Wondermondo 🢖 World 🢖 Wonders of Asia 🢖 Wonders of Azerbaijan
Territory
Wonders of Azerbaijan
Highlights
Few countries have such unusual, exotic landmarks as Azerbaijan. Here are found such natural and man-made wonders as:
- Mud volcanoes – almost 400, more than half of these unusual natural landmarks are found in Azerbaijan.
- Natural eternal flames (ateshgahs) – these torches of natural gas have served as sanctuaries of Zoroastrians.
There are found other unusual landmarks, e.g. Neft Daşları – town which is built in the sea, with 300 km long bridges.
Map with the described wonders
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Top 25 wonders of Azerbaijan
Geological wonders
Yanar Dag
Absheron
Natural eternal flame – a gas fire that is blazing since ancient times. The air here smells like gas and the flaming area is up to 10 m tall. Flames are 1 – 3 m tall. Nearby are Yanar Bulaq – burning springs: streams that can be ignited with a match.
Besh Barmag Mountain (Beş Barmaq)
Absheron
The easternmost mountain in Caucasian Mountains. This large monolith somewhat resembles five fingers and is a sacred place with mythical properties attributed to it. At the mountain are located ruins of ancient structures, built in the 6th – 7th century AD. Here are found several interesting petroglyphs as well as large geoglyph – snake-like carving on the hillside.
Jermajur hot springs
Yukhari-Karabakh
A group of hot springs, includes permanent spouters similar to geysers. Here are interesting sinter formations including small sinter terraces. The temperature of the water is 60° C.
Binagadi asphalt lake
Absheron
Group of tar pits that have formed over thousands of years. Throughout this time in the lake have fallen numerous animals whose bones have been well preserved. The diversity of species found in this lake is very high – 41 species of mammals, 110 birds, 107 insects, 22 plants, etc. These finds provide much knowledge about the past environment in this region.
Archaeological wonders
Parigala (Peri Gala)
Shaki-Zaqatala
Somewhat mysterious structure built on the cliffside 300 m above the base of this cliff. This limestone structure with three rooms most likely was built between the 4th and 5th century AD, in the Caucasian Albanian period.
Chirag Gala Fortress
Quba-Khachmaz
Ruins of a large fortress, built on the hilltop in the 4th – 6th centuries AD as a part of the fortification system between the Caucasian Mountains and the Caspian Sea. Fortress was built on the top of a forested hill.
Yezidabad Castle
Nakhichevan (Autonomous Republic)
Ruins of a mountaintop Sassanid castle that was built in the first half of the 7th century AD.
Architecture wonders
Baku Old City
Absheron
An old city within fortification walls with numerous historical buildings. The development of this city started in the 12th century AD, some structures could be from the 7th century AD. City walls were built in the 11th – 12th century. There have been discovered underground passages under the city.
Neft Daşları (Oil Rocks)
Absheron
This industrial settlement was built 55 km from the shore of the Caspian Sea. This town is the oldest offshore oil platform in the world and consists of a very impressive system of 300 km long bridges – platforms that were built on submerged ships. Neft Daşları is a town with more than 2,000 people, 9-floor houses, food production facilities, cultural palaces, etc.
Flame Towers
Absheron
Group of three futuristic skyscrapers that resemble flames. Buildings are 190 m tall and covered with glass, and whole facades are lit with LED elements thus turning towers into giant display screens.
Maiden Tower
Absheron
Massive, fortified tower, built in the 12th century as a part of the Baku city wall. One of the symbols of Azerbaijan. The tower is 29.5 m tall, there are many legends about it and many guesses about its former use.
Palace of the Shirvanshahs
Absheron
Large memorial and sacred complex. Initially, in the 15th century, it was built as a memorial complex at the burial of a Helwati Sufi saint and, contrary to its name, was not used as a palace but rather as a shrine and healing institution. The whole complex of buildings is impressive and ornate.
Yusif ibn Kuseyir Mausoleum
Nakhichevan (Autonomous Republic)
A small, very ornate mausoleum that was built in 1161 – 1162.
Garabaghlar Mausoleum
Nakhichevan (Autonomous Republic)
An unusual, very ornate mausoleum that consists of a tower formed from 12 half-cylinders. This building most likely was constructed in the 12th – 13th centuries.
Khinalug
Quba-Khachmaz
More than 5,000 years old village high in the Caucasian mountains. Local people speak a distinct language – the Khinalug language. In the village and its environs are located many monuments of history including a Zoroastrian temple (at the site of natural gas emanation), holy caves, and many somewhat mysterious archaeological landmarks.
Palace of Shaki Khans
Shaki-Zaqatala
Historical summer residence of Shaki Khans, constructed in 1797. Valuable are frescoes from the 18th century.
Juma Mosque of Shamakhi
Daglig-Shirvan
The second oldest mosque in the Caucasus, constructed in 743 – 744. The current structure is younger because the mosque was frequently rebuilt due to earthquakes and war damages.
Ramana Tower
Absheron
Magnificent fortification tower that was constructed in the 12th – 14th century.
Shaki Fortress
Shaki-Zaqatala
Large fortress with 1.3 km long walls, built in 1743 – 1755. The walls are up to 8 m tall. 21 fortification towers have been preserved.
Gulustan Mausoleum
Nakhichevan (Autonomous Republic)
Remnants of a large, very ornate mausoleum. The structure was constructed in the 12th – 13th centuries.
Momine Khatun Mausoleum
Nakhichevan (Autonomous Republic)
A beautiful mausoleum that was constructed in 1186 – 1187, one of the highest achievements in Azerbaijani architecture. This approximately 25 m tall tower rises above a vaulted crypt.
Khoda Afarin Bridges
Yukhari-Karabakh
Two impressive bridges over the Aras River. One of the bridges, with 11 arches, was built in the 11th – 12th centuries, and the other one (with 15 arches) in the 13th century.
Muhammad Mosque in Baku (Siniggala)
Absheron
A medieval mosque, built in the 11th century AD. Site of legends.
Mardakan Round Castle
Absheron
Massive donjon – round, 16 m tall tower with a wall around it. Castle was built in 1232.
Yezidabad Castle
Nakhichevan (Autonomous Republic)
Ruins of a mountaintop Sassanid castle that was built in the first half of the 7th century AD.
Recommended books
Azerbaijan – Culture Smart!: The Essential Guide to Customs & Culture
For Westerners, the modern state of Azerbaijan may be hard to pinpoint. This small, oil-rich country in the southern Caucasus, on the southwestern shore of the Caspian Sea, only made its way onto the contemporary world map after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. As the world shrinks and competition for precious resources intensifies, the direction this strategically and economically important country takes will affect us all.
Azerbaijan, 4th: with excursions to Georgia
Perched beside the oil-rich Caspian Sea, compact, hospitable Azerbaijan is astounding in its scenic variety. Painted moonscape deserts, snow-capped Caucasian peaks, subtropical forest, and flower-filled grasslands all lie within a few hours’ drive of Baku, the artistically vibrant, cosmopolitan capital with its UNESCO-recognized walled Old City.