Landscape Zones

Wetlands

Lakes. The largest lakes in Armenia, Sevan and Arpilich are situated in mountain steppes. Lake Sevan is the largest lake in Armenia. In the early 20th century its water surface was calculated to be 1413 sq km and altitude 1914 m a. s. l. But drainage of the lake initiated in 1938 and subsequent heavy use during soviet era for various human needs resulted in significant changes, and according to some recent calculations the present water surface comprises 1256 sq km while the altitude is 1897 m a. s. l. The south-eastern part of the lake (Greater Sevan) has an absolute depth of 46 metres and the north-western part (Lesser Sevan) 99 metres. More than 28 rivers of variable size flow into the lake, while only one flows out - Hrazdan. Lesser Sevan is mostly surrounded by a rocky landscape and its shoreline is indented with inlets and capes. These are composed of igneous rock - lava and chaotic conglomerations of its debris. Conversely the shores of Greater Sevan are low-lying and composed of pebble or sand, with infrequent crags. The water temperature of Sevan undergo significant seasonal fluctuations, and not infrequently the entire lake becomes covered with thick ice in winter. At this season at any non-freezing river mouths and ice-holes a number of wintering waterbirds congregate. During the spring and autumn migrations the lake hosts a number of migrants. The marshy areas of the Sevan shore and its environs consist of wide sloping parts of shore, with floods on the lower reaches of inflowing rivers. The lake's water discharge greatly affects these habitats, with some of them gradually drying out, while others, such as the two Shorzha Lakes, have completely disappeared. Most disappointing is however, the disappearance of the Lake Gilli, that used to be situated in the south-eastern part of the Sevan basin and hosted large colonies of various waterbirds, some of which have currently been lost as breeding birds in the country. This area is currently used as a peatery and, like other similar drained wetlands, now under sown fields.

Lake Arpilich is in the north-western corner of Armenia. It is situated at 2021 m a. s. l. and surrounded by mountain-steppes and meadow-steppes. The surface of the lake is about 4 sq km and it has two islands in the middle. From the north and north-west two rivers flow into the lake, with extensive marshy areas and floating plots of packed humus found between them. One river, Akhuryan, flows out from Arpilich, with the upper reaches of the river luxuriously overgrown with water lily. The shores of the lake are sloping and in some places adjacent to the water are densely covered with sedge, rush and other aquatic vegetation. Arpilich becomes frozen in winter, but in its north-western part in the first bend of Akhuryan river there are springs that contribute to the availability of some open water even in most severe winters.

Besides these two there are many smaller lakes, widely scattered from semideserts up to mountain meadows and the alpine zone. Smaller lakes in a variable degree are overgrown with aquatic vegetation. Some of them grow shallow and turn into ponds with plenty of silt and decaying remains, which contribute to a lush and plentiful overgrowth with reeds, rush, cattail and other vegetation. Other lakes, usually with little inflow and a rocky bottom are very different - here herbaceous vegetation is almost absent and only in some places sedge and some Ranunculus species are found growing on small fragments of soil found between rocks.

Vegetation is most scanty on high elevation lakes in the alpine zone, such as Karilich at Mt Aragats, Aknalich in Geghama Mountains and Tsagkarilich and Gogilich in Zangezur Mountains.

Marshes. Areas of marshes are found in the Arax valley and in the meadow-steppes of north-western Armenia and are not uncommon in the forest zone. Waterlogged areas at river sources and banks in the forests have similar plant associations to marshes.

Rivers. Rivers in Armenia vary in their length, flow and strength of current. The most powerful river is Arax. It does not dry up in summer and always carries turbulent waters, which is witness to its eroding power. In areas of calm current banks are covered with herbaceous vegetation and partially with scrub and waterlogged areas are overgrown with reeds. In the extreme south-east of the country, where Arax roughly rushes between spurs of Zangezur Range and Gharadagh Mountains (from Iranian side), its banks are cliffy and only occasionally, can one encounter, on floodplain scrolls, osiers, poplars, tamarisk bushes and areas covered with herbaceous vegetation.

Within Armenia a number of Arax's left tributaries flow into it, largest of them are Akhuryan, Sevjur and Hrazdan rivers. Tributaries from further east, Azat, Vedi and Meghriget rivers, in their lower course contain water only out of irrigation season.

