Gobustan National Park: Azerbaijan. and a mountain of fire
Driving out to Gobustan State Reserve which is about 40 miles from Baku I soon realised that once out of the city the Az landscape is kinda like fucking bleak! It is strange how the mind works, an instant recall of a classic 70's soft rock tune by America. "A horse with no name", and even writing this up now it has started playing in my head again.
The reserve was established back in 1966 when the region was declared as a national historical landmark of SSR Azerbaijan.
"Rocks with inscriptions and tamgas are monuments of ancient Azerbaijani culture. It is forbidden by law to climb or damage them. Academy of Sciences of the Azerbaijan SSR. 1950
Not exactly a great nature experience, out in the hot flag cracking sun with no shade saw a few of the party wilting, and wandering off back to the jeeps, fuck me it is the middle of summer do you not research in advance what the climate is like?
It is a UNESCO World Heritage site known for its extensive collection of over 6,000 pre-historic rock engravings, depicting scenes of ancient life, hunting, and rituals, which our guide took great delight in explaining in great detail what a selection of them were all about, at which point I started to wilt and wandered off back to the jeep
Hardly pre-historic
Our next stop the mantra went, we are going to see some volcanoes, now I mentioned "do your research" and I know yes I really fucking know that Azerbaijan does not have any volcanoes!
Welcome to volcano land, I kid you not
Mud volcanoes! they don't spew out molten lava, but just a mixture of mud, water, and gases. Very underwhelming.
Apparently there are about 400 of these things in the country.
They say it is good for the skin, so is the range of Oil of Ulay, but I wouldn't slap that on my face either.
Yanar Dağ, the 'burning mountain', ( over egged the pudding somewhat as the mountain is about 12 ft high!), is a natural gas fire that burns perpetually on a hillside near Baku, stop number three! The flames escape from a thin, porous layer of sandstone, probably be better seen at night not in the middle of the afternoon. No it would definitely be better seen in the dark.
Another religion Zoroastrian, to them "fire is considered a sacred symbol of the divine, representing the light, wisdom, and purity of Ahura Mazda, the supreme creator"
That is the problem with religion it came before science, and because they knew no better and believed in superstition blah blah blah.......well.
There is a hell of a lot of natural gas beneath the ground in this area and once ignited, so it flames once the combustion triangle is complete.
And an abandoned ride on thingy
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Oh, I don’t know, but I feel like smearing myself with all that mud. It looks so silky in the photos! Haha! And I just hope it’s already reacted and that the fire doesn’t start burning right on top of me. 😐🤣
Puhlease don't tell me one of your new hobbies is now mud wrestling! LOL
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I’ll think about it.
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😁🤣😂
Visit in Winter sounds a better option, there is much beauty in barren landscapes.
Sandstone rocks of interest, tend to find art of old depicting what had inhabited a region lifetimes ago, with wind and rain they too will slowly disappear. Good to see people are not allow to go walk all over this history.
!BEER
Some may love it, I guess I am just a buildings and people lover
There I beg to differ, far away from crowds, city life very little interest.
Old attracts me through the history, fascination with industrial revolution period.
Each to their own, a sad place to be if we were all the same
World would be boring if we all the same in thinking.
👌
Wow. Looks like a different planet. Now I want to go there!
barren wastelands, I hope you get to visit
Lol, it doesn't, indeed. Though I love these Martian landscapes. It is also connected to the past of Azerbaijan, historically known as a stronghold of fire-worshippers.
My dream is to trip in these settings, lol. In Georgia, they have a piece of this arid nature, called Vashlovani National Park, where you can camp for a fee (never been but always wanted) https://nationalparks.ge/en/site/vashlovaninp the prices are outdated, it might be like 15$ a day for renting a tent + camping site. However, doubt they serve freedom caps there :D But as I heard, you can find them in the mountains, like in numerous fields around Kazbegi Town. Vashlovani National Park is isolated and fantastic - really want to go there - maybe in 2026.
Vashlovani looks different, think they need to update their homepage , still giving out anti Covey flu info ROFLMAO.
Yeah, it is greener on average especially in spring but many super arid places there too - the place is diverse.
They didn't update for years - good they at least still pay for the domain and hosting.
I look forwrd to seeing your impressions next year
https://www.reddit.com/r/azerbaijan/comments/1nhjdrv/fantastic_views_of_qobustan_photographs_of_a/
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Hiya, @lizanomadsoul here, just swinging by to let you know that this post made it into our Top 3 in Travel Digest #2684.
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WOW! thanks @lizanomadsoul @worldmappin always appreciate your support, amazed this got such a good upload as a Top 3 BOOM!
Bäääm, well deserved as always @grindle. What a special place you brought us to the map! Thanks for taking us with you.
you're welcome x
Loved reading this, your mix of humor and blunt honesty makes the experience come alive.😅 Gobustan is a place where the history and culture are epic. Still, the mix of ancient carvings, strange geology and the ever-burning fire is pretty unique.
Thank you @gretelarmfeg , always appreciate your input it is good that my style is easy to read trying my best to entertain on such an average place. It is good to me that you enjoyed it Cheers
Always a pleasure @grindle🤗 You definitely know how to keep readers hooked. Cheers!
aww how kind of you x
Thank you 🤗
What a stunning landscape, and to be able to appreciate all those elements that have endured for centuries. Cheers!
Cheers @wilfredocav thanks for popping in, I appreciate your positive vibes.
Thanks for sharing this, Stephen! Gobustan looks like a place full of history and strange natural wonders. Your photos really capture the raw landscape.”
Haha, I see what you mean @grindle, that song is now stuck in my head as well!
Not much to see, and I don't think I would like to use any of that on my face.
weird isn't it how songs you haven't heard in tears can pop into the head how things can trigger the brain cells.
Wow, such an alien landscape. The rock rock carvings are in great shape considering they are exposed to the elements. The burning mountain is truly quite surreal.
cheers @giathebao thanks for popping in, yes I thought that too about the "authenticity" of the drawings!!!!
Hello grindle!
It's nice to let you know that your article won 🥇 place.
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