Mt. Ararat (Agri Dagi)

Mt. Ararat (Agri Dagi) Review

Mt. Ararat, an extinct volcano covered with snow even in summer, soars dramatically 16,850 feet above the arid plateau, dominating the landscape. According to Genesis, after the Great Flood, "the waters were dried up from off the earth; and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the face of the ground was dry." The survivors, as the story goes, had just landed on top of Mt. Ararat. Many other ancient sources—Chaldean, Babylonian, Chinese, Assyrian—also tell of an all-destroying flood and of one man who heroically escaped its consequences. The mountain can be easily viewed from Dogubeyazit, although actually climbing it requires a permit that can only be obtained several months in advance, and the trek must be done with a licensed agency. Be prepared for a lot of walking on gravel, and be forewarned that the summit is often shrouded in clouds. Local tour offices will take you on a day trip that includes a visit to a village at the base of the mountain, which is the closest you can get to Ararat without a permit.