Landscape Zones

Mountain Steppes

Mountain steppes in Armenia mainly occupy the middle sections of mountain slopes, locally present in river valleys and mountain tops, but predominantly distributed between 1200 - 2200 m a.s.l. In some places these are found at 500 m a.s.l. and highest at 2700 m a.s.l.

Territorially, the zone occupies considerable parts of western Armenia, encompassing flatlands and mountain slopes in Akhuryan River basin, well represented on the northern and western slopes of Aragats Mt (Aparan and Shirak plateaus) and surrounding the mountain from the south and east, then as a wide belt stretching south-east along northern and southern slopes of Geghama and Vardenis Ranges up to the Arpa River basin. On Vaik Range, mountain steppes are found on the northern slopes and almost reach the foothills of Zangezur Range. Further east these occupy considerable areas in the Vorotan River basin, and parts of the zone are found on the northern and southern slopes of Meghri Range. In central Armenia mountain steppes almost completely surround Lake Sevan.

The climate is dry and warm with significant seasonal and diurnal temperature ranges being characteristic of the Armenian mountain steppes. Maximum of precipitation occurs in the spring and beginning of summer. The driest period is July and August.

Relatively high amounts of winter and spring precipitation, thick soil stratums and favourable temperature conditions all account for the rich of natural herbage, as well as the prosperity of agriculture fields, crops and gardens.

Depending on relief, soil, climate and position, steppe vegetation is highly variable with several associations recognized: dry motleygrass -gramineous and gramineous-motleygrass, feather-grass, beard-grass, fescue, couch-grass, motley-gramineous and motleygrass. Shrubs are common with most widespread are Rosa and Crataegus.

Mountain steppes in the country are subdivided into arid mountain steppes, which are found at lower elevations up to 1800 m a.s.l. and adjoining semideserts at their lower margins, and meadow-steppes, the latter found between 1800 - 2300 m a.s.l. and at their upper limits merging into mountain meadows. Extrazonal habitats of mountain steppes are represented with widely distributed crags and screes, as well as various wetlands such as Sevan and Arpilich Lakes, numerous brooks and streams, water-logged grounds and springs.

Birds of the mountain steppes are mainly represented by species of open habitats and to a lesser extent - of scrubland species. Extrazonal habitats here are home for attribute species. During the winter time the zone hosts wintering species descending here from higher elevations. During spring and autumn a number of passage migrants are found.

Area of arid mountain steppe in Ararat Province. Typical breeding birds here include Chukar, Nightjar, Roller, Crested, Short-toed and Bimaculated Larks, Tawny Pipit, Rufous Bush Robin, Finsch's and Eastern Black-eared Wheatears, Pale Rockfinch, Crimson-winged Finch, various foraging raptors are common, scrubs and bushy gullies inhabited with White-throated Robin, Eastern Orphean and Upcher's Warblers, Lesser Whitethroat and Woodchat Shrike.

Area of meadow-steppe in Vayots Dzor Province. Breeding birds here include Grey Partridge, Skylark, Meadow Pipit, Whinchat, Ortolan Bunting, various raptors encountered here in breeding season and great number of them found during spring and autumn migration.