Mount Damavand
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Mount Damavand (Template:Langx Template:IPA) is a dormant stratovolcano and is the highest peak in Iran and Western Asia, the highest volcano in Asia, and the 3rd highest volcano in the Eastern Hemisphere (after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Elbrus), at an elevation of Template:Convert.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Mountain Damavand">Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Efn Damāvand has a special place in Persian mythology and folklore. It is in the middle of the Alborz range, adjacent to Varārū, Sesang, Gol-e Zard, and Mīānrūd. It is near the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, in Amol County, Mazandaran Province, Template:Convert northeast of the city of Tehran.<ref>Microsoft Encarta World Atlas, 2001, Microsoft Corporation</ref>
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Mount Damāvand is the 12th most prominent peak in the world and is part of the Volcanic Seven Summits mountaineering challenge.
Symbolism and mythology
Damavand is a significant mountain in Persian mythology. It is the symbol of Iranian resistance against despotism and foreign rule in Persian poetry and literature. 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 in a cave somewhere in Mount Damāvand after being defeated by Kāveh and Fereydūn.
The mountain is said to hold magical powers in the Shahnameh. Damāvand has also been named in the Iranian legend of Arash (as recounted by Bal'ami) as the location from which the hero shot his magical arrow to mark the border of Iran, during the border dispute between Iran and Turan. The poem Damāvand by Mohammad Taqī Bahār is also one fine example of the mountain's significance in Persian literature. The first verse of this poem reads:
ey div-e sepid-e pāy-dar-band,
ey gonbad-e giti, ey Damāvand
O white giant with feet in chains,
O dome of the world, O Damāvand.
Mount Damavand is depicted on the reverse of the Iranian 10,000 rial banknote.<ref>Central Bank of Iran. Banknotes & Coins: 10000 Rials. – Retrieved on 24 March 2009.</ref>
The origins and meaning of the word "Damavand" are unclear, yet some prominent researchersTemplate:Who have speculated that it probably means "The mountain from which smoke and ash arises", alluding to the volcanic nature of the mountain.Template:Citation needed
Geology
Setting and structure
Mount Damavand rises within the Alborz range in northern Iran, separating the Iranian plateau to the south from the Caspian Sea in the north. This range rises as a result of the collision between the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates. This collision is similar to the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates to the east, which is causing the Himalaya to rise and does not usually create volcanic activity. Despite this, recent research suggests that a hot region created by the collision is what caused the volcano to rise.<ref name="Davidson" />
Seismic wave patterns from earthquakes around the volcano indicate that a magma chamber is present between Template:Convert below the surface. This is separated into two areas - an inner region of hot, likely molten, magma between Template:Convert depth that is surrounded by an area of dense cooled magma. The top of the chamber is believed to lie to the south of the summit, trending somewhat to the west with depth.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Most volcanic activity originates from the summit area. A few flank vents have been noted, but these are largely on the upper slopes to the southwest and northeast of the summit. A secondary crater, termed Haji Dela, has some young lava flows Template:Convert northeast of the summit.<ref name="Davidson" /><ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Eruptive activity
Volcanic activity in the Mount Damavand region first occurred in the Pleistocene almost 1.78 million years ago, but the current edifice began to be built around 600,000 years ago.<ref name="Davidson">Template:Cite journal</ref>
Its last eruption was around 5300 BCE in the Holocene. Its steep cone is formed of ash and lava flows mainly of trachyte, andesite, and basalt. Most eruptive activity appears to be lava flows, though some small pyroclastic flow deposits have been noted in drainages radiating from the mountain. One major explosive event is known to have erupted about 280,000 years ago.<ref name=GVP />
