International Mountain Day is held each year on December 11 and was established at the 57th session of the UN General Assembly in 2003.
Mount Elbrus is the highest peak in Russia and in Europe and one of the highest mountains in the world, which makes an ascent to the top a major feat. Mount Elbrus is a dormant volcano with two summits, the eastern one with an elevation of 5,621 meters and the western one with an elevation of 5,642 meters.
Ismoil Somoni Peak (Communism Peak through 1998 and Stalin Peak through 1962) is the highest mountain (7,495 meters) in Tajikistan and in the former Soviet Union. This is a large rock and ice pyramid with a quadrangular base that has four distinct sides. Local people call it Uz-terg which means “head turning.”
Mount Ararat is on the Armenian Plateau in Turkey. Mt. Ararat is a dormant volcanic cone consisting of two volcanoes connected by a mountain range. Greater Ararat reaches 5,165 meters in elevation and Lesser Ararat, 3,925 meters. Mt. Ararat is Turkey’s highest point.
Jengish Chokusu (Victory Peak) is the highest mountain in the Tian Shan mountain system reaching 7,439 meters. It lies on the Kyrgyzstan-China border.
