Ras Dashen

Ras Dejen (Ge'ez: ራስ ደጀን rās dejen, Amharic "head guard"), also known as Ras Dashen, is the highest mountain in Ethiopia and tenth highest mountain of Africa. Part of Semien Mountains National Park located in the Amhara Region, it reaches an elevation of 4,550 metres (14,930 ft).[1] The English form, "Ras Dashen" is a corruption of its Amharic name, "Ras Dejen", the term used by the Ethiopian Mapping Authority (EMA) which alludes to the traditional head or general who fights in front of the Emperor.[3]

Ras Dejen
ራስ ደጀን
The summit area viewed from the west summit
Highest point
Elevation4,550 m (14,930 ft) [1]
Prominence3,997 m (13,114 ft) [2]
Ranked 23rd
Isolation1,483 km (921 mi) 
ListingCountry high point
Ultra
Coordinates13°14′09″N 38°22′15″E [2]
Geography
Ras Dejen
Parent rangeSimien Mountains
Climbing
First ascent1841, by French officers Ferret and Galinier

Overview

According to Erik Nilsson, Ras Dejen is the eastern peak of the rim of "an enormous volcano, the northern half of which is cut down about [a] thousand metres by numerous ravines, draining into the Takkazzi River." Its western counterpart is Mount Biuat (4,510 meters), separated by the valley of the Meshaha river.[3] The mountain often sees violent snowfalls during the night, but given that day and night temperatures vary greatly, the snow is almost completely melted in a few hours (during the hottest period of the year), for the temperature may be over 5 degrees Celsius by midday. In winter snow falls rarely, since the majority of Ethiopia's yearly rainfall is in the summer, but if it does it usually lasts for weeks or months.

The first recorded ascent by a Eurasian was in 1841, by the French officers Ferret and Galinier. There is no verifiable evidence of earlier ascents by locals, but the summit climate and conditions are relatively hospitable, and there are nearby high altitude pastoral settlements. A small fort is still partially standing at around 4,300 meter SRTM data.[1]

References
  1. "Africa Ultra-Prominences" According to Peaklist.org: "There is a high-divergence of published elevations for Ras Dejen (also spelled Ras Deshen or Ras Dashen). An Italian military survey measured it at 4620m mi, a height that is still often quoted."Ras Dashen". Peakware.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. A new elevation of 4,533m emerged from a 1970s triangulation survey.example: Peakbagger.comand Summitpost.org A subsequent Franco-Italian survey established a height of 4,550m."Peaklist footnote #2. See also Elevation misquotes. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  2. "Africa Ultra-Prominences" Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
  3. Erik Nilsson, "Traces of Ancient Changes of Climate in East Africa: Preliminary Report", Geografiska Annaler, 17 (1935), p. 13
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