Quaternary lavas are directly on the Jurassic sediments.<ref>Geological Map of Iran, National Geoscience Database of Iran, www.ngdir.ir</ref> The volcano is crowned by a small crater with sulfuric deposits. Despite the lack of historical eruptions, ongoing thermal activity at Mount Damavand suggests the volcano is not extinct.<ref name=GVP>Template:Cite gvp</ref> Subsidence at a rate of Template:Convert per year and horizontal expansion at Template:Convert per year was observed there between 2003 and 2008, but was gravity driven rather than a result of magmatic activity.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Thermal springs
Mineral hot springs are mainly located on the volcano's flanks and at the base, giving evidence of volcanic heat comparatively near the surface of the earth. Hot springs at the base and on the flanks and fumaroles near the summit indicate a hot or cooling magma body still present beneath the volcano.<ref name=GVP /><ref name="Iranica">Template:Cite web</ref> The area around the volcano is the most thermally active in Iran and the springs are being monitored to see if fluctuations in water volume and mineral content are useful in crude prediction of large regional earthquakes.<ref name="EQ">Template:Cite journal</ref>
The most important of these hot springs is Larijan Hot Spring in a village by the name of Larijan in the district of Larijan Amol in Lar Valley. The water from this spring is believed to be useful in the treatment of chronic wounds and skin diseases and is bottled for distribution throughout Iran. Near these springs there are public baths with small pools for public use.<ref name="Iranica" />
Glaciers
A few glaciers are present on the upper slopes of Damavand, the largest of which is Yakhar Glacier.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> During the Last Glacial Maximum, the area covered by glaciation was much larger and the climatic snow line was between Template:Convert below what is seen in the present day.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> The glaciers on Damavand as well as a few other isolated locations are the source of the few permanently flowing rivers in Iran.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Routes to the summit
A major settlement for mountain climbers is the new Iranian Mountain Federation Camp in the village of Polour, located on the southern side of the mountain.
There are at least 16 known routes to the summit,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with varying levels of difficulty. Some of them are dangerous and require ice climbing. The most popular route is the southern route which has steps and a camp midway called Bargah Sevom Camp/Shelter<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> at Template:Convert. The Northeastern route is the longest and requires two days to reach the summit starting from the downhill village of Nāndal and a night stay at Takht-e Fereydoun (elevation Template:Convert, a two-story shelter. The western route is noted for its sunset view. Simurgh (Sīmorgh/Sīmurgh) shelter in this route at Template:Convert is a newly constructed two-story shelter. There is a frozen waterfall/icefall<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (Persian name Ābshār Yakhī) about Template:Convert tall.Template:Citation needed
Geography
Wildlife
Fish
Damavand's rivers have brown trout (Salmo trutta).<ref>Mohammadian, H. Freshwater Fishes of Iran. Sepehr Publishing Center. Iran. 2000.</ref><ref>Yazdani, A. Lar the Paradise I Knew. Payam Resan Publishing Institute. 2010.</ref>
Mammals
Armenian mouflon (Ovis orientalis) and wild goat (Capra aegagrus) live in the region of Damavand Mts. Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor) and Syrian brown bear (Ursus arctos syriacus) also inhabit in this region. Smaller mammals include the snow vole (Chionomys nivalis), mouse-like hamster (Calomyscus bailwardi) and Afghan pika (Ochoton rufescens).<ref>Lay, D.M. A Study of the Mammals of Iran (Resulting From the Street Expedition ). Field Museum of Natural History. Chicago .1967.</ref><ref>Mohammadian, H. The Life of Alborz Red Sheep. Shabpareh Publishing Institute. 2008. Template:ISBN.</ref><ref>Mohammadian, H. Mammals of Iran. Shabpareh Publishing Institute. 2005. Template:ISBN.</ref>
Birds
