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Candy Cane Mountains. Photo by teuchterlad.

Top 10 Remarkable Facts About Candy Cane Mountains

Candy Cane Mountains are formed by fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rocks that formed mud which is a mix of tiny fragments and clay minerals. The mountains are located in the Khizi and Siyazan districts of Azerbaijan and they form part of the greater Caucasus mountain range.

It is about fifty miles from Buku where you can drive or take a tour guide to the area. It is located off the road where a few trails are leading to the mountains through the hills.

They are a psychedelic, white and red-pink striped area of rocks. The mountains form beautiful colors which are produced by groundwater that alters the oxidation state of the iron compounds that are found in the earth. The color of the rocks is a product of the unique geology of the area.

Below are the top 10 remarkable facts about Candy Cane Mountains

1. The Candy Cane Mountains Are Made of Shale

Candy Cane Mountains, on the road to Xizi, close up. Photo by Ymblanter.

The Candy Cane Mountains are made up of shale which is a type of sedimentary rock that is made up of many thin layers stacked on top of each other. Before the rocks were formed, the environmental changes led to a differing mineral composition which was deposited as layers of sediment.

As a result, the shale that came into contact with water the layers that contained iron oxidized and turned red while the layers without iron remained shades of gray and white.

However, over time, erosion and tectonic movement have exposed the sedimentary layers to fascinating visual representations of geologic history.

2. It is a Completely Bizarre Sight

The candy Cane Mountains are a completely bizarre sight that is fascinating to the viewers. The iron in the ground provides the mountains with their deep red color and the white part is made up of the Powderly shale.

The sedimentary rocks that make up the many thin layers stacked on each other, and form beautiful patterns of amazing colors.

3. The Striking Natural Wonder Has Almost no one Visiting Them

Candy Mountain. Photo by DJ Cane.

The phenomenon natural wonder has almost no one visiting them. The area has a few small trails with limited numbers visiting the place. However, the few who have the opportunity to visit the place have the entire area to play around.

Those that hike away from the roads have the opportunity to enjoy the cozy-looking patterns that stretch for miles. There is a line next to the road where the few visiting can park their cars before taking a walk in the mountains.

4. It is not recommended to Visit the Mountains During summer.

The Mountains get very hot during the summer, especially in the afternoon. The colored hills look like a desert on another planet. The area has loose soil which is clearly of a volcanic origin with products of mud volcanoes scattered everywhere.

The summer is very hot and it is difficult to find water, trees, or shaded area to cover from the scorching sun.

It is also recommended to walk carefully in the mountains so as not to fall into the caves and faults that are washed away by the rain streams.

It is advisable to visit during the cooler parts of the year.  It is also recommended to carry along comfortable walking shoes, your camera, and an extra bottle of water.

5. The candy Cane Mountains are a Picturesque Site

Candy Cane Mountains. Photo by teuchterlad.

Although there aren’t many visiting the mountains, the place is very beautiful with natural formations and patterns. The sensational patterns with beautiful colors form a perfect backdrop for pictures.

Tourist that has an opportunity to visit the mountains have the chance to enjoy the numerous picturesque sites which stretch for about forty kilometers from Guba-Buka.

The mud volcanic products that are scattered everywhere form part of the beautiful scenery.

The fact that it is not overcrowded, has also helped to maintain the environment. Reduced human activities also maintain the serenity of the environment.

6. It Contains Numerous Belemnites and Fossils from the Cretaceous Period

The cretaceous is the geological period that lasted between 145 to 66 million years ago. It was one of the longest geological periods of the entire Phanerozoic. The Cretaceous period resulted in high eustatic sea levels that created several inland seas.

There are visible fossilized remains of belemnites and some type of ancient squid. However, unlike the modern squids, this contains a skeleton and its notable rostrum.

There is also evidence of a hard protrusion on the opposite end of their tentacles. This is a unique geographical phenomenon that only happens in only one more place on the planet which is the Death Valley in the United States.

7. Its Name was Dubbed so by Travel Writer Mark Elliot

The Candy cane Mountains were originally dubbed so by Mark Elliott who was a travel writer in his guidebook called Azerbaijan with Excursions to Georgia.

The name of the mountain is itself not official although all of the individuals living or working in Azerbaijan know it by this title.

8. Candy Cane Mountains Are Part of the Greater Caucasus

Candy Mountains on the way to Xizi. Photo by Ymblanter.

The candy Cane Mountains form part of the Greater Caucasus range which stretches for about twelve thousand kilometers from the east-southeast to the west-northwest of the black sea between the Taman Peninsula.

On the flat Caspian coast, there are chicken breeding lowlands and irrigated cattle around Sharabad.

9. It Is One of the Most Famous Mountains in the Caucasus

The solid rock is one of the most famous mountains in the Caucasus which is known for its phenomenal beauty and mythical stories.

It is said to be a sacred place with regular visitation by pilgrims. Its popularity came from the unique features ranging from its unique colors to the ancient fossils scattered everywhere.

10. It’s a Strippy Coloured Semi-Desert Landscape

The candy Cane Mountains are a strippy-colored semi-desert landscape that obtains its variation of colors from the reaction of iron and water. The landscape forms the most beautiful patterns that form a spectacular backdrop for photos.

The Candy Cane Mountains are wonderful layers of  a beautiful environment. The sensational geological site is unmatched with the ancient fossilized leaves and invertebrates.