Shirvan National Park was established in July 2003 in an area of 54 373, 5 hectares. It is a part of specially protected site with an overall area of 65589 hectares on the south-eastern plain of the Kura-Araz lowland which also includes, Shirvan State Nature Reserve having an area of 6232 hectares and Bandovan State Natural Sanctuary with an area of 4930 hectares.

The National Park was created with a view to the conservation of foremost components of a semi-desert landscape, the protection of goitred gazelles listed in the “Red Data Book” of Azerbaijan and species of fauna that are typical to this territory. Its functions also envision the implementation of environmental monitoring, public environmental education, as well as creating conditions for tourism and recreation.

The diversity of the terrain, vegetation and soil cover in the area of the national park makes it possible to distinguish a number of natural landscapes areas. A major part of the park is occupied by saline semi-desert small hills and a saline semi-desert plain. In single areas distinct outlines of ancient coastal ridges and lagoons strike the eyes. A chain of hills is the main terrain that developed as a result of the wind’s work and serves as an excellent refuge and shelter for gazelles.

Gazelle is considered lesser spread species in the world among mammals fauna. In this regard it exists mostly in Azerbaijan, Front, Middle and Central Asia. The territory of Azerbaijan is considered the main existence area of gazelles. However in the last 50-60 years expansion of anthropogenous activity has devastated their ecological balance and caused a situation of endanger for them.

Existence of gazelles in Azerbaijan has a long history. According to D.V. Hajiyev’s researches remnants of gazelle bones are encountered in high Miosen deposits (1.5-2 ml years ago). Total number of gazelles in Northern Azerbaijan reached 50-60 thousands in early 20th century. Beginning from 1930-1940th as a result of turning of the main existence areas for gazelles (Mil-Qarabag, Mugan, Shirvan plains) to sowing areas, as well as intensive poaching, lack of protection measures, threat for endanger of gazelles emerged in the territories of Azerbaijan in 1960-1961. At that time this antilope became a very rare species and in early 1970th it was already extinct.

The number of lofty mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan is really unique. One can see hundreds of mud volcanoes around Baku, within the roughly 100 km circle of it. 50 % (even more) of the world mud volcanoes is located in Azerbaijan. The typical mud volcanoes in Azerbaijan distinguish for three main factors:

Beginning from 1968 the historical-archeological expedition of the Museum of History of Azerbaijan carried out researches during a few years in the Caspian Sea and its coast. Various archeological monuments have been discovered under the Caspian Sea as well as in islands and at the coast. Remnants of juicy Bandovan-1 town (Nord-Ost-Kultuk, 20 km south of Bandovan cape) have been discovered at the coast.