June 28, 2004
The above image shows a 3-D perspective of Mt. Ararat in eastern Turkey, looking from the southwest. It was generated by draping a simulated natural color image over an Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer ASTER)-derived digital topography model. The ASTER image was acquired on June 25, 2002.
Mt. Ararat consists of two volcanic peaks: Big Ararat (16,945 ft or 5,165 m) and Little Ararat (12,841 ft or 3,914 m). It's likely that Ararat has erupted within the past 10,000 years or so, but an eruption has never been recorded. Since this alluring peak is located far from any plate boundaries, the underlying cause of its vulcanism is poorly understood. Big Ararat is high enough to be snow-capped all year long.