Sabalan

The mountain is referred to as Sabalan in Persian. It has been used variously across literary sources, especially Arabic ones, from the 10th to the 14th centuries such as in Surat al-Ard.^{[citation needed]} Sabalan is generally treated as the historically documented form of the mountain's name. The local Azerbaijani name is Savalan, and likely a different pronunciation of the Persian Sabalan, though some sources claim it stems from the Talysh Savalun translating to "snow-nest head".^[5] Some sources also claim the name Savalan comes from the Azerbaijani term saval (meaning harsh) and the suffix -an, due to the existence of another place by the same name in the Qabala district of Azerbaijan.^[6] It has also been described as the "Qibla of happiness" in by Azerbaijani poet Khaqani and "Sultan Savalan" by local Azerbaijanis.^[7][8]

Sabalan is located on the border of East Azerbaijan province and Ardabil province of Iran, largely being in Ardabil. The nearest settlement is the village of Movil, approximately 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) from the summit. Located in the extreme northwest of Iran, it is the country's and the Alborz mountain range's third-highest peak after Damavand and Alam-Kuh, and Azerbaijan's highest peak overall.^[9]

The mountain has a number of attractions. On the slopes of the mountain, the mineral water from springs attracts tourists each year, some of whom have faith in healing properties attributed to the springs.^[10] There also is a ski resort nearby called Alvares and different tourist areas such as the Sarein spa. The mountain is known for its views, including the Shirvan gorge, where few climbers venture.^[10]

The mountain is also visible from Lerik, Azerbaijan.^[11]

Sabalan is a large andesite stratovolcano in Meshgin Shahr, described as having a snowy peak,^[12][13] 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  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 4,791 metres (15,719 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.

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.

In 2025, 25 mountain climbers got lost while climbing the mountain due to heavy fog and shortly after rescued and brought back to safety.^[14]

Despite lying outside of the borders of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Sabalan (Savalan) is described as a very symbolic mountain for the Azerbaijani people.^[15][16] It is central to multiple quotes, such as Sinəm Savalan dağıdır (my chest is Mount Savalan),^[17] poetry,^[18][19] such as being used as a pseudonym by Hasan Majidzadah^[20] and is present in multiple beliefs and folklores, such as "the sacred mountain of Azerbaijan".^[4][10][16] The mountain has also become a symbol of South Azerbaijani separatism,^[21] such as when a group of Azerbaijanis climbed it and portrayed themselves, singing poems with the flag of Azerbaijan,^[22] or when former Azerbaijani president Abulfaz Elchibey used it as a symbol for Azerbaijani unification.^[23] The Azerbaijani children's show actor Sadiq Huseynov was nicknamed Savalan Baba (Grandpa Savalan).^[24]

It has mainly been tied to Zoroastrianism, being described as the place where Zoroaster meditated, lived and "talked to God (Ahura Mazda)" at, which is why it's a sacred place in Zoroastrian mythology.^{[25][16][26][19]} Some sources also claim that the Islamic Prophet Muhammad has talked about Sabalan.^[19][27][28]

The area around Sabalan, particularly near Meshkin, Sarab city and Ardabil city,^[29] produces large quantities of grain, including wheat. Due to the microclimate produced by the mountain, Ardabil remains pleasantly cool in the summers. The area is also suitable for cattle breeding and even produces its own kind of honey, the Sabalan honey (ساوالان بالی).^[19][30]

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.

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  Arshoq Castle in Meshgin Shahr in foreground, Sabalan in background
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  Sabalan landscape at 4,100 m
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  Mount Sabalan
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  Igneous rock, Mr. Sabalan, Iran
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  Sabalan from Sareyn
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  Crater lake at night
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  Sabalan from Arjaq
• 
  Shelter on Sabalan at 3,600 m

• List of mountains in Iran
• List of volcanoes in Iran
• List of Ultras of West Asia