An Archipelago is a group of islands, situated near one another. The archipelago of Baku consists of following islands: Boyuk Zira, Dash Zira, Kichik Zira (or sandy island), Zanbil, Sangi-Mugan, Chikil, Qarasu, Khara Zira, Chilov, Pirallahi, Ignat Dash ets. The names of the most islands were changed after annexing of Azerbaijan to Russia. For example, Boyuk Zira was named Nargin, Dash Zira – Volf, Zanbil was called Duvanniy, Sangi-Mugan - Svinoy, Chikil – Oblivnoi, Qara su – Los, Zira – Qlinyaniy, Khara Zira – Bulla, Chilov – Jiloy, Pirallahi – Artem.
Khara Zira is considered one of the largest island in the archipelago of Baku, its area is 3.5 square km, the largest length - 3.4 km, width – 2.6 km.
Boyuk Zira is the biggest island separating Baku gulf from the sea. It is situated on the south of the Absheron peninsula, its length – 3.1 km, with – 0.9 km. The north-west of the island is vertical and steep. There is little vegetation.
Dash Zira (Volf) is the second island separating the gulf from the sea. The area of the island is 0.1 square km, overall length – 0.7 km, width – 0.1 km. It is situated near Boyuk Zira and Kichik Zira. The environs are shallow. The vegetation is sparce. The name of Zira come from the word Djazira (island). The part of the word – Dja dropped and remained only Zira. The names given to these two islands - Nargin and Volf are connected with the name of Peter I. Having seen on the map the similarity of these islands with Gulf of Finland Peter I gave them the same names.
Kichik Zira (Sandy island) – is the third island separating the gulf from the sea. The surface is covered with sand and sea shells.
Island Qara Su (Los) with the length of 900 m, and with of 600 m, aroused as a result of convulsion of nature. There were large gas-fields here.
Renaming of island Zanbil into Duvanniy is connected with the name of Stepan Razin. He was dividing his trophy on this island. Therefore, the island began to be called as Duvanniy (the word “duvanit” means money in Russian). The area of the island is 0.4 square km, overall length – 0.9 km, width – 0.4 km.
The islands is used, mainly, for economic (petroleum production) purposes, though one can turn them into the area of recreation, entertainment and fishery.
Two mountain peaks are striking in the West at entry in Baku from the South through Gulf Puta. They are situated at a height of 1395 (approximately 400 meters) higher than sea level. These mountains peaks are called Gates of Baku.