|
Damavand region has been the living place of human for
more than 5000 years ago. On the right side of the southern
road, there are number of man made caves which reveals the fact
that this area has been the home of man from past centuries.
Moreover, around Damavand and particularly in its southern part
a number of ancient tombs and Paleolithic objects have been
discovered, all of which prove the oldness of the history of
this region. In the meantime, there are some ancient mythsand
legends which add to the antiquity of civilization of this area.
Myths
and legends
The name of Damavand has been repeated many times in
the ancient Iranian myths and legends. In all of them it has
been tried to describe Damavand with glory and
strength. In one of the most famous legends it has been
written that when Turians captured a part of ancient Iran, after
sometime they realized it is difficult for
them to govern and rule their new captured region and
bet if an Iranian could shoot an arrow from his homeland to the
farthest point in Turan, that point would be considered as the
new border between Iran and Turan. To make this new point, Arash
(the famous epic hero) who was the best arrow shooter at that
time, climbed the peak and with all the love he had in this
heart to his country, shoot the arrow with all his strength to
the farthest point in Turan. After he shoot the arrow, all his
strength was exhausted from his body and filled in
the arrow which
landed on the farthest point in Turanians country.
Damavand is a volcanic peak, when reaching the top, the
climbers could see and also walk in the crater.
The circumference of this crater is 450 m and it is covered with
snow all the year.
When reaching the peak and looking to the west, Lar
dam, Tehran and surrounding mountains are visible.
Among other things that could be seen on the top are the corpses
of some sheep died after reaching the peak which have not lost
their shape very much because of the coldness of weather in the
top of the mount.
Sulfur
Hill
About 500 m left to reach the peak, there is a place
called Sulfur hill
or Dood Kooh which is the result of latest volcanic
activities of this mount. This area is covered with Sulfur
stones. In summers when the sun shines on them, sulfur gases
rises from the stones, this is why that area is called Sulfur
hill. The sulfur
gas smells like a spoiled egg that may cause some
irritation in the eyes and throat.
Abshar-e-Yakhi
Waterfall
In the southern route of Damavand and before reaching
the Sulfur hill, in the altitude of 5000 m, there is a frozen
waterfall named Abshar-eYakhi (7
m high) which never melts. This frozen waterfall does
not flow to any river. In warm seasons of the year when the
upper frozen snow begin melting, the coldness of weather and
wind prevent the melting of snow of this waterfall.
This is why this waterfall is always frozen.
Damavand
Climate
The
speed of wind in Damavand region sometimes reaches even to 150
km per hours. Most of the winds blow from the west and the
northwest, which causes considerable raining in this area.
The
average annual rainfall in this region is 1400 mm; this is why
the rivers of this area are filled with water nearly throughout
the year.
Water
Resources
Because
of high amount of raining, Damavand region does not face with
the problem of shortness of water, but in comparison with other
regions, Damavand cannot be put among other mountains, which has
considerable amount of water. The temperature of
soil in Damavand is three times warmer than other
mountains, this is why the snow melts very soon in this region.
From
Mt. Damavand about 9 permanent and seasonal river originate,
five of the rivers ends to the northern skirts and the rest of
them ends to the southern skirts. The most important river in
this region is called “Haraz river”.
Air
Pressure
|
Route
|
Name
of Area
|
Air
Pressure mm/Hg
|
|
Northern
|
First shelter
|
550
|
|
Northern
|
Second shelter
|
490
|
|
Southern
|
Masdjed
|
610
|
|
Southern
|
Barghah-e-Sevom
|
540
|
|
Southern
|
Abshar-e-Yakhi
|
480
|
|
Southwest
|
Simorgh hut
|
540
|
|
Northeast
|
Takht-e-Fereydoon
hut
|
530
|
|
--
|
Damavand Peak
|
465
|
|
--
|
Sea level
|
760
|
Damavand
Springs
Normally
Damavand springs could be seen in the altitudes of lower than
3500 m. Several of its high altitude springs are seasonal. From
4000 m up to the peak there is not any spring, so the only
source for obtaining water from 4000 up to the peak is water of
snow.
Damavand
wildlife
Animals
such as fox, jackal and wolf can be found around Damavand. Those
animals can also be seen up to the altitude of 4000 m. Because
of the existing of forests in the northern part of this region,
bears are found mostly in the northern forests and they avoid
going to the high altitudes.
In
this region animals such as goat, ewe, eagle, a kind of gazelle,
boar and rabbit are also found in that region. Except boar and
rabbit which live in the fields of Damavand other above
mentioned animals live in the high altitudes in the warm seasons
of the year, and when the weather become cold they come down to
the lower altitudes. Those animals may climb up to 5000 m as
well.
In
Damavand region about 5 different types of snakes, scorpion,
lizard and mouse can be found.
Damavand
Glaciers
The
most important glaciers of Damavand are:
Two large glaciers of Sioleh and Dobi Sel in the northen of Damavand
The
famous glacier of of Yakhar in the northeast of Damavand which
has been climbed many times in summers, but noone has already
climbed it in winter.
Western
glaciers which do not have a particular name
Damavand
Routes:
Damavand
has 6 main routes
and a number
of side
routes to climb,
its main
routes are:
-
Southern
route
-
Northen
route
-
Eastern
route
-
Western
route
-
Northeast
route
Damavand
Shelters:
In
the altitude
of 4100 m in the southern
route, there
is a shelter called
“Bargah-e-Sevom” which
holds about 30 people, it is
also possible
to camp
near the shelter.
In the
altitude of
4600 m of the
northeast route there
is a shelter
called “ Takht-e-Fereydoon” which
holds 30
people, it is
possible to
camp near
this shelter
as well.
In the western
route and in
the altitude of
4000 m there is a newly built
shelter named “
Simorgh” .
In
both altitude of 4000 and 5000 m of the Northern
route there
are two
huts, each
hold about
15 people,
but there is
no possibility
to camp
near those
huts.
|