Damavand
Mount Damavand with 5609m height (18,403 ft.), is known as the roof of Iran, is the highest stratovolcano in Asia and one of the most important Iran destinations. It is located in Mazandaran province in the north of Iran; in the middle of the high mountains of Alborz Mountain Range which is 70km far from northeast of Tehran. It is a mountain trekking in Iran which attracts lots of trekkers and mountaineers from all around the world every year to ascend it.
Ascending routs
Mount Damavand as a conical stratovolcano has 16 different ridges with possibility to ascend. There are 4 main routs
among them which are more likely to ascend because of huts and shelters (northern ridge, north-east ridge, west ridge and southern ridge). The southern ridge is the most popular as we can drive up to 2900 m. All the entire rout is a fine path and there is no much slope or challenging part in it. Access to an equipped hut in 4250 m is one of the most important advantages of this rout and also an icefall in 5000m doubles its beauty.
Activities
Mountaineering, trekking, mountain biking and ski touring.
Best season
Its possible to ascend Mount Damavand in all seasons,but the best season for this trip begins from early June till end of September. After that, weather situation becomes unstable with more range of snow in lower temperature and everyone should be completely equipped and proper clothes for winter and of course higher physical fitness is required so if you want to travel to Iran, choose the best season to fulfill this adventure in Iran .
The best season for ski touring in Mount Damavand begins from end of February till end of May.
Geology
Mount Damavand is a stratovolcano with a huge bowl with 400m diameter at the top that has been exit of this volcano. According to geology research’s, Mount Damavand had its last eruption about 5300 BC in the Holocene. Nowadays we can make sure Mount Damavand is not an active volcano anymore but hot springs in the foothills and also emission of sulphur acid gas near the summit is a proof of semi-active of this stratovolcano.