Whether in rain or snow, the flames of Yanar Dag dance continuously on the slopes of the Absheron Peninsula. At night, it illuminates the entire area. In winter, snowflakes that have yet to touch the ground evaporate and disappear into the air.
Azerbaijan is a country located at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia. The Absheron Peninsula is renowned for being one of the earliest oil-producing regions in the world. Since the 1870s, this area has been engaged in mass crude oil distillation.
Absheron Peninsula.
In addition to oil, Absheron is rich in lime, sand, and salt. Thanks to this, despite the arid climate (with rainfall below 200mm/year) and barren land, this peninsula has formed Baku, the largest and most populous city in Azerbaijan.
And it is here on this peninsula that we find the story of a fire that never goes out, and I mean that literally.
Absolutely Never Extinguished
Driving north from bustling Baku for about half an hour, you will come across a mountainside that is ablaze. It is called Yanar Dag, meaning “the burning mountain.”
True to its name, Yanar Dag has been continuously burning for 4,000 years and will never stop. Regardless of storms or snow, its flames dance vigorously on a low hillside.
The fire known as Yanar Dag, meaning “the burning mountain.”
From the fissures in the sandstone surrounding this hillside, flames erupt, soaring a meter high and burning endlessly. This makes the already sultry hillside feel even more stifling.
The reason Yanar Dag can burn forever is due to the abundant natural gas reserves in Absheron. Beneath the ground where Yanar Dag blazes is an incredibly persistent gas flow. Unless this gas flow is cut off, Yanar Dag will never be extinguished.
Even Nearby Streams Can Catch Fire
In fact, Yanar Dag is so rich in natural gas that even the surfaces of nearby streams are filled with this gas. Just striking a match can ignite the atmosphere above the water.
This fire has been burning since ancient times.
Throughout Yanar Dag, the smell of gas is overpowering. According to records by the Italian explorer Marco Polo (1254-1324) – one of the first Europeans to reach Asia via the famous Silk Road – this fire has been burning since ancient times. However, there are also records indicating that Yanar Dag was only recently ignited, perhaps due to the carelessness of a shepherd in the 1950s.
In reality, flames like Yanar Dag were once common throughout Azerbaijan. Thanks to them, this country has been honored as the “land of fire.” However, to let them burn freely seemed wasteful, so most of them were extinguished.
Significant in Zoroastrian Beliefs
Since the late 7th century BC, Zoroastrianism (also known as Fire Worship, Fire Religion, or Fire Belief) has begun. Its followers believe that fire is a medium connecting humans with the supernatural world. Divination and prophecy through observing flames were very popular.
From Baku, heading east, you will encounter the Ateshgah Fire Temple, an important shrine for the Zoroastrian faith in Azerbaijan.
Ateshgah Fire Temple.
The most unique aspect of the Ateshgah Fire Temple is that it was built on a natural gas vent. Therefore, it once had a constantly burning altar. Unfortunately, throughout the 19th century, Ateshgah fell into disrepair, perhaps due to the decline of the Indian population in the area. After nearly a century of rampant oil and gas exploitation, in 1969, the eternal flame on the altar was extinguished.
However, if you wish to visit the Ateshgah Fire Temple to admire the legendary eternal flame, don’t worry! It has been reignited with gas piped in from a nearby city.
Supernatural Splendor in the Snow
Today, both the Ateshgah Fire Temple and Yanar Dag no longer hold the sacred religious roles of the past. In fact, since the late 19th century, the Ateshgah Fire Temple has not been used for worship.
In 1975, Azerbaijan decided to transform this pentagonal complex into a museum. By 1998, Ateshgah was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Since then, it has become an attraction, welcoming about 15,000 visitors each year.
Yanar Dag burns brightly even during the day, but is particularly stunning at night.
<pSimilarly to Ateshgah, visitors to Yanar Dag come not for religious beliefs but simply to satisfy their visual curiosity. Yanar Dag blazes brightly during the day, but is especially beautiful at night. Surrounding the expansive flames are barren hills, completely desolate. Thus, the fire can shine freely, illuminating the entire area.
In the winter, Yanar Dag becomes even more dazzlingly magical. Snowflakes float in the air, evaporating before they even reach the ground, disappearing as if into thin air.
And because it will never extinguish, no matter how long it takes, Yanar Dag will continue to shine brightly, patiently waiting for you to come and admire it.
