Yanar Dag

Photo found: http://i5.pbase.com/u44/ltobias/large/28405271.NeueBilderinternetjpgCRW_4276.jpg

Yanar Dag is a small village just north of Baku Azerbaijan. Here flames naturally burn out of the limestone cliffs. People have come here for thousands of years to see the 'holy fires'. During the Middle ages, Zoroastrian pilgrims (worshipers of fire) would travel the Azerbaijan from Persia to see these flames (Kleveman 15).

There is a temple that was built, also north of Baku, called Atashgah. where there is an "eternal fire ablaze right in the middle of the prayer room" (Kleveman 15). There used to be a natural flow of gas to this temple, but now it is piped in to keep the flame burning.



Photo URL: http://www.sputnik.in-baku.com/inbimg/Ateshkah5.jpg

Other info from: Kleveman, Lutz. "The New Great Game: Blood and Oil in Central Asia". Grove Press: New York. 2003.