The NW part of Iran is particularly rich in geological features and formations defining its geological heritage and attracts tourists worldwide. Most of NW Iran is located in a volcanic arc zone of the Cenozoic age, including the Quaternary (Ghazi, et. al., 2013). Sahand and Sabalan volcanoes together form an array of Late Miocene-Quaternary stratovolcanoes within the Arabian-Eurasian collision zone of northwestern Iran (Ghalamghash, et. al., 2019). There are many natural attractions in this area such as Kandovan village, Maragheh fossil site, and Lighvan hot spring. The Sabalan Crater Lake and Sarein hot spring are two of the main symbols of NW Iran's geotourism sites. Some of these geological phenomena are briefly discussed here.
Geological History
Both Sahand and Sabalan volcanoes are part of the Urmia-Dokhtar volcanic arc, which was formed from the subduction of the Neotethys plate under the Central Iran plate in the Cenozoic, which then led to the collision of the Arabian and Central Iran continental plates (Berberian and King, 1981, Fig 1 and 2). Collision between Arabian and central Iran plates occurred during the Oligocene and late Miocene when the active subduction between Iran and Arabia sterminated (Ghazi, et. al., 2013). The last signs of these magmatic activities are seen in the form of numerous hot springs.
Sahand
The Sahand Mountain ( ~3700 m ) is known as a massive and important dormant volcano in Iran (Figure 3). It comprises many different geological features, such as various lithostratigraphic sections, cones developed in tuff as a result of erosive processes, crags, canyons, rivers, waterfalls, and tafoni (Ghazi, et. al., 2013). Because of the considerable size of the composite Sahand edifice, which developed a radial drainage system of ~80 km in diameter, it is a key member in a post-collisional magmatic province that has emerged along the suture zone between Arabia and Eurasia in eastern Anatolia, Armenia, and northwestern Iran (Ghalamghash, et. al., 2019, Figure 4).
The Kandovan is a historical village considered one of the most beautiful landscapes of the country, with dug houses inside the cone-shaped rocks (Figure 5). These cone-shaped structures (Karans) were shaped as a result of ash and debris erosion from a volcano eruption of now-dormant Sahand Volcano (Ranjbaran, et. al., 2018). This is a place where cultural and geological tourism are combined, and in this sense, it has attracted a lot of attention of tourists.
Studies show that Sahand eruptions were of Plinian type with a large volume of ash and andesitic to acidic (mostly dacite) lavas and huge lahar flows, which have buried a large number of the mammals in the time of the eruption, and created a unique site of mammal fossils sites, “the Bone Beds” (Figure 6). The Miocene-aged Maragheh formation in the west of Sahand shows one of the richest mammal fossil sites in the world, which contains fossils of different types of vertebrates, including giraffes, hipparions, gazelles, deer, and even monkeys, etc (Mirzaei Ataabadi and Fortelius., 2016). The first paleontological field museum in Iran and paleontological research center have been established in this area, which attracts thousands of tourists every year. This fossil site also reveals the answer to many scientific questions about mammal migration in Eurasia.
In addition to the mentioned cases, volcanic activities and in particular, the volcanic petrogenesis of Sahand, provide the host rock for hot springs such as Lighvan, which are important tourist destinations in this region. The host rocks of the Lighvan hot spring are Sahand volcano igneous rocks, dacite, andesite, and Quaternary volcanic tuffs (Yazdi, et. al., 2023) .
Sabalan
Sabalan is the highest stratovolcano in the Azerbaijan region, NW Iran (Fig 7). This stratovolcano exhibits pre-caldera and post-caldera activity. Sabalan with elevations up to 4861m, is one of the eight Pliocene– Quaternary volcanic cones in the border area of Iran, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. Sabalan volcanic activity occurred with Andesite lava erupted in the Pliocene. One of the important events in volcanic activity is the crater collapse in Sabalan in the early Pliocene and the beginning of the Pleistocene. Rocks types are mainly andesite and basaltic andesite{6}.
Sabalan Crater Lake has been a popular geosite for tourists for decades (Nasiri, 2012., Fig 8).
In Sabalan, especially on its northern slope, there are remnants of the late quaternary glacial ages, including glacial cirques, moraine effects, glacial valleys, etc (Nasiri, 2012., Jafari & Hazrati, 2020). Some parts of Sabalan are still covered by glaciers (Moussavi, et. al., 2010., Figure 9).
In the Sarein region, on the slopes of Sabalan, there are many mineral spa springs that are generally believed to have healing properties (Regulating blood pressure and calming the nerves, joint and muscle pains ((Esfandiari Darabad, et. al., 2024 & Nazareian, et. al., 2015). The (medical) world has viewed the use of water in medicine with different opinions, from very enthusiastic to extremely critical, and from beneficial to harmful. Today, spa therapy is receiving renewed attention from many medical specialties and health tourists, and having a revival. However, the exact therapeutic potential of spa therapy still remains largely unknown. Better and more profound scientific evidence for its efficacy is therefore warranted, in particular for its effects on the musculoskeletal system (Van Turbenden and Van der Linden., 2020)
In conclusion, the volcanic landscapes of Sahand and Sabalan in northwest Iran have given rise to geosites with immense touristic potential. It is imperative to prioritize the preservation of these natural wonders by addressing issues such as pollution of spa springs and safeguarding fossil sites from harmful excavations. By promoting the geological attractions of this region on a global scale, we can not only boost tourism in these areas but also contribute to the preservation and appreciation of local cultures, including the unique architecture of Kandovan. It is crucial to recognize the significance of these geological formations and their cultural impact, and take proactive measures to ensure their sustainability for future generations.
References
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