Editing Sabalan

{{Short description|Mountain peak in northwestern Iran}}
{{for-multi|the Iranian version of the M47M tank|Sabalan (tank)|the village in Iran|Savalan, Iran|the Iranian frigate|IRIS Sabalan (73)}}

{{more footnotes needed|date=March 2016}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Sabalan(Savalan)
| photo = Mt. Sabalan from Highway near Ardabil.jpg
| photo_caption = Mount Sabalan
| elevation_m = 4811
| elevation_ref = <ref name="peaklist">[http://www.peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/iran.html "Iran: 54 Mountain Summits with Prominence of 1,500 meters or greater"] Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2011-11-21.</ref>
| prominence_m = 3283
| prominence_ref = <ref name="peaklist"/><br /><small>[[List of peaks by prominence|Ranked 66th]]</small>
| map = Iran
| relief = 1
| map_caption = Location in Iran
| map_size = 
| label_position = 
| listing = [[Ultra prominent peak|Ultra]]
| location = [[Ardabil province|Meshkinshahr]], [[Iran]].
| range = 
| coordinates = {{coord|38|16|01|N|47|50|13|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = <ref name="peaklist"/>
| topo = 
| type = [[Stratovolcano]]
| age = 5.6–1.4 million years
| last_eruption = Unknown, possibly [[Holocene]].
| first_ascent = 
| easiest_route = [[hiking]] / [[scrambling]]
}}
'''Sabalan''' ([[Persian language|Persian]]: سبلان) or '''Savalan''' ([[Ardabil dialect|native]]: ساوالان {{IPA|fa|sævæ'lɒːn|}})<ref>{{Cite book |title=Turkish vocabulary for English speakers – 9000 words (American English Collection) |year=2012 |isbn=978-1780712925 |language=en |last1=Taranov |first1=Andrey |publisher=T&P Books. }}</ref> is an inactive [[stratovolcano]] in northwestern [[Iran]] located in [[Ardabil province]].

At {{convert|4794|m|ft}} above sea level, it is the third-highest mountain in Iran. A permanent [[Volcanic crater lake|crater lake]] has formed at its summit. On one of its slopes around {{convert|3600|m|ft}} there are large rock formations of eroded volcanic outcrops that resemble animals, birds, and insects.
[[Image:SabalanGlaciers.png|thumb|upright=1.5|Map of summit region and glaciers of Sabalan.]]

==Mount Sabalan==
Located in the extreme northwest of Iran, Savalan is the country's third-highest peak after [[Damavand]] and [[Alam-Kuh]]. It is also slightly 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 [[Spring (hydrology)|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 tourists. Savalan 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 venture.

==Geology==
Sabalan is a large [[andesite]] stratovolcano in Meshgin Shahr, in [[Ardabil province]] in 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&nbsp; million years. Some references state that volcanic activity continued into the [[Holocene]], less than 10,000&nbsp; years ago.

The summit region has several peaks exceeding {{Convert|4500|m|ft|-2}}, primarily along a southwest–northeast trending ridge. The highest point {{Convert|4791|m|ft|0}} is at the northeast end of the ridge and is separated from the {{Convert|4620|m|ft|-1}}+ group of southwestern summits by a {{Convert|4190|m|ft|-1|abbr=on}} [[mountain pass|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 [[glacier]]s near the summit above {{Convert|4000|m|ft|-3}}. The largest of these were more than {{Convert|1.5|km|mi|0}} in length as of the 1970s. There are also extensive [[rock glacier]]s, several of which are more than {{Convert|3|km|mi|0|abbr=on}} in length.

==Climbing==
The climbing surface includes rocks of various size (Class 2 [[scrambling]]), and a moderate degree of fitness is required to climb it. The climb from the base camp starts easy, becomes challenging midway, 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 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 [[Meshginshahr|Meshkin]], sarab city and [[Ardabil|ardabil city]],<ref>{{Cite web | title=وزارت میراث‌فرهنگی، گردشگری و صنایع‌دستی | url=https://www.mcth.ir/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190826221356/http://www.mcth.ir:80/ | access-date=2025-02-01 | archive-date=2019-08-26}}</ref> produces large quantities of grain, including wheat. Due to the microclimate produced by the mountain, Ardabil remains pleasantly cool in the summers.

There are numerous hot springs around the slopes of Sabalan, with the main concentration within [[Sareyn County]].

There are skiing slopes, with snow even in near-summer. A [[ski resort]] named "Alvares" is within an hour's drive from [[Sareyn]] on the south ridge of Sabalan.
[[File:Sabalan and Alvares Ski Piste.jpg|thumb|800px|center|Mount Sabalan and Alvares ski piste seen from South]]

==Gallery==
<gallery widths="200" heights="135">
File:Arshoq Castle and Sabalan.jpg|Arshoq Castle in [[Meshkinshahr|Meshgin Shahr]] in foreground, Sabalan in background
File:Sab sklo.JPG|Shelter on Sabalan at 3,600 m
File:Sabalan01.JPG|Crater lake of Sabalan
File:Sabalan1.JPG|Sabalan landscape at 4,100 m
File:960512-Sabalan-IMG 7088-3-2.jpg|[[Igneous rock]], Mr. Sabalan, [[Iran]]
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[List of mountains in Iran]]
* [[List of volcanoes in Iran]]
* [[List of Ultras of West Asia]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite gvp|name=Sabalan|vn=232002|access-date=2021-06-24}}
* {{cite book |editor-last=Williams |editor-first=Richard S. Jr |editor2=Ferrigno, Jane G. | title = Satellite Image Atlas of Glaciers of the World -- Middle East and Africa | pages = 37–39 | publisher = [[USGS]] Professional Paper 1386-G | year = 1991 | url = http://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/p1386g/ }}
* [http://peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/iran.html Peaklist.org: Iran Mountain Ultra-Prominence]

==Sources==
* {{cite journal |last=Chehabi|first=H. E.|year=1997|title=Ardabil Becomes a Province: Center-Periphery Relations in Iran |journal=International Journal of Middle East Studies|volume=29 |issue=2|pages=235–253|doi=10.1017/S0020743800064485 |jstor=164018|s2cid=162201104 }} {{Registration required}}

==External links==
{{Portalbar|Iran}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060207002225/http://blogs.sun.com/roller/page/MortazaviBlog?entry=more_on_climbing_mount_sabalan Story of a climb to Mount Sabalan]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110708013825/http://www.savalan.blog.com/ Hamed Tohidi's Blog about Mount Sabalan]
{{commons category|position=left|Sabalan}}

{{Protected Areas of Iran}}
{{Ranges of Iranian Plateau}}

[[Category:Mountains of Iran]]
[[Category:Mountaineering in Iran]]
[[Category:Alborz (mountain range)]]
[[Category:Landforms of Ardabil province]]
[[Category:Stratovolcanoes of Iran]]
[[Category:Volcanic crater lakes]]
[[Category:Four-thousanders of the Alborz]]
[[Category:Mountains of Ardabil Province]]
[[Category:Miocene stratovolcanoes]]
[[Category:Pliocene stratovolcanoes]]
[[Category:Pleistocene stratovolcanoes]]