Sabalan

For the village in Iran, see Savalan, Iran.
Sabalan

Mount Sabalan
Highest point
Elevation 4,811 m (15,784 ft) [1]
Prominence 3,283 m (10,771 ft) [1]
Ranked 66th
Listing Ultra
Coordinates 38°16′01″N 47°50′13″E / 38.26694°N 47.83694°E / 38.26694; 47.83694Coordinates: 38°16′01″N 47°50′13″E / 38.26694°N 47.83694°E / 38.26694; 47.83694 [1]
Geography
Sabalan

Location in Iran

Location Meshkinshahr, Iran.
Geology
Age of rock 5.6–1.4 million years
Mountain type Stratovolcano
Last eruption Unknown, possibly Holocene.
Climbing
Easiest route hiking / scrambling

Sabalan (Persian: سبلان, Azerbaijani: Savalan, ساوالان) is an inactive stratovolcano in Ardabil province of northwestern Iran. It is the third highest mountain in Iran and has a permanent crater lake formed at its summit. Sabalan has a ski resort (Alvares) and different tourist areas such as the Sarein spa. The mountain is known for its beautiful vistas, including the Shirvan gorge, where few climbers ever venture. According to some beliefs, the Mount Sabalan was the place where Zoroaster meditated for some years, so Mt. Savalan is one of the important sacred places in Zoroastrianism.

Map of summit region and glaciers of Sabalan

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Mount Sabalan

Located in the extreme north west of Iran in meshkin shar (khiav), Sabalan is the country's third highest peak after Damavand and Alam-Kuh. At 4,811 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. Sabalan 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.

Sabalan and the end of time

Based on nomadic beliefs, when all the snow of Sabalan melts, the end of time will come.

Geology

Sabalan is a large andesite stratovolcano in Meshgin Shahr (Khiav), in Iranian Azerbaijan in North West Iran. It is the second highest volcano after Mount Damavand. The volcano is quite old. Its first eruptions occurred in the Eocene and later in the Miocene. But the main volcanism happened in the Pliocene and the Pleistocene as some of its rocks have been dated to 5–1.4 million years. Some references state that volcanic activity continued into the Holocene, less than 10,000 years ago.

The summit region has several peaks exceeding 4,500 metres (14,800 ft), primarily along a southwest-northeast trending ridge. The highest point 4,811 metres (15,784 ft) is at the northeast end of the ridge, and is separated from the 4,620 metres (15,160 ft)+ group of southwestern summits by a 4,190 m (13,750 ft) col.

The mountain is located in a continental climate with hot, dry summers and extremely cold, snowy winters. Precipitation falls primarily as snow in late autumn, winter, and spring, and is sufficient to sustain seven glaciers near the summit above 4,000 metres (13,000 ft). The largest of these were more than 1.5 kilometres (1 mi) in length as of the 1970s. There are also extensive rock glaciers, several of which are more than 3 km (2 mi) in length.

Climbing

The climbing surface includes rocks of various sizes (Class 2 scrambling), and a moderate degree of fitness is required to climb it. The climb from the base camp starts easy, becomes challenging mid way, then eases in gradient near the top. The lake on the top remains frozen except for about four weeks in late July to early August.

Some climbers start by driving to hot springs of Meshgin Shahr, where they start their climb. This climb takes about two days, reaching to the base camp on the first day. Others take a taxi to base camp early in the morning, and climb the mountain in one day. In 2006, there was talk of improving the road to the base camp. If this is done, a regular car should be able to make it to the base camp during the climbing season. The road goes through multiple nomadic encampments of shepherds.

One or two days of acclimatization in Tehran or Ardabil may be advisable. Mountaineering has been popular among the youth in Iran. On a Friday during the climbing season (late June to mid August), one may find hundreds of people on the mountain. Guides can also be found in Ardabil. Adequate climbing equipment can be purchased in Ardabil or Tehran.

Surrounding area

The area around Sabalan, particularly near Meshkin and Dasht-eh Moghan produces large quantities of grain, including wheat. Thanks to the climate produced by the mountain, Ardabil remains pleasantly cool in the summers. There are lots of hot springs all around the slopes of Sabalan; and a main concentration is within Sareyn county having 10 various hot springs. Furthermore, there are some really proper slopes for skiing with a lot of snow even in near-summer; along with a very beautiful and useful ski piste named "Alvares" within an hour's drive from Sareyn to the Sabalan South ridge.

Mount Sabalan and Alvares ski piste seen from South

Gallery

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Iran: 54 Mountain Summits with Prominence of 1,500 meters or greater" Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2011-11-21.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sabalan.
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