On June 14, the State Tourism Agency organized a media tour of the Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex. This tour provided representatives from various media outlets with detailed information about the 12-hectare complex and its infrastructure.
During the tour, media representatives learned about the complex, including its newly established tourism infrastructure which has created over 60 new job opportunities for local residents, particularly in surrounding areas.
The tour included an overview of the unique features, natural and therapeutic properties of the mud volcanoes. Media representatives explored a scale model of a mud volcano, the Tourism Information Center featuring an exhibition hall and workshop, and a display of approximately 80 rare minerals collected from across Azerbaijan. The exhibit provides information on the name, chemical composition, and origin of each mineral. Additionally, the workshop will offer masterclasses in pottery and oil painting.
The Nature History Exhibition, notable for its extensive collection, features sections on "Big Cats," "Gobustan Fauna," "Footprints of Azerbaijan’s Wild Animals," "Insect World of Azerbaijan," and "Small Animal Skeletons." It showcases skeletons of both wild and domestic animals from Azerbaijan and around the world, as well as insects, amphibians, and reptiles native to Azerbaijan. All exhibited animal skeletons and live specimens are original, prepared according to bioethical standards, and collected over decades from various locations by Azerbaijani experts. The exhibition highlights Azerbaijan's fauna richness and biodiversity, featuring 98 animal skeletons, 870 dried insect species, 57 live specimens displayed in special solutions, and various paleontological exhibits. Illustrations and images of different animals are also displayed to engage children and students.
The Minerals Exhibition within the complex presents around 80 different types of minerals found in Azerbaijan. Visitors can view beautiful and rare gemstones, crystals, and geological samples from various regions, including Gobustan and Nakhchivan. The exhibition is divided into two sections: one showcasing rock breccia from mud volcano eruptions, and the other displaying minerals from various mineral deposits in the country. Information about Earth’s layers, geological processes, and the formation of rocks and minerals is also provided. The development of modern tourism infrastructure around the mud volcanoes is expected to enhance public awareness and promotion of these natural heritage sites.
Additionally, a 110-seat restaurant has been built on the premises, and a pedestrian path has been created for tourists to observe the volcanoes. A panoramic observation point and platform have been established, allowing visitors to enjoy views of the mud volcanoes from a height.
The Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex also features a parking lot for visitors and provides an opportunity for eco-friendly all-terrain quad bike tours in this challenging terrain.
It is noteworthy that on June 13, President Ilham Aliyev attended the opening of the Mud Volcanoes Tourism Complex in the Absheron region and reviewed the work completed at the complex.
