(MENAFN- AzerNews)
Laman Ismayilova read more With its vibrant cultural heritage, the Land Of Fire offers
captivating cultural monuments, Azernews reports.
Numerous monuments dotted around the country remain a symbol of
Azerbaijan's rich history.
The Maiden Tower, Ateshgah temple, petroglyphs in Gobustan, and
other sites excite the imagination of history and culture
buffs.
The Azerbaijani State Service for Protection, Development and
Restoration of Cultural Heritage is actively involved in the
protection of the country's monuments.
The service has recently disclosed the number of historical and
cultural monuments in Azerbaijan.
Over this time, the State Service for Protection, Development
and Restoration of Cultural Heritage has registered 6,308 monuments
in the country.
The list includes historical and cultural sites of world
importance (82 sites), national importance (2,059), and local
importance (4,167).
Let's take a look at some of Azerbaijan's most significant
landmarks.
The Maiden Tower
One place you shouldn't miss while strolling Baku is the Maiden
Tower, rising in the southeastern part of the Icharishaher
fortress.
Some suggest that it was constructed between the IV-VI centuries
AD, others speculated it was built sometime between the XI-XII
centuries.
The tower has a secret underground passage, which is thought to
have run from the tower to the Shirvanshahs' Palace, which was the
last residence of the rulers of the Shirvan State, the most
powerful state in Azerbaijan's history.
In 2000, the Walled City of Baku with Shirvanshah's Palace, and
Maiden Tower were inscribed in UNESCO World Heritage List.
Ateshgah Temple
Famous for its 'eternal flame', Yanar Dag attracts dozens of
tourists every year,
Yanar Dag is a natural gas fire that blazes continuously on a
hillside on the Absheron Peninsula on the Caspian Sea near
Baku.
Unlike mud volcanoes, the Yanar Dag flame burns fairly steadily,
as it involves a steady seep of gas from the subsurface. The flames
emanate from vents in sandstone formations and rise to a height of
10 meters.
The Yanardag State Historical, Cultural and Natural Reserve was
re-opened in 2021 after the overhaul. The reserve includes a
museum, a 500-seat amphitheater for outdoor concerts, workshops,
shops, and a parking lot.
Gobustan Petroglyphs
Gobustan rock carvings were discovered in 1939 at the foot of
the mountain Jingirdag and on the top of Yazili Tepe.
The rock engravings depict primitive men, animals, battle
pieces, ritual dances, bullfights, boats with armed oarsmen,
warriors with lances in their hands, camel caravans, and pictures
of the sun and stars.
These unique petroglyphs were recognized as UNESCO World
Heritage Sites in 2007.
Regular research and archaeological work are carried out in the
reserve with the participation of local and foreign experts.
In 2016, digital data about Gobustan started operating in order
to re-document Gobustan rock carvings using modern methods.
Within its framework, 3D modeling was used for the first time in
the study of Gobustan's rock art.
New petroglyphs were discovered in Gobustan last year. The
three-year research on the territory of Jingirdag-Yazili Tapa led
to the discovery of 1,347 petroglyphs and symbols ( before 877),
engraved on 169 stones (before 151). The new discoveries were
documented and registered.
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