Azerbaijan National Academy of Science

On April 22, the staff of the Department of Mud Volcanism of ANAS Institute of Geology and Geophysics  conducted field research on the eruption of the mud volcano Toragai, located 76 km south-west of Baku.

Due to its morphometric indicators, the volcano, which is developed in the south of the Shamakhi-Gobustan oil and gas region, is considered the largest mud volcano in the world. The absolute height of the volcano is more than 400 meters, and the base figures are 3.8 x 2.9 km.

During the research it was established that the eruption of the Toragai mud volcano occurred in two phases (the initial phase at 7:58 and the last at 9:45). One of the phases was connected with an eruptive channel located east of the volcano, and another eruption was recorded in the west. The length of the lava flow as a result of the eruption on the southwestern slope of Toragai was more than 1 km. Both eruptions led to the formation of radial cracks on the crater. According to visual estimates, the height of the flame columns formed as a result of the eruption reached 400 m.

The scientists of the institute connect the indicators recorded by the number and scale of eruptions observed in Azerbaijan in recent years, with geodynamic stress in the region.

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