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Highest Mountains in Iran

Mount Damavand is the highest of the 11 mountains recorded for Iran, at 5,610 m, ahead of Sabalon Kuh at 4,814 m. The full list follows.

How this list is built: Ranked by summit elevation above sea level. A summit on a border is listed under both countries. It covers the mountains indexed in YearMaps, drawn from open geospatial data, and is not an exhaustive national register.

Mountains Listed
11
Top Ranked
5,610 m
Mount Damavand
Second
4,814 m
Sabalon Kuh
Profiled Below
5
Photo, encyclopedia text and figures
Highest Mountains in Iran
#NameElevation
1Mount Damavand5,610 m
2Sabalon Kuh4,814 m
3Zard Kuh4,548 m
4Kuh-e Hezar4,465 m
5Kuh-e Dinar4,409 m
6Kuh-e Taftan3,941 m
7Kuh-e Garin3,630 m
8Cheekha Dar3,611 m
9Kuh-e Siah Khvani3,314 m
10Kuh-e Fareghan3,240 m
11Kuh-e Nay Band2,960 m

The Mountains of Iran in Detail

The 5 mountains above that have an encyclopedia article, in the same order, each with its photograph, figures and the places around it.

Mount Damavand
Image via Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on the file page).

Mount Damavand

Mountain · 5,610 m

Mount Damavand is a mountain rising to 5,610 metres (18,406 ft) in Iran, in the Asia region.

Mount Damavand (Persian: دماوند [dæmɒːˈvænd] English: Da-moh-VAND) is a dormant stratovolcano in Iran. It is the highest peak in Iran and Western Asia, the highest volcano in Asia, and the third highest volcano in the Eastern Hemisphere (after Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Elbrus), at an elevation of 5,610 metres (18,410 ft). Damāvand has a special place in Persian mythology and folklore. It is in the middle of the Alborz range, adjacent to Varārū, Sesang, Gol-e Zard, and Mīānrūd. It is near the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, in Amol County, Mazandaran Province, 66 km (41 mi) northeast of the city of Tehran.

Mount Damāvand is the 12th most prominent peak in the world and is part of the Volcanic Seven Summits mountaineering challenge.

Adapted from Wikipedia: Mount Damavand (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Elevation
5,610 m (18,406 ft)
Global rank
#51 of 641 indexed
Region
Asia (#34)
Country
Iran
Coordinates
35.9552°, 52.1090°

Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Mount Damavand ranks #51 by elevation, below Pico de Orizaba (5,636 m) and above Bogda Feng (5,445 m).

Ranges:
Kopet Dag Mountains (Asia), Lesser Caucasus (Asia)
Neighbouring summits:
Zard Kuh (4,548 m), Gora Arlan (1,880 m), Kuh-e Dinar (4,409 m)
Settlements below:
Amol (62 km), Tehran (69 km), Varamin (82 km)

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Geology

Mount Damavand rises within the Alborz range in northern Iran, separating the Iranian plateau to the south from the Caspian Sea in the north. This range rises as a result of the collision between the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates. This collision is similar to the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates to the east (causing the Himalaya to rise) and does not usually create volcanic activity. Despite this, recent research suggests that a hot region created by the collision is what caused the volcano to rise.

Seismic wave patterns from earthquakes around the volcano indicate that a magma chamber is present between 2 and 5 kilometres (1.2 and 3.1 mi) below the surface.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Mount Damavand (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Mount Damavand: Key Facts

Key facts about Mount Damavand
Topographic prominence4,667 m
Mountain rangeAlborz

Facts from Wikidata Q40758 (CC0).

Zard Kuh
Image via Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on the file page).

Zard Kuh

Mountain · 4,548 m

Zard Kuh is a mountain rising to 4,548 metres (14,921 ft) in Iran, in the Asia region. From PeakBagger.com, with kind permission..

Zard-Kuh, also Zard Kuh-e Bakhtiari (Persian: زردکوه بختیاری, lit. 'Bakhtiari Yellow Mountain', alternatively Zardkuh or Zarduh Kuh), is a sub-range in the central Zagros Mountains, Iran.

With an elevation of 4,221 metres (13,848 ft), its highest peak "Kolonchin" is located in the Kuhrang County, in the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province of Iran. The Karun and also Zayanderud rivers originate in the Zagros Mountains near the Zard-Kuh. There are small glaciers on the mountain owing to the relatively high precipitation, which are the only glaciers in the subtropics outside the Himalayas, Andes and Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

Geologically, the Zard-Kuh is situated in the Sanandaj-Sirjan geologic and structural zone of Iran and is mainly made of Cretaceous limestone.

