Which mountain is the highest peak in Turkey, rising to about 5,137 metres?

Mount Ararat is the highest peak in Turkey, rising to about 5,137 metres.

The mountain is a snow-capped volcanic massif in eastern Turkey, close to the borders with Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave. Its summit is the higher of two cones: Greater Ararat, while Lesser Ararat reaches about 3,896 metres.

Mount Ararat has major cultural and religious significance. It is traditionally associated with the biblical account of Noah’s Ark, although the biblical text refers to the “mountains of Ararat” rather than naming the modern peak precisely. The mountain is also an important symbol in Armenian culture, even though it lies within modern Turkey.

The first recorded modern ascent is generally credited to Friedrich Parrot and companions in 1829. Because of its border location and periodic security restrictions, access has sometimes required official permission. Mount Ararat is distinct from Iran’s Mount Damavand, the highest peak in Iran.