CROSSROADSCROSSROA DS Language StudioÊs Newsletter May,
May, 201
20 1 7

What would you
call a place where
even the water
catches on fire?
Hell? Not really.
Yanar Bulag, or“burningCollecting “fire water” at Yanar Bulag
spring”, is located in Astara, a city insouthern Azerbaijan. There is a small
pavilion in Astara that houses a standingpipe. Water comes gurgling out of this pipe
which, at first glance, is not unusual. But
if you touch this water with a lighted
match, something very unusual happens.
The water bursts into flames! The localsbelieve this water has remedial properties
and they often drink it while it is alight!
The water gets its combustible characterfrom a high content of methane. So,Ellawhere
does the methane come from?
Azerbaijan is located on the south-westbanksof the Caspian Sea next to Armenia
Janisand Georgia. It is among the oldest oil andgas producing countries in the world. Since
antiquity, historians and travelers such as
Marco Polo in the 13th century haverecorded seeing numerous natural fires
burning
throughout
thecountry.
Spontaneous outbursts of fire there arecaused by gas seepages and, over time,
innumerable
observations
ofthisphenomenon have resulted in Azerbaijan
being given the moniker “the Land of Fire”.

A cult of fire worshippers, theZoroastrians, appeared in this region about
2,000 years ago. They built numerous
Zoroastrian fire temples all over the region
around the flames. Today, there are still
places where you can see these fires. Yanar
Bulag, in Astara, is one example. Anotheris Ateshgah of Baku, the “temple of fire”,
near Azerbaijan’s capital city, Baku.
There is at least one
other place to see the“Land of Fire” inaction. This is Yanar
Dag, literally “burningmountain”, a natural
gas fire which blazes
continuously
onahillside
also
nearBaku. Some of theflames stretch into
the air about 3 metersfrom the thin, porous
sandstone layer beneaththem. The surrounding air is said to smellof gas and the flames never die out.
Today, Azerbaijan has a population of wellover 9,000,000 people and the cause of thesefires is well understood. The export of oil andgas is a mainstay of the modern economy
there. But, human habitat in the region goesback to the stone ages when much more ofthe terrain was baked in fire. What did theseearly inhabitants think of the “Land of Fire”
then? And what did they call it?

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Ateshgah of Baku, “the Temple of Fire” near Baku

For more on Yanar Bulag, “the fire spring”, go here:
http://www.atlasobscura.com/places/fire-spring-Joshua Says: It is a great mistake to take things for granted, yet we so often do.
Even the simplest, most common things around us have surprising secrets toreveal, if only we’d take the time and make the effort to pay a little more attention
to them. The next time you buy a bunch of carrots, don’t eat them all. Put one in a
pot with plenty of water and sunlight. Then stand back and see what happens! If
you’re impatient to see the result, check out our Facebook page for the answer.
Junko Says: The characters in the portraits Rembrandt painted are usuallydepicted as emerging from the surrounding darkness. It’s his use of light that pulls
them forward, out of the darkness, toward the observer and into a dramatic
atmosphere of light and shadow. Recently, I found a quote by Rembrandt. Here is partof that quote: “You must imagine that I’m looking at you in the same way as the waterwith which you wash yourself or the air you move in or the light that shines on you...”Matt Says: This month is the Dragon Burn in China. It’s a regional event ofa community built around the Burning Man festival. They promote values
such as radical self expression, self reliance and leaving no trace on theenvironment. I really enjoyed attending last year especially as it was in sucha regimented country. Its always good to try and experience new viewpoints.
Scott Says: My name is Scott and I’ve just joined the Crossroads teachingteam. Nice to meet you all! I moved to Matsuyama from Edinburgh, Scotland
back in April last year and am enjoying all that Ehime has to offer. May is
traditionally my favorite month of the year as the weather gradually gets
warmer and the summer nights start to stretch out.

Danielle dit
Je suis allé à la pointe la plus au sud de Shikoku,
Ashizurimisaki, dans la préfecture de Kochi. Il est dit que c'est le point le plus
proche du paradis où vit Kannon car de là, Kûkai l'aperçut lorsqu'ilcontemplait l'océan. J'ai bien observé l'océan mais je n'ai malheureusement pu
que voir les vagues s'échouer sur les rochers.
ACROSS
2 an environment where organisms live
5 a roofed shelter
6 capable of igniting or burning
10 the exact meaning
6
13 colorless, odorless gas
14 happening without external cause
15 light up usually by fire
916 irregular flow, e.g. water, with a bubbling soundDOWN
11
1 very far back in history
3 a strong, bright burning flame
4 too many to count14
7 common, easy to remember name8 very many in number
9 main source of support
11 full of holes
16
12 tending to cure or restore health(print version here)

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A few thoughts to ponder while you havenothing better to do.....
That’s me!

DM O N A R C H
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Last Month’s Puzzle Solution
ACROSS
2 a nation's head of state
7 a sporting competition
11 feelings or a showing of great
respect
12 excessive, overdone, wasteful
13 distinctly different from others
14 a way of communication
information
16 in defiance or disregard ofDOWN
1 a film or TV program dealing with facts
3 advertisements on TV
4 an appraisal or ranking
5 real, a fact
6 essentially so, if not in fact
8 absolute, supreme, unlimited
9 a showy festive party
10 acquired, assembled
15 bring together

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