Mount Shahdagh, Mountain peak in Qusar District, Azerbaijan

Mount Shahdagh is a 4,243 m peak in the Side Range of the Greater Caucasus, in Azerbaijan's Qusar District. It is composed mainly of limestone and dolomite, with glaciers, waterfalls and high-mountain meadows. Two lakes lie among the rocks at about 3,700–3,800 m in the western part of the massif, reached through a narrow gorge.

The first recorded ascent was made by Andrey Pastukhov in 1892, starting from the Shahdagh gorge. From summer 1935 until 1968, a combined company of cadets from the Baku Infantry School climbed the summit every year. In 1966 O. Drozdovsky and in 1993 D. P. Shiyanov climbed the north-east wall by its fault line. Local alpinists still ascend the peak each year.

The name Shahdagh comes from the Persian shah (king) and Azerbaijani dagh (mountain), meaning "king mountain"; researchers link it to the peak being the highest of the local mountains, "the king of mountains". Qusar legends also tell of a shah's son who watched for enemies from the summit. Since summer 1935 cadets of the Baku infantry school climbed it yearly until 1968.

Climbing routes start from a nearby mountain resort where you can rent equipment and hire experienced guides for the ascent. Prepare well since conditions change significantly depending on the season and weather.

The mountain experiences severe temperature swings with winters dropping to around -20°C and staying snow-covered for extended periods. These harsh conditions make it a serious challenge for climbers who must prepare carefully for the environment.