Sabalan

Sabalan
Mount Sabalan
Highest point
Elevation	4,811 m (15,784 ft)
Prominence	3,283 m (10,771 ft)  Ranked 66th
Isolation	346 kilometres (215 mi)
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
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 [sæbæ'lɒːn]), or Savalan (Azerbaijani: Savalan, ساوالان [sɑvɑˈlɑn]) is an inactive stratovolcano in the Alborz mountain range and Ardabil Province of northwestern Iran.

At 4,811 metres (15,784 ft) in elevation, it is the third highest mountain in Iran. It has a permanent crater lake formed at its summit. On one of its slopes around 3,600 metres (11,800 ft) in elevation there are large rock formations of eroded volcanic outcrops which resemble animals, birds, and insects.

.

Located in the extreme northwest of Iran, Sabalan is the country's third highest peak after Damavand and Alam-Kuh. It is also higher than Mont 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 numbers of tourists each year, many of whom have faith in healing properties attributed to the springs. The nomadic people of the area live in small villages, with their round "Yurt" tents appealing to tourism. Sabalan has a sky 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, Mount Sabalan was the place where Zoroaster meditated for some years, so Mt. Savalan is one of the important sacred places in Zoroastrianism.

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

...
Wikipedia