The documentary Grass captures on film the Bakhtiari tribe's crossing of Zard-Kuh.

Adapted from Wikipedia: Zard-Kuh (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Elevation
4,548 m (14,921 ft)
Global rank
#75 of 641 indexed
Region
Asia (#44)
Country
Iran
Coordinates
32.3700°, 50.0900°

Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Zard Kuh ranks #75 by elevation, below Köketau (4,622 m) and above Ras Dejen (4,533 m).

Ranges:
Kopet Dag Mountains (Asia), Lesser Caucasus (Asia)
Neighbouring summits:
Kuh-e Dinar (4,409 m), Mount Damavand (5,610 m), Kuh-e Haji Ebrahim (3,587 m)
Settlements below:
Shar e Kord (72 km), Masjed Soleyman (86 km), Khomeini Shahr (134 km)

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Zard Kuh: Key Facts

Key facts about Zard Kuh
Topographic prominence2,095 m
Mountain rangeZagros Mountains

Facts from Wikidata Q147826 (CC0).

Kuh-e Dinar
Image via Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on the file page).

Kuh-e Dinar

Mountain · 4,409 m

Kuh-e Dinar is a mountain rising to 4,409 metres (14,465 ft) in Iran, in the Asia region. From PeakBagger.com, with kind permission..

Dena (in Luri and Persian: دنا) is the name of a sub-range within the Zagros Mountains, Iran. Mount Dena, with 80 km (50 miles) length and 15 km (9.3 miles) average width, is situated on the boundary of the Isfahan, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Provinces of Iran.

Mount Dena has more than 40 peaks higher than 4,000 metres (13,000 feet). Annual precipitation in Mount Dena ranges from 600 to 1,800 mm (24 to 71 in).

Geologically, Mount Dena is located in the Sanandaj-Sirjan geologic and structural zone of Iran and is mainly made of Cretaceous limestone.

Adapted from Wikipedia: Dena (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Elevation
4,409 m (14,465 ft)
Global rank
#89 of 641 indexed
Region
Asia (#49)
Country
Iran
Coordinates
30.9501°, 51.4398°

Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Kuh-e Dinar ranks #89 by elevation, below Talo (4,413 m) and above Mount Elbert (4,402 m).

Neighbouring summits:
Zard Kuh (4,548 m), Jabal ad Dukhan (134 m), Mount Damavand (5,610 m)
Settlements below:
Yasuj (36 km), Behbehan (120 km), Qomsheh (125 km)

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Kuh-e Dinar: Key Facts

Key facts about Kuh-e Dinar
Topographic prominence2,604 m
Mountain rangeZagros Mountains

Facts from Wikidata Q3143042 (CC0).

Kuh-e Taftan
Image via Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on the file page).

Kuh-e Taftan

Mountain · 3,941 m

Kuh-e Taftan is a mountain rising to 3,941 metres (12,930 ft) in Iran, in the Asia region.

Taftan (Balochi: تپتان, Taptân, Persian: تفتان, Taftân, in Balochi and also Persian for "blistering, smoldering, fuming") is an active stratovolcano in south-eastern Iran in the Sistan and Baluchestan province. With variable heights reported, all around 4,000 metres (13,000 ft) above sea level, it is the highest mountain in south-eastern Iran. The nearest city is Khash.

Taftan has two main summits, Narkuh and Madehkuh, and various heights have been reported for both summits. The northwestern Narkuh has two craters and is the older of the two summits. The southeastern Madehkuh summit is surrounded by fresh-looking lava flows and has at least three craters. The principal rock at Taftan is andesite.

Reports of historical volcanic activity are unclear and the youngest radiometric dates are 6,950 ± 20 years before present. Currently, the volcano features vigorous fumarolic activity that is visible from a great distance and involves numerous vents on Materkuh. Taftan appears to be part of a geothermal area; there are a number of hot springs around the volcano.

Taftan is part of a volcanic arc in Iran, together with Bazman, also in Iran, and Koh-i-Sultan in Pakistan.

Adapted from Wikipedia: Taftan (volcano) (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Elevation
3,941 m (12,930 ft)
Global rank
#133 of 641 indexed
Region
Asia (#58)
Country
Iran
Coordinates
28.6297°, 61.1318°

Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Kuh-e Taftan ranks #133 by elevation, below Yu Shan (3,952 m) and above Faure Peak (3,940 m).

