BAKU, Russia, town in Georgia, on the west coast of the Caspian Sea. The rocky peninsula upon which it is built and the islands in the bay are composed of Tertiary strata, abounding in fossil .shells. Through these strata numerous springs of naphtha and petro leum issue, together with streams of inflam mable gas, and eruptions of mud from so-called mud volcanoes. These phenomena give to the region the name of the Field of Fire, and formerly made Baku the sacred city of the Guebres or Fire Worshippers. Naphtha is so abundant as to be an article of commerce. The chief product of the region, however, is petro leum. Over 500 oil wells are operated, produc ing large quantities of petroleum, much of which is carried by pipes directly to the re fineries. Baku has a large trade, exporting besides the oil, grain, salt, etc. It has grown very rapidly in recent years, its prosperity being due to the petroleum industry which is chiefly in the hands of foreign capitalists. It has several shipbuilding yards. Along the south side of the city a new quay has been con structed; on this are erected modern stores and bazaars. The older portion has winding, narrow streets and here also are some remains of the palace of the lchans, and the mosques of the shah, erected in 107& The climate is mild; the harbor having been frozen over but once in 80 years. There are also tobacco fac
tories and chemical works. The position of Baku malces it the market-place for the Russo Persian trade. Cotton, rice, silk, wine, dried fruits and walnut wood pass through from Persia to Russia and western Europe, in ex change for goods of Russian manufacture. The population is mostly Tatar, and constitutes the laboring and small trading elements i Russians fill financial, commercial and official posts; Armenians are among the leading merchants. Baku was in Persian hands from 1509 to 1723; in the latter year it was taken by the Russians, who restored it to the Persians in 1735. In 1806 it again came into possession of Russia and has since remained under her rule. In 1901 it was the scene of a great conflagration, and in 1905 sanguinary conflicts took place here between the Armenian and Tatar elements. The oil industry suffered great damage, the losses reaching into the tens of millions of rubles. The commercial and industrial sections of the town were almost obliterated. Pop. (1910) 217,900. Consult Henry, (Baku: An Eventful History) (1906); Louts, 'The Baku Petroleum Distnce in Engineering Magazine (No. XV, New York 1898); Marvin, (The Region of Eternal Fire' (new ed., London 1891).