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By: Jeyhun Pashayev

Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan

SPECIAL PROTECTION AREAS AND GEOPARK CONCEPT IN THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

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AZERBAIJAN: BIODIVERSITY

I. Plant species – 4,500+

II. Animal species

Invertebrates – 25,000+

Fish – 104

Amphibians – 11

Reptiles – 63

Birds – 405

Mammals – 115

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REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN: SPECIAL PROTECTION AREAS

Total coverage: 10.31% of the country’s territory

10 State Nature Reserves (1.39 %)
10 National Parks (4.87 %)
24 State Nature Sanctuaries (4.05 %)

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Years →

Number of tourists →

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111 ecotourism routes have been established since the inception of national parks in Azerbaijan to develop ecotourism in the areas with recreational potential.

ECOTOURISM POTENTIAL OF NATIONAL PARKS

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Azerbaijan on UNESCO’s World Heritage List:

Walled City of Baku with the Shirvanshah’s Palace and Maiden Tower
Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape
Historic Center of Sheki with the Khan’s Palace

+ 15 cutoms and traditions classified as the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity:

Azerbaijani Mugham
Art of Azerbaijani Ashiq
Novruz (Nowruz)
Traditional art of Azerbaijani carpet weaving in the Republic of Azerbaijan
Craftsmanship and performance art of the Tar, a long-necked string musical instrument
Chovqan, a traditional Karabakh horse-riding game in the Republic of Azerbaijan
Traditional art and symbolism of Kelaghayi, making and wearing women’s silk headscarves
Copper craftsmanship of Lahij
Flatbread making and sharing culture: Lavash, Katyrma, Jupka, Yufka
Dolma making and sharing tradition, a marker of cultural identity
Art of crafting and playing with Kamancha, a bowed string musical instrument
Yalli (Kochari, Tenzere), traditional group dances of Nakhchivan
Heritage of Dede Qorqud, epic culture, folk tales and music
Art of miniature
Nar Bayrami, traditional pomegranate festivity and culture

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SITES ON UNESCO TENTATIVE LIST

Hirkan forests

Mud volcanoes in Baku and Absheron Peninsula

Hirkan (tertiary) forests (Azerbaijan) were submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2020.

Terrestrial Toraghay and Ayazakhtama mud volcanoes and volcanic Sangi-Mughan island in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea were submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

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In Azerbaijan, work on the development of GEOPARKS started at the initiative of Mehriban Aliyeva, the country’s first vice president.

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GEOPARK AWARENESS-RAISING

In November 2021, an infotour was organized to Toraghay, Qilinj, and Aghdam mud volcanoes, with participation of representatives from a number of government agencies, private institutions, embassies and international organizations.

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GEOPARK PROMOTION ACTIVITIES

Awareness raising among media representatives

A visit of foreign guests to mud volcanoes

Distributed of awareness-raising booklets among the locals

A visit by international & local paralympians

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MUD VOLCANOES TO BE INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSED GEOPARK SITE

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Pilpili Qaradagh mud volcano

An oval-shaped mud volcano

Volcano cone has symmetric and crater steep slopes.

Relative height - 50m

Crater diameter is around 10m, with an active salse.

Located within the State Nature Reserve.

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Stands 60 km south-east away from Baku, in the vicinity of the Umbaku onshore oil field.
One of the largest and scenic mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan.
A large crater, measuring 600m in diameter, involves numerous active cones, gryphons and salses of different size.
Located within the State Nature Reserve.

Qalandarakhtarma mud volcano

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Qoturdagh mud volcano

Located 60 km south-west away from Baku.

Relative height - 150m; morphologically resembles a truncated cone with the sunken caldera measuring 150m in diameter and 15-20m in depth.

Solitary mud volcano.

Following an eruption over 100 years ago, the volcano crater appeared to look like mud breccias squeezed out of the crescent-shape fracture measuring 50m in length and 15m in width.

