Tufandag Mountain Resort

Tufan, or Tufandag, is a ski resort in Gabala, 220 km from Baku, opened in 2014. The ski season usually lasts from December to the end of March, depending on weather. The resort has four cable-car lines operating between elevations of 956 and 1,920 meters and ten pistes totaling 17 km, ranging from easy runs to black slopes. Pistes are up to 150 meters wide and reach gradients of 40 degrees. Safety fences, warning signs, and artificial snowmaking are provided. Ski schools, rental centers, and children’s areas serve beginners and families, including Gabaland and hotel playrooms. Hotels of various categories offer spas, pools, gyms, and restaurants. A viewing platform at 1,920 meters overlooks the snowy peaks of Yatmysh Gozal and the Greater Caucasus.

One of the three lakes near Mount Tufan is said to preserve a fragment of Noah’s Ark. According to the legend, a piece of timber rests at the bottom of the high-altitude Lake Tufan-Nuh, recalling the ancient Flood.