The Mystery ofAzhdahak
Introduction
Geghama mountain range is tableland type watershed of the basins of lake Sevan from east, inflows of rivers Araks and Razdan from north and west, Azat and Vedi rivers from south-west and Arpachai river from south. The average elevation of Geghama mountain range is near 2500m. The range is volcanic origin including a large quantity of extinct volcanoes. The range is 70km length and 48 km width.
View View Mt. Azhdahak in a larger map
The highest point of the range is volcano Azhdahak, elevation - 3597m above sea level. Volcano is located in the western part of the range. There is lake in the crater of volcano Azhdahak that is formed from melting snow.
Western slopes smoothly stream down forming clinker tablelands and gradually join with ones near Sevan. Southern slopes go down to Razdan valleys thus forming pre-mountain belt of mounts Hadis, Gutanasar, Menakasar and other volcanoes.
According to illumination changes, presence of clouds, time of the day and season, strength and direction of wind the view of Azhdahak crater lake always changes but water in the lake is so pure and transparent that the bottom is clearly visible.
From the top of Azhdahak opens pictorial landscape of mountains Ararat, Hadis, Ara, Aragats, lake Sevan, whole Geghama Mountain Range and Kotayk valley. It is remarkable that four summits Azhdahak, Hadis, Ara and Aragats are located on a straight line. That is possible to notice from the summit of any of these mountains.
Azat, Vedi, Argich, Gavaraget, Bakhtak and other rivers spring from the slopes of Geghama Range.
Mountain meadows are alpine and subalpine areas that occur at elevations of 2400-3600m above sea level. The topography is varied, with snowcapped peaks and glaciers, volcanic cones and plateaus, steep scree slopes, loose talus slopes, huge concentration of rock boulders in depressions, and many springs and alpine lakes.
Special interest in Geghama range represents lake Akna. Akna means - "eye" in Armenian, as well as Akna ("mother") is goddess of maternity and birth in the mythology of Maya.
Lake Akna is of volcanic origin and is located on the frontier of Kotayk and Gegharkunik regions. Namely - in the body of volcano Lchain (elev. 3150m) is engraved an extensive (dia on crest up to 1000m) and deep (up to 120м), opened to the north-west crater, that is occupied by waters of a south-east bay of lake Akna. Lake area is 0.8 square metre, depth more than 15m, water capacity 3.91 cubic metre. Lake mirror mark is 3032m. Lake is used for watering more than 13000 hectare. In winter the lake freezes.
Lake Akna is as much as beautiful, so guileful: it has taken many lives of tourists, as well as fishermen and shepherds...
At elevations over 3000m, winter is cold (240-250 days) with temperature at -10C or below with lows to -40C. Average annual precipitation is 500-900mm. Snow depth may reach several metrе, and remains throughout the year in some areas. Spring is cold with high humidity. Maximum temperature occurs in August. Strong winds and fog are frequent.
The South-Eastern slopes of Geghama mountains go across (at the approximately 2250m height) the legendary Khosrov forest in the basin of the river Khorov. This forest is declared as national forest reserve. By the legend, the forest has an artificial origin - it had been spread on a dry and stony slope in IV century by instructions of Armenian king Khosrov Kotak and then he had let in there wild animals. The forest occupies 150 square metre to its bottom borders at the height of 1400m.
Reflection in art: painting "Geghama Mountains" by M. Saroyan, 1926. For unknown for us reason, while picturing Geghama mountains the painter, however, has left Azhdahak beyond the clouds.