Gobustan Rayon

Gobustan is an administrative district, or rayon, of Azerbaijan. Area 1,369.4 km²; population 37,137; population density 27 persons/km². Administrative centre is Maraza located about 50 miles west of Baku. From 1930 until 1943 and again from 1960 until 1990 the territory belonged to Shamakhi administrative district.

Gobustan is also a geographic region that comprises territory southeast of Gobustan rayon and is actually some 60 miles south of Baku along the Caspian Sea. Most of the famous rock petroglyphs and mud volcanoes for which Gobustan is known are located in this area south of Baku.

The area has been settled since the 8th millennium BC. It is known for hosting thousands of rock engravings spread over 100 square km depicting hunting scenes, people, ships, constellations and animals. Its oldest petroglyphs date from the 12th century BC. There are inscriptions left by Alexander the Great's cohorts in the 4th century BC. In 2007, UNESCO included the 'Gobustan Rock Art Cultural Landscape' in the World Heritage list.cite web
last = Torres Curado
first = L.M.
title = Gobustan (Qobustan, Kobustan)
publisher = Azerb.com
date =
url = http://www.azerb.com/az-gobustan.html
accessdate = 2008-06-14 ] The Gobustan State Reserve was featured during the Thirty-third Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers.cite web
last =
first =
title = 33rd Session of the Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers: AZDIPSERVIS Agency
publisher = Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan
date = 2006
url = http://www.oic2006baku.gov.az/eng/tours.shtml
accessdate = 2008-06-14 ] Gobustan is also famous for its mud volcanoes. Nearly 300 of the world's 700 mud volcanoes are located in this part of eastern Azerbaijan near the Caspian Sea.cite web
last = Gallagher
first = Ronnie
title = Mud Volcanoes: Mysterious Phenomena Fascinate Scientists and Tourists
publisher = Azerbaijan International Magazine
date = Summer 2003
url = http://www.azer.com/aiweb/categories/magazine/ai112_folder/112_articles/112_mud_volcano.html
accessdate = 2008-06-14 ] Additionally, near Maraza in this area, there is the mausoleum of Sufi mystic Diri Baba (which translates to "Living Grandfather") built in 1402.

References

ee also

* World Heritage Site