Page 205 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

182 Asia

Figure 12.3 View of Mt Damavand’s west face during Summer

occasionally. The summit crater contains a small Mt Damavand has also had a symbolic role in
lake. The eruptive style has remained the same representing Iranian nationality and it was used in
throughout the volcano’s 1.8 million year history the national symbol of the country during the
despite one or more sector collapse events and the rule of the Pahlavi dynasty. Damavand hosts both
formation of a second cone overlying the old international and domestic tourists at present, but
eroded cone (Figure 12.3). the incidence of acute mountain sickness in
climbers who attempt Mt Damavand is 60 per
Mt Damavand as a volcano cent (Shahosini, 2003).
tourist destination
The significance of the geothermal environment Routes to the summit
of Damavand has for years attracted not only There are four routes to reach the summit: The
geologists but also ordinary people with an south route, the north route, the north-east route
interest in nature and volcano tourism. The history and the south-west route. The Haraz road, which
of travel to and climbing Damavand summit is connects Tehran to Amol city, is the only route to
long and well documented (Mansour, 2002; Mt Damavand and runs around the volcano, and
Tourudi, 2002). Ancient stone reliefs found in the all roads and access to Damavand end in Haraz.
area contain tales of the travels of Persian kings to The south route is the oldest and easiest way of
the volcano for climbing, for stay as a summer climbing Mt Damavand and the most difficult one
resort, and for hunting (Shahosini, 2003). is the north route.

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