Mount Ramiel

Mount Lenthir
Mount Lam
Mount Lenthir as seen from the Lenthiri highlands
Highest point
Elevation	5,480 m (17,980 ft)
Prominence	5,480 m (17,980 ft)
Parent peak	Mount Basend
Listing	Highest peak in Lugida Ultra-prominent peaks Soltenna Major 10
Coordinates	31°33'23"N, 0°27'02"E
Naming
Translation	Gate (Lithian)
Geography
Location	Chora Prefecture, Lugida
Parent range	Rietic Mountains
Geology
Mountain type	Stratovolcano (dormant)
Last eruption	10,000 BCE
Climbing
First ascent	1881
Normal route	Madam route

Mount Lenthir (Lithian: Arad Lenthir [ˈɐrɐt̚ lɐntʰɪɾ]), alternatively Mount Lam, is a dormant stratovolcano in southern Rietic Mountains in Lugida. At 5,480 metres (17,980 ft) above sea level, the mountain is the highest in Lugida – only followed by nearby Mount Sherun at 4,143 m (13,593 ft) – as well as one of the highest points in Soltenna. Its peak is only 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the nearest shoreline and lies 160 kilometres (99 mi) southwest of Nataliya, facing towards Bay of Derim and the Gulf of Sharkunen.

Mount Lenthir's particularly high peak made it snow-capped throughout the winter, despite its latitude of 31°N making the snow line particularly high. Named after the Lithian word for 'gate', the mountain is one of the most well-known natural landmarks of Lugida, as prominently featured in Lugid mythology, culture, and arts. Mount Lenthir serves as the seat to highest order deities in Lenthiri folk religion, as "the gate between the divine and mortal realm", and the primary setting of the folktale on legendary figure Lam – from which the figure brought "the knowledge of civilization" from his pilgrimage to the mountain by establishing a new kingdom on the Lithe River.

To conserve and protect the forests and fauna around the mountain from rapid urbanization, Lenthir National Park, comprising Mount Lenthir, Mount Haiwa, and surrounding areas, was established in 1959, and has become a popular tourist and pilgrimage site contributing substantially to Chora Prefecture's economy.

Etymology

Lenthir derives from the Lithian word meaning "gate" and is the widely known, official name whose best known meaning is "the gate between the divine and mortal realms", based on the mountain's role in Lenthiri mythology, although historical literature don't always refer Mount Lenthir as such. Another interpretation of the Lenthir name is the "gate" between the Amiyant Sea and the open seas (Gulf of Sharkunen) or the gate to Lugida (specifically the Nellia Dynasty). This etymology is mentioned in historical documents dating back to the 4th century CE during the time of the Avite Empire.

Alternative names such as Dinshar "high light" were also used by populations near the mountain and in Lenthiri literature, where the mountain in this context instead serves as a "lighthouse" or "beacon" for ships passing through nearby waters instead of a gate. Lam is the name of the Lenthiri legendary figure associated with Mount Lenthir and is used in Lugid literature as well.

Geography and climate

Standing 5,480 metres (17,980 ft) high, Mount Lenthir is a distinctive feature of the geography of Lugida. The mountain comprises the southernmost portion of the Rietic Mountains, and its summit is located 100 km (62 mi) southwest of Nataliya, 35 kilometres (22 mi) north of Oris, 61 km (38 mi) west of Shinhan, 24 km (15 mi) south of Madam, and 70 km (43 mi) southeast of the neighboring Mount Haiwa. Madam and Oris are popular locations for sightseeing of the mountain; during clear skies, Mount Lenthir is visible from as far as Nurkaila, 200 km (120 mi) west of the summit.

Climate of Mount Lenthir region is dominated by a humid subtropical climate with temperatures near the summit averaging around −6.9 °C (19.6 °F). Its wide permanent ice cap near the summit, shaped by coastal wind, feeds 14 glaciers, which in turn feed the Ori and Romit rivers. Lithe River and its watershed provides inundation for a substantial portion of agriculture in Lugida, comprising around 24% of Lugida's arable lands, extending (some distance) from around Wiliya before ultimately reaching its estuary in Eldin. Mount Lenthir area mostly falls above the tree line which lies around altitudes between 2,300 m (7,500 ft) and 2,800 m (9,200 ft). At these areas, grass and rocks dominate the landscape, and vegetation is otherwise scarce.

