Candy Cane Mountains of Khizi

The multicolored mountains of Khizi lie about 100 km northwest of Baku on the southern slopes of the Greater Caucasus, along the road to the town of Khizi. The region is known for striped hills often called the ‘Candy Cane Mountains’: alternating red, white, yellow, and green layers resemble brightly colored sweets.

The elevations are relatively modest, but the relief is highly expressive. Mount Dubrar is the highest point in the district at 2,203 meters, while Mount Saraku reaches 958 meters. The geology formed over millions of years from layers of red sandstone and sedimentary rock. Climate, groundwater, and mineral impurities gradually produced the characteristic color palette.

In ancient times, the area lay beneath the ocean, and evidence of this marine past survives in fossil mollusks and belemnites found on the slopes. Today, the Khizi mountains are popular with tourists, who follow hiking routes introducing the region’s geology, landscape history, and natural features.

The Great Silk Road once passed through this area. The mountains later appeared as scenery in the film The Headless Horseman and in a music video by Lucy Chebotina. Although similar colored landscapes exist in the United States, China, and New Zealand, Khizi retains a distinctive combination of history and nature.