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ʿAlam-Kūh
Kuhha-ye Alborz
Highest point
Elevation	4,850 m (15,910 ft)
Prominence	1,827 m (5,994 ft)
Listing	Ultra
Coordinates	36°22′32.65″N 50°57′41.31″E / 36.3757361°N 50.9614750°E / 36.3757361; 50.9614750
Geography
ʿAlam-KūhIran
Location	Mazandaran, Iran
Parent range	Alborz
Climbing
First ascent	1902 by Alfred and Joseph Bornmüller
Easiest route	rock, snow, ice

Alam-Kūh (Persian: علم‌کوه; also: Alam Kooh) or Mount Alam is a mountain in Alborz mountain range in northern Iran, Mazandaran Province, forming a peak of Takht-e Suleyman Massif. It is located in Kelardasht District of Mazandaran Province. With an elevation of 4,828 meters, it is the second-highest peak in Iran after Mount Damavand.

Climbing history

The first recorded ascent of the peak was made from Hazarchal over the south face by the German Bornmüller brothers during their six-month botanical exploration of the Alborz in 1902.

Douglas Busk, a British mountaineer, climbed Alam-Kuh via the east ridge in 1933 and again in 1934 from over the west ridge.

The 800 m high, steep granite north face provides some of the most difficult and challenging mountaineering routes in the country and the climbs rank alongside major climbing routes in the European Alps. In addition to local climbers, the north face attracts European climbing teams. The first known ascent from the north was by a German party (Gorter/Steinauer) in 1936 via the northwest ridge.

2004 earthquake

Most of the fixed ropes were severely damaged during a major 6.3 magnitude earthquake and consequent rockfall in 2004. The mountain was closed to climbers for some months because of the hazard of rockfall and loose cables.

Terrain and approach

The mountain range supports permanent snow and glaciers.

Location

Map of central Alborz	Peaks:	1 Alam-Kuh
	2 Azad Kuh	3 Damavand
	4 Do Berar	5 Do Khaharan
	6 Ghal'eh Gardan	7 Gorg
	8 Kholeno	9 Mehr Chal
	10 Mishineh Marg	11 Naz
	12 Shah Alborz	13 Sialan
	14 Tochal	15 Varavašt
	Rivers:	0
	1 Alamut	2 Chalus
	3 Do Hezar	4 Haraz
	5 Jajrood	6 Karaj
	7 Kojoor	8 Lar
	9 Noor	10 Sardab
	11 Seh Hazar	12 Shahrood
	Cities:	1 Amol
	2 Chalus	3 Karaj
	Other:	D Dizin
	E Emamzadeh Hashem	K Kandovan Tunnel
	* Latyan Dam	** Lar Dam

See also

• List of Ultras of West Asia
• Alamut

References

1. ^ "Iran: 54 Mountain Summits with Prominence of 1,500 meters or greater" Listed here as "Kuhha-ye Alborz". Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
2. Sources differ on the height of Alam Kuh. Due to its elevation being very close to that of Sabalan, either of these peaks may be variously listed as either the second or third highest mountain in Iran. Some sources give a significantly higher elevation for Alam Kuh of 4850 m. However, more reliable sources such as Peaklist (Alam Kuh has listed here as "Kuhha-ye Alborz") state an elevation of 4805 m based on Soviet topographic maps and modern SRTM data. This data supports Alam Kuh as the second highest peak in Iran.
3. J. Bornmüller, Beiträge zur Flora der Elbursgebirge Nord-Persiens, 1908
4. J.G.R. Harding, Cambridge Expedition, 1956, to the Elburz Mountains, Iran, The Himalayan Journal, Vol 20
5. D.L. Busk, Climbing in the Takht-i-Suleiman Group, N. Persia: The Alpine Journal, v. 47, p. 299–309 (1935).
6. D.L. Busk, The German expedition in the Elburz Range, N. Persia: The Alpine Journal, v. 49, p. 245-247 (1937).
7. "Deadly earthquake rocks Iran" Archived 2012-09-24 at the Wayback Machine CNN.com. Retrieved 2012-02-25.

External links

• "Alam Kuh, Iran" on Peakbagger
• SummitPost website
• "Alam-Kuh". Peakware.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
• "Iran: Alam Kuh" in The American Alpine Journal, 2002

• Mountaineering in Iran
• Four-thousanders of the Alborz
• Glaciers of Iran
• Tourist attractions in Mazandaran province
• Mountains of Mazandaran province