Volcano Type: Stratovolcano
Volcano Status: Holocene
Last Known Eruption: Unknown
Summit Elevation: 4811 m   15,784 feet
Latitude: 38.25°N   38°15’0″N
Longitude: 47.92°E   47°55’0″E

Sabalan volcano (Kuhha-ye-Sabalan) lies in NW Iran, about 90 km west of the Caspian Sea and west of the city of Ardabil. The andesitic volcano reaches a height of 4811 m; it forms the highest point in NW Iran and is the country’s 2nd highest volcano, exceeded only by Damavand. Seven glaciers descend from the summit, and rock glaciers are also present. Potassium-Argon dates at Sabalan ranged from 5.6 to 1.4 million years ago, but Karakhanian et al. indicated that activity at Sabalan continued into the Holocene.

Sabalan is the third highest mountain in Iran

At 4,821 metres it is taller than Mount Blanc in the Alps. The mountain offers many attractions throughout the year. On the slopes of the mountain the mineral water from springs attracts large amounts of tourists each year, many have faith in healing properties believed to be in the springs. The nomadic people of the area live in small villages, with their round “Yurt” tents appealing to tourism. Savalan is a volcanic peak, and at 3,600 metres you can see gigantic ‘sculptures’ which are eroded volcanic stone outcrops which resemble animals, birds and insects.

View of the summit

Summit of the volcano (Mostafa Saeednejad)

Rock formation seen while climbing the volcano (Ali Vahedian)

Sabalan Lake (Ali Vahedian)

Sabalan Lake (Ali Vahedian)

Climbing Mount Sabalan (M. Mortazavi)

Mount Sabalan (Ali Tavallaei)

Rock in Mount Sabalan (Ali Tavallaei)

Rock near the summit (M. Mortazavi)

Originally posted 2010-10-20 04:53:08.