Mount Sabalan is a dormant stratovolcano and the second highest mountain in Iran at 4,811 metres. It is located in Ardabil province in northwestern Iran and is sacred in Zoroastrian tradition, associated with the prophet Zoroaster.

Mount Sabalan holds deep significance in Zoroastrian tradition as a location associated with the prophet Zoroaster himself. Ancient texts suggest Zoroaster spent time in the region around Sabalan, and the mountain was considered sacred in pre-Islamic Persian religion. The Ardabil shrine of Sheikh Safi al-Din at the mountain’s foot became the spiritual headquarters of the Safavid order, linking the mountain to one of the most consequential political-religious movements in Iranian history. The Safavid Shah Ismail I launched his conquest of Iran from this region in 1501.

Mount Sabalan is a dormant stratovolcano and the second highest peak in Iran at 4,811 metres. Its crater contains a lake that freezes in winter, a remarkable feature at that altitude. The mountain is located in Ardabil province and attracts climbers and trekkers. Geothermal energy potential has been identified in the Sabalan volcanic field and is being developed as a source of renewable energy for the region. The mountain’s flanks support pastoral activity and summer tourism.