blackjack
Oct 11, 2001, 11:58 PM
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Registered: Jun 29, 2001
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Damavand
A dormant volcano with a narrow summit. Location Alborz Mountains, Iran. Height 5671. First climbed W.T Thomson, 1837.
The seasoned traveler in Iran is so used to seeing gaunt, rugged precipice , jagged peaks and bare deserts, that the sight of Damavand is a relief and surprise to the eye. Visible From many kilometers away, thought it is surrounded on every side by the peaks and ridges of the albroz, its superior height and singular outline compel attention. It is as prominent a feature in northern Iran (only 80-km northeast of the capital, Tehran) as is the well-known Fujiyama in Japan. Many travelers say that its snowy-white cone is the most beautiful sight of the country and the one-day treasure most. A small and picturesque town bearing the name of Damavand is beautifully situated on the southern slopes and is much used as a summer resort by the people of Tehran. There has been no eruption of the mountain in historical times and it is now regarded as virtually extinct thought some hot springs are found on its lower slopes. At the summit there is a crater, some 300 meters across, with a profusion of yellow sulfurous rocks and pumice stones. Snow covers the crater and upper slopes in winter and spring. in sheltered hollows snow many remain all the year. It is not surprising that such a prominent mountain should figure in Iranian legend.
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