Candy Cane Mountains

Candy Cane Mountains is a mountain range in Khizi and Siyazan districts featuring distinctive layers of white and red shale that stripe across the slopes. These rock formations create a pattern resembling candy cane stripes running through the landscape.

British travel writer Mark Elliott gave the mountains their name after noticing the distinctive striped pattern in his guidebook about Azerbaijan. The colored layers formed over millions of years through geological processes affecting this region of the Caucasus.

The mountains serve as a natural monument within the Greater Caucasus range, attracting photographers and nature enthusiasts from around Azerbaijan.

The mountains are accessible by multiple hiking trails ranging in difficulty, and they lie at a moderate distance from the main Guba-Baku highway. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and come prepared for changing weather as temperatures vary throughout the year.

The shale layers hold numerous belemnite fossils from the Cretaceous period, offering clues to ancient marine ecosystems. These remnants make the slopes a notable spot for those interested in paleontology and prehistoric life.