Gegham mountains

Volcanism in Armenia and in the Gegham mountains is related to mantle processes accompanying, but not necessarily related to the collision of the Arabian Plate with the Eurasian Plate. Unlike in other parts of the Caucasus region, the Gegham mountains have generated primarily small scale volcanoes. The Kaputan Formation (including Mt. Atis and Gtsain Ridge) from the Late Miocene has been dated at 5.7–4.6 Ma by K-Ar and is the oldest sequence in the region. Late Pliocene activity involved various basaltic lavas (including Lchain Volcano) and subsequently, during the Quaternary, rhyolite and obsidian from the Kotayk centre (Gutansar and Atis 700 ka, then associated fissure volcanoes 550–480 ka). The volcanic activity peaked round 200 ka, when most of the Gegham centres formed from trachyandesitic lavas. Aknotsasar and Sevkatar were active less than 100ka ago. The highest point is the volcano Azhdahak, elevation - 3597.3m above sea level, in the western part of the range. There is a lake in the crater of the volcano Azhdahak that is formed from melting snow. The volcanoes Spitaksar (3560 m) and Geghasar (3446 m), the former erupted 120ka ago and the latter 80-40ka, are sources of obsidian in Armenia. ==Ecology==

Bird fauna of Gegham mountains includes about 250 species, 70% of all Armenia's avifauna. The southeastern slopes of Gegham mountains contain the Khosrov Forest, planted in the 4th century by Khosrov I and converted into a state park in 1958. The Gegham mountains are one of the primary presences of the vavilovia (Lathyrus formosus) around Mount Sevsar. Another species Poa greuteri is endemic in the area. ==Rock carvings==

s in the form of Swastika A great number of petroglyphs - rock-carvings has been found in the area of Gegham Mountains. Most images depict men in scenes of hunting and fighting, and astronomical bodies and phenomena: the Sun, the Moon, constellations, the stellar sky, lightning, etc. Carvings of birds have attracted some archeological interest. == Gallery ==

File:Gegham Mountains 1.jpg File:Gegham Mountains 4.jpg File:Geghama mountains from Tar mount - panoramio.jpg File:Geghama range Emma YSU (5).jpg File:Geghama range Emma YSU (7).jpg File:Geghama range Emma YSU (8).jpg File:Գեղամա լեռները, Հատիսը, Գութանասարը Արա լեռից.jpg File:Armaghan 02.jpg File:Armaghan mount crater (2829m).JPG File:-Աժդահակ S-N 03.jpg File:-Աժդահակ S-N 05.jpg File:.Աժդահակ 01.jpg File:.Աժդահակ 02.jpg File:Gutanasar, Alpian Fields 007.jpg File:Gutanasar, Alpian Fields 008.jpg File:Gutanasar, Alpian Fields 003.jpg File:Gutanasar, Alpian Fields 004.jpg File:Gutanasar, Alpian Fields 005.jpg File:Gutanasar.jpg File:Mount Gutanasar 01.jpg File:.Գեղասար 03.jpg File:.Գեղասար 06.jpg File:.Գեղասար 07.jpg File:.Գեղասար 08.jpg File:.Գեղասար 13.jpg File:.Գեղասար 16.jpg File:Lusnalidj 01.jpg File:Lusnalidj 06.jpg File:Lusnalidj 02.jpg File:Menaksar.jpg File:Phamb pass, view from top of mount Menaksar.jpg File:Sevkatar (Sevsar).jpg File:Սևկատար 3225մ.jpg File:-Ducks lakes S-N 01.jpg File:-Ducks lakes S-N 03.