According to a special report from Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources (MENR), seawater quality in certain beach areas of Baku and surrounding districts fails to meet health standards. Swimming in the Shikh and Pirshagi areas has been deemed unsafe due to wastewater discharge.
Environmental expert and Public Council member Rovshan Abbasov told Modern.az that beachgoers should opt for cleaner coastal locations to protect their health.
“I recommend beaches located some distance from Baku, where there is no wastewater discharge and water cleanliness is relatively high. Some of these spots are not officially classified as beaches but are still used for seaside recreation,” Abbasov said.
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He highlighted the beaches near the settlement of Zira as among the best options close to the capital.
“The water quality here is much better than in many other areas, especially along the coastal stretch of the road leading to Absheron National Park beyond Zira,” he noted.
The MENR representative added that certain beaches in Bilgah and Nardaran also have satisfactory water quality, making them suitable for swimming.
