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17 June 2023
I had just one day in the Baky area on my way home from Kazakhstan. This was due to the 48 hour rule that my employers apply to stop-overs, which I needed to adhere if I wanted to have my flight expenses reimbursed.
Bibi-Heybat Mosque
This is described as a recreation of the original mosque which was destroyed by the Soviets in 1936, but it looks very different from photos of the original. It is build on the tomb of Ukeyma Khanum, a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. The window on the left is on the women't prayer room and is constructed without any adhesives. It seems it all just fits together.
Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape
Apparently this site contains more than 6000 rock engravings and there is evidence of inhabited caves and burials. These go back to the wet period that followed the last ice age. The picture on the left is of a partly hollow limestone rock which can be struck to create musical sounds.
Gobustan Mud Volcanoes
Azerbaijan has 350 of the 700 mud volcanoes of the world. Eight islands in the Baku Archipelago originate from mud volcanoes. Mud volcanoes are associated with oilfields.
Yanar Dagh (Fire Mountain)
Yanar Dash means mountain fire and is a natural gas fire that burns continuously despite the Soviet's attempt to put it out.
Ateshgah (Fire Temple)
This was originally also a site of methane seepage and a natural fire but now the gas comes from the mains.The temple was used as a Hindu, Sikh, and Zoroastrian place of worship. The image on the right is to Lord Shiva in Sanskrit. Note the swastika which was a symbol of good luck and well-being until the Nazis adopted it.