Mount Ararat (locally known as Ağrı Dağı in Turkish and Masis in Armenian) is perhaps the most famous mountain in religious history. Rising alone from the high plains of eastern Turkey, near the borders of Armenia, Iran, and Azerbaijan, its snow-capped dome dominates the horizon for hundreds of miles. It is a massive compound volcano, a geological giant that has captured the human imagination for millennia. For billions of believers, it is the sacred landing site of Noah’s Ark. For the Armenian people, it is the soul of their nation. And for geologists, it is a fascinating, potentially dangerous stratovolcano that has proven its lethal power as recently as the 19th century.

1. The Twin Peaks: Greater and Lesser Ararat

Ararat is not a single mountain but a volcanic massif consisting of two distinct cones, separated by a distance of about 13 kilometers (8 miles).

Greater Ararat (Büyük Ağrı)

The main peak, Greater Ararat, stands at 5,137 meters (16,854 feet). It is the highest peak in Turkey and the Armenian Highland. Its silhouette is iconic: a near-perfect, massive dome covered in a permanent ice cap that covers about 10 square kilometers. This ice cap has remained relatively stable over centuries, though it has shown signs of retreating in recent years. The mountain lacks a distinct crater, a rarity for such a large volcano, likely due to the ice cap filling and eroding the summit features over thousands of years.

Lesser Ararat (Küçük Ağrı)

To the southeast lies Lesser Ararat, rising to 3,896 meters (12,782 feet). While significantly shorter, it is a stunningly symmetrical, sharp-pointed cone that looks like a classic volcano drawing. It is linked to its larger sibling by the Serdarbulak Lava Plateau. Unlike Greater Ararat, Lesser Ararat is free of eternal snow and glaciers, presenting a stark, rocky profile against the sky.

Geological Formation

Ararat is a young volcano in geological terms. It sits on a complex tectonic junction where the Arabian Plate is colliding with the Eurasian Plate. This collision compresses the crust, pushing the land upward and creating pathways for magma. The mountain is built of layers of andesitic and dacitic lava flows and pyroclastic debris. While Greater Ararat is a massive shield-like structure at its base, growing into a stratovolcano, Lesser Ararat is a pure stratovolcano.

2. Noah’s Ark: The Search on the Mountain

“And on the seventeenth day of the seventh month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat.” — Genesis 8:4

This single verse has made Ararat the focus of centuries of exploration, speculation, and faith.

The Biblical Connection

The Book of Genesis does not specify an exact peak, but rather the “mountains of Ararat” (referring to the ancient Kingdom of Urartu). However, tradition has firmly fixed Greater Ararat as the landing site. The sheer height of the mountain, combined with its dramatic isolation rising from the plain, makes it a fitting candidate for the first point of land to emerge from the receding floodwaters.

The Quest for Evidence

For centuries, explorers have climbed the mountain hoping to find petrified wood or structural remains.

The Ararat Anomaly: In the 20th century, aerial reconnaissance photos and satellite imagery revealed a “boat-shaped” formation on the mountain’s flank (the Durupınar site), sparking intense interest. Known as the “Ararat Anomaly,” this feature was first noted in 1949 by US Air Force missions. While geologists largely dismiss this as a natural rock formation created by limonite folds, it remains a pilgrimage site. Some claimed to see beam-like structures in the rock, but ground-penetrating radar studies have been mixed, with mainstream science maintaining it is a geological oddity rather than a man-made structure.
Modern Expeditions: Numerous teams, from evangelical Christian groups to curious adventurers, have claimed to find wood fragments or cavernous structures under the ice. Notable figures like astronaut James Irwin have led expeditions. Carbon dating results have been controversial and inconclusive. To date, no widely accepted scientific evidence of the Ark has been authenticated, but the mystery continues to draw thousands to the mountain’s slopes. The Turkish government has occasionally designated certain areas as “national parks” to manage the influx of Ark-hunters.

3. The Cataclysm of 1840

Ararat is often thought of as extinct, but it is scientifically classified as dormant. Its potential for destruction was horrifyingly demonstrated in 1840.

