The mountainous Vorotan River rises in the northern part of Syunik Province. It stretches for 178 km before emptying into the Araks River at the border between Iran and the Republic of Artsakh. The river flows through deep canyons, in particular, through the beautiful gorges of Tatev Monastery, which along with its adjacent areas and …
On the high slopes of the Debed Canyon and on the slopes of the basalt Lori mounts with completely bare tops and grass-covered foothills stands a gorgeous architectural complex of antique religious significance. It is located 10 km south of the town of Alaverdi in Lori Province, Armenia. Kobayravank (also known as Kobayr Monastery) was …
Gosh is a small lake located in Dilijan National Park, Tavush Province, Armenia. It is lying 2 km southeast of the village of Gosh, as well as in the vicinity of the Goshavank Monastery. The village, the monastery, and the lake were named after an Armenian writer, thinker, and public figure Mkhitar Gosh. The surface …
Artsakh is a historical territory in the Transcaucasia, which has been the 9th province of the Greater Armenia. It covered the area of the modern Republic of Artsakh and its adjacent areas. Since the 2nd century BC until 387 AD, Artsakh has been a province of Greater Armenia, the northeastern borders of which passed along …
The Asiatic/Persian Lion (Panthera leo persica) has once lived in Armenia before going extinct in the region. This species of lions has ranged from the Mediterranean to India in ancient times as well. Now, these lions can found in Gir Forest National Park in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, India, where only 523 species exist. …
From the standpoint of archaeology, culture, and nature, Armenia is one of the wealthiest states in the world. The ancient culture of Armenia is literally filled with legends, tales, and symbols. We will cover some of those symbols below. “Nur” means pomegranate in Armenian. For Armenians, nur is not merely a plant. Like the apricot, …
Back in the times immemorial, horse breeding emerged in Armenia, leading to the domestication of horses and further the development of the chariot in Armenia. Moreover, the Armenian Highlands have been renowned for their horse breeding techniques and horsemanship over centuries. The Armenian cavalry has been equally revered. A testimony to the richness of horse …
Among scientific circles, the territory of historical Armenia is considered the most likely homeland of wheat. Today, 3 kinds of wheat grow in the territory of Armenia: Triticum boeoticum, Triticum urartu, and Triticum araraticum. The latter two are indigenous to historical Armenia and feature over 110 subtypes. Wild wheat in Armenia was first discovered by …
With its rivers, small lakes, mountain springs, steep hills, monasteries, and fortresses, the beauty of Armenia features remarkable versatility. But what’s so special about the Armenian nature is not only its gorgeousness but how closely it is linked with the Armenian folklore. One of the natural monuments of historical Armenia is the Maratuk (Marutasar) Mount. …
Syunik (Սյունիք) or Sisakan (Սիսական) is a historical and geographical region of Armenia located in the eastern part of the Armenian Upland. It bears the name of the 9th province of Greater Armenia. The south of Syunik is also known as Zangezur. Syunik was a large area in the east of historical Armenia. From west …
Not far from the village of Skhtorashen in Martuni district of the Republic of Artsakh, you can find a huge plane tree with an age of about 2035 years. Plane trees have been considered trees of life by ancient people. It is the oldest kind of a tree growing not only in Armenia but every …
Among the kings of Armenia, Tigran II (Great) was the most powerful, brave and prudent ruler of the Armenian nation. It was thanks to him that Armenia’s borders stretched from the Mediterranean to the Caspian Sea. In the country, even simple traders had plenty of gold and silver. And peasant women decorated their headdresses with …
The Azokh cave is a complex of six smaller caves located on the left bank of the Guruchay River between the villages of Azokh and Drakhtik in the Hadrut district of Artsakh. The cave rises almost 900 meters above sea level and 400 meters from the ground level. The Azokh cave shares its name with …
The Shaki (Շաքի) River is a modest influx of the tempestuous Vorotan (Որոտան) river, which forms a waterfall with its own amazing beauty. According to a legend, the waterfall got its name in honor of the beautiful Shaki who jumped from a high cliff, not wanting to submit to the violence from one of the …
For a long time, mysteries surrounded the bizarre natural formations, the basalt pillars. Their natural architecture is associated with man-made citadels. Shaping the canyon of the Azat River, two hundred-meter-high basalt columns amaze people with their perfection. The sources of the mountain river are located on the Gegham volcanic massif and feed on the thawed …
The fauna of the Armenian Upland is rich and diverse. Some species are listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, for example, Armenian viper (Vipera raddei), Armenian mouflon, Wild goat, Golden eagle, Bearded vulture, Dalmatian pelican, Common shelduck, Marbled polecat, Persian leopard, Sevan trout (Ishkhan), Common crane, Syrian brown bear, Black stork, and …
In ancient times, the territory of Armenia was inhabited by several species of big cats. In Armenia, lions and cheetahs (the so-called Asian subspecies) have been exterminated a very long time ago. Tigers (the so-called Caspian subspecies) have lived there from at least the beginning of the 20th century. Now, they can be seen only …
Despite the fact that the extinct volcano Armaghan (2829 m) is one of the natural monuments of Armenia, one can rarely hear or read about it. And maybe this is for the best. It helped preserve the purity and in some way the primordial nature of this remote and beautiful corner, which we visited together …