Damavand Climbing Route

Located in northern Iran, Mount Damavand is one of the tourist attractions in the country. In Iranian mythology, Damavand is considered the center of the world and the abode of the deities Mithra and Gayomard, the first known humans. Zahhak, who was imprisoned in Damavand, was born in a village near Damavand because his mother sought refuge there. Zahhak remained imprisoned in Damavand until the end of the world. According to legends, Arash Kamangir shot his arrow from Mount Damavand, the White Demon resides in Damavand, and his daughter engages in weaving on its rocks. There are many other beautiful stories and narratives in Iranian mythology, including Ferdowsi's Shahnameh and works of Persian literature such as Asadi Tusi's The Garshasp-nama and the poems of Naser Khosrow, that mention Damavand.

Mount Damavand, recognized as the first natural heritage site in Iran, was registered in the National Heritage Organization in 1387 SH (2008 AD). Since then, the 13th of Tir (July 4th) has been designated as Damavand National Day on the Iranian calendar. From a national division perspective, this area is located in the Larijan district of Amol city in Mazandaran province. However, on clear and sunny days, Damavand can be easily observed from Tehran and its surroundings. Damavand is situated in the central part of the Alborz Mountain Range, south of the Caspian Sea. It is the highest peak in Iran and the highest semi-active volcano in Asia. Therefore, there are several sulfur springs and hot springs in this region. According to geologists, the most recent eruption of Damavand occurred a million and seven hundred thousand years ago.

All the mentioned aspects, along with many others, attract numerous mountaineers and enthusiasts every year to conquer and explore this beautiful peak. There are four main routes for ascending Mount Damavand, each equipped with shelters or refuges for climbers' rest and rescue. These four routes are known as the South Route, the West Route, the North Route (Jaan Panah Refuge), and the Northeast Ridge. It is evident that due to the elevation of 5,610 meters above sea level, good physical fitness is necessary before attempting the ascent.

The busiest climbing route of Damavand is the South Route, starting from Polour and Rineh. The most challenging route is the North Face, starting from the village of Nandal. In this village, climbers initially travel by a vehicle to a region called "Sang-e Bozorg" (the Large Stone), and the hike begins from there. In addition to the mentioned routes, climbers also attempt other routes that differ in the absence of shelters. The best season for climbing Damavand is from spring to mid-summer. However, if you are not planning to climb, you can still enjoy the blooming mountain slopes covered with flowers in spring. Climbing to the summit usually takes two to five days, depending on individuals' skills and physical preparedness. Therefore, it is essential to have complete equipment and professional climbers for a successful summit.

Mount Damavand is located 69 kilometers away from Tehran, and other nearby cities include Amol and Damavand. Therefore, regardless of your location in Iran, you can easily reach the foothills of Damavand by traveling to Tehran or the mentioned cities. Among the attractions of Damavand, there is the frozen waterfall that remains icy even in summer, natural glaciers such as "Siuleh Glacier," "Dobisel Glacier," and "Aroosakha Glaciers,"