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Top Fascinating Facts about Mud Volcanoes
A mud volcano or mud dome is a landform created by the eruption of mud or slurries, water, and gases. Several geological processes may cause the formation of mud volcanoes.
They occur where tectonic movement allows subterranean gases to escape to the surface. A few of these gas leaks are constantly on fire, shooting small perpetual flames into the air.
Mud volcanoes are not true volcanoes as they do not produce lava and are not necessarily driven by magmatic activity. they range in size from merely 1 or 2 meters high and 1 or 2 meters wide to 700 meters high and 10 kilometers wide.
1. Most Active Mud Volcanoes are Found in Azerbaijan
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Azerbaijan and its coastline are home to nearly 400 mud volcanoes, more than half the total throughout the world. Most of them are active and are protected by the Azerbaijan Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, and the admission of people, for security reasons, is prohibited.
The country’s eruptions are driven from a deep mud reservoir which is connected to the surface even during dormant periods when seeping water shows a deep origin. Seeps have temperatures that are generally above ambient ground temperature by 2 °C (3.6 °F) – 3 °C (5.4 °F).
2. Azerbaijan is Home to Submarine Volcanoes
Underground and submarine mud volcanoes are mostly found in Azerbaijan. There are more than 140 submarine volcanoes in the Caspian Sea. Eight islands in the Baku Archipelago are mud volcanoes by origination.
Their activity can be observed among strata of various ages. According to the information, mud volcanoes initially began their activity in the territory of Azerbaijan 25 million years ago.
3. 200 Eruptions have Occurred in Azerbaijan Since 1810
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About 200 eruptions have occurred in 50 volcanoes in the territory of the Azerbaijani Republic since 1810. Strong explosions and underground rumbling accompany the eruption of mud volcanoes.
Mud volcanoes are associated with oilfields. Rich oil and gas fields are found in the territories of mud volcanoes (Lokbatan, Garadagh, Neft Dashlari, Mishovdagh, and others). In addition, lava, mud, and liquid erupted by mud volcanoes are used as raw materials in chemical and construction industries and also in pharmacology.
4. Mud Volcanoes are Protected by State
In 2007, the State’s Natural reserves were created by the decree of the President. The natural reserve covers Baku and the Absheron peninsula. Illegal actions there which include construction works, pollution, and destruction are prohibited.
Mud volcanoes appeared on the territory of the present Azerbaijan Republic 25 million years ago. Near mud volcanoes, deposits of oil and gas can be found. Mud volcano’s components can be used as raw materials for the chemical and construction industries, as well as for pharmacology.
About 23 mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan received the status of National Park and are protected by the state. In addition, they were included in the list of Seven Wonders of the World.
5. Lava from Mud Volcanoes is Mostly Cold
Photo by Masoud Sheikh Veisi from Wikimedia
Most of these mud volcanoes are small, from only a few inches to several feet high, but some, such as a few of those in Azerbaijan, are more than six miles in diameter and several hundred feet high.
Though mud volcanoes do sometimes erupt with powerful results, they are, for the most part, harmless. Gases bubble passively from the tiny “craters” at their summit, and upwelling mud slowly oozes out to form small flows.
Mud volcanoes are also different from the bubbling mud pots found in active geothermal areas, such as Yellowstone Park. The mud that erupts from mud volcanoes is cold, or perhaps only slightly warmer than the ambient ground temperature.
6. The Lava is used as Raw Materials
The lava, mud, and liquid spewed by mud volcanoes are used as raw materials for chemical and construction industries, as well as pharmacology. Enriched with specific components – mineral salts, organic substances, microelements- volcanic mud has medicinal properties that benefit the human body.
Volcanic mud gives a great effect on the treatment of patients suffering from diseases of the peripheral and central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, etc.
7. The World Largest Mud Volcanoes are Found in Azerbaijan
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The world’s largest mud volcanoes – Boyuk Khanizadagh and Turaghai – are both in Azerbaijan.
Boyuk Khanizadagh, the diameter, and height of which are 10 kilometers and 700 meters respectively, erupted on October 10, 2001, shooting out flames 300 meters in the air. It was the highest record for flames shot from a mud volcano
8. Mud Volcanoes are Permanently Active
Mud volcanoes are active all year round., more than 200 major eruptions have been recorded in Azerbaijan alone for the past 200 years. Otman Bozdag volcano, one of the world’s largest mud volcanoes erupted in 2017.
Ayrantokan mud volcano in Baku’s Garadagh district erupted on March 29, 2018. The eruption lasted up to seven minutes and was accompanied by flames, which reached a height of about 100-150 meters above the volcanic crater.
9. They are used as “Mud Bath”
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The mud produced by mud volcanoes is mostly formed as hot water, which has been heated deep below the Earth’s surface, begins to mix and blend with subterranean mineral deposits, thus creating the mud slurry exudate.
This material is forced upwards through a geological fault or fissure due to local subterranean pressure imbalances. Mud volcanoes are associated with subduction zones and about 1100 have been identified on or near land.
The temperature of any given active mud volcano generally remains fairly steady and is much lower than the typical temperatures found in igneous volcanoes. Mud volcano temperatures can range from near 100 °C (212 °F) to occasionally 2 °C (36 °F), some being used as popular “mud baths.
10. The Mud Volcanoes are a Major Tourist Destination
the mud volcanoes located in Gobustan National Park attract thousands of tourists annually. The State Historical-Artistic Reserve has been functioning since 1967.
In 2007, the reserve was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. A trip to Gobustan will give you a great chance to see these amazing active volcanoes from a very close distance.
