A Look Into The Region

Mount Damavand, 5,671 m (18,606 ft) a still slightly active volcano located 80 km northeast of Tehran, capital of the Islamic Republic of Iran, adorns the cover of this issue. The highest mountain in the country and part of the Elburz Range, Mount Damavand is clearly visible from Tehran providing an enduring symbol of the beauty and vastness of the Iranian countryside to all who come upon it. The range, approximately 300 km long and 100 km wide, forms a natural barrier between the Caspian Sea and the Iranian desert. Damavand is part of a series of 4,000 m high peaks running parallel to the southern coast of the Caspian Sea and acting as a barrier to rain clouds moving southward. The view from its summit offers an amazing panorama of Iran's vast expanse of mountains, valleys, and deserts, and the abundant rainfall on the mountain range supports a dense rainforest on the northern slopes.