Yanardag

Land of Fires Azerbaijan Yanardag is a live explanation why Azerbaijan called Land of Fires. There are many historical and natural monuments associated with the natural ignition of gas on the surface of the earth. Yanar Dag and Ateshgah are […]

     

Land of Fires Azerbaijan

Yanardag is a live explanation why Azerbaijan called Land of Fires. There are many historical and natural monuments associated with the natural ignition of gas on the surface of the earth. Yanar Dag and Ateshgah are clear examples of such monuments. The historical and cultural and natural reserve “Yanardag” is located 25 km to the northeast of Baku near the village of Mammadli on the Apsheron Peninsula. Here you can observe an interesting natural phenomenon – the ignition of natural gas at the foot of the hill.

History

The Venetian traveler Marco Polo, during his visit to China in the 13th century, is said to have observed numerous places of spontaneous flame ignition on the Apsheron Peninsula. The famous French writer Alexander Dumas also witnessed this flame five centuries later. “This is an absolutely interesting and fascinating thing that you can not find anywhere else in the world,” he wrote. Historical evidence is proof that in ancient times in Azerbaijan there were many places similar to Yanardag. Most of such places as, for example, in Surakhani, disappeared, as industrial drilling of oil wells reduced underground gas pressure. However, Yanar Dag (Burning Mountain) is the only place where natural gas burns, to this day. This is not a large hill, the height of 116 meters, fully justifies its name. From the depths of the earth’s crust, the gas comes to the surface through a porous layer of sandstone and flares up in the flame, creating an exciting spectacle.

Understand

The 10-meter wall of fire is constantly burning at the foot of the hill. This is an impressive sight, especially in the dark. Apsheron wind, twists the flame, giving it a bizarre shape, adding this place of mystery.

The water in these places is saturated with sulfur, therefore, it is easily ignited, it is enough to strike a match. But the locals do not fear springs. On the contrary, they believe that water has medicinal properties and bathe in it for hours. Approximately, 200 meters from the mountain there is a weak active mud volcano that emits a mixture of mud and sulfur water. It is believed that this mud also has medicinal properties.

In Yanar-Dag there are a bunch of local legends about the origin of the fire. One of them says that in this area when there was a camp of “reasonable” wolves, who made inscriptions on the walls near the lying caves. Scientists believe that wolves in these legends could be primitive people who accidentally set fire to a gas-filled mountain.

Even today, the natural fire on the hillside does not cease to amaze tourists and local residents. Since Yanar Dag burns irrespective of weather conditions, the mountain is considered sacred. Natural fire inspired ancient people and played a crucial role in the creation of religious beliefs, such as Zoroastrianism, in the center of which was the cult of fire. Yanardag is a place of pilgrimage for the Zoroastrians from Azerbaijan, as well as foreigners from India and Iran. Today, Yanar-Dag is now a protected place, and extensive archaeological research is being conducted in this area.

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