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Mount Damavand also known as Donbavand, is a dormant volcano and the highest peak in Iran with a special place in the Persian mythology and folklore. Located in the middle Alborz Range, it is just 66 km. (41 miles) northeast of Tehran, near the Southern coast of the Caspian Sea, and it is the highest point in the Middle East and the highest volcano in all of Asia. It is surrounded by the smaller and comparatively rugged peaks of the Alborz range, but its great height and classic volcanic shape, unique to the region, grant it dominance and isolation.

Mt. Damavand is not an active volcano, however there are fumaroles near the summit

 crater that deposit sulfur and steam occasionally. The view from the summit is an amazing panorama of Iran's vast expanse of mountains, valleys, and deserts.

The climb of Damavand is non-technical, but offers challenging climbing and remarkable

 scenery.There are at least 16 known routes to the summit which have different difficulties. Some of them are very dangerous and need rock climbing.

Many global tourists and alpinists consider Damavand the most beautiful conical and unique peak of Asia and the highest peak of Iran. Fly 5 hours from the farthest part of Europe to Tehran. Drive 75 km by car to the North of the Alborz chain through plains of flowers and green slopes of Damavand. It is an 8-hour trek and an 8-hour climb to the glorious peak of Damavand.

Mt. Damavand with 5671 meters lies only 100 km from Tehran and 75 km to Caspian sea. 

There have been many myths written about this mountain in Iranian history and it can be called a legend mountain. It is said that there is a monster banned on the sum

mit.The slopes and skirts of this mount are filled with volcanic lava.

 Moreover, there are a number of small volcanic mouths near the peak from which sulfur gases usually flow out.Damavand has several glaciers, the most important of them are Dobisel and Sioleeh glaciers in the north, Yakhar glacier in the east.

It has four main routes and each has a different character. South route is the normal route 

which has one refuge at 4100 m. North has two refuges whith the first one at 4000 m and second at 5000 m. West route has one refuge at 4550 m and the North East route has one refuge at 4800 m. The summit is covered with yellowish sulfuric rocks and the diameter of the crater is about 180 meters.

 Albourz Range of which Mt. Damavand is the highest peak is a chain along the range of Alps and Himalayas, but Damavand is not connected to any other mountains of Albourz range. It is estimated that this volcano is 2 billion years old. Because of its particular location with the Caspian Sea on the North and desert on the South it has a particular climate and wild life. Winds generally blow from west and northwest which contains humidity and rain. Because of species and vegetation you can see nomads who are living on its base during late spring and summer.

The first successful recorded climb to this peak goes back to 1900. During that year, some Iranian geographers, affiliated to Mozaffari Geographic Mission, succeeded to reach the top through a very difficult glacier course, called Yakhar Valley.

 From that time to 1936, there is no recorded climb. But in the 1940s, the climbs were multiplied and new routes were opened. Damavand is the national symbol of Iran and there are many organizations getting benefit from the picture of this famous peak; you can find it for instance on bank notes, credit cards or bus tickets.

During the last 50 years many foreigners have been attracted to climb Damavand peak.

Although Damavand had no eruption since 100,000 years ago and been inactive, the geologists have not denied it might be activated again and offered a few reasons for their points of view. One of the evidences that this Volcano is still active is hot mineral water springs all over it. This mineral water spa attracted people who believe in getting cured by soaking in it.

This peak is situated above the village of Bisotun, about 30 km east along the road from Kermans hah to Hamadan. At the eastern end of the cliff are carvings from the period of Darius the Great from 2,500 years ago. The peak is very close to another peak named Paru where the famous Ghare Parau cave is situated.

The South-East face is lime stone rock and about 1000 meters high, there are many different routes which were opened by Iranian and foreign climbers during the last 30-40 years. These routes are from at least 4 pitches to 15 pitches with different type of difficulty. It takes at least 5 hours to climb one of the routes on this wall.

The best way to come down the face is to abseil but you can easily follow a trek from North side down to the Bisotun village.

Since this mountain is very close to Kermanshah climbers can easily fly to Kermanshah and then in less than 20 minutes they can start a very good climb. The best seasons to climb on Bisotun are from late March to June and from early September to early November.

Geology :

The Alborz range is considered to belong to the Tertiary geological Orogeny. During the last few years many Iranian and foreign geologists have studied and surveyed the Alborz ranges in detail and geologists prepared a geological map of Iran it shows that Alam Kouh is mainly made of tertiary intrusive rocks; granite and diorite. Some Triassic and Jurassic sediments are also found.History - The Takht-e-Soleiman region was unknown until 1933. Douglas Busk, a British mountaineer, discovered and surveyed the area. Later on, Busk along with Professor Bobek made a detailed survey of this area. In 1936 the north ridge of Alam Kouh was climbed for the first time by German mountaineers, which was considered a great achievement among European climbers.

The most important peaks of Thakht-e-Soleiman and Alam Kouh region by ranking of altitude are:Alam Kouh (4850 m), the second highest peak in Iran. Its northern face is one of the highest and challenging faces in Iran. Alam Kouh has four glaciers around its peak.

Takht-e-Soleiman (4659 m), located between Seyahsang and Shaneh Kouh, with two glaciers on its southern side. This peak was first climbed in 1936 by German mountaineers.