At an altitude of 5,137 meters, Mount Ararat rises majestically in the heart of Eastern Anatolia. A dormant volcano and universal symbol, it has been regarded for millennia as the place where Noah’s Ark came to rest after the Flood. Between biblical myth, political frontier, and wild beauty, it captivates both pilgrims and mountaineers.
Mount Ararat, with its regular cone and eternal snows, dominates the Ararat plain and the city of Iğdır. Composed of twin volcanoes — Greater Ararat (5,137 m) and Lesser Ararat (3,896 m) — it was for centuries a forbidden mountain. Even today, climbing it requires a special permit from the Turkish government, as it is located near the Armenian border. A place of legends and archaeological controversies, it symbolizes faith, memory, and the quest for origins.
Ancient times
Birth of the biblical myth
According to Genesis, Noah’s Ark is said to have landed on the slopes of Ararat after the Flood.
1829
First documented ascent
By Friedrich Parrot and Khachatur Abovian, from the city of Akhuryan.
1950
Forbidden mountain
Closed for several decades due to military tensions in the border region.
1980
Archaeological rediscovery
Wood fragments and fossilized structures feed the legend of the Ark.
2001
Controlled reopening to expeditions
Mountaineers can climb the mountain again under local supervision.
2010
Controversial archaeological study
A Sino-Turkish team announces the discovery of potential Ark remains, without scientific validation.
39.714564851250486° N / 44.300606417601195° E
Turkey
5,137 m
Elevation of the main summit
3,896 m
Lesser Ararat
1829
First modern ascent
35 km
Distance to the Armenian border
The Ark under the Ice
The Ark under the Ice
Since the 19th century, explorers have claimed to have seen wooden structures in the glaciers on the northern slope. These “evidences” continue to fuel debates among archaeologists, believers, and skeptics.
The Forbidden Ascent
The Forbidden Ascent
During the Cold War, Ararat was closed to all ascents, considered a strategic zone. Armenian guides watched it from a distance, from Yerevan, unable to set foot on its snows.
Universal symbol of renewal, Mount Ararat transcends myth.
Universal symbol of renewal, Mount Ararat transcends myth.
For Norton Peak, it evokes perseverance in the face of mystery, the quest for authenticity, and attachment to what shapes our origins.
From Doğubayazıt (Turkey)
From Doğubayazıt (Turkey)
Access to Greater Ararat is via the southern slope, through camps at 3,200 m and 4,200 m. The ascent takes four to five days, depending on conditions and permits.
Ama Dablam is a mountain in the Eastern Himalayas range of Koshi Province, Nepal. The main peak is 6,812 metres, the lower western peak is 6,170 metres.
Ama Dablam is a mountain in the Eastern Himalayas range of Koshi Province, Nepal. The main peak is 6,812 metres, the lower western peak is 6,170 metres.
