Mt. Damavand, the highest peak in Iran, has some hot springs, mainly located on the volcano's flanks and at the base, giving evidence of volcanic heat near the surface of the earth. Hot springs at the base and on the flanks and fumaroles near the summit indicate the presence of hot magma, there by making Mount Damavand a potentially active volcano. Presence of the crater indicates that the volcano might have erupted in the past, while there are no eruptions recorded in its known history.
Located near the southern coast of the Caspian Sea and 66 kilometers (41 miles) northeast of Iran’s capital city Tehran, Mount Damavand (aka Donbavand), is the highest peak in Iran and the highest point in the Middle East. Also, it is a potentially active volcano and the highest volcano in Asia. Located in the middle Alborz Range, its elevation is 5,610 meter (18,406 feet), according to the Statistical Centre of Iran, which states ‘the highest point in Iran is Mount Damavand being 5,610 meters high’. There are fumaroles near the summit crater emitting sulfur, which were known to be active on July 6, 2007, though the date of Mount Damavand’s last eruption is unknown.
Photo: The highest point in the Serra da Estrela mountain range
Serra da Estrela (Mountain Range of the Star), the highest mountain range in Portugal and one of the highest in the Sistema Central, includes mainland Portugal's highest point at 1,993 meter/ 6,539 feet above sea level at its highest point. However, the summit of the Pico Mountain in the Portuguese Azores islands is higher. This point is not a distinctive mountain summit, but rather the highest point in a plateau, known as Torre (Tower in English). Torre has the unusual feature of being a summit that is accessible by road. The peak has a topographic prominence of 1204 meters and his parent peak is the Pico Almanzor, in Spain.
The mountain range, situated between the municipalities of Seia, Manteigas, Gouveia, Guarda and Covilhã, is about 100 km/ 62.14 miles long and is 30 km/ 18.64 miles wide. It is formed from a huge granite ridge. Due to its bizarrely shaped crags and gorges, mountain streams and lakes, beautiful forests and magnificent views, the area ranks among Portugal’s outstanding scenic attractions and tourist attractions. There is a ski resort at the summit, named Vodafone Ski Resort.
Mount Ararat is a snow-capped, dormant volcanic cone in Turkey having two peaks: the Greater Ararat, the tallest peak in Turkey and the entire Armenian plateau with an elevation of 5,137 meter (16,854 ft) and the Lesser Ararat with an elevation of 3,896 meter (12,782 ft).
The Ararat massif is about 40 km in diameter. The Iran-Turkey boundary skirts east of Lesser Ararat, the lower peak of the Ararat massif. It has been reported that this flank had been used by Kurdish rebel tribes to organize uprisings against Turkey in the past.
In Judeo-Christian tradition and belief, Mount Ararat is associated with the ‘Mountains of Ararat’ where according to the book of Genesis in the Bible, The Noah's Ark came to rest. This mount also plays a very significant role in Armenian nationalism.
Mount Olympus, the highest mountain range in Greece, has its highest peak Mitikas (Mytikas), which is 2,919 meters high (9,577 feet). It is located in the borders of Thessaly and Macedonia, about 100 km away from Thessaloniki. The mountain has been regarded as the ‘home of the gods’, specifically of the Twelve Olympians, the twelve principal gods of the ancient Hellenistic world, according to Greek mythology. The mount is popular with climbers, though it is a non-technical hike, except for the final 30 minute section from Skala summit to Mitikas summit. Climbers mostly start from the town of Litochoro. (Photo dated: Jan 21, 2007.)
