Youssef Tazi, the Moroccan boy who conquered the summit of Mount Ararat

A young Moroccan mountaineer, a boy of just 12 years old, has made international headlines by achieving the feat of climbing to the summit of the mythical Mount Ararat, on the border between Turkey and Armenia, at 5,165 metres. 

Youssef Tazi made the ascent on 21 August, accompanied by his father Omar, in a five-day expedition from the Turkish city of Dogubayazit. 

According to the Moroccan news agency MAP, the Tazis had been preparing for the expedition for about a year and had climbed several Moroccan mountains, some of them over 4,000 metres. 

Youssef and his father were reporting on the progress of the expedition through their social networks, where they received numerous messages of support and admiration. They posted the image illustrating this article, which shows a proud Youssef Tazi posing with the Moroccan flag at the summit of Mount Ararat. 

As Omar Tazi noted in an interview with MAP, "I am deeply honoured by the extraordinary achievement of my 12-year-old son. Armed with passion, courage and unwavering determination, he proudly raised our national flag on the summit of Turkey's highest mountain at 5,165 metres, after a five-day mountain expedition full of challenges and valuable lessons and tests. Youssef is now the youngest Moroccan mountaineer to defy fear, face freezing temperatures, oxygen shortage and overcome the 5,000-metre barrier". 

On the preparations for the expedition, Tazi said that "undertaking this adventure was the result of long reflection and consultation with professional climbers, which forced us to be meticulous in all our steps and to undergo 14 months of intensive preparation". 

Preparations for the ascent of Mount Ararat included regular medical check-ups, a special diet, mental conditioning, altitude acclimatisation and physical training. 

Ararat, located in eastern Turkey near the border with Armenia and Iran, is the highest point in the country. It is a dormant volcano whose summit is covered with perpetual snow. 

According to the Book of Genesis, the summit of Mount Ararat was one of the few portions of land that remained above the waters after the Great Flood, and it was the place where Noah's Ark came to rest. This tradition is also accepted by Judaism and Islam. 

Although numerous expeditions have been carried out to find the remains of the ark, so far no conclusive results have been obtained. 

In any case, its ascent is a real challenge for mountaineers, which makes the achievement of the young Moroccan Youssef Tazi all the more remarkable.