Climate data

Lugid Geospatial Survey (LGS) began recording monthly temperatures of the area in 1971, upon installing a weather station in the Madam Route Base Camp, at an elevation of 3,632 m (11,916 ft) above sea level. Due to harsh climates of the Lenthiri ice caps, LGS didn't install a weather station in that area. An eight-men team of students from the Bethalon Institute of Technology reached the summit to measure the climate of the area, in which a temperature of −28 °C (−18 °F) was recorded – the lowest temperature ever recorded in Mount Lenthir and even Lugida. A new, solar-powered weather station at an altitude of 4,531 m (14,865 ft) was installed in 2006 after funding by Pairo Society. It recorded average temperatures of −9.5 °C (14.9 °F), an average humidity of 52 percent, and wind speeds reaching 14.1 m/s (51 km/h; 32 mph).

Climate data for Madam Route Base Camp
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	3.7 (38.7)	4.2 (39.6)	5.6 (42.1)	7.7 (45.9)	11.9 (53.4)	16.4 (61.5)	20.1 (68.2)	21.0 (69.8)	19.5 (67.1)	16.8 (62.2)	12.1 (53.8)	6.3 (43.3)	21.0 (69.8)
Average high °C (°F)	−2.2 (28)	−2.2 (28)	1.8 (35.2)	4.1 (39.4)	7.6 (45.7)	9.8 (49.6)	11.1 (52)	12.4 (54.3)	10.7 (51.3)	7.3 (45.1)	3.0 (37.4)	−0.9 (30.4)	5.2 (41.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)	−5.5 (22.1)	−5.0 (23)	−2.4 (27.7)	1.6 (34.9)	4.3 (39.7)	6.1 (43)	7.5 (45.5)	8.5 (47.3)	6.8 (44.2)	3.0 (37.4)	−1.5 (29.3)	−4.4 (24.1)	1.6 (34.9)
Average low °C (°F)	−8.0 (17.6)	−8.2 (17.2)	−5.9 (21.4)	−1.9 (28.6)	0.4 (32.7)	2.2 (36)	3.5 (38.3)	4.5 (40.1)	3.6 (38.5)	0.1 (32.2)	−4.5 (23.9)	−7.2 (19)	−1.8 (28.8)
Record low °C (°F)	−13 (9)	−13.9 (7)	−12.9 (8.8)	−10.1 (13.8)	−8.8 (16.2)	−7.3 (18.9)	−6.4 (20.5)	−5.8 (21.6)	−6.9 (19.6)	−8.2 (17.2)	−9.6 (14.7)	−11.7 (10.9)	−13.9 (7)
Source: Lugid Geospatial Survey, as of 2016

Geology

Mount Lenthir was formed during the Rietic orogeny 60 million years ago. (Central Soltennan) Plate at the time already collided with the (West Soltennan) Plate to form the Darkine, in which the former collided northwestwards in a rapid drift against the (West Soltennan) Plate that was moving eastwards. Relative eastward motion of the (West Soltennan) Plate increased and both tectonic plates eventually drifted eastwards. In the Rietic orogeny, Rietic Plate collided northwestwards with the (Central Soltennan) Plate, closing the Oculus Sea and leading to the obduction of oceanic ophiolite onto the Rietic Plate, and forming a convergent boundary which grew to become the Rietic Mountains as well as forming the Lake Soltenna basin. Unlike the Darkine orogeny, the tectonic plates collide at a much slower motion and thus giving mountains of the Rietic an average height 2,200 metres (7,200 ft). Most of the oceanic crust of the Rietic Plate was subducted.

The orogeny induced volcanic activity in the region. Most of the Rietic Mountains' highest mountains are formed through volcanism. Included is Mount Lenthir, that was highly active during Late Pleistocene, leading to its high elevation. Similar volcanisms leading to high elevation is found in the neighboring Mount Haiwa and the still-active Mount Nidarum. After its last geologically recorded eruption in 10,000 BCE, Mount Lenthir is currently dormant and show no signs indicative of volcanism, but is not classified as an extinct volcano.

Significance

Lenthiri mythology

In Lenthiri mythology, Mount Lenthir's area is inhabited by deities, making the mountain as their watchtower to the region while serving as the guardians of the gate to the divine realm. It described a legendary priest under the name Gamilami that climbed the mountain after the deities "called" the Lenthirites in the region to climb the mountain and honor the deities. No gift was promised, and thus most Lenthirites dismissed the call; some Lenthirite priests answered the "call" by constructing a temple described to be located near modern-day Madam. He decided to climb the mountain and reach the summits where he meditated for few hours. A deity is described to have came to him with the gift, called "the knowledge of civilization", then used by Gamilami to found a kingdom that is believed to be located in modern-day Deshan.

National Park

As a National Park, the Mount Lenthir area is managed by (organization), under the direct auspices of the national government.