Derbent, Russia - UNESCO World Heritage Site

 Place: Derbent, Russia

Weather: Mainly sunny, 49/62F.

Route: From Tbilisi 590 km ENE on E117 and E50.

Population: 123,720

Significance: Derbent is between the Caucasus mountains and the Caspian Sea. It was the main way for armies to travel between the Eurasian Steppes and the Middle East. The city was established in the 8th century BC and became a Persian city starting in the 6th century BC, however there were people living in the area as long as 5,000 years ago. The Persians kept control of the city until the Arab invasion of Persia in the 7th century. Parts of the wall are from the 5th century and the fortress is from the 14th century.

Website: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Images:

The walls of Derbent (from rbth.com)

View from the fortress (from whc.unesco.org)