The spirit of fire and the secrets of the Land of Fire

Azerbaijan has long been referred to as the Land of Fire. And it's no accident either; the Absheron Peninsula is abundant in gas and oil. People from all over the world came to Baku because its burning gas outlets were thought to be a divine secret. In ancient times, fire worshipers congregated there and constructed their temples over holy flames. Ateshgah, an old Zoroastrian temple of flame, is one of them temples. It lies in Surakhany town, 30 kilometers from the capital's center. The temple was constructed by an Indian fire-worshiping community in Baku between the 17th and 18th centuries.

In their trip journals, visitors to Absheron frequently wrote about enigmatic flames. Famous author Alexandre Dumas left intriguing observations about Baku flames after visiting the city in 1858. In the vicinity of Baku, on the Absheron peninsula, is Yanardag (literally, "flaming mountain," with burning flame exits at the surface). Flames had been burning on the hillside for a very long time. To witness the natural wonder, a large number of people from around the world come to this location. Since 2007, the Yanardag has been under the protection of the state, and its land has been designated a historical, cultural, and natural reserve.