About 30 kilometers south of the town of Goygol, tucked away in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, is a place where time slows down and nature speaks softly of beauty and myth. Established to safeguard a group of alpine lakes, Goygol National Park boasts the most prized mountain gem in Azerbaijan, Lake Goygol.
Translated as Blue Lake, Goygol meets its name with almost surreal clarity in reflecting the sky and forest from waters so pure and crystalline. Quietly under the jagged grandeur of Mount Kapaz, whose dramatic silhouette finishes the scene, the lake lies 1,500 meters above sea level. Still, the narrative of how Goygol came to be is as dramatic as its perspective: an earthquake in 1139 sent huge rocks tumbling from Mount Kapaz, damming the Akhsu River and creating the lake in the shadow of the mountains.
The lake has inspired poets, musicians, and artists over ages—most famously the 12th-century literary giant Nizami Ganjavi, who lived in surrounding Ganja. Still a beloved inspiration today, the lake shows up on Azerbaijani canvas, song, and verse.
Every season colors Goygol in its own palette. The nearby forests become golden in autumn, their warm colors reflected on the surface of the lake. Although Goygol is still the crown gem, another nearby lake, Maral Gol accentuates the poetic appeal of the area.
Here is a retreat for the soul as much as a visual feast. Although the lake’s waters are still cold even in August—hovering no higher than 17°C—its calm environment and purity of alpine air are quite healing, particularly for people with respiratory or nervous system problems. The most visited northern shore of Goygol is the one with a small resort providing comfort without upsetting the natural rhythm of the surroundings.
Apart from its great length—2,800 meters—which stretches up to 96 meters deep—Goygol is a reservoir of ecological richness. The national park protects an amazing 424 species of shrubs, trees, and medicinal herbs. One finds noble deer, roe deer, boars, bears, wolves, lynxes, jackals, and porcupines along its paths and meadows. Native trout swim undisturbed under the glassy surface of the lake itself.
Although several paths call for exploration, going alone is not advised. Safer and more rewarding means to find the less-known wonders of the park and hidden vistas are guided tours.
But the appeal of Goygol transcends its inherent beauty. The area also has unique historical character molded by German immigrants arriving in the 19th century. On August 22, 1819, these colonists established the colony of Yelenendorf—later known as Khanlar—on Azerbaijani territory, so laying the basis for a distinctive European imprint on that country. Visitors can still see almost thirty historical sites from this age today, including three bridges built by German hands and a Lutheran church built in 1854.
The cultural scene of Goygol also features ancient gems. From the 17th century Gabriel Temple in Shakhriyar to the old Anagid Mausoleum in Chaykend and the mysterious Maiden’s Tower in Uchbulag, the area is a tapestry of stories carved in stone. Deeper still in time are the remnants of Bronze and early Iron Age cemeteries in Gushgary and Balchyly—silent sentinels of civilizations past.
Goygol invites you to remain—by a lake reflecting the heavens, in forests whispering with wind and history, and among relics of faith, resilience, and forgotten dreams in a world too frequently moving too fast. This is an echo of timeless beauty, patiently ready to be heard, not only a location.
Ms. Fatima Tuz Zehra is the Editor-In-Chief of https://thegulfobserver.com
