Overview:

Gobustan State Reserve is a mountainous region that lies southwest of the Caspian Sea in Azerbaijan. It is known for its ancient rock art, mud volcanoes, and petroglyphs that date back to the Stone Age. The reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage site and was declared as a national historic reserve by the Republic of Azerbaijan in 2007. It is an important open-air museum that reflects the history of human habitation in the region for more than 10,000 years. Visitors can take tour around the reserve and admire the ancient rock paintings and engravings that tell the stories of Bronze and Iron Ages. Gobustan is also a popular destination for bird-watching and wildlife photography. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Azerbaijan
Prominent Features:

1. Rock Engravings: Gobustan State Reserve is famed for its unique Rock Engravings, containing more than 6,000 images dating back to the end of the last ice age. The engravings includes representation of animals, various symbols, and primitive inscriptions and also depicts different scenes of human life in the past. 2. Caves: The Gobustan Reserve is home to a multitude of caves. The most famous among them are Mudvariani, Abushagir, Ureki, Beshbarmag, Nijniaya, Obekchay, and Chukuryurd. These caves serve as critical archaeological sites as well as playing an important role in the nomadic lifestyle of the settlers in the area. 3. UNESCO World Heritage Site: Gobustan State Reserve was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 2007. This recognition is a testament to the monumental importance of the Gobustan region’s history, engravings and cultural elements. 4. Unusual Rock Formations: Besides the engravings and caves, another feature of Gobustan is its Unusual rock formations. These formations are responsible for the Gobustan area’s mysterious and otherworldly appearance. The most famous of these formations are the giant mud volcanoes. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Azerbaijan.

History:

Gobustan State Reserve is located in western Azerbaijan, 82 miles south of the capital city, Baku. It is made up of iconic rock engravings, mud volcanoes, and ancient archaeological sites. Gobustan is widely regarded as one of the most culturally and historically important places in the country. The State Reserve was founded in 1966, when it was granted status as a National Historical and Artistic Reserve. This gave the area protection from any industrial or farming activities that could damage its rich collection of archaeological sites. The reserve receives around 25,000 visitors each year. Gobustan is home to an unmistakeable collection of ancient rock engravings. The engravings are thought to have been carved by the ancient people of the region, and have been dated back as far as 5,000 years ago. These carvings provide important information about the region's history and culture. Another important feature of the Reserve is mud volcanoes. Mud volcanoes are small volcanoes that erupt with mud rather than lava. The Reserve is home to more than 300 mud volcanoes, and these provide a source of sulfur and minerals to the soil, making the region suitable for agriculture. Finally, Gobustan is also home to a rich collection of archaeological sites. Many of these date back to the Neolithic and Bronze Ages, and include caves, settlements, and burial grounds. These discoveries provide an important insight into the history of the region and its inhabitants. Today, Gobustan State Reserve is one of the most important cultural and historical sites in Azerbaijan, and is visited by thousands of people every year. It provides an insight into the rich history and culture of the region, and is an important place for preservation of the area's history. Visit one of the famous monuments of Azerbaijan with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. Gobustan is a unique landscape of rocky hills filled with ancient petroglyphs, showing human and animal figures, tools, symbols, and other signs. 2. It is located in the southeast part of Azerbaijan, around the settlement of Gobustan. The area includes three mountain complexes: the Greater Caucasus, the Lesser Caucasus, and the Talysh Mountains. 3. Gobustan is the only ancient cultural landscape in the Caucasus region that is still intact and is home to one of the world’s largest collections of ancient rock art. 4. Rock carvings, drawings, inscriptions, and other objects in the reserve date back to 40,000-20,000 years ago. 5. Gobustan State Reserve is home to over 6,000 petroglyphs, which depict people, animals, tools, and other dramas of everyday life in the area. 6. The reserve is also known for its mud volcanoes, which spew out mud and gases from up to 700 meters below the Earth’s surface. The reserve is also home to the world's highest concentration of wild goats, and its caves and cliffs are rich in wildlife – including rare species like the Indian porcupine, lynx, and the long-eared owl. 7. UNESCO granted Gobustan State Reserve World Heritage Status in 2007, noting its cultural significance, unique landscapes and rare species. 8. Gobustan hosts an annual international festival of rock music, featuring many bands from Azerbaijan, Europe, and the US. One of the historical monuments of Azerbaijan, it tells the story of a bygone era