Mount Ararat (/ˈærəræt/ ; Turkish: Ağrı Dağı; Armenian: Masis, and Արարատ, Ararat) is a snow-capped and dormant compound volcano in the extreme east of Turkey. It consists of two major volcanic cones: Greater Ararat and Little Ararat. Greater Ararat is the highest peak in Turkey and the Armenian plateau with an elevation of 5137m; Little Ararat's elevation is 3896m. The Ararat massif is about 35km wide at ground base. The first efforts to reach Ararat's summit were made in the Middle Ages, and Friedrich Parrot, Khachatur Abovian, and four others made the first recorded ascent in 1829. The "mountains of Ararat" have been widely accepted in Christianity as the resting place of Noah's Ark, despite contention that does not refer specifically to Mt. Ararat. It is the principal national symbol of Armenia and has been considered a sacred mountain by Armenians. It is featured prominently in Armenian literature and art and is an icon for Armenian irredentism. It is depicted on the coat of arms of Armenia along with Noah's Ark.
