In oil-rich Azerbaijan, people bathe in the black stuff.

This mysterious but iconic tapered tower appears in many Azeri fairytales and legends.

Azerbaijani ghost town, decaying after a war left it an armed forces buffer zone.

Spring that emits water and fire at the same time is said to have remedial properties, and sparked its own religion.

The building's fluid, wavelike walls are a true feat of architectural ingenuity.

In the foothills of the lesser Caucasus, a centuries-old fortress still stands.

Foreign invaders almost left this lovely Caucasus palace alone—almost.

A unique museum dedicated to culture and artistry of carpet weaving.

A quirky house created entirely out of glass bottles combines a collector's spirit with an artist's flair.

Swirling layers of white and red rock earned these mountains their festive nickname.

Resonant stone, that has been played since prehistoric times.

A shrine of fire worship built on top of a natural flame.

Home to nearly a third of the world's mud volcanoes, Azerbaijan is home to a messy, bubbling, and sometimes explosive landscape.

A gigantic collection of teeny, tiny books.

A scenic canyon with thick forests and historic ruins.

This striking icon of the disputed Republic of Artsakh caused a stir at a Eurovision Song Contest.

Mysterious hillside with a continuously burning natural fire.

Prehistoric history as seen through the lens of an outsider artist.

A Neolithic celestial calendar standing in a nondescript wheat field.

You've probably seen these distinctive orange-tiled columns on the big screen.

The birthplace of Karl Marx is now a museum dedicated to the communist revolutionary's life and work.

This old wooden funicular railway leads to a cemetery in the forest.

The 3,600-year-old archeological sensation is considered to be the oldest representation of the cosmos.

Bursting forth from a historic German neighborhood, these day-glo palaces are now a bright fixture in the town.