Natural Fire In Azerbaijan Has Been Burning For Years And Not Even Rain Can Extinguish It

Jan 04, 2020 by apost team

This world is full of its share of awesome and surprising natural wonders. One such sight is on the Absheron Peninsula in Azerbaijan and, according to folklore, it has been quietly enthralling onlookers for more than 4,000 years. Read on to find out why they can’t seem to stop looking at this most unusual spectacle.

Yanar Dag, or “burning mountainside,” is the name given to this seemingly eternal flame. Flames shoot as high as nearly 10 feet along this fabled 32-mile length of mountain. Despite rain, snow, and a multitude of other hazardous weather conditions, this is one flame that has never gone out.

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Naturally occurring underground gas reserves are thought to fan this flame, reports The Hindu. Since the gas is under high-pressure, it is forced through cracks in the mountain. Once it escapes, it burns and impressively skyrockets through the air, much like a geyser.

The theme of eternal flames is so compelling that Azerbaijanis dedicated a temple to this phenomenon. Although it was turned into a museum in 1975, the Ateshgah Fire Temple in Baku is still considered a sacred site. According to Culture Trip, Hindus and Zoroastrians consider such a flame a path to the divine.

Surely this legendary flame has kindled awe for the natural world in you. Do you have a favorite natural treasure, or have you visited a sacred site that’s part of a mountain like this one? Gather a crowd for awe-inspiring tales of beauty and wonder with your story through this community or other social media venues.