Inca village. It was later renamed as La Paz de Ayacucho in 1825. In 1898, it was set as the seat of the national government but Sucre is still Bolivia’s constitutional capital, where the country’s Supreme Court is located while La Paz is home to the executive and legislative centres.

The city is popular for its cultural assets with places like The National Museum of Art, a children’s museum, the Museum of Ethnography and Folklore, the National Museum of Archaeology, and the Mercado de Brujas (Witches Market), where herbs and other remedies that are used by the local Aymara people are sold. In 1998, the city faced an earthquake which killed hundreds of residents and destroyed many buildings. Santa Cruz overtook La Paz in the wake of the 21st century as Bolivia’s most populous city but before that La Paz held that status for many years.

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Which city is the capital of Russia?

Moscow, which is Russia’s largest city in terms of its population, is its capital city. Moscow is the centre of the Russian government, and also houses the Kremlin, which is the working place of the Russian president.

Moscow was the centre of the Orthodox Church after the collapse of the Byzantine Empire. This played an important role in Russia’s history as the very first trading settlement came into being here. This trading centre dates back to the 10th century Slavic communities. The name Moscow was first recorded in the year 1147, when Prince Yury Dolgoruky, who ruled the region, sent an invitation to his allies.

In the 13th century, Moscow was attacked by the Mongols. It became a centre of power when Ivan III successfully staved off the Mongol invasions. He also managed to conquer the neighbouring countryside. The famous brick walls of the Kremlin were added as part of the renovation works initiated by Ivan to commemorate these events.

Tsar Peter the Great moved the capital of the country to St. Petersburg in 1712, but after the revolution of 1917, Moscow became the official capital again.

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What are the features of Moscow?

Moscow, the capital city is spread across 2,511 square kilometres and is not as cold as many other parts of Russia. In fact, Moscow has a temperate continental climate. Another interesting fact is that Moscow has 160 railway stations over 11 lines. This subway was also awarded the Grand Prize in international exhibitions for its unique historical and architectural features.

Moscow also hosts a number of performing arts, ballet, theatre and film activities. The Moscow International Centre for the Performing Arts has played an important role in revolutionising the performance of classical music in Russia. It is interesting to note that Moscow also supports the development of the circus through the Moscow Circus and the Moscow State Circus.

Important historical centres like Red Square, Kremlin Palace and Arbat Street are also places of interest in Moscow.

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