Gavmish Goli Hot Spring

Gavmish Goli ("buffalo pond") is the highest-discharge and one of the oldest mineral hot springs in the geothermal spa town of Sarein, on the northern flank of the dormant volcano Mount Sabalan in Iran's Ardabil province. Sitting at roughly 1,940 m elevation, the spring flows at about 140 litres per second, making it the most abundant of Sarein's cluster of thermal springs.

Geothermal mineral water

The water emerges hot (roughly 40-46 C depending on season and source) and carries a distinctive sulphurous taste and smell. It is rich in dissolved minerals, including carbonate, bicarbonate, chloride and sulphate anions and calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium cations. It is traditionally recommended for rheumatic and musculoskeletal complaints, cardiac conditions, blood-pressure regulation, and skin ailments.

Pools & facilities

• Open-air mineral thermal pool (about 400 m2, 130 cm deep)
• Group and individual jacuzzis
• Steam sauna
• Hot and cold showers
• Chlorine disinfection basin at the entrance to the main area
• Hygiene/cosmetics kiosk, food buffet and restrooms

The complex, run under the Municipality of Sarein, draws large numbers of visitors year-round to the town below Mount Sabalan, where the surrounding peaks and volcanic geology feed the town's many hot mineral springs.