Azerbaijan, located between the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus Mountains, is home to hundreds of active mud volcanoes. Locally known as “yanardagh”, which means “burning mountain”, these volcanoes regularly expel mud, water, gases, and flames, creating a spectacular landscape.
Mud volcanoes exist on almost every continent. It is estimated that Azerbaijan has around 400 mud volcanoes, more than half of the world’s total. Most are found along the Caspian Sea coast, particularly on the Absheron Peninsula and in the protected area of Gobustan.
Mud volcanoes form when deep, hot water within the earth begins to mix with underground mineral deposits, creating thick mud that is then expelled to the surface due to local pressure imbalances. Eruptions occur regularly but unpredictably, with intervals ranging from a few years to centuries between each event.
Their size ranges from just one or two meters in height and width to 700 meters high and 10 kilometers wide. Geologists believe that Azerbaijan’s mud volcanoes are about 25 million years old.
The eruptions are often spectacular, with underground explosions, flames that reach many meters high, and mud and rocks ejected into the air. However, they rarely pose significant danger, as the temperatures are much lower than in igneous volcanoes, ranging from just above freezing to about 100°C. In some places, they are even used for mud baths.
Since 1810, about 200 eruptions have occurred in 50 volcanoes within the Republic of Azerbaijan, some with flames up to 1,000 meters high. The Caspian Sea itself has over 140 underwater mud volcanoes, and eight islands in the Baku archipelago originated as mud volcanoes.
Some of the most important mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan include:
- Lokbatan. Located just 15 kilometers from the capital Baku, this mud volcano has had at least 17 recorded eruptions since the 19th century, the most recent in 2001.
- Gobustan. This nature reserve contains more than half of the country’s mud volcanoes. Tourists often bathe in the mud, which is believed to have healing properties.
- Göytəpə. At 190 meters high, this is the tallest mud volcano in Azerbaijan. It has had numerous explosive eruptions in recent decades.
- Dashgil. Located on an island in the Caspian Sea, this volcano had a dramatic eruption in July 2021, with a fireball and 500-meter-high flames visible from the capital, 74 kilometers away.
- Ayranteken. Considered one of the most active volcanoes, with frequent underground explosions and enormous flares. Its last eruption was in the 1990s.
In addition to their beauty and geological rarity, mud volcanoes have several practical uses. The mud and ejected materials are used in the chemical and construction industries, and they are also believed to have healing properties, being used in therapeutic treatments and spas. The emitted gas, primarily methane, can also be collected and used as fuel.
Scientists are particularly interested in studying Azerbaijan’s mud volcanoes, as they could shed light on similar geological phenomena on other planets. In fact, some formations on Mars are believed to be ancient, now inactive mud volcanoes.
With its hundreds of constantly active mud volcanoes, Azerbaijan offers visitors the rare spectacle of real volcanic eruptions up close, but without the danger of molten lava. This peculiar natural wonder makes this small country in the Caucasus a fascinating destination for tourists and scientists alike.
This article was first published on our Spanish Edition on September 26, 2023: Los espectaculares volcanes de lodo de Azerbaiyán
SOURCES
Ronnie Gallagher, Mud Volcanoes: Mysterious Phenomena Fascinate Scientists and Tourists
Gobustan Mud Volcanoes (New 7 Wonders of Nature)
Wikipedia, Volcanes de lodo de Azerbaiyán
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