Page 209 - Volcano and Geothermal Tourism

186 Asia

main cause of casualties are bad weather and foggy emphasized by almost all guidelines and instructions
conditions in a region called ‘Danger Zone’ in the or experienced guides. Visiting Damavand summit
south route that is located between the fake in winter should be well planned with equipment
summit at 5400m and the peak at 5670m. Some and an experienced local guide. Going higher
novice and even famous Iranian climbers have lost than the fake summit is dangerous and a hand held
their way and accordingly their life in this place; GPS unit or a compass is necessary especially
however at other times it is a mild climbing slope during bad weather conditions.
without rocks. The average tourist must therefore
be advised not to attempt the mountain during References
bad weather.
Allenbach, P. (1966) ‘Geologie und Petrographie des
Tour guides and emergency services Damavand und seiner Umgebung (Zentral-Elburz)’,
There are several travel agencies and other Iran, Abhandlung zur Erlangung der Würde eines
Doktors der Naturwissenschaften der Eidgenössischen
associations such as the Iranian Mountain Climbing Technischen Hochschule, Zürich, pp1–145
Federation that offer travel services and organize Davidson, J., Hassanzadeh, J., Berzins, R., Stockli, D. F.,
volcano tourism events with professional guides. Bashukooh, B., Turrin, B. and Pandamouz, A. (2004)
Full-guided winter ascents, which usually take a ‘The geology of Damavand volcano, Alborz mountains,
week, are also available for people who have northern Iran’, Geological Society of America Bulletin,
previous experience of winter mountaineering or New York, vol 116, nos 1/2, pp16–29
ski touring at altitude in unstable weather Esham, E. C. (1972) Damavand: Geological Map of the
conditions. February and March is the best time to Central Alborz/Geological Survey of Iran, Offset Press,
visit Damavand and view the volcano, with Tehran
numerous night campers, mountain huts and Guest, B. (2004) ‘The thermal, sedimentological and
tourists who stay also in local houses nearby. structural evolution of the central Alborz mountains
of northern Iran: Implications for the Arabia–Eurasia
Safety guidelines for visitors continent–continent collision and collisional
to Mt Damavand processes in general’, thesis dissertation, unpublished

Volcano tourism to Mt Damavand, as one of the Mansour, N. (2002) Damavand khstgahe asatiri- e Iran
(Damavand the origin of Iranian myth), Feiz-e
world’s highest volcano peaks, is not mass tourism Kasani, Tehran
and the visitors are usually those with experience Shahosini, Y. (2003) Negin-e Alborz Jazebehaye
of climbing in high altitudes. The volcano is not Gardeshgari-e Damavand va Firuzkuh (the signet of
currently active and there is almost no risk of Alborz: Tourist attractions of Damavand and
poisoning by sulphuric or other volcanic gases as Firuzkuh), Naghshe Bayan, Tehran
may happen frequently in other volcanic areas. Tourudi, N. P. (2002) Asar-e tarikhi-e Damavand:
Safety guidelines for Mt Damavand are therefore Joghrafiya-e tarikhi va moaferi-e mohavatehaye bastani
mainly concerned with weather conditions, timing va banahaye tarikhi farhangi (Damavand’s historical
and how to reduce the risk of getting lost at high sites: An Introduction to Historical areas and
altitudes. Never climbing in danger zones (over Buildings of Damavand), Iran Cultural Heritage
5400m) or staying overnight at the summit is Organization, Tehran

Ch12.indd 186 3/28/2010 1:29:43 PM