Ara (mountain)

In this article, the topic of Ara (mountain) will be addressed from different perspectives and approaches. Ara (mountain) has been the subject of interest and debate in various areas, and its relevance has not gone unnoticed in today's society. Over the years, Ara (mountain) has sparked the interest of experts and fans alike, who have explored its various facets and dimensions. In this sense, we will try to analyze and understand the importance and significance of Ara (mountain) in the current context, as well as its influence in various spheres of daily life. Through a detailed analysis, we will seek to offer a comprehensive and enriching vision of Ara (mountain), delving into its impact and relevance in the contemporary world.

Ara
Mount Ara
Highest point
Elevation2,614 m (8,576 ft)(other sources mention 2,576 m[1])
Coordinates40°24′20″N 44°27′08″E / 40.4056°N 44.4522°E / 40.4056; 44.4522
Geography
Ara is located in Armenia
Ara
Ara
Location in Armenia
CountryArmenia
ProvinceKotayk
Parent rangeArmenian highlands

Mount Ara (Armenian: Արա լեռ, Ara leř) is a polygenetic stratovolcanic cone in Armenia's[2] Kotayk Province. The town of Zoravan and a nearby church, Gharghavank, are located along the mountain's lower slopes. The town of Yeghvard is below the mountain.

Located north of Yerevan, the mountain has a destroyed crater and a base diameter of 9 km at an altitude of 1,900m. The volcano is constructed from lava and agglomerate layers with intrusions of andesite and dacite. The slopes on the north and east are forested. One flank cone south of Arailer has erupted andesite. Andesite also appears in the former crater and lava flows spread to the Hrazdan River. One K-Ar date indicates an age of 1.3 Ma, there are two subsidiary cones Nokhut and Shakhvard.[1] Due to the similarity of the typical Armenian plateaus, it is very similar in terms of height, valley and shape to Mount Göztepe in Muş province.

The mountain has a high biodiversity with Sympecma paedisca, Colias aurorina, Parnassius mnemosyne rjabovi, Armenohelops armeniacus, Cylindronotus erivanus, Conizonia kalashiani, Parnassius apollo kashtshenkoi, Dorcadion kasikoporanum, Papilio alexanor orientalis, Proterebia afra hyrcana and Tetralonia macroglossa represented. Conizonia is endemic on Arailer. The ecosystem is well preserved apart from a minor threat from grazing.[3] The Mountain also holds high variety of bird species, including Golden Eagle, Lesser Spotted Eagle, Caucasian Black Grouse, Red-billed Chough, White-throated Robin, and others. For the reason, the area was recognized as Important Bird Area.[4]

  • Mount Ara
    Mount Ara
  • Wild mountain sorrel, poppies, Chaerophyllum macrospermum and other items of tribute sold on Mount Ara to the pilgrims of Tsaghkevank (Kuys Varvara) 40 days after Resurrection Day (Easter). Sorrel is often braided in this fashion in Armenia and Artsakh and can be dried for extended use
    Wild mountain sorrel, poppies, Chaerophyllum macrospermum and other items of tribute sold on Mount Ara to the pilgrims of Tsaghkevank (Kuys Varvara) 40 days after Resurrection Day (Easter). Sorrel is often braided in this fashion in Armenia and Artsakh and can be dried for extended use
  • Ruins of Gharghavank on a hillside of Mount Ara
    Ruins of Gharghavank on a hillside of Mount Ara
  • View of Yeghvard from Mount Ara
    View of Yeghvard from Mount Ara
  • Rock formations
    Rock formations

References

  1. ^ a b Lebedev, V. A.; Chernyshev, I. V.; Yakushev, A. I. (2011). "Initial time and duration of quaternary magmatism in the Aragats neovolcanic area (Lesser Caucasus, Armenia)". Doklady Earth Sciences. 437 (2): 532–536. Bibcode:2011DokES.437..532L. doi:10.1134/S1028334X11040209. ISSN 1028-334X.
  2. ^ Khachatur Meliketsian (August 2013). Pliocene-Quaternary volcanism of the Syunik upland (Armenia) (Report). Veröffentlichungen des Landesamtes für Denkmalpflege und Archäologie Sachsen-Anhalt. p. 249. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  3. ^ Dr. Gayane Karagyan. Identification of Priority Areas for the Conservation of Endangered Insect Species of Ararat Valley in Armenia (Report). The Rufford Foundation. pp. 15–16.
  4. ^ "Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas in Armenia". TSE NGO. Armenian Bird Census Council. Archived from the original on 30 October 2017. Retrieved 29 October 2017.
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