$100,000,000,000 PARADISE ISLANDS BECOMES ABANDONED AFTER HORRID PROJECT GONE WRONG

Although Azerbaijan had high hopes, the $100 billion Khazar Islands project was a complete disaster. Official work on an extremely ambitious project that may have been the height of engineering began back in 2011. Though initially touted as the project that would establish Azerbaijan's engineering prowess, the Khazar Islands now lie largely deserted. The plan, which was also referred to as the Caspian Islands, was supposed to include 55 man-made islands connected by more than 150 bridges. The paradise islands, which are located only 25 kilometres south of Baku, would have developed strong connections with the rest of Europe. The islands were supposed to be home to 150 schools, 50 hospitals, daycare centres, parks, shopping centres, cultural centres, and even a university campus. There would have been enough housing options on the islands for a million people. However, the project took on even greater ambition when it was announced that the $2 billion Azerbaijan Tower would host a Formula 1 race. It's funny to remember that Formula 1 did visit Azerbaijan in 2016 when drivers like Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton raced through Baku's streets. However, what became of the islands of paradise? Well, businessman Ibrahim Ibrahimov of Azerbaijan originally introduced the concept in 2010, with the intention of competing with Dubai's opulent Palm Islands. The businessman told reporters that many people had shown interest in the project at the time of announcement, indicating that his idea had quickly materialised. Ibrahimov set to work, hoping to have the "new Venice" finished by 2023. Although work on the ambitious project started in March 2011, the businessman's plan quickly collapsed on him.