
Photo: geozet.ru

Photo: geozet.ru
Sadly, the city is no longer as glorious as it once was. Two factors contributed to its decline – the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the discovery of new oilfields elsewhere. The workforce was drastically reduced, leaving behind a population of less than half the original number.
Photo: IPAAT/Panoramio
Several oil rigs were abandoned, and with no one around to maintain the structures, many of them collapsed into the sea. Those still standing are in rough shape and in desperate need of repairs. Only 45 of the 300 kilometers of roads are currently usable, and population was last counted at 933. However, this figure does not include the 2-to-5 000 people who work in Neft Dashlari at any given time on weekly and bi-weekly shifts.
Photo: infoglaz.ru
According to a news report in the German magazine Der Spiegel, “A worker on Neft Dashlari still earns some $130 a month, twice as much as someone employed in the same job on the mainland. But the plant hasn’t been operating efficiently for years. Submerged steel constructions pose a threat to shipping, oil leaks abound and equipment is falling apart.”
Photo: geozet.ru
Despite this, the government of Azerbaijan is reluctant to completely shut down the creaky antique colony. It stands as a testament to better, greater times and continues to be maintained as a source of national pride and a closely-guarded secret. In fact, according to Amusing Planet, it’s quite difficult for foreigners to gain access to Neft Dashlari, and you can’t even zoom into it on Google Maps. A complete aerial view of the city is not available in most satellite imagery, either.
Photo: IPAAT/Panoramio

Photo: IPAAT/Panoramio