GEOGRAPHY

Geographical position

   Syunik marz occupies the country of Zangezour, which includes the reservoir of upper and mid streams of the rivers Vorotan and Voghchi and the eastern slopes of the Zangezour mountain-chain. It is the highest mountain-chain after the Mets (Big) Caucasus in Trans-Caucasus.

   The highest point of the marz is the peak of Kapoutjough (3904m); the lowest point is Meghry canyon or the valley of the river Araks (380m). The elevations are 1400m, 1400-2000m and above 2000m, which exceeds the average indicator of the republic in 350m.

    The surface is mainly mountainous in harmonious combining of volcanic mass, lowlands, folding fragmentary mountain-chains, deep canyons and river-valleys. The volcanic and eroded forms of the surface, the natural formations (famous pyramidal rocks of Goris) in the result of erosion and caves are typical for the region.

    Based on the geological and physico-geographical peculiarities Syunik marz with Vorotan river-alley is divided into the parts of the folding-fragmentary mountain-chains of Zangezour and Syunik (Karabakh) volcanic plateau. The mountain-chains of Zangezour cover about 70% of the marz territory and have complex geological structure. They include the western parts of Zangezour, Bargushat and Meghry-Catar mountain-chains. Mountain-plain, subalpine, alpine landscapes and rocking of the relief elevations are typical for the mentioned parts.

   With about 130km long the mountain chain of Zangezour comes down from Amulsar mountain mass situated in the north of Vorotan mountain pass to the valley of the river Araks in the direction of meridian.The axis part in the south gradually rises reaching the maximum height (3404m) in Kapoutjough mountain mass. Besides Kapoutjough the mountain-peaks of Siskatar (3827m), Nahapet (3510m), Ernjak (3362m), Shahaponk (3204m), Salvard (3167m), Goghtanasar (3144m), Airisar (3125m) are famous.

   From the mountain-peak of Nahapet to the east spreads the mountain-chain of Bargushat with 70km long, which with Giratagh – Svarants river-valleys is divided into west and east parts. The famous mountain peaks of the Bargushat mountain-chain are Aramazd (3270m) and Erkatasar (3227m). To the north spread Kuprasar and Gumbel arms of the mountain-chain reaching to the Vorotan river valley. The mines of copper and molybdenum, gold, silver, iron, manganese, titanium, polymetals and rare elements are mainly concentrated in Kapan, Geghi and Dastakert regions. The most part and them has industrial importance and is successfully exploited. There are also mining wells of hydrocarbon (magnesium and calcium) there.

   The mountain-chain of Meghry that has 50km long rises from one of the mountain-peaks of the Zangezour  mountain-chain stretching to the east then to the south-east and reaches to the Araks valley. The main part of the mountain-chain is of inner eruption made of tertiary rocks.  Geologists have called this whole mass ‘’Meghry Platon’’. The mountain-chain of Meghry has disproportionate structure and repeatedly has been exposed to tectonic variations. The northern mountainsides of the mountain-chain are vertical and short. The southern sides are half-slanting and divided into the valleys of Meghry, Shvanidzor, Njuvadi and other small rivers. Mines of copper and molybdenum, polymetals, gold and silver are found here.

   In the south-west of Syunik marz is situated the arc-like mountain-chain of Khustup-Katar with its famous mountain-peak of Khustup (3207m).

   Syunik plateau, which includes Mets (Big) Ishkhanasar (h.3552m) and Tsghuk (h.3594m) volcanic mountain-mass is situated in the east of marz between the Vorotan and Hagari rivers. The surface is of lowlands. In north-east part of the plateau Akndasht, Shaghat, Sisian and Shamb concave valleys are situated. The uplands of Erablur, Goris and Tegh are situated in south-east part. Down the concave valley of Shamb there is a canyon with 700m depth, which is generated from the river Vorotan. The locality of the canyon is made of lava streams and big layers of volcanic rocks which make a solid group near Goris known as “Goris layer group”. The parts of the rocks, which were well cemented, have become bare because of erosion and weathering. They look like pyramidal rocks, cones and towers.

   Through the mountain-pass of Tashtun (2400m), Vorotan (2344m), Sisian (2345m) the intergovernmental road connecting Armenia to Iran is passing.

   Syunik marz is situated in an active seismic zone. Information on strong earthquakes in the years of 1309, 1319, 1622, 1658 is maintained. The strongest and most disastrous earthquake took place in Vorotan canyon near Mets Anapat (Big Desert) monastery.