Qobustan rock arts, Mud Volcanoes, Fire temple Ateshgah, Yanardag

The Temple of Eternal Fire - Ateshgah - is an authentic Azerbaijani exotic. It is well-known practically all over the world.This territory is known for such unique natural phenomenon as burning natural gas outlets (underground gas coming onto surface contacts oxygen and lights up). The temple in its present state was constructed in the 17th-18th centuries. It was built by the Baku-based Hindu community related to Sikhs.

However, the history of the Temple is even longer. From times immemorial this was the holy place of Zoroastrians- fire worshippers (approximately beginning of our era). They attributed mystical significance to the inextinguishable fire and came there to worship the relic.

One of the most famous and popular tourist places of the "eternal flame” in Azerbaijan is the mountain of Yanar Dag. In times of old, Azerbaijan was a country of fire-worshipers, followers of the Zoroastrian cult. People believed that fire sources were the manifestation of divine power, they worshiped them, building altars and temples.

Azerbaijan has the most mud volcanoes of any country, spread broadly across the country. 350 of the 800 volcanoes of the world are in the Azerbaijani Republic. According to the information, mud volcanoes initially began their activity in the territory of Azerbaijan 25 million years ago.

Mud volcanoes are associated with oilfields. Rich oil and gas fields are found in the territories of mud volcanoes (Lokbatan, Garadgh, Neft Dashlari, Mishovdagh and others). In addition, lava, mud and liquid erupted by mud volcanoes are used as raw materials in chemical and construction industries and also in pharmacology.

Interesting facts:

• Geologists of NASA studying Mars planet, concluded that mud volcanoes of Azerbaijan are similar to uplands of the planet for their structure.
• The eruptions of volcanoes are used as raw material in the chemical and construction industries as well as in pharmacology.
• Volcanic clay and mud are used in the treatment of diseases related nervous system, skin and rheumatism.
• On September 5, 2004 the greatest mud volcano in the territory of Azerbaijan was added into the Guinness World Records.
• Otman Bozdag is the second largest mud volcano, according to the local media reports. Its eruption on September 23, 2018 produced mud extrusions that has reached 4 km long and cracks as deep as 80 m.

Located 60 km from Baku the State Historical-Artistic Reserve “Qobustan” is an open-air museum. It's listed in the UNESCO World Heritage List as "outstanding universal value" for the quality and density of its rock art engravings - more than 6,000 drawings on 1,000 rocks, more than 100,000 artefacts and others.