Landscape Zones
Mountain Meadows - Subalpine and Alpine Belts
Subalpine and alpine plant associations in Armenia are found mainly between 2200 - 3600 m a.s.l., while locally on the northern peak of Aragats Mt the alpine landscape extends up to 4090 m a.s.l.
A severe climate is characteristic of the alpine zone. The absolute minimum temperature is about -27°C, whilst the warmest month here is August, although the maximum temperature reaches only 17-18°C. The vegetation's growing period is of short duration and characterized by large daily fluctuations in relatively low temperatures.
The relief of mountain meadows is diverse. Plains and slopes of variable steepness are encountered here. Frequently significant areas are covered with crags, screes and chaotic conglomerations of boulder fields. These are emerge here as a result of tectonic processes and centuries-old erosive water activity that washes soil down to the valleys below. Significant rock fields are found near the snowfields where numerous streams are originate throughout the frost-free season.
Typical subalpine vegetation includes assemblages of tall grass, motleygrass and motleygrass-gramineous, meadows with layer shrubs, Festuca, Bromus, matgrass, fescue, legumes and sedge. Above these areas, alpine vegetation is found with its distinctive short but quick growth and ability to form carpets of dense grass. Most of the alpine plants are perennials with short sprouts and some of these are able to overwinter with green leaves. Alpine meadows comprise assemblages of fescue, matgrass, Bromus and Poa, as well as mountain-sedge and motleygrass. Cliff and rocky outcrops with accumulations of soil in crevices and wind eroded parts are occupied by high mountain rock xerophytes. In areas shadowed by rocky massifs and in the depths of boulder-fields groupings of moss and lichens develop. |
