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Sabalan

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description Sabalan Overview

Mount Sabalan is a dormant stratovolcano located in the Ardabil and East Azerbaijan provinces of northwestern Iran. Standing at an elevation of approximately 4,811 meters, it ranks as the country's third-highest peak and features a permanent crater lake near its summit. The mountain is heavily glaciated and surrounded by geothermal hot springs, making it a prominent destination for local mountaineering and nomadic pastoralists.

help Sabalan FAQ

Where is Mount Sabalan and how high is it?

Mount Sabalan is a dormant stratovolcano in northwestern Iran, chiefly associated with Ardabil Province. Its summit reaches about 4,811 meters, making it Iran's third-highest mountain after Damavand and Alam-Kuh. [Visit Iran](https://visitiran.ir/fa/attraction/%D9%83%D9%88%D9%87-%D8%B3%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86) [Sabalan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabalan)

Does Mount Sabalan really have a crater lake?

Yes, the summit contains a permanent volcanic crater lake that is often frozen outside summer. A tourism description gives the lake's oval surface as roughly 195 meters by 80 meters. [Visit Iran](https://visitiran.ir/fa/attraction/%D9%83%D9%88%D9%87-%D8%B3%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86)

Is Sabalan dormant or extinct?

Sabalan is generally described as a dormant stratovolcano rather than an extinct volcanic mountain. Its summit crater lake and numerous hot springs around the mountain are part of its volcanic landscape, although the summit itself is not described as currently erupting. [Sabalan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabalan) [Visit Iran](https://visitiran.ir/fa/attraction/%D9%83%D9%88%D9%87-%D8%B3%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86)

What route do climbers usually use to climb Sabalan?

The commonly described approach comes from the northeast through Lahroud and the Qotur Su'i hot-spring area. Vehicles can reach a shelter at about 3,100 meters, but the summit section remains a serious high-altitude climb. [Visit Iran](https://visitiran.ir/fa/attraction/%D9%83%D9%88%D9%87-%D8%B3%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%86)

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