sinasina
July 15th, 2009, 01:03 PM
Construction workers are asphalting a 7-kilometer route on Iran's 5,671-meter-tall Damavand Mountain under orders of local officials.
Although many environmentalists have objected to the project, no preventive measures have been adopted by environmental organizations.
The paved route leads to Damavand's Camp 2 Base or Goosfand Sara, located 2900 meters above sea level.
"While Iran's cultural heritage officials have designated a day as National Damavand Day, local officials are damaging the site by paving the route with asphalt," head of Iran's Mountaineering Federation, Mahmoud Shoaei, told ISNA.
"Damavand attracts dozens of tourists each year, but the construction project has destroyed the natural landscape of the mountain," he added.
Shoaei stressed that such decisions severely damage the country's tourism industry, saying "if this does not stop, a cable car will be ascending the mountain soon, like what happened to Alvand and Sabalan Mountains."
He also said that the construction work has damaged the mountain up to 3600 meters above sea level, effacing the natural beauty of Damavand.
Iran's Mountaineering Federation has sent a letter to the Interior Minister, asking that the asphalt paving project be stopped immediately.
Located in the Alborz Range, the dormant volcano Damavand is Iran's highest peak, Asia's tallest volcano and the highest mountain in the Middle East.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=100680§ionid=351020108
Although many environmentalists have objected to the project, no preventive measures have been adopted by environmental organizations.
The paved route leads to Damavand's Camp 2 Base or Goosfand Sara, located 2900 meters above sea level.
"While Iran's cultural heritage officials have designated a day as National Damavand Day, local officials are damaging the site by paving the route with asphalt," head of Iran's Mountaineering Federation, Mahmoud Shoaei, told ISNA.
"Damavand attracts dozens of tourists each year, but the construction project has destroyed the natural landscape of the mountain," he added.
Shoaei stressed that such decisions severely damage the country's tourism industry, saying "if this does not stop, a cable car will be ascending the mountain soon, like what happened to Alvand and Sabalan Mountains."
He also said that the construction work has damaged the mountain up to 3600 meters above sea level, effacing the natural beauty of Damavand.
Iran's Mountaineering Federation has sent a letter to the Interior Minister, asking that the asphalt paving project be stopped immediately.
Located in the Alborz Range, the dormant volcano Damavand is Iran's highest peak, Asia's tallest volcano and the highest mountain in the Middle East.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=100680§ionid=351020108