Mount Damavand
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Mount Damavand (Template:Langx {{#invoke:IPA|main}}) 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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Mountain Damavand">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=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 City, Mazandaran State, 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 mythologyEdit
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. Persian poet Ferdowsi depicts this event in his masterpiece, the Shahnameh:
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biyāvard Zahhāk rā čon navand
be kuh-e Damāvand kardaš be-band
He brought Zahhak like a horse to Mount Damavand,
And tied him at the peak tight and bound.
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:
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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
GeologyEdit
Setting and structureEdit
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 activityEdit
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 springsEdit
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">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=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" />
GlaciersEdit
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 summitEdit
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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> (Persian name Ābshār Yakhī) about Template:Convert tall.Template:Citation needed
Geographical locationEdit
WildlifeEdit
FishEdit
Damavand rivers and slopes are famous for 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>
MammalsEdit
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>
BirdsEdit
The attractive and unreachable 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 amphibiansEdit
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>
FloraEdit
On the southern slope of Damavand, there are remnants of wild pistachia 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, hornbean 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>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
National Heritage SiteEdit
An anthropologist of Mazandaran Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department, Touba Osanlou, has said that a proposal has been made by a group of Iranian mountaineers to register the highest peak in the Middle East, Mount Damavand as a national heritage site. Mazandaran Cultural Heritage and Tourism Department has accepted the proposal, the Persian daily Jam-e Jam reported. Osanlou noted that the Iranian Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization is presently in the process of renaming an upcoming ancient festivity after Mount Damavand. "We have proposed Tirgan Festivity, Tabari Nowruz, to be named as Damavand National Day," she added. Tirgan Festivity is held in Amol County's Rineh region in Mazandaran province.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
GalleryEdit
- 030915-Damavand-Polour-IMG 3449-3.jpg
Damavand, Polour, December 2024
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Damavand, Polour, December 2024
- 030130-Polour-Damavand-IMG 5309-2.jpg
Mount Damavand
- 981012-Damavand-South-IMG 9861-2.jpg
Mount Damavand, January
- 990513-Damavand-IMG 4857-2.jpg
Damavand Summit
- 990513-Damavand-IMG 4854-2.jpg
Damavand Summit, Lar Lake
- 990512-Damavand-Sardagh-IMG 4818-2.jpg
Yaledagh, Mount Damavand
- Mount Damavand in sunrise - view from Tochal summit, Iran 2017.jpg
Damavand west side, view from Tochal summit
- Areial view of tehran and damavand.jpg
Areial view of tehran and damavand
- Damavand view from qom salt lake.jpg
Damavand view from qom salt lake
- Damvand view from Maranjab Desert isfahan province.jpg
Damvand view from Maranjab Desert isfahan province
See alsoEdit
- 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 notesEdit
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- U.S. Geological Survey
- CIA: The World Factbook
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Template:Volcanic Seven Summits Template:Protected Areas of Iran Template:Highest points of Asia Template:Zoroastrianism Template:Mazandaran Province Template:Authority control