In the northern part of Armenia among the largest rivers are Debed (with tributaries Dzoraget, Pambak and Martsget rivers) and Aghstev (with the tributary Getik river). Gavaraget, Argichi, Masrik and a number of smaller rivers flow into lake Sevan. In the east of the country the most full-flowing are Vorotan and Voghji, which join Arax outside of the country.

Some of the above-mentioned rivers flow through different landscape zones - starting in the alpine zone and flowing down to forest and semideserts. The upper reaches usually have steep gradients, while the lower reaches flow in wide valleys where their meandering course frequently cuts through alluvial ground. The bank character of these kinds of rivers is in close association with the surrounding landscape. The changing appearance of river banks is most prominent in northern and eastern forested parts of Armenia. Rivers here begin on the upper parts of ridge slopes. Banks above woodlands are usually cliffy, partially covered with sparse scrub, various hygrophilous and tall herbaceous vegetation. In the forest the character of banks is different, being densely covered with trees and shrubs. During floods river-beds change their directions, often cutting through dense arboreous plantations, washing out roots and trees that grow over the river or fall into it. High humidity near rivers and their surroundings quickens decay of fallen trees, and thus the trunks and rocks become thickly moss-grown.

Numerous springs in Armenia are found in the foothills of ridges and along their slopes, in ravines and less frequently in lowland depressions. Springs are encountered in all types of landscape which in itself presents a wide diversity. Some of them push through crags and screes, others ooze out over watertight ground or appear straight on sheer cliffs, often at significant height, and cascade down to cliff bottom.

Manmade Wetlands. During the last few decades many reservoirs and dams have been created in Armenia. These are mainly situated in mountain steppes at higher elevations and serve mainly as reserves of water used for agricultural and other needs, as well as for fishery. Depending on elevation and the surrounding environs, and except for the fluctuating water level, they have the characteristics of various natural lakes presented above.

Several fish farms have been created since the late 1960s. Smaller ponds were created throughout the country and in various environments, but most and the largest of the farms were created in the semideserts of the Ararat plain and consist of more than 2800 ha of total water surface. The latter farms, overgrown with various aquatic vegetation among genuine semidesert landscape, have resulted in special attractive habitats that were successfully colonized by various waterbirds and species associated with wetlands, some of which had not previously been known to breed in the country. After the collapse of the Soviet Union with the subsequent harsh economic circumstances in Armenia, large fish farms turned out to be unprofitable to maintain and they were drained and put into agricultural production. However, at present several large fish farms are in the process of recovery and are already attracting large concentrations of waterbirds. In this respect, Armash fish farm, the largest of all, deserves a special attention as the last refuge for several species that are not known to breed elsewhere in the country. Armash fish farm, initially with 29 ponds of 11-95 ha and some 1500 ha of total water surface, currently consists of smaller number of active ponds and an extensive network of channels and artesian springs. The ponds and channels are fringed with reeds and other aquatic vegetation. Most ponds have small stands of reeds in the centre and several have larger reedbeds, supporting breeding colonies of herons, Pygmy Cormorant and other waterbirds. Regular drainage of ponds, mostly in spring and autumn attracts large numbers of passage migrants on exposed muddy surfaces. The fish farm's extensive areas of saline semidesert with variable sized shallow puddles here and there create favorable breeding conditions for terns and waders.

Area of marshes among meadow-steppes in Shirak Province. Typical birds found here are Marsh and Montagu's Harriers, Spotted Crake, Common Crane, Lapwing, Redshank, Short-eared Owl, 'Black-headed' and Citrine Wagtails. During the passage a number of waders found here, including a large number of Great Snipes in spring.

Typical ponds at Armash fish farm, Ararat Province. Other fish farms in the Ararat Plain look similar. These are good for birds in any season, while the characteristic breeding avifauna includes species such as Black-necked, Little and Great Crested Grebes, Pygmy Cormorant, Little Bittern, Cattle and Little Egrets, Night, Squacco and Purple Herons, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Greylag Goose, Marbled, Ferruginous and White-headed Ducks, Marsh Harrier, Sedge, Moustached, Reed, Great Reed, Paddyfield and Savi's Warblers, Bearded Reedling, Penduline Tit and Reed Bunting.