Like cows, mud volcanoes constantly fart flammable gasses. They also like throwing gobs of mud and streaming forth watery flows with a vigour that varies seasonally. This behaviour is gently amusing rather than life threatening. Unlike ‘normal’ volcanoes, mud volcanoes are cold and have multiple 'gainarja' (Azeri) through which they exhale. These are either gryphons, distinctive, abrupt conical nozzles, or salses, bubbling watery pools. Each has its own rather lovable character and when gathered in groups they almost appear to converse. Though not unique, Azerbaijan has more of these odd ‘creatures’ than any other country in the world (300+ groups on land plus hundreds more offshore where they sometimes rise to form islands in the shallow coastal waters).
Where to see them?
Classic giants such as Turaguy are impressive from a distance but smaller volcano hills may have just as good a collection of active gryphons and salses. From Baku the most accessible group is right beside the road to Shamakha (see p188). Less dramatic but even nearer there are some extinct gryphons along the Baku bypass (p139) and a crater at Lökbatan which exploded dramatically in 2001 (see p138).
The most interesting active groups are between Älät and Gobustan at ‘Clangerland’ (p140) and Bahar near Dashgil (see map p140) where a recent giant mud flow is particularly impressive. Deep in the desert between Ceyrankachmas and Pir Hussein are yet more (p188).
MUD VOLCANOES – SOME FACTS
Why are they cold? ‘Normal’ volcanoes spew lava, molten rock that comes from deep within the earth or that has been melted by massive geological friction. In comparison, mud volcanos emanate from much shallower depths. Natural gas generated by pressure on organic materials produces the volcano’s flatulence (94% methane, 3% carbon dioxide) and forces pressurized mud through fissures and weak points in the sediment above. Like cold air rushing from an inflated tyre, the expanding gas cools as it emerges, making the mud that it carries unexpectedly chilly.
Mud volcanoes are a product of the same geological system responsible for Azerbaijan’s rich oil and gas fields and can be used as clues by explorers seeking additional reserves.
Mud-batan
At times a volcano goes into overdrive and spews forth a considerable volume of mud. The effect can be quite impressive but inconvenient.
In Azeri, the suffix -batan refers to what would happen to animals and people trying to cross such a mud field. It’s derived from 'batmag' (Azeri) to get stuck; ie Lökbatan and Ceyranbatan – Lök = camel, Ceyran = gazelle.
Using the mud volcanoes
Pliny noted mud’s medicinal qualities in Roman times. Local scientists baldly admit that the mud of the volcano fields is not as rich in key minerals as certain silts. But that doesn’t stop sanatoria at Märdäkan (p149) and Qala Alti (p163) using it for mud baths and mud massages which they claim aid spinal maladies, slipped discs and arterial clogging. ‘Mud collars’ are also supposed to aid blood flow to the brain and Sharq-Qarb Enterprises will sell you packaged dry mud if you want to make your own!
In the Soviet era some volcano craters were used as handy disposal sites and simply filled with assorted refuse. Recently geologists have proposed a ‘volcano reserve’ to protect the remaining examples of these weirdly fascinating phenomena for future generations. But for now you can simply wander freely amongst the little fellows. Please don’t drive onto the mud field nor stand too close to the caldera lips. Damage done by one careless visitor can take months or years to repair and spoils the site for everyone else.
Are they safe?
On very rare occasions, extreme gas pressure blows out the whole crater throwing masses of rock and mud into the air and showering a wide area. In such events, the methane can ignite creating a dramatic flare several hundred metres high that may burn for weeks.
This happened in 2001 at Lökbatan (see p138) and the flare, visible from Baku, burnt for weeks. On another occasion six unlucky shepherds and their flock were blown clean out of a remote crater in the Xizi region. But such violent eruptions are very rare and usually preceded by discernible warning rumblings and movements of the whole crater surface. The more accessible crater fields generally gurgle away safely and make very intriguing places to explore. Tourists are more of a danger to the fragile gryphons than vice versa.
More information
All about Mud Volcanoes by Guliev and Feizullayev is a useful but hard-to-find booklet in English. For more detail, but in Russian, there’s Gryazzviye Vulkani Azerbaijananskoi SSR by Alizade, Jakubov and Zeinalov, a 1971 reference book cataloguing each of the country’s mud volcanoes with great methane-blast photos and a very hard-to-use map.
|
