Mount
Ararat
30th day since we stated our voyage to
the top of Mount Ararat, the highest peak in Armenia. Although there are many
camp sites on the way, it still is one of the most difficult things I’ve done.
On the way we are looking for possible pieces of Noah’s Ark, which according to
the bible, has stopped on the summit of Mount Ararat to escape the flood.
Sometimes I think our mission is impossible, climing
5,165 meters isnt very easy. Especially when ther are many glaciers in our way,
snow that is sometimes up to our necks, and constant avalanches. Mount Ararat
is a polygenic, compound stratovolcano covering an area of 1,100 km. However,
either archaeological excavations, oral history, historical records, or
combination of these data provide solid evidence that volcanic eruptions of
Mount Ararat occurred in 2500–2400 BC, 550 BC, possibly in 1450 AD and 1783 AD,
and definitely in 1840 AD. Archaeological evidence demonstrates that explosive
eruptions and pyroclastic flows from the northwest flank of Mount Ararat
destroyed and buried at least one Koura–Arax culture settlement and caused
numerous fatalities in 2500–2400 BCMount Ararat consists of two distinct
volcanic cones, Greater Ararat and Lesser Ararat. We are climbing Greater
Ararat. The western volcanic cone, Greater Ararat, is a steep-sided volcanic
cone that is larger and higher than the eastern volcanic cone. Greater Ararat
is about 25 kilometers (16 mi) wide at the base and rises about 3
kilometers (1.9 mi) above the above the adjacent floors of the Iğdir and
Doğubeyazıt basins.
It’s very interesting to think that Parrot and Khachatur
Abovian were the first modern explorers to reach the summit, climbing the same
route we are now. Although they climbed to the top on the third try, we are
using the right route on the first try. I will also take a piece of ice with me
to the bottom from the summit, just as Abovian did.
Until next time,
Rozi