The July 2nd Eruption

On July 2, 1840, a massive phreatic (steam-driven) eruption occurred on the upper northern slopes of Greater Ararat. Ground water came into contact with rising magma or hot rocks, flashing into steam and causing a massive explosion. This triggered a devastating earthquake, estimated at magnitude 7.4.

The Destruction of Akori

The explosion destabilized the severe slopes of the Ahora Gorge, a deep chasm that cuts into the side of the mountain. A catastrophic debris avalanche—a wave of mud, ice, and rock—roared down the gorge. It obliterated the Armenian village of Akori (Akhuri), burying its 1,900 inhabitants instantly. Not a single house was left standing.

The Lost Monastery

Also destroyed was the ancient Monastery of St. Jacob, founded in the 4th century. Tradition held that the monastery contained relics of the wood from Noah’s Ark. The avalanche buried the complex so deeply that no trace of it remains today. This event served as a tragic reminder that Ararat is sleeping, not dead.

4. The First Ascent: Friedrich Parrot (1829)

For centuries, local superstitions held that God forbade humans from climbing Ararat to protect the sanctity of the Ark. It was considered an “unclimbable” holy mountain.

Breaking the Taboo

In 1829, German naturalist Friedrich Parrot, a professor from the University of Dorpat, arrived with a mission to scale the peak. He assembled a team that included the brilliant Armenian writer Khachatur Abovian. On their third attempt, fighting altitude sickness and ice, they reached the summit on October 9, 1829.

Measuring the Giant

Parrot’s expedition was a scientific triumph. He was the first to accurately measure the mountain’s height using a barometer. His success dispelled the myth of invincibility, though many locals refused to believe he had reached the top until he produced witnesses. Abovian, who carried a cross to the summit, dug a hole in the ice and planted it, bridging the gap between Western science and Armenian faith.

5. The Soul of Armenia

Although Mount Ararat today lies entirely within the political borders of Turkey (assigned by the 1921 Treaty of Kars), it remains the spiritual center of the Armenian identity.

A National Symbol

Ararat dominates the skyline of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, just across the closed border. It is featured on the Armenian coat of arms, its currency, and countless logos. For Armenians, it is “Masis,” the sacred mother mountain. The fact that their most holy symbol is visible daily but inaccessible is a source of profound national longing and sorrow, often referenced in Armenian poetry and music.

The “People of the Ark”

Armenians traditionally view themselves as the direct descendants of Noah’s family, the “people of the Ark.” This lineage connects their identity inextricably to the mountain. Legends say that the vineyards of the Ararat valley were first planted by Noah himself after descending from the peak, establishing the region’s ancient winemaking tradition.

6. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is it safe to climb today?

Climbing Ararat requires a special government permit from Turkey, as it is located in a sensitive military zone near the borders. However, it is a popular destination for mountaineers. The climb is non-technical (walking and crampons) but physically grueling due to the altitude and weather.

Are there glaciers?

Yes. Greater Ararat has a permanent ice cap that starts around 4,800 meters. Climbers need crampons and ice axes for the final ascent. Climate change is affecting the cap, but it remains significant.

What is the “Ahora Gorge”?

It is a terrifyingly deep gash on the northeast side of the mountain, dropping over 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) from the summit. It is the scar left by the 1840 eruption and subsequent landslides. It is widely considered too dangerous to climb.

Why are there two peaks?

It is a compound volcano. Greater Ararat and Lesser Ararat are fed by the same magmatic system but formed distinct cones along a fault line. They are “siblings” born of the same tectonic collision.

Technical Specifications

Feature	Data
Elevation	5,137 m (16,854 ft) - Greater Ararat
Type	Compound Stratovolcano
Volcanic Status	Dormant (Hot springs/fumaroles present)
Last Major Event	July 2, 1840 (Phreatic Eruption)
First Ascent	1829 (Friedrich Parrot & Khachatur Abovian)
Key Symbolism	Noah’s Ark Landing Site

Mount Ararat is a monument to the intersection of faith and geology. Whether viewed as the cradle of post-flood humanity or as a sleeping tectonic giant capable of devastating power, it commands a respect that transcends borders and beliefs.