The nature of Azerbaijan has blown me away, exceeding all expectations. While living in the Caucasus country by the Caspian Sea I have had the incredible opportunity to frequently travel across Azerbaijan’s many regions showcasing the wide geographic range of the nation. Every region is unique in both culture and nature. In this blog I will share one photo each from some of my favorite regions, to provide a brief tour of Azerbaijan’s astounding variety of natural beauty.
Khizi: Along the Caspian Sea coast, about halfway between Azerbaijan’s capital city Baku and the Russian border, sits a fossilized mountain range unlike any other. The Candy Cane Mountains of Khizi, as they are known in English, earn their title thanks to a captivating horizontal red stripe pattern that repeats up the range like a candy cane! Mountains are hike-able, and the views from the peaks are stunning. These mountains used to be underwater eons ago, and when the slate layers containing iron came into contact with water they oxidized and turned red. The mountains are covered in fossilized shells that look like thin smooth rocks, another fascinating reminder of the ancient sea life that once lived throughout the area.
Khinaliq: Sitting at a remarkable 2,180 meter elevation, Khinaliq is one of the highest elevation villages in Europe. The population of this ancient village has been so isolated over the centuries that they have their own unique language separate from Azeri. The mountain views here are unmatched. Standing at the village’s peak yields a 360-degree unobscured panorama of the Greater Caucasus Mountains.
Qobustan: The Rock Art Cultural Landscape in Qobustan National Park is a massive rocky hill designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. As you may have already inferred from the name, this site is home to protected and astonishingly well-preserved cave carvings! Images of animals, warriors, and dancers depict the stories of the mountain’s inhabitants from thousands of years in the past. Located on an elevated plateau not far from the rock drawings is a cluster of miniature mud volcanoes. These geysers bubble with what I can only describe as clean, cement-colored mud year-round. Many locals bathe their children in mud here for its supposed healing properties.
Lerik: Located all the way down in the southeastern section of Azerbaijan, Lerik is a region in the Lesser Caucasian Mountains. The area is heavily forested, unlike most of eastern and northern Azerbaijan, and is home to a wealth of wonderful hiking trails. Mountainside life here is quiet, calm, and agriculturally based.
Quba: The Southern Caucasus Mountains are the lower portion of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range, which stretches from Russia on the Black Sea, across Georgia, and into northern Azerbaijan. It is not an exaggeration when I say that these are among the most scenic mountains I have ever visited. Within the mountains every view is unique – canyons, waterfalls, rivers, peaks of snowcapped giants even in the summer – my words cannot capture the mountains’ grandeur.
Sheki: One of the oldest settlements in Azerbaijan, Sheki is another fantastic place to view to Southern Caucasus Mountains from the northwestern part of the country. I wish to emphasize the historical richness of this town, highlighting especially the palace and fortress of Azerbaijan’s Sheki Khans! The town is also home to vendors of traditional Azerbaijani products: handwoven clothing, local sweets, fresh produce, handmade jewelry, stained-glass, rugs, and much more.
I sincerely hope that some readers of this post will have future opportunities to visit Azerbaijan. The dynamic nature here is unlike any other nation to which I have travelled. Words and photographs can only convey so much – come to the Land of Fire and experience this beauty for yourself!
By Sebastian Farris
American Councils Study Abroad Need-Based Scholarship
Dan E. Davidson Fellowship Recipient
Overseas Professional and Intercultural Training Program
Baku, Azerbaijan, Summer 2024