The Natural Wonders Of Historical Armenia

Dersim’s medicinal plants

Saniye Ildeniz makes herbal mixtures from flowers and plants from Dersim. In an interview with a journalist from the PIRHA news agency, Ildeniz talked about the benefits of some herbs that can cure many diseases. Having received knowledge from her grandmother, she is now following the ideas of traditional medicine in Dersim. Traditional medicine has been practiced in Dersim for centuries since its environs are rich in hundreds of useful plants.

Black roses – the symbol of Urfa Province

The Halfat district is one of the cozy corners of the province of Urfa in Historical Armenia. Halfat was included in the network of “quiet cities” in 2013. With its historic stone houses and natural beauty, it is described as a “hidden paradise”.

Urfa with its small population and developed economy is distinguished by one feature – unique black roses. This black rose is considered a symbol of Halfat.

The black rose blooms every year in late April and early May. This year, due to the events with the coronavirus, only locals could enjoy the beauty of these roses.

The black rose has a competitor in the same province

In the same province, another unique kind of rose grows – the green rose. Except for its color, the green rose is very similar to the black rose and grows in roughly the same area. The green roses are grown without any chemical additives – its green color is fully natural (as with the black rose).

It is planned to create greenhouses for green roses. Green roses grown in greenhouses can create a new market that is expected to contribute to the development of the regional economy.

Hot mineral spring in the quarry of Sebastia

In a quarry near the village of Gazikyo, Sebastia province, Historical Armenia, a hot mineral spring has burst out during excavations. Its mineral water contains sulfur and is believed to treat blood vessels and relieve body aches.

Since the end of the excavations in the quarry, the source hasn’t been used. The quarry also used to be public but was closed about a year ago.

Locals believe that if several swimming pools are built in the spring’s area, it will attract many tourists.

Tulips in the Mush Valley

This year due to the coronavirus, a local attraction drawing thousands of tourists annually has been abandoned – the Mush plain in Historical Armenia. The red fields of tulips are now filled with the sounds of insects and birds.

Every year, local and foreign tourists come here to photograph unique tulips in the fields of Mush.

Growing in the mountains near the snow, the red tulips form unique landscapes and bloom from April 20th to May 15th.

Spotted Amphibian – Salamander of Mush

A resident of Mush province of Historical Armenia discovered a yellow, spotted amphibian in his garden – a salamander of the Salamandra infraimmaculata species.

“I saw a creature in my garden that I had never seen before. At first, I thought it might be a lizard, but I was not sure. I spoke with a wildlife expert and shared photos of the salamander. He told me that this animal is a spotted salamander (Salamandra infraimmaculata) and that this species is threatened with extinction,” the resident told Hayati Yalvari.