Mahabad (Persian: مهاباد) is a city in the Central District of Mahabad County, West Azerbaijan province, Iran, serving as capital of both the county and the district. Etymology. Mahabad first became the name of the city after World War I, during the reign of the Pahlavi shah (king) Reza Shah (r. 1925–1941). Before that, it was known as Savojbolagh, a Persian corruption of the Turkic word soghuk bulak (meaning "cold spring"). The Kurdish version was Sablagh. Geography. Location. The city lies south of Lake Urmia in a narrow valley 1,300 metres above sea level.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahabad