Most people only know the country from its performances in Eurovision.
But behind Azerbaijan's disappointing pop tunes is a country overflowing with wealth from a century of gushing oil supplies.
The former Soviet state is now hoping to put itself firmly on the map by using its vast wealth to build the world's tallest building.
The Government unveiled plans with a property developer for a breathtaking skyscraper stretching 3,500ft high.
Scroll down for video
Like all modern buildings it has
its own unique shape - and bears a striking similarity to the kind of
Dyson vacuum cleaners that have a number of pipes spewing from their
sides.
Tentatively named Azerbaijan Tower, the structure will dwarf Dubai's Burj Khalifa - currently the world's tallest building - to look over Baku's largest development project which is planned to include dozens of artificial islands and a Formula One race track.
Following in the footsteps of other
oil and natural gas-rich post-Soviet countries along the Caspian Sea,
Azerbaijan wants to use its newly found oil wealth to project an image
of modernity in a country where the Nobel brothers struck oil more than a
century ago.
A planned 41 islands that will
dot the Caspian Sea will be connected by 150 bridges. The building is
estimated to cost at least £1.25bn.
'One million people will live here. It will be Venice, new Venice,' said Mr Ibrahim Ibrahimov, the brains behind the project and the head of real estate developer Avesta, seen as close to President Ilham Aliyev.
Mr Ibrahimov said that American, Turkish, Arab and Chinese investors have already showed their interest in the project which is expected to cost some £65bn.
Mr Ibrahimov said the project will be completed between 2020 and 2025.
Construction work is currently underway on a road system which will include a Formula-1 quality race track.
In an attempt to return Baku to
the glamour it possessed during the years of its first oil boom more
than a century ago, five-star hotels are under construction, as well as a
sprawling, curvaceous construction designed by architect Zaha Hadid.
The country will host Eurovision song contest in May in another chance for Baku authorities to showcase the city. Rights groups and residents say that much of the new construction is being carried out with massive forced eviction of residents across the city
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai has been the world's tallest building at 2,723ft since the skyscraper was finished in in October 2009 at a cost of £1billion.
Dubai also has a vast supply of sweet sticky crude oil that gushes from the desert and over the last century has transformed the Arab country into one of the richest in the world.
The world's second tallest building is
Taipei 101 in Taiwan which was built in 2004 and stands 1,666ft high.
It is used only as offices.
Shanghai World Financial Center in China is the third highest building at 1,614ft tall while the International Commerce Center in Hong Kong is the fourth highest at 1587ft tall.
Petronas Towers in Malaysia are the fifth tallest at 1482ft high followed by the Nanjing Greenland Financial Complex in China which stands a shade lower at 1,476ft.
The U.S. has the seventh and eight tallest buildings in the world with the Willis Tower in Chicago stretching 1450ft into the sky and the Trump International Hotel & Tower , also in Chicago, reaching 1,387ft high.
The Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai, China, is the ninth tallest in the world at 1,377ft high.
The World Trade Centre twin towers were the tenth tallest at 1,368ft until they were destroyed by terrorists in the September 11 attacks.
Two International Finance Centre in Hong Kong is now the tenth tallest building in the world at 1,362ft high.
But behind Azerbaijan's disappointing pop tunes is a country overflowing with wealth from a century of gushing oil supplies.
The former Soviet state is now hoping to put itself firmly on the map by using its vast wealth to build the world's tallest building.
The Government unveiled plans with a property developer for a breathtaking skyscraper stretching 3,500ft high.
Scroll down for video
High hopes: Architects' plans show how the
Azerbaijan Tower will stretch 3,500ft into the sky to dwarf the
surrounding skyscrapers built on an artificial island in the Caspian Sea
Tentatively named Azerbaijan Tower, the structure will dwarf Dubai's Burj Khalifa - currently the world's tallest building - to look over Baku's largest development project which is planned to include dozens of artificial islands and a Formula One race track.
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Wealth: The staggeringly tall building will cost
an estimated £1.25bn pounds... and has a striking similarity to the top
of a hoover with a number of pipes coming of its sides
The building will be constructed using an
incomprehensible wealth built up from decades of oil exports by the
former Soviet state
'One million people will live here. It will be Venice, new Venice,' said Mr Ibrahim Ibrahimov, the brains behind the project and the head of real estate developer Avesta, seen as close to President Ilham Aliyev.
Mr Ibrahimov said that American, Turkish, Arab and Chinese investors have already showed their interest in the project which is expected to cost some £65bn.
Mr Ibrahimov said the project will be completed between 2020 and 2025.
Construction work is currently underway on a road system which will include a Formula-1 quality race track.
Most people only know Azerbaijan, pictured, from
its annual Eurovision entry but the country is hoping to portray itself
as one of the most modern places in the world with the construction of
41 artificial islands
How Azerbaijan Tower will measure up: This chart
shows the heights of several other well-known buildings, including the
current tallest in the world - Burj Khalifa in Dubai at 2,723ft high
The country will host Eurovision song contest in May in another chance for Baku authorities to showcase the city. Rights groups and residents say that much of the new construction is being carried out with massive forced eviction of residents across the city
The Burj Khalifa in Dubai has been the world's tallest building at 2,723ft since the skyscraper was finished in in October 2009 at a cost of £1billion.
Dubai also has a vast supply of sweet sticky crude oil that gushes from the desert and over the last century has transformed the Arab country into one of the richest in the world.
Burj Khalifa, in Dubia, is currently the world's
tallest building at 2,723ft high followed by Taipei 101 in Taiwan which
stands 1,666ft tall
Shanghai World Financial Center in China is the third highest building at 1,614ft tall while the International Commerce Center in Hong Kong is the fourth highest at 1587ft tall.
Petronas Towers in Malaysia are the fifth tallest at 1482ft high followed by the Nanjing Greenland Financial Complex in China which stands a shade lower at 1,476ft.
The U.S. has the seventh and eight tallest buildings in the world with the Willis Tower in Chicago stretching 1450ft into the sky and the Trump International Hotel & Tower , also in Chicago, reaching 1,387ft high.
The Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai, China, is the ninth tallest in the world at 1,377ft high.
The World Trade Centre twin towers were the tenth tallest at 1,368ft until they were destroyed by terrorists in the September 11 attacks.
Two International Finance Centre in Hong Kong is now the tenth tallest building in the world at 1,362ft high.
All should be completed by 2020-2025.
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