The Caspian snowcock (Tetraogallus caspius) lives at high altitudes. Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) breeds in this area. Griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) are common. Chukar partridge (Alectoris chukar) has a high population and nests between stone and shrubs. Red-fronted serin (Serinus pusillus), linnet (Carduelis cannabina), snow finch (Montifringilla nivalis), rock sparrow (Petronia petronia), rock bunting (Emberiza cia) and horned lark (Eremophila alpestris) are native; in winter they come to the lower hillsides. In spring northern wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe), rock thrush (Monticola saxatilis), and nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos) come from Africa for breeding. Grey-necked bunting (Emberiza buchanani), black-headed bunting (Emberiza melanocephala) and common rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus) come from India.<ref>Mohammadian, H. Mountain birds of Tehran. Shabpareh Publishing Institute. 2008. Template:ISBN.</ref>
Reptiles and amphibians
Marsh frogs (Rana ridibunda) live in Lar riversides. Meadow viper (Vipera ursinii), blunt-nosed viper (Macrovipera lebetina), Iranian valley viper (Vipera latifii) and Caucasian agama (Laudakia caucasia) are among the reptiles of this mountainous region.<ref>Shahbazi, Y. Lar National Park Management Program. Natural Environment Department Library. 2004.</ref><ref>Mohammadian, H. Reptiles and Amphibians of Iran. Shabpareh Publishing Institute. 2004. Template:ISBN.</ref>
Flora
On the southern slope of Damavand, there are remnants of wild pistachio trees (Pistacia atlantica). Along its riversides different kinds of Salix trees like willow (Salix acomphylla) and oleaster (Elaeagnus angustifolia) are found. Greek juniper (Juniperus excelsa) is common in the higher altitudes. On northern slopes, because of higher humidity, there are wild oak, beech, hornbeam and hazel trees like: Persian oak (Quercus macranthera), Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis), Eastern hornbeam (Carpinus orientalis), and Turkish hazel (Corylus colurna).<ref>Mozaffarian, V. Trees and Shrubs of Iran. Farhang Moaser Publishers. 2005. Template:ISBN.</ref> There are also many wild flowers such as mountain tulip (Tulipa montana) and Persian stone cress (Aethionema grandiflorum). At higher altitudes, shrubs tend to be sphere and cushion like, examples are : Astragalus species (Astragalus microcephalus), mountain sainfoin (Onobrychis cornuta) and prickly (Acantholimon erinaceum). Different kinds of grasses complete this alpine scene.<ref>Mozaffarian, V. Lar National Park Management Program. Natural Environment Department Library. 2004.</ref> Iris barnumiae demawendica (formerly Iris demawendica), is found and named after the mountain.<ref name=Lynch>Richard Lynch Template:Google books</ref><ref name=Wallis>Template:Cite web</ref>
Festival
In 2007 the Iranian Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization was in the process of renaming the Tirgan festival "Damavand National Day".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Gallery
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Damavand, Polour, December 2024
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Damavand, Polour, December 2024
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Mount Damavand
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Mount Damavand, January
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Damavand Summit
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Damavand Summit, Lar Lake
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Yaledagh, Mount Damavand
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Damavand west side, view from Tochal summit
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Aerial view of Tehran and Damavand
See also
- Tirgan
- List of mountains in Iran
- List of peaks by prominence
- List of Ultras of West Asia
- List of volcanoes in Iran
- Lists of volcanoes
- Maranak
- Volcanic Seven Summits
Explanatory notes
References
External links
Template:Volcanic Seven Summits Template:Protected Areas of Iran Template:Highest points of Asia Template:Zoroastrianism Template:Mazandaran Province Template:Authority control
- Pages with broken file links
- Amol County
- Articles containing video clips
- Five-thousanders of the Alborz
- Highest points of countries
- Holocene Asia
- Holocene stratovolcanoes
- Mountaineering in Iran
- Mountains of Iran
- Mountains of Mazandaran province
- National symbols of Iran
- Places in Shahnameh
- Pleistocene Asia
- Pleistocene stratovolcanoes
- Dormant volcanoes
- Stratovolcanoes of Iran
- Tourist attractions in Amol
- Tourist attractions in Mazandaran province
- Volcanic Seven Summits