Mount Damavand

Winter recording of Damāvand

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The Damāvand (Persian دماوند, saying, Damåwand; Dam āwand means " frosty mountain") or Demawend ( Germanized version ) is the highest mountain in the Alborz mountain range in the province Māzandarān in Iran.

Geography

The Damavand stands out as dormant, only slightly fuming volcano about 70 km east- north-east of Tehran, south of the Caspian Sea 5,670 m high, and therefore surpasses all the surrounding mountains far. In the literature circulated as an alternative altitude 5,604 m and 5,671 m also. The Damāvand is the highest mountain of Iran and the entire Middle East and next to the Kilimanjaro one of the highest freestanding mountains in the world: The difference in height from the foot of the mountain to the summit is up to 4,700 meters, significantly more than the Mount Everest.

Alpinism

On all sides of the uniform volcanic cone there are routes that lead usually not difficult, over boulders and sand, partly also in climbing to the summit. The best known and most committed way is the route from the south: From the last village, Reyneh (also called " camp 1 "), and is accessed via driveways after Gūsfandsara ( "Camp 2"). From here a path that leads up to the new hut Bargah -e- Sewom (approx. 4180 m - "Camp 3") - slightly above the old, bunker-like building - with accommodation and water point. Here you normally spends the night before then the next day breaks in the dark to the summit; the last piece has no technical difficulties, but ultimately there is only 1,500 meters above sea level uniform walking on narrow paths rubble. In the upper part of the mountain crossing sandy slopes with numerous small holes in the ground, from which ascend sulfur gases. With a little luck you can climb the Damāvand in August without any snow and ice contact; but normally you should be prepared that the summit is not aper. Who is in the dark at the top, can marvel at the lights of Tehran on the horizon.

Reinhold Messner in 1970 in an attempt to climb the Damāvand in winter, failed due to adverse weather conditions; it can be seen that the Damāvand despite the lack of technical difficulties not an easy hiking a mountain, but a great physical condition and high alpine challenge.

Myth and legend to the Damavand

In Zoroastrian texts and mythology, the three -headed dragon Azhi Dahaka was chained to the mountain where he must stay until the end of time. The Legend of Arasch takes place around the mountain.

Impressive the events around this mountain in Šāhnāmeh, the Persian Book of Kings of the poet Abū al - Qasem Ferdowsi -e are described. Fereydun freed Iran from the thousand- year reign of Zahak, in which he captures him and nailed to a rock face of Damavand:

"On the mountain he Demawand sets ' him in band. ... A narrow place he chose him there, A cave that was lost for no reason. Then he attached him strongly with nails, In places where it does not hit the mark, And forges ' him so the dealers ' to the stone, That long ' he have to live in pain. "

Also in the poem Damāvand of Mohammad Taqi Bahar - there is a beautiful example of the importance of the mountain in Persian literature. The first verse:

" ای دیو سپید پای در بند ای گنبد گیتی ای دماوند »

" Ay Dive sepīde represents Pai band, Ay gonbade Giti, ay Damāvand »

" O, white demon with feet in chains, O, terrestrial Cathedral, O Damavand "

Pictures

Almost free of snow Damavand.

The summit crater of Mount Damavand.

Satellite image with a summit crater and Lavaspuren on the Damavand.

Penitents in the summit region of Damāvand.

Crater of Damavand in August