Cheekha Dar

Cheekah Dar
Cheekah Dar Location of Cheekah Dar in Iraq (on the Iranian border)
Highest point
Elevation	3,611 m (11,847 ft)
Prominence	1,575 m (5,167 ft)
Listing	Country high point Ultra
Geography
Location	Iran–Iraq border
Parent range	Zagros Mountains

Cheekha Dar, Çîxî Derê" or "چیخی دەرێ" The Outer Row, is the local Kurdish name for the mountain currently thought to be the highest in Iraq. It is claimed to be 3,611 metres high in the CIA World Factbook. It is 6 kilometres north of the village of Gundah Zhur and is on the border with Iran.

It was climbed in November 2004 by English explorer Ginge Fullen, who recorded a GPS reading of 3,628 meters at the coordinates in the table to the right. The location is consistent with SRTM and Russian topographic mapping, although these sources are more consistent with the CIA height.

The first reported winter ascent was by Jonathan Beswick and Matthew DuPuy on March 18, 2011. The expedition GPS confirmed 3,611m. There is a danger of land mines in the area on approach between Hamilton Road and the village of Gundah Zhur. Some fields are marked by red, triangular signs with skull and crossbones. It is possible to find Kurdish military escorts through this area in the town of Choman.

A nearby peak called Halgurd, at 36°44′N 44°52′E, is thought to be 3,607 metres high, and had previously been thought to be Iraq's highest mountain.

See also

• Iraqi Kurdistan