Sahand ( fa, سهند), is a massive, heavily eroded
stratovolcano
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a conical volcano built up by many layers (strata) of hardened lava and tephra. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile with a summit crater and per ...
in
East Azerbaijan Province
East Azerbaijan Province ( fa, استان آذربایجان شرقی ''Āzarbāijān-e Sharqi''; az-Arab, شرقی آذربایجان اوستانی) is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It is located in Iranian Azerbaijan, bordering Armenia, ...
, northwestern
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
. At , it is the highest mountain in the province of East Azarbaijan.
Sahand is one of the highest mountains in
Iranian Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan or Azarbaijan ( fa, آذربایجان, ''Āzarbāijān'' ; az-Arab, آذربایجان, ''Āzerbāyjān'' ), also known as Iranian Azerbaijan, is a historical region in northwestern Iran that borders Iraq, Turkey, the Nakhchivan ...
, in addition to being an important dormant volcano in the country.
The Sahand mountains are directly south of
Tabriz
Tabriz ( fa, تبریز ; ) is a city in northwestern Iran, serving as the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. It is the List of largest cities of Iran, sixth-most-populous city in Iran. In the Quri Chay, Quru River valley in Iran's historic Aze ...
, the highest peak of which is Kamal at an elevation of . Approximately 17 peaks can be accounted for as being over in height. Due to the presence of a variety of flora and fauna, the Sahand mountains are known as the bride of mountains in
Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
.
The absolute dating of Sahand rocks indicates that this volcano has been sporadically active from 12 million years ago up to almost 0.14 million years ago. Sahand is made chiefly of
dacite
Dacite () is a volcanic rock formed by rapid solidification of lava that is high in silica and low in alkali metal oxides. It has a fine-grained (aphanitic) to porphyritic texture and is intermediate in composition between andesite and rhyolite. ...
and associated felsic rocks.
Winter sports
Sahand Ski Resort
Sahand Ski Resort is a ski resort in northern slopes of Mount Sahand, in vicinity of Tabriz, North West of Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is ...
is on the northern foothills of the mountain and near the city of Tabriz. In the complex the Sahand Skiing Stadium has a 1200 meters length ski area and skiing and snowboarding is practiced in the resort. The
snow sculpture competition, which runs once a year at mid-winter in the stadium, is a famous entertainment that attracts spectators and competitors from all over the country.
See also
*
List of volcanoes in Iran
*
Sahand University of Technology
Sahand University of Technology (SUT) ( fa, دانشگاه صنعتی سهند, ''Danushgah-e Sân'ti-ye Sihend'') Sahand University of Technology (SUT) as the first technical university in Iran after Islamic revolution was established in 1989 ...
*
List of Ultras of West Asia
*
Kandovan rock dwellings
References
*
{{Portalbar, Iran
Stratovolcanoes of Iran
Mountains of Iran
Mountaineering in Iran
Landforms of East Azerbaijan Province
Mountains of East Azerbaijan Province
Miocene stratovolcanoes
Pliocene stratovolcanoes
Pleistocene stratovolcanoes