The Alborz mountain range contains Mount Damavand, the highest volcano in Asia.
Mount Damavand rises to 5,610 metres in northern Iran and is the highest peak in the Alborz. It is a potentially active stratovolcano, with fumaroles and hot springs indicating continuing geothermal activity. In Persian mythology and literature, Damavand is a powerful symbol of resistance and Iranian identity.
The Alborz extend along the southern coast of the Caspian Sea, separating the humid Caspian lowlands from Iran’s dry interior plateau. The range includes forests on its northern slopes and arid landscapes farther south. Tehran lies near the southwestern foothills of the mountains.
The Alborz are sometimes confused with the Zagros, another major Iranian mountain system. The Zagros lie mainly to the west and southwest, whereas Mount Damavand and the Caspian-facing highlands belong to the Alborz.