Regardless of rain or snow, the eternal flame in Azerbaijan has burned continuously for thousands of years.
Azerbaijan is a small country situated between Eastern Europe and Central Asia, known as the "land of fire." Tourists visiting Azerbaijan often seek out the slopes of the Absheron Peninsula, about 14 km from the capital Baku, where a peculiar fire burns brightly year-round.
Aliyeva Rahila, a tour guide in Azerbaijan, said the location with the strange fire is named Yanar Dag by the locals, meaning "burning mountainside." The Yanar Dag mountainside is home to many natural gas deposits. Thousands of years ago, geological changes in the area caused the Earth's crust to fracture, resulting in a continuous release of gas and the resulting fires. The flames here stretch for about 10 meters along the mountainside.
A flame has burned brightly for thousands of years on the slopes of the Absheron Peninsula, Azerbaijan. Photo: Must see spots.
Previously, gas leaks were common in Azerbaijan, but these incidents reduced underground gas pressure, hindering commercial gas extraction, so most were extinguished. The fire at Yanar Dag is one of the few remaining and has become a popular tourist attraction to this day.
Beyond its scientific significance, Yanar Dag also holds many important historical and cultural imprints for the Azerbaijani people. This land has been visited by many explorers. The mysterious fire on Yanar Dag mountain also appears in many ancient documents dating back to the 13th century.
The Italian explorer Marco Polo wrote about mysterious phenomena he encountered while traveling through Azerbaijan in the 13th century. Merchants traveling along the Silk Road also passed on many stories about these mysterious fires as they traveled to other countries. Thanks to this widespread dissemination, Azerbaijan became known as the "land of fire".
From ancient times, fire has played a significant role in Azerbaijani culture. In the early years before Christ, the ancient Zoroastrian religion in Azerbaijan worshipped fire. Meanwhile, Zoroastrianism worshipped a fire god, a practice originating from Iran.
Zoroastrians believed that fire connected humans to the supernatural, helping to unlock wisdom. Additionally, fire sustained life, purified the environment, and was always present in religious ceremonies and rituals.
Therefore, naturally occurring fires were considered sacred by the ancient Azerbaijanis. Today, the religious significance surrounding the Yanar Dag fire has gradually faded. Most visitors come here out of curiosity and to admire the surrounding natural landscape.
Guide Rahila says the most impressive experience is at night, or in winter. When snow falls near the fire, the snowflakes melt in the air before they even touch the ground. At night, the fire blazes, illuminating the entire mountainside.
Tourists traveling north from the capital Baku will reach this location in about 30 minutes. Around the Yanar Dag mountain area, there is only a small cafe and not many services for tourists.
For a deeper insight into Azerbaijan's fire-worship history, visitors should head east of Baku to the Ateshgah Fire Temple. The temple was built in the 17th and 18th centuries by Indian migrants to Baku. The name Ateshgah comes from Persian, meaning "house of fire." Thousands of years ago, the ancient Azerbaijanis believed that the fire god resided here.
At the center of the temple is a shrine where a natural flame once burned. However, this flame went out in 1969. Since then, the flame has only been lit on ceremonial occasions or to provide light for tourists.
The Ateshgah Temple was converted into a museum in 1975. The site was also nominated for a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. As of December 2022, Azerbaijan receives approximately 15,000 visitors annually.
Bich Phuong
According to CNN
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