Healing waters of Gabala: "Gamarvan", "Shongar", "Yengija"

Since ancient times, mineral waters, different types of oil and volcanic mud, being the healing properties of nature, are widely used for medical and preventive purposes in Azerbaijan. For the present moment there are more than 30 deposits of cold and thermal mineral waters with different concentration, sulfur levels and organic substances' in the Greater Caucasus, and 3 of them are located in Gabala. "Yengija" and "Gamarvan" thermal springs, coming first for its therapeutic value not only in Azerbaijan, but also in the countries of the region, are functioning as the resort with hot springs at the moment. "Gamarvan" spring, i.e. "Chomcha Bulag" is a thermal mineral water, breaking the surface at the height of 1388 meters above sea level in the Bum river valley, 5 kilometres north of Gamarvan village. Original water temperature is 39.2 degrees. "Gamarvan" spring water is rich of ferruginous and sulphur compounds. Samples taken from the "Gamarvan", "Shongar" and "Yengija" mineral springs in 1965-1966 and 1973-1977 were analyzed chemically in a special laboratory in St. Petersburg. As a result of analysis, it was found that in "Gamarvan" water silicone compounds comprise 30-40 mg/l, sulfur – 3-12 mg/l, total salt content - 1,52-1,79 g/l. In chemical and physical properties, therapeutic value "Gamarvan" mineral spring is similar to the well-known in Western Europe (the Iberian Peninsula) Kuldur mineral water. To use "Gamarvan" mineral water in the treatment of different diseases, "Gamarvan" health and fitness complex with thermal waters operates on the territory of Gamarvan village since 2007. "Shongar" mineral spring is located in the north-east of Gabala, on the left bank of Demiraparan River, at the foot of Gyzylgaya Mountain. Salt content of spring water is high, that is up to 40 g/l. "Shongar" is hydrocarbonate, calcareous cold mineral spring. It is widely used as high-quality drinking water by the population. In 2000, the water line was built from "Shongar" spring to the side of Baku-Ismayilli-Gabala-Sheki road, that is, to the bridge over Demiraparan River, and "Heydar Bulagi" complex was created there. "Yengija" mineral spring is located in the valley of large river in the northeast of Yengija village. The water composition includes sodium hydrogencarbonate, magnesium and lime. The total salt content is 0.48 g/l, water is sulfurous and cold. As for "Gamarvan" water, healing value of "Yengija" water attracted attention of the local population and the population of the surrounding regions. High quality "Yengija" water being artificially heated with "mountain stone" is widely used in the treatment of many diseases. Preheated with the stone, "Yengija" mineral water is significantly enriched and converted into a solution containing compounds of up to 10 chemicals valuable for the human body. Taking into account all these features, the "Yengija" health and fitness complex with thermal waters meeting modern requirements was created in 2007 in Yengija village. Last year two phases of the construction of medical complex were completed, i.e. construction works in "Qafqaz Yengicə Termal Hotel və SPA" center, which was put into operation with the participation of the President Ilham Aliyev. Note that the local and foreign tourists coming to Gabala, along with the relaxation in the modern hotels and recreation centres of the region, also turn to the healing hot springs. This speaks for the availability of health tourism perspective in Gabala.