The European Space Agency has released a striking new Copernicus Sentinel-2 image of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, in recognition of World Environment Day. Situated on the western shore of the Caspian Sea, Baku is one of the oldest cities in the Caucasus region and serves as a major transportation, energy and economic hub.
The image highlights the contrast between the dense urban development surrounding Baku Bay and the arid landscapes that characterize much of eastern Azerbaijan. The Caspian Sea, the world’s largest inland body of water, dominates the eastern portion of the scene, while the Absheron Peninsula extends into the water and provides the geographic setting for the city.
Sentinel-2 imagery continues to play an important role in monitoring urban growth, land-use change, water resources and environmental conditions around the globe. The mission is part of the European Union’s Copernicus Earth-observation program and provides freely available data to researchers, governments and industry.
Image credit: contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data (2026), processed by ESA
