Landscape Zones

Semideserts

In Armenia semideserts occupy the valleys along the left bank of the middle Arax basin, and stretch from the confluence of the Akhuryan and Arax Rivers to the south-east up to Nakhichevan. Towards the north and east along river valleys semideserts wedge into adjoining landscape zones and reach up to 1000m a.s.l. Pieces of semidesert that have lost their direct bond with the main massif of this zone are found along the Azat, Vedi and Arpa valleys and are more extensive along the Kasakh and Hrazdan Rivers.

The average elevation of Armenian semideserts is 800m a.s.l. and from a geological point of view this territory represents a large depression bounded in the north and east by mountain massifs of mainly volcanic origin (Geghama Range, Arailer Mt etc.), but also partially with upfolding sedimentary mountains (Urts Range).

The climate of the zone is characterized by aridity, moisture deficiency and significant evaporation. Annual precipitation ranges from 200 to 250 mm with the highest amounts occuring in autumn, winter and spring with a peak in May and minimum in August. The hottest months here are July and August, when the average temperature is about 26°C, but often reaching up to 40°C. The lowest temperatures occur in January and February, when there is an average low of -7°C, but in some places of middle Arax a minimum of - 31°C has been recorded.

Four main categories of semidesert are known from Armenia: sandy (predominantly with Achillea, Seidlitzia and Calligonum), clayey (with Halanthium and various annual and perennial ephemeras), rocky (with predominance of Artemisia) and saline (with Salsola, Nitraria, Aeluropus and Alhagi). Scrub of the semidesert commonly consists of Tamarix, Rhamnus, Atraphaxis and Ephedra.

Breeding birds of the semideserts are mainly represented by xerophilous species of open habitats. In colder seasons a number of northern visitors overwinter here, whilst in spring and autumn the number of birds increases due to the passage migrants that use the area for stopover and feeding needs.

Two areas of saline semidesert at Armash fish farm, Ararat Province. Characteristic breeding birds include here Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, Collared Pratincole, Kentish Plover, White-tailed Lapwing, Little Tern, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Lesser Short-toed Lark and Ménétries’s Warbler.

Area of rocky semidesert in Armavir Province. Characteristic breeding birds include here Stone-Curlew, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Little Owl, Short-toed and Bimaculated Larks, Tawny Pipit, Rufous Bush Robin, Isabelline and Finsch's Wheatears and Pale Rockfinch.