Land and Nature
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Landscape
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Mountains
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Lakes and Rivers
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Mineral Springs
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| Armenian Hightland |
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Landscape
Armenia is located in southern Transcaucasia, the region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. Twenty-five million years ago, a geological upheaval pushed up the earth's crust to form the Armenian Plateau, creating the complex topography of modern Armenia. Modern Armenia occupies part of historical Armenia, whose ancient centers were in the valley of the Araks River and the region around Lake Van in Turkey. Armenia is bordered on the north by Georgia, on the east by Azerbaijan, on the south by Iran, and on the west by Turkey. About half of Armenia's area of approximately 29,800 square kilometers has an elevation of at least 2,000 meters, and only 3 percent of the country lies below 650 meters. The lowest points are in the valleys of the Araks River and the Debed River on the north, which have elevations of 380 and 430 meters, respectively. Mount Aragats, 4095 meters high is the highest point in Armenia. The all rivers in Armenia pass through the mountains and drain in deep canyons or valleys. The Araks River is the largest near-boundary river flows on the southwest and on the south. The largest rivers in northwest part of the country are the Debed and Aghstev. One of the largest mountain lakes is Sevan Lake. It lies 2070 meters above sea level. Climate in Armenia generally depend upon elevation. It is highland continental; in central with cold winters and hot summers. Most of the population lives in the western and northwestern parts of the country, where the two major cities, Yerevan and Gyumri are located.
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Mountains
Armenia is a mountainous country. Mountain ranges occupy about 14 000 km2 territory or 47% of the country territory. In the center of the country lengthened the strip of volcanic mountains with many cones of extinct volcanoes and lava plateaus. Among volcanoes, which includes Central Armenia's volcanic region, with volcanoes cones of Aragats and Arailer Mounts, are numerous cones and highlands in Geghama, Vardenis, and Syunik mountain ranges. In high-level mountain zone there are numerous lakes of crater, inter-hill, and glacial origin. These mountain ranges are very interesting with their unique natural and cultural monuments. The highest peaks in Armenia are: Aragats (4090 м), Kaputdzhukh (3908 м), Azhdahak (3597 м), Vardenis (3522 м), Aramazd (3392), ets. For the mountain treks in the territory of Armenia of significant interest are the Mount Aragats and the powerful Zangezur ridge.
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Mount Aragats is the highest point in Armenia located in the province of Aragatsotn, northwest from Yerevan. It is a standalone extinct stratovolcano with four main peaks - the highest - northern (4094 m), the height of west - 4007 m, eastern - 3916 m, southern - 3879 m, forming the rim of the volcanic crater by the depth of 350 m and by the width of 2.5 km. It is a popular destination for local alpinists. Here it is possible to accomplish mountain treks of the III category of complexity inclusively. Here also located the famous Byurakan Observatory. The observatory is a historically significant facility responsible for a number of important photographic surveys. Mount Aragats is a popular destination for travellers, especially in summer.
Zangezur Mountains comprise a mountain range in Armenia's southern province of Syunik. Zangezur ridge is one of the longest (130 km). Its peak Kaputdzhukh (3908 m) is inferior only to Aragats. The ridge is asymmetric: southern and western slopes are more steep and are rocky, while eastern slopes they have the moderate incline and gradually get down to the valley the Vorotan river. On the special features of relief the ridge can be divided into the northern and southern parts. Northern part is comparatively low (medium altitude of approximately 2800 m). The southern half of ridge is raised. Main peaks are located here. Extremely jagged rock exposures and deep gorges distinguish the Zangezur mountain range, while glacial relief forms typical of high-altitude zone such as lakes, unique valleys affected by glaciers give this mountain range a special originality.
Geghama Mountains stretch between Lake Sevan and the Ararat plain. They are formed by a volcanic field with several extinct volcanoes. The medium altitude of mountainous area is of approximately 2500 m. The highest peak is the Azhdahak, at 3597m.
Karabakh (Syunik) volcanic plateau is situated in the east of Armenia and includes high peak - Mets (Big) Ishkhanasar (h.3552m), Tsghuk (h.3594m) volcanic mountains and interesting attractions of Ughtasar.
