Landscape Zones

Dry Subtropics

Within Armenia the dry subtropics are found only in the extreme south-east of the country, on the border with Iran along the southern Arax Valley. This zone occupies the southern foothills and some slopes with numerous gorges in parts of the Meghri Range, and in some places reaches up to 770 m a.s.l.

Climate here is relatively mild with small temperature drops in winter. Precipitation levels approach those of semideserts, with continuous summer droughts and minor fluctuations in relative air humidity. Characteristic trees and shrubs of the area include wild Punica, Ficus and Pistacia, Ziziphus, widespread Celtis and Crataegus, along the rivers Vitis and Rubus, and in well watered valleys Populus, Berberis and Tamarix. Other assemblages of vegetation are represented by Humulus, Alhagi, Artemisia and other annual and perennial varieties.

Mountainous relief with the predominance of southern slopes and abundant crags, screes and rocky outcrops, the characteristic climate and vegetation all account for a number of specific conditions resulting in a variety of biological niches for local fauna. Here typical forest species easily come into contact with the specialties of semideserts and skeletal mountains.