Sahand (), is a massive, heavily eroded

stratovolcano A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a typically conical volcano built up by many alternating layers (strata) of hardened lava and tephra. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile with ...

East Azerbaijan Province East Azerbaijan province () is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. Its capital is the city of Tabriz. The province is located in Azerbaijan (Iran), Iranian Azerbaijan, bordering Armenia, the Azerbaijan, Republic of Azerbaijan, Ardabil pro ...

, northwestern

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...

. At , it is the highest mountain in the province of East Azerbaijan. Sahand is one of the highest mountains in

Iranian Azerbaijan Azerbaijan or Azarbaijan (, , ), also known as Iranian Azerbaijan, is a historical region in northwestern Iran that borders Iraq and Turkey to the west and Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the Azerbaijani exclave of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republ ...

, in addition to being an important dormant volcano in the country. The Sahand mountains are directly south of

Tabriz Tabriz (; ) is a city in the Central District (Tabriz County), Central District of Tabriz County, in the East Azerbaijan province, East Azerbaijan province of northwestern Iran. It serves as capital of the province, the county, and the distric ...

, 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

. 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 is on the northern foothills of the mountain and near the city of Tabriz.

Name

Iranian naval ships have been named for it including IRIS Sahand (1969), IRIS Sahand (2012), and Iranian IRIS Sahand (F-74).

References

* {{Authority control 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

Winter sports

Name

See also

References