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| Mount Aragats |
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| Zangezur |
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| Mount Azhdahak |
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| Lake Sevan |
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Lakes and Rivers
Lake Sevan is the national treasure of Armenia. It’s impossible to describe its whole beauty- you ought to see it with your own eyes. Lake Sevan is 60 km from Yerevan and is situated at the height of 2070 m above sea level with a total water surface of 1256 sq. kilometers. It is one of the largest high altitude lakes in the world. Lake Sevan is obliged by its origin to volcanic activity in the quaternary period of the formation of our planet. The eruptions of lava on the northern spurs of the Gegham ridge dammed the valley of ancient river. The formed basin began to be filled by melt waters of glaciers and snow fields of its surrounding ridges, and later by rivers water. Several little rivers fall into Sevan, and only one emerges from it - Hrazdan River. Lake Sevan always had great significance in history and culture of Armenia. The ancient national name of it was Gegham Sea. During many centuries the descended waters of the lake revealed many prehistoric settlements, including the 2nd millennium BCE royal burial ground at Lechashen and the 1st millennium BCE Urartian cuneiform stone and others. Sevan is a very popular holiday resort due to its sandy beaches and fresh water. Many travellers journey into Armenia with one of the central objectives - to admire by Sevan, to see sunrise above the peaks of Sevan ridge, to glance at the water of all nuances of turquoise, to listen to the cries of seagulls among the mountain ranges, to see the colonies of the pink flamingo and pelicans, to inhale cleanest mountain air. But this beauty is not eternal, it is necessary to take care and to guard. Specially, for this purpose was created National park of Sevan, founded in 1978. As a whole, under the protection of National park are Sevan Lake and several reservations on the earth's surface. Lake Sevan is still holding some reserve of the purest water in the world. Under the protection is biosphere reserve with the unique plant and animal peace and whole series of the endemic and rare species. In all it is counted: 1600 species of the highest plants; 34 species of mammals, among which is the Armenian leopard, wolf and fox; 267 species of birds; 6 species of amphibians; 17 species of reptiles and 9 species of fish, with Ishkhan fish (Armenian trout). One of the most important regions of park is reservation on Artanish peninsula.
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Alpine Lakes
Aside from Lake Sevan, there are only more than 100 small mountain natural lakes in the country, among them Lake Kari and Lake Lessing on Mt. Aragats; Lake Aygehr in the Ararat Valley; Lake Kaputan in the Zangezour Mountain Range; Lake Akna on the Gegham range; and Lake Parz northeast of Dilijan town. By comparison, while Lake Sevan has 1256 sq. kilometers of water surface, there is only one square kilometer of water surface from all the primary natural lakes in Armenia. None of them, except Lake Sevan and Lake Arpi, have yet been extensively studied.
Rivers
There are more than 200 streams and rivers in Armenia, none navigable, however, because of their steep descents and rapid currents. The largest river of the Republic of Armenia is the Araks River, which flows on the countries border with Iran on the south and a large part of the border with Turkey on the southwest. It's major tributaries are the Akhurian, Kasagh, Hrazdan, Azat, Arpa, Vorotan and Voghdji rivers. The largest rivers in northwest part of the country are the Debed and Aghstev, while smaller ones include the Dzoraget and the Pambak. The valleys of the Debed and Aghstev rivers form the chief routes into Armenia from the north as they pass through the mountains.
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| Lake Kari |
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| Arpa River |
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| Satani Kamurj |
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Mineral Springs
Armenia is one of the rare geographical regions, which having small territory, possesses the rich and diverse natural therapeutic resources: alpine climate, the unique area of the medicinal plants and the valuable sources of the mineral waters of different chemical composition. There are more than 8 thousand springs and 700 mineral sources (including warm thermal springs) in Armenia. The complex expeditionary inspections of the localities of Arzni, Dilijan, Garni, Aparan, Bjni, Jermuk, Tatev, Tsakhkadzor, Hankavan, Sevan and others was studied the chemical composition of mineral waters, their geology, geochemistry and propagation. Waters of Garni, Aparan, Jermuk and Bjni are characterized by excellent drinkable qualities and have the therapeutic properties. Around some mineral sources are built the health resorts with the numerous sanatoriums, Spa centers and modern hotels. Today in Armenia are health resorts in Arzni, Dilijan, Jermuk, Tsakhkadzor, Hankavan, Stepanavan, Byurakan and Sevan. The health resorts of Armenia are famous by their mineral springs, mountain air and excellent views. The most famous spa is perhaps Jermuk, with naturally carbonated sulfur thermal springs. Other springs in Jermuk include a calcium-sulfur cold water spring. Hankavan has several natural mineral springs in the area, the warmest at the Hankavan springs run off into the Marmarik River. Another popular warm water spring spa is located at Arzni, just north of Yerevan. There are countless other thermal and cold water springs in provinces, most of them are known only to the local inhabitants. It's well to asking them, since you may just to pass by and not to note a natural treasure. It often alone locates in the wilderness areas. The thermal springs are located throughout in the country, but in Vayots Dzor (Jermuk) and Syunik has the most popular springs.
Satani Kamurj (Devil’s bridge) is located in Syunik province just under the mountain upon where the famous Tatev Monastery is built. This is a beautiful retired spot with a natural land bridge crosses the river. The water of river is bubbles because it is a naturally carbonated spring. If you look down at the river from this area you can see some beautiful stalagmites and stalactites. After you pass this area you reach two pools. One is a man-made large hot tub where the water is warm, and is constantly refreshed from above. You can sit in here for a while, and then head down to the big natural pool, which is cooler. From there the water makes its way down a steep cliff to the river, try to swim under the land bridge and come out on the other side, where there is a little way down an abandoned XI-XIII century church.
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