Outside of the the State Nature Reserve.

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Located 65 km south-west away from Baku, with a relative height of 150m, this mud volcano resembles an elongated elevation.
There are several 2-3m deep large fractures around the crater field extended up to 700-800m long.
Crumbled mud breccias are observed within the center of the crater.
Eruptions are accompanied by oil-saturated rocks in large quantities.
Located within the State Nature Reserve.

Ayrantokan mud volcano

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Unique to Azerbaijan, belonging to the endemic group of oil-emitting mud volcanoes.
Active mud volcano with unparalleled view and physical and other properties.
Permanent oil emissions make the surroundings look unusual.
A hotspot for ecotourism.
Located within the State Nature Reserve.

Kirdagh mud volcano

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Involves five groups of sopkas and gryphons.
Sit atop Qovundagh and Maykop sediments.
There are several active gryphons alongside the crater bounds.
Volcanic breccias cover 100ha.
Complicated with two fractures of unknown amplitude.
Located within the State Nature Reserve.

Buransız-Chulgha mud volcano

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Qılınj mud volcano

A mud volcano within the reserve area.
Active gryphons emit gasified mud flows.

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Located south-west away from Boyanata mountain.
Involves two groups of mud volcanoes.
Distribution of sopkas, gryphons and oil outcrops coincide with the concentration of Maykop sediments.
From the Teutonic point of view, sits along the south-western slopes of the Boyanata-Saridash anticline.
Located within the State Nature Reserve.

Sarıdash-Boyanata mud volcano

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Located 70km south-east off Baku.

One of the largest and most active island mud volcano within the Baku Archipelago.

Characterized by diversity of various gryphons and salses seeping gas, water and mud with oil films.

First two eruptions were recorded in February and March 1876.

Most extensive and durable (lasting two days) eruption occurred in April 1977.

The latest eruption without blazing and outburst breccias took place in 1993.

Located within the State Nature Reserve.

Qarasu island mud volcano

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Located 5km south-west off the Zanbil island.

An oval-shape structure, covering 350 ha, with the length of 3.3 km, including the cape tail.

A hotspot for ecotourism since it is the largest mud volcano island.

Last eruption occurred in 1997.

Located within the State Nature Reserve.

Khara-Zira mud volcano

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Located west away from Qizildash settlement, a suburb of Baku.

Salses and gryphons emit gas, mud and oily water.

Last eruption took place on the 20^th of March 1967.

Outside of the State Nature Reserve.

Davaboynu mud volcano

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Composed of two sopka groups and located ashore the Caspian Sea, in the Qaradagh administrative district of Baku.

Some sopkas are 8 to 10 meters high.

Salses and gryphons emit gas, mud and oily water.

Last eruption occurred on the 20^th of March 1967.

Outside of the State Nature Reserve.

Bahar mud volcano

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Located 4.5km south-west away from Alat railway station, in the Qaradağ administrative district of Baku.

Volcanic breccias cover 550ha.

The maximum and relative heights measure 216 and 280m, respectively. The landscape is a dissected topography.

Outside of the State Nature Reserve.

Dalyaniz mud volcano

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Located north-west away from Alat railway station.

Creates a volcanic series that also includes Dalyaniz and Dashgil mud volcanoes.

The crater measures 250-300 meters in diameter.

Volcanic breccias cover 510ha.

Outside of the State Nature Reserve.

Goyarchin mud volcano

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The most famous mud volcano in Azerbaijan.

Located 2-2.5 km away from Alat railway station.

In terms of morphology it is quite flat but latitudinally it is extended 100m high spurry rise elevated over surrounding terrain.

Outside of the State Nature Reserve.

Dashgil mud volcano

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PROPOSALS FOR COOPERATION

Exchange of experience, involving, joint training and study tours, in the field of management of special protection nature areas;
Exchange programs and projects with members of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network;
Cooperation on ecotourism development in GEOPARK areas.