Ranges:
Central Makran (Asia), Kirthar Range (Asia)
Neighbouring summits:
Ras Koh (3,003 m), Jabal Yibir (1,527 m), Jabal Shams (3,035 m)
Settlements below:
Zahedan (101 km), Zabol (268 km), Bam (275 km)

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Geography and geology

Taftan is in Iran's Sistan and Balochistan province. Closest cities are Khash 45 kilometres (28 mi) south and Zahedan c. 100 kilometres (62 mi) north north-west. In 1844, Abdul-Nabi reported of the existence of the mountain, as well as its volcanic activity. In 1971, it was reported that some Beluch tribes camp on Taftan's slopes outside of winter.

Volcanic activity has occurred in parts of Iran since the Cretaceous period. During the Eocene and Oligocene epochs, volcanic activity reached its maximum, with thick pyroclastic layers being deposited in central Iran and the Alborz mountains. The area around Taftan volcano belongs to a tectonic zone which is variously referred to as the Sistan suture or the Zabul-Baloch zone.

Climate and vegetation

The climate at Taftan features cold winters accompanied by snowfall when temperatures drop below freezing between December and February, and hot summers with temperatures during July and August exceeding 30 °C (86 °F). Taftan is located in an arid locale but has more precipitation than the surrounding area, thus providing water to the surrounding terrain. Average precipitation is 150 millimetres (5.9 in) per year.

Owing to the height of the mountain, there are distinct vegetation belts at Taftan. The lowlands around the mountain are covered with Artemisia steppe and occasional shrubland.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Taftan (volcano) (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Kuh-e Taftan: Key Facts

Key facts about Kuh-e Taftan
Topographic prominence2,901 m

Facts from Wikidata Q524954 (CC0).

Cheekha Dar
Image via Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on the file page).

Cheekha Dar

Mountain · 3,611 m

Cheekha Dar is a mountain rising to 3,611 metres (11,847 ft) in Iraq and Iran, in the Asia region. The summit stands on the border between them. From PeakBagger.com, with kind permission..

Cheekha Dar (Kurdish: Çîxî Derê, Sorani Kurdish: چیخی دەرێ), which means Black Tent, is the local Kurdish name for the mountain, located in Kurdistan Region of Iraq, currently thought to be the highest in Iraq. It is claimed to be 3,611 m (11,847 ft) high in the CIA World Factbook. It is 6 km (3.7 mi) north of the village of Gundah Zhur and is on the border with Iran.

Adapted from Wikipedia: Cheekha Dar (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Elevation
3,611 m (11,847 ft)
Global rank
#162 of 641 indexed
Region
Asia (#71)
Countries
Iraq, Iran
Coordinates
36.7800°, 44.9199°

Of the 641 named summits indexed in YearMaps, Cheekha Dar ranks #162 by elevation, below Gugu (3,626 m) and above Kuh-e Haji Ebrahim (3,587 m).

Ranges:
Lesser Caucasus (Asia), Pontic Mountains (Asia)
Neighbouring summits:
Mount Damavand (5,610 m), Zard Kuh (4,548 m), Kuh-e Dinar (4,409 m)
Settlements below:
Mahabad (71 km), Urmia (84 km), Maragheh (136 km)

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History

It was climbed in November 2004 by English explorer Ginge Fullen, who recorded a GPS reading of 3,628 meters at the coordinates in the adjacent table. The location is consistent with SRTM and Russian topographic mapping, although these sources are more consistent with the CIA height.

The first reported winter ascent was by Jonathan Beswick and Matthew DuPuy on March 18, 2011. The expedition GPS confirmed 3,611 m (11,847 ft). There is a danger of land mines in the area on approach between Hamilton Road and the village of Gundah Zhur. Some fields are marked by red, triangular signs with skull and crossbones. It is possible to find Kurdish military escorts through this area in the town of Choman.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Cheekha Dar (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Cheekha Dar: Key Facts

Key facts about Cheekha Dar
Topographic prominence1,575 m
Mountain rangeZagros Mountains

Facts from Wikidata Q1068860 (CC0).

More on Iran

Quick Answers

What is the highest mountain in Iran?
Mount Damavand, at 5,610 m. Sabalon Kuh is second at 4,814 m. Rankings cover the mountains indexed in YearMaps.
How many mountains are there in Iran?
YearMaps lists 11 mountains for Iran. This is the number mapped in the atlas, not an official national count.