Mount Damavand
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Damāvand | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Elevation | 5,610 metres (18,405 feet)[1] |
| Location | Māzandarān, Iran |
| Range | Alborz |
| Prominence | 4,667 m Ranked 12th |
| Coordinates | |
| Type | Stratovolcano |
| Last eruption | Unknown |
| First ascent | 1837 by W. T. Thomson |
| Easiest route | hike |
Mount Damāvand (Persian: دماوند ) also known as Donbavand, is a dormant volcano in Iran. Located in the middle Alborz Range, adjacent to Varārū, Sesang, Gol-e Zard and Mīānrūd, it is the highest point in both Iran and the wider Middle East. The mountain is located near the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, in Āmol county, Māzandarān, 66 km (41 miles) northeast of Tehran. The nearest major settlement is the city of Rineh, located at the south of the mountain.
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[edit] History
Mount Damāvand has its own special place in Iranian mythology and folklore. In Zoroastrian texts and mythology, the three-headed dragon Aži Dahāka was chained within Mount Damāvand, there to remain until the end of the world. In a later version of the same legend, the tyrant Zahhāk was also chained on some cave in mount Damāvand after being defeated by Kāveh and Fereydūn. Damāvand is also significant to the patriotic Iranian legend of Arash.
Damāvand was climbed by Iranians thousands of years ago, by shepherds and such.
[edit] Symbolism and mythology
Damāvand is the symbol of Iranian resistance against the foreign rule in Persian poetry and literature. The famous poem Damāvand by Mohammad Taqī Bahār is one of the many poetic creations about Damāvand.
The first verse of this poem is:
ای دیو سپید پای در بند
Ay dīve sepīde pāī dar band,
Oh white demon with feet in chains
ای گنبد گیتی ای دماوند
Ay gonbade gītī, ay Damāvand
Oh celestial dome, Oh Mount Damāvand
In Persian mythology, the mountain is where Zahhāk the Dragon King is slain by the hero Fereydūn. The mountain is said to hold magical powers in the Šahnameh.
[edit] Routes to the summit
There are at least 16 known routes [1] to the summit which have different difficulties. Some of them are very dangerous and need rock climbing. The most popular route is the Southern Route which has step stamps and also a camp midway at el=4000 m. The longest route is the Northeastern and it takes two whole days to reach the summit starting from downhill village of Nāndal and a night stay at Takht-e Fereydoun (el=4300 m), a two-story shelter. The western route is famous for its sunset view. Sīmorgh shelter in this route at el=4100 m is a newly constructed shelter with two stories. There is a frozen waterfall (Ābshār-e Yakhī), which often causes major avalanches.
[edit] Geographical location
|
Peaks: | 1 `Alam Kūh | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Āzād Kūh | 3 Damāvand | |||||
| 4 Do Berar | 5 Do Khaharan | |||||
| 6 Ghal`eh Gardan | 7 Kūh-e Gorg | |||||
| 8 Kholeno | 9 Mehr Chal | |||||
| 10 Kūh-e Mīšīneh Marg | 11 Naz | |||||
| 12 Shah Alborz | 13 Sīālān | |||||
| 14 Tochal | 15 Varavašt | |||||
| Rivers: | 0 | |||||
| 1 Alamūt | 2 Chālūs | |||||
| 3 Do Hezār | 4 Harāz | |||||
| 5 Jājrūd | 6 Karaj | |||||
| 7 Kojūr | 8 Lār | |||||
| 9 Nūr | 10 Sardāb | |||||
| 11 Seh Hazār | 12 Shāh Rūd | |||||
| Cities: | 1 Āmol | |||||
| 2 Chālūs | 3 Karaj | |||||
| Other: | D Dīzīn | |||||
| E Emāmzādeh Hāšem | K Kandovān Tunnel | |||||
| * Latīān Dam | ** Lār Dam | |||||
[edit] Damāvand photos
 Foot of Damāvand's peak |
 Foot of Damāvand |
 Damāvand in winter. |
 Summit Crater of Mt. Damāvand from space. |
 Damāvand from space. |
 Mount Damāvand. |
 Damāvand Mountain. |
 Damāvand in summer |
[edit] Footnotes
- ^ The 5,610 m given here is from the Statistical Centre of Iran, which states that "the highest point in Iran is Mount Damāvand being 5,610 metres high". This elevation is consistent with SRTM data. The commonly quoted 5,671 m elevation is not consistent with SRTM data and there is no evidence that it was derived from an accurate survey.
[edit] External links
- Global Volcanism Program
- Mount Damavand on TierraWiki.org
- Encyclopedia Iranica: Damavand Mountain: The Geography and Mythology. p.627-631
- Damavand Mountaineering Guide
- Facts and Misc. Information
- Summit Post: Damavand
| Volcanic Seven Summits |
|---|
| South America: Ojos del Salado • Africa: Kilimanjaro • Asia: Damavand • Europe: Elbrus • North America: Pico de Orizaba • Oceania: Giluwe • Antarctica: Sidley |
![[1]](http://www.sogol.com/WHP/IINFO/Ready%20%20INT/DAMAVAND%20MAP2.jpg){kind=link}