View source for Alam-Kuh

{{Short description|Mountain in Iran}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = ʿAlam-Kūh
| other_name = Kuhha-ye Alborz
| photo = AlamKooh.jpg
| photo_caption = 
| elevation_m = 4850
| elevation_ref = <ref name="peaklist">[http://peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/iran.html "Iran: 54 Mountain Summits with Prominence of 1,500 meters or greater"] Listed here as "Kuhha-ye Alborz". Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2012-02-25.</ref>
| prominence_m = 1827
| prominence_ref = <ref name="peaklist"/>
| listing = [[Ultra prominent peak|Ultra]]
| map = Iran 
| map_caption = Iran
| map_size = 250
| label_position = 
| location = [[Mazandaran]], [[Iran]]
| range = [[Alborz]] 
| coordinates = {{coord|36|22|32.65|N|50|57|41.31|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = <ref name="peaklist"/>
| type = 
| age = 
| last_eruption = 
| first_ascent = 1902 by [[:de:Alfred Bornmüller|Alfred]] and [[Joseph Friedrich Nicolaus Bornmüller|Joseph Bornmüller]] 
| easiest_route = rock, snow, ice
}}
'''Alam-Kūh''' ({{langx|fa|علم‌کوه}}; also: ''Alam Kooh'') or '''Mount Alam''' is a mountain in [[Alborz]] [[mountain range]] in northern [[Iran]], [[Mazandaran province|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]].<ref>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 [http://peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/iran.html 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.</ref>

==Climbing history==
[[File:Alam_kooh.jpg|thumb|280px|A view of Alam kuh]]
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.<ref>[[Joseph Friedrich Nicolaus Bornmüller|J. Bornmüller]], [https://books.google.com/books?id=8g8YAAAAYAAJ Beiträge zur Flora der Elbursgebirge Nord-Persiens], 1908</ref><ref>J.G.R. Harding, [https://www.himalayanclub.org/hj/20/12/cambridge-expedition-1956-to-the-elburz-mountains-iran/ Cambridge Expedition, 1956, to the Elburz Mountains, Iran], The Himalayan Journal, Vol 20</ref>

[[Douglas Busk]], a British mountaineer, climbed Alam-Kuh via the east ridge in 1933 and again in 1934 from over the west ridge.<ref>D.L. Busk, ''Climbing in the Takht-i-Suleiman Group, N. Persia'': The Alpine Journal, v. 47, p. 299–309 (1935).</ref>

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.<ref>D.L. Busk, ''The German expedition in the Elburz Range, N. Persia'': The Alpine Journal, v. 49, p. 245-247 (1937).</ref>

===2004 earthquake===
Most of the fixed ropes were severely damaged during a major [[List of earthquakes in Iran|6.3 magnitude earthquake]]<ref>[http://articles.cnn.com/2004-05-28/world/iran.quake_1_magnitude-strong-earthquake-islamic-republic?_s=PM:WORLD "Deadly earthquake rocks Iran"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924124034/http://articles.cnn.com/2004-05-28/world/iran.quake_1_magnitude-strong-earthquake-islamic-republic?_s=PM:WORLD |date=2012-09-24 }} CNN.com. Retrieved 2012-02-25.</ref> 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.
{{clear}}

==Location==
{{Clear}}
{{Central Alborz}}

==See also==
* [[List of Ultras of West Asia]]
* [[Alamut]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=10466 "Alam Kuh, Iran" on Peakbagger]
* [http://www.summitpost.org/mountain/rock/150420/alam-kooh.html SummitPost website]
* {{cite peakware|id=2937|name=Alam-Kuh}}
* [http://c498469.r69.cf2.rackcdn.com/2002/344_africamideast_aaj2002.pdf#search=%22ramin%20shojael%22  "Iran: Alam Kuh" in The American Alpine Journal, 2002]

{{Protected Areas of Iran}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Mountaineering in Iran]]
[[Category:Four-thousanders of the Alborz]]
[[Category:Glaciers of Iran]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Mazandaran province]]
[[Category:Mountains of Mazandaran province]]