{{Short description|Highest mountain in Ethiopia}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Ras Dashen | other_name = '''ራስ ዳሸን''' | image = File:Dejen misura da cima W.jpg | image_caption = | elevation_m = 4550 | elevation_ref = <ref name="elevation">[http://peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/africa.html "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.<sup>{{cite peakware|id=215|name=Ras Dashen}}</sup> A new elevation of 4,533m emerged from a 1970s triangulation survey.<sup>[http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=11117 example: Peakbagger.com] [http://www.summitpost.org/ras-dashen/535933 and Summitpost.org]</sup> A subsequent Franco-Italian survey established a height of 4,550m."[http://peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/africa.html#2 Peaklist footnote #2]. See also [http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/elevmisquotes.html#africa Elevation misquotes]. Retrieved 2012-09-02.</ref> | prominence_m = 3997 | prominence_ref = <ref name="peaklist">[http://peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/africa.html "Africa Ultra-Prominences"] Peaklist.org. Retrieved 2012-09-02.</ref><small><br/>Ranked 23rd</small> | map = Ethiopia | map_relief = 1 | map_caption = | label_position = right | listing = Country high point<br />Ultra<br>Ribu | location = Ethiopia | range = Simien Mountains | coordinates = {{coord|13|14|09|N|38|22|15|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref = <ref name="peaklist"/> | first_ascent = | easiest_route = }} '''Ras Dashen''' (Amharic: ራስ ዳሸን ''rās dāshn'') is the highest mountain in Ethiopia. Located in the Simien Mountains National Park in the North Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region, it reaches an elevation of 4,550 metres (14,930&nbsp;ft).<ref name="elevation"/>

The English form "Ras Dashen" is a corruption of its Amharic name, "Ras Dejen", the term used by the Ethiopian Mapping Authority (EMA) that alludes to the traditional head or general who fights in front of the Emperor.{{dubious|Dubious translation: "the general who fights in front of the Emperor"|date=January 2018}}<ref name="Nilsson-13">Erik Nilsson, [https://www.jstor.org/stable/519950 "Traces of Ancient Changes of Climate in East Africa: Preliminary Report"], ''Geografiska Annaler'', 17 (1935), p. 13</ref>

==Overview== [[File:Ethiopian Highlands 01.jpg|thumb|right|Ethiopian Highlands with Ras Dashan in the background]] According to Erik Nilsson, Ras Dashen 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 (4,437 meters), separated by the valley of the Meshaha River.<ref name=Nilsson-13/> 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 normally, since the majority of Ethiopia's yearly rainfall is in the summer, but if it does it usually lasts for weeks or months.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 25, 2022 |title=Snow falls in Ethiopia every year, and not as misconceptions say 'rarely' |url=https://lekreports.com/snow-falls-in-ethiopia-every-year-and-not-as-misconceptions-say-rarely/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225190524/https://lekreports.com/snow-falls-in-ethiopia-every-year-and-not-as-misconceptions-say-rarely/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=December 25, 2022 |website=The Low Ethiopian Reports}}</ref>

The first recorded ascent by a European was in 1841, by 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 metre SRTM data.<ref name="elevation"/>

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20091028022914/http://geocities.com/Yosemite/1015/sim.htm Detailed trip report] * [http://peaklist.org/WWlists/ultras/africa.html "Africa Ultra-Prominences" on Peaklist] * [http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=11117 "Ras Dashen Terara, Ethiopia" on Peakbagger] * [http://www.summitpost.org/ras-dashen/535933 "Ras Dashen" on Summitpost] * {{cite peakware|id=215|name=Ras Dashen}} * [http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/elevmisquotes.html Elevation misquotes] * [http://rasdashentours.com/ Simien Mountains National Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517135721/http://www.rasdashentours.com/ |date=2018-05-17 }}

{{Authority control}}{{Highest points of Africa}} Category:Simien Mountains Category:Mountains of Ethiopia Category:Amhara Region Category:Four-thousanders of Africa Category:Highest points of countries Category:Ethiopian Highlands Category:Ultra-prominent peaks of Africa