Azhdahak
Encyclopedia
Azhdahak – Volcano Azhdahak , elevation - 3597 m above sea level - the highest point of Geghama Mountain Range ( Gyeghama lyernashght'a) in Armenia. Azhdahak is part of the Ghegam Ridge volcanic field, which last erupted at 1900 BC ± 1000 years.http://www.volcano.si.edu/world/volcano.cfm?vnum=0104-07-
There is lake in the crater of volcano Azhdahak that is formed from melting snow. From the top of the mountain opens pictorial landscape of mountains Ararat
, Hadis, Ara, Aragats, Lake Sevan
, the whole Geghama Range and Kotayk valley.
In the surroundings of Azhdahak there is a lake Akna ( Aknalich) of volcanic origin, “Akn” means "spring (water)" in Armenian.
The southeastern slopes of Geghama mountains go across the Khosrov forest preserve.
, sands, ashes, debris, lava boulders, slag, twisting, composite and spindle-shaped volcanic bomb
s.
On the snow covered slopes traces of Brown bear (Ursus arctos) are often found.
For the area of Geghama Mountains and surroundings of Azhdahak are typical following plants
s - rock-carvings has been found in the surroundings of volcano Azhdahak. Most images depict men in scenes of hunting and fighting, as well as astronomical bodies and phenomena: the Sun, the Moon, constellations, the stellar sky, lightning, etc.
The Yazidis - an ethno-confessional group, whose main identity is religion – Yazidism or Sharfadin.
Nomadic stockbreeding is their major occupation.
The Yazidi society is a caste system including three main components: the Shaykhs, the Pirs (clergy) and murids (laymen).
There is lake in the crater of volcano Azhdahak that is formed from melting snow. From the top of the mountain opens pictorial landscape of mountains Ararat
Mount Ararat
Mount Ararat is a snow-capped, dormant volcanic cone in Turkey. It has two peaks: Greater Ararat and Lesser Ararat .The Ararat massif is about in diameter...
, Hadis, Ara, Aragats, Lake Sevan
Lake Sevan
Lake Sevan is the largest lake in Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world.Lake Sevan is situated in the central part of the Republic of Armenia, inside the Gegharkunik Province, at the altitude of 1,900m above sea level...
, the whole Geghama Range and Kotayk valley.
In the surroundings of Azhdahak there is a lake Akna ( Aknalich) of volcanic origin, “Akn” means "spring (water)" in Armenian.
The southeastern slopes of Geghama mountains go across the Khosrov forest preserve.
Geology
The compound slag cone Azhdahak figures as a large strewn structure up to 1600m in diameter and about 370m high. The total area of volcano lavas, partly eroded and overlapped by the streams of Tar is around 8 square km. The cone is formed with slags, lapilliLapilli
Lapilli is a size classification term for tephra, which is material that falls out of the air during a volcanic eruption or during some meteorite impacts. Lapilli means "little stones" in Latin. They are in some senses similar to ooids or pisoids in calcareous sediments.By definition lapilli range...
, sands, ashes, debris, lava boulders, slag, twisting, composite and spindle-shaped volcanic bomb
Volcanic bomb
A volcanic bomb is a mass of molten rock larger than 65 mm in diameter, formed when a volcano ejects viscous fragments of lava during an eruption. They cool into solid fragments before they reach the ground. Because volcanic bombs cool after they leave the volcano, they do not have grains...
s.
Fauna and Flora
Bird fauna of Geghama Mountain Range includes about 250 species, what makes 70% of all Armenia’s avifauna. Stony slopes are an irreplaceable habitat for birds of prey, such as:- Golden EagleGolden EagleThe Golden Eagle is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere. Like all eagles, it belongs to the family Accipitridae. Once widespread across the Holarctic, it has disappeared from many of the more heavily populated areas...
(Aquila chrysaetos) - Egyptian VultureEgyptian VultureThe Egyptian Vulture is a small Old World vulture, found widely distributed from southwestern Europe and northern Africa to southern Asia. It is the only living member of the genus Neophron. It has sometimes also been known as the White Scavenger Vulture or Pharaoh's Chicken...
(Neophron percnopterus) - Cinereous Vulture (Aegypius monachus)
- Imperial eagleImperial EagleAn Imperial Eagle is a heraldic eagle used by an empire, notably:*the military standard of the Roman Empire, see Aquila .*the Byzantine imperial eagle*the German Reichsadler...
(Aquila heliaca) - Griffon VultureGriffon VultureThe Griffon Vulture is a large Old World vulture in the bird of prey family Accipitridae.The Griffon Vulture is long with a wingspan. In the nominate race the males weigh and females typically weigh , while in the Indian subspecies the vultures average...
(Gyps fulvus) - Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus)
On the snow covered slopes traces of Brown bear (Ursus arctos) are often found.
For the area of Geghama Mountains and surroundings of Azhdahak are typical following plants
- Jurinea moschus
- ArabisArabisArabis , or rockcress, is a genus of flowering plants, within the family Brassicaceae, subfamily Brassicoideae.Though traditionally recognized as a large genus with many Old World and New World members, more recent evaluations of the relationships among these species using genetic data suggest that...
caucasica - Catsfoot diclinous (Antennaria dioicaAntennaria dioicaAntennaria dioica is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae...
), - Gentiana pontica
- Red everlasting (Helichrysum pallasii),
- Lady's-mantle (AlchemillaAlchemillaAlchemilla is a genus of herbaceous perennial plants in the Rosaceae, and a popular garden herb with the common name Lady's mantle. There are about 300 species, the majority native to cool temperate and subarctic regions of Europe and Asia, with a few species native to the mountains of Africa,...
grossheimii), - Alpine cinquefoil (PotentillaPotentillaPotentilla is the genus of typical cinquefoils, containing about 500 species of annual, biennial and perennial herbs in the rose family Rosaceae. They are generally Holarctic in distribution, though some may even be found in montane biomes of the New Guinea Highlands...
crantzi), - Sibbaldia (Sibbaldia parviflora),
- Merendera Radde (Merendera raddeana),
- Oxytrope Lazica (OxytropisOxytropisOxytropis is a genus of plants in the legume family. It is one of two genera of plants known as locoweeds, and are notorious for being toxic to grazing animals. The other locoweed genus is the closely related Astragalus. There are about 300 species native to Eurasia and North America. Several...
lazica), - Vavilovia Oshe (Vavilova aucheri)
Rock carvings
A great number of petroglyphPetroglyph
Petroglyphs are pictogram and logogram images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, and abrading. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions of the technique to refer to such images...
s - rock-carvings has been found in the surroundings of volcano Azhdahak. Most images depict men in scenes of hunting and fighting, as well as astronomical bodies and phenomena: the Sun, the Moon, constellations, the stellar sky, lightning, etc.
Settlements near to Azhdahak
In Geghama Mountains in cattle breeding are engaged Yаzidi - one of national minorities of Armenia, who move to the mountains for the summer and live in tents with families and even with infants.The Yazidis - an ethno-confessional group, whose main identity is religion – Yazidism or Sharfadin.
Nomadic stockbreeding is their major occupation.
The Yazidi society is a caste system including three main components: the Shaykhs, the Pirs (clergy) and murids (laymen).