Mount Ararat is not the highest in the world, but it is considered to be part of the biblical history, therefore every Christian has heard about this place as a haven for a person after the great flood. Today almost everyone can climb one of the peaks of the volcano, but conquering the glaciers will require special training and experienced escorts. The rest of the area is practically uninhabited, although it is fertile and picturesque.
Geographical features of Mount Ararat
Many have heard of the mountain, but not everyone knows where the stratovolcano is. Due to the fact that in Yerevan it is considered the main symbol of the country, many people think that it is located on Armenian territory. In fact, Ararat is part of Turkey, its coordinates: 39 ° 42′09 ″ s. sh., 44 ° 18'01 ″ in. e. From this data, you can look at the satellite view, taking a photo of the famous volcano.
In shape, the volcano has two cones joined together (Big and Small), slightly differing in their parameters. The distance between the centers of the craters is 11 km. The height above sea level of the larger summit is 5165 m, and the smaller one - 3896 m. The basis of the mountains is basalt, although almost the entire surface is covered with solidified volcanic lava, and the peaks are enclosed in glaciers. Despite the fact that the mountain range consists of 30 glaciers, Ararat is one of the few mountain ranges on whose territory not a single river originates.
The history of stratovolcano eruptions
According to scientists, the activity of the volcano began to manifest itself in the third millennium BC. The evidence of this is the remains of human bodies found during the excavations, as well as household items dating from the Bronze Age.
Since the new countdown, the strongest eruption happened in July 1840. The explosion was accompanied by an earthquake, which ultimately caused the destruction of a village located on Mount Ararat, as well as the monastery of St. Jacob.
Geopolitics on the territory of the mountain
Mount Ararat, due to its religious significance, has always been an element of the claims of several states located in its vicinity. For this reason, questions often arise as to who owns this territory and in which country is it better to spend a vacation in order to climb to the top.
Between the 16th and 18th centuries, the border between Persia and the Ottoman Empire passed through the famous volcano, and most of the battles were associated with the desire to take possession of a religious sanctuary. In 1828, the situation changed after the signing of the Turkmanchay Treaty. Under its terms, Great Ararat from the northern side passed into the possession of the Russian Empire, and the rest of the volcano was divided between the three countries. For Nicholas I, the possession of the summit was of great political importance, as it evoked respect from old opponents.
In 1921, a new friendly treaty appeared, according to which Russian territory was ceded to Turkey. Ten years later, an agreement with Persia entered into force. According to him, Small Ararat, together with the eastern slope, became a Turkish possession. For this reason, if you want to conquer the maximum height, you will have to obtain permission from the Turkish authorities.
A usual overview of a natural attraction can be made from any country, because it does not matter at all from Turkey or Armenia, photographs of the volcano are taken, because both offer stunning views. It is not without reason that there are still talks in Armenia about whose mountain and what Ararat should pass into its possession, because it is the main symbol of the state.
Ararat in the Bible
The mountain gained great fame because of its mention in the Bible. The Christian scripture says that Noah's ark moored to the Ararat lands. Of course, there is no reliable data, but when studying the description of the area, it was believed that it was about this volcano, which the Europeans later called Ararat. When translating the Bible from Armenian, another name appears - Masis. In part, this was the reason for the assignment of a new name, which took root among other nationalities.
In the Christian religion, there are also legends about St. James, who thought about how to get to the top to worship the holy relic, and even made several attempts, but all of them were unsuccessful. During the ascent, he constantly fell asleep and woke up already at the foot. In one of his dreams, an angel turned to Jacob, who said that the peak is inviolable, so there is no need to climb up any more, but for his aspiration the saint will be presented with a gift - a particle of the ark.
Volcano Legends
Due to its location close to several countries, Mount Ararat is part of the myths and legends of different peoples. Some believed that the melted ice extracted from the top would help summon the tetagush, a miracle bird, which copes with locust infestations. True, no one dared to get to the glaciers, since the volcano has always been considered a holy place, the top of which was prohibited.
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In Armenia, the volcano is often associated with the habitat of snakes and spiritualized stone statues. In addition, various stories are retelling that terrible creatures are imprisoned inside the cones, capable of destroying the world if Ararat stops hiding them from humanity. No wonder there are various pictures depicting the mountain and its inhabitants; the symbol is often found in art and on monetary units and coats of arms.
The development of the mountain by man
They began to climb Big Ararat since 1829, when this territory was transferred to Russian possessions. The expedition was attended by several people, including the Armenians, who could not even imagine that it was possible to climb from the foot to the top. No one knows exactly how many meters it was not possible to reach the maximum mark during the first ascent, since most people were afraid to admit that the peak was actually within reach of humans. This secret of the mountain was maintained for decades, because almost all the inhabitants of Armenia were sure that only Noah set foot on the top.
After the beginning of the conquest of Ararat, such daredevils appeared who dared to challenge the slopes alone. The first to get up unaccompanied by James Bryce, later his feat was repeated more than once. Now anyone can walk along the slopes of the volcano and even climb to the very top.
