Geography
The Yanar Dag fire is never extinguished. Around this open fireplace the atmosphere is filled with the smell of gas. The flames emanate from vents in sandstone formations and rise to a height of 10 feet (3.0 m) (different figures are mentioned in other references) at the base of a 30-foot (9.1 m)-wide scarp below a hillside. Yanar Dag is described by the Geological Survey of Azerbaijan as "Intensive flames, to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) high, develop for 15 metres (49 ft) along the base of a 2–4 metres (6 ft 7 in–13 ft 1 in) high and 200 metres (660 ft) long tectonic scarp". The surface flames result from the steady gas emissions from underlying soils.
Even on the surface of streams near Yanar Dag fire can be ignited with a lit match. These streams, which otherwise appear calm, are known as Yanar Bulaq – "burning springs". There are several such springs in the vicinity of the Vilascay River, which the local people use to take a curative bath for their ailments.
Alexander Dumas, during one of his visits to the area, described a similar fire he saw in the region inside one of the Zoroastrian fire temples built around it. Only a handful of fire mountains exist today in the world, and most are located in Azerbaijan. Due to the large concentration of natural gas under the Absheron Peninsula, natural flames burned there throughout antiquity and were reported by historical writers such as Marco Polo.
The closest city to Yanar Dag is Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, which has a good network of roads, railway lines and ports. The Heydar Aliyev International Airport is the nearest airport, which is 25 kilometres (16 mi) away from Baku (one km off the Baku-Mardakan road). Baku International Marine Trade Port in the Bay of Baku is the nearest port. Most mud volcanoes are located off the Baku‐Shamakha road, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) away from the city.
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