Our country is known in the world as the region where unique and classic mud volcanoes were developed. More than 300 of 800 mud volcanoes of our planet are located on the east of Azerbaijan and in Caspian area of water having the same border. The majority of the mud volcanoes where spread in Baku and Absheron peninsula; some of them were formed as nature monuments. Azerbaijan can be called the land of mud volcanoes; these volcanoes are our national and natural wealth. Mud volcanoes play the role of trial bores for studying oil-gas deposits and they have no cost. Clay of the mud volcanoes is considered a valuable mineral. In addition, volcano mud is successfully used in the cure of a number of illnesses, such as nervous system and skin and joints diseases. Since volcanoes are closely related to seismic waves, they are important in the prognosticating of such events as earthquakes. Last years, in the result of the anthropogenic influence increase on mud volcanoes located in Baku and Absheron peninsula, their territories are destroyed, intensive building works are carried out there, living buildings were constructed in the zones with high eruption probability. Therefore, the organization of the existing mud volcanoes’ protection in the country territory, approaching to these rare nature events with care was urgent. The mud volcanoes were given nature monument status by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan Republic, the decree N 167, 1982 (in Gobustan settlement - Great Kanizdagh, Ayrantoken and Dashgil, in Lokbatan – Lokbatan mud volcanoes). Later on, for natural appearance and geological feature, 23 mud volcanoes were given nature monument status. For organizing reliable protection of these volcanoes, Scientific Coordination of Mud Volcanoes Council in the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources was created with the participation of specialists from the National Academy of Sciences. Liquidating the anthropogenic influence to mud volcanoes located in Baku and Absheron peninsula and providing protection; protecting these natural resources and delivering to the future generation, since studying their activity has great scientific and practical value. According to the President of the Azerbaijan Republic mister Ilham Aliyev’s order N2315 dated August 15, 2007, for propagating natural heritage of our Republic "Baku and Absheron peninsula mud volcanoes group State Nature Reservation" was formed and 52 mud volcanoes were given the status of state nature reservation. Measures in the direction of protecting and investigating the mud volcanoes with the status of State Nature Reservation are systematically being implemented.

Mud volcano Ayrantokan - Mud volcano is situated 65 km south-west off Baku and 4.5 km north-east off Atbulag station to represent an elongated elevation with relative height of 190m. In term of morphology the mud volcano looks like a plateau. Mud breccias outburst for the period of time spanning 1964 to 1990 flowed down the south slop. Most extensive 200m-wide mud breccias lobes are extended down the slope over 1.5 km flowed into the low land were outburst while 1964 eruption. There are 4 groups of mud breccias occurrences within the plateau, one of which located within south-west part of the structure is typified by oil seeping gryphons. The other quite large group of cones and gryphons is located north-west off mud volcano recent crater is characterized by numerous active microforms where cone height reaches 5-10m high. There are several 2-3m deep large fractures around the crater field extended up to 700-800m long. Crumbled mud breccias can be seen within the center of the crater. Total amount of outburst breccias amounts to 500M cu m. which covered the area around 805 he.
Mud volcano Bahar - Mud volcano is situated within cape Alat which is east termination of Alat range, 55km south-west from Baku. Its elevation is 55m over surrounding terrane. Mud volcano looks like spur which truncated cone consist of mud breccias with elevated remnant of the crater rampart up to 15m high. Mud volcano morphology is complicated by small hills and sandy hummocks. There are two clusters of cones, gryphons and salses. Some cones are up to 15m high. Additionally there are about 30 active microforms. Overall, there were recorded 8 eruptions, first of them in 1853, the last one in 1993.
Mud volcano Goturdagh - Mud volcano is situated 70 km south-west off Baku and 3km off mud volcano Ayrantokan. Its relative height is 150m. In terms of morphology is looks like truncated cone with sunken caldera 150m in diameter and 15-20m depth. Mud volcano Gorurdagh is very interesting and a solitary by its activity nature in Azerbaijan distinguished from other mud volcanoes by particular features of its activity. A quite intriguing eruption phenomenon has been observed during over 100 years within volcano crater where dome-shaped mud breccias are being squeezed out of 50m long and 15 m wide crescent shape fracture. Just like paste is squeezing from a tube half liquid paste is beingsqueezed upward then it breaks and creeps down the slop. First this phenomenon was found out in 1926 when squeezing rate of mud breccias was calculated to be 42mm/yr. This phenomenon continued until 1966 after which a regular eruption occurred in October, 1966 and later on in spring, 1970. Simultaneously, 25m long and 10 high ellipsoidal shape mud breccias squeezing phenomenon has been continued. Mud breccias squeezing rate was 2.5 m a month. There is some mud volcano lobes extended northwards more than 1 km long. Area covered by mud breccias measures about 408 he, whereas total volumetric amount of outburst mud breccias is over 530M cu m with average 130m.
Mud volcano Delangez - Mud volcano is situated 65 km south-west off Baku and 4.5 km north-west off Alat station, close to mud volcano Dashgil. It is large mud volcano which vast mud breccias area about 550 he which average thickness measures 30m Total amount of mud breccias measures 165 M cu m. Mud volcano is typified by dissected topography, which absolute high 160m and represent two clusters of microforms one of which is located within irregular subsided circle on the east flank of the crater field. A row of low cones and gryphons seep gas, water and mud with oil films. The other group of relatively high (over 10m) active cones and is located 500m off the first one.

http://www.elibrary.az/docs/azereco/az/eco_m1_4_2.pdf

http://www.azmudvolcanos.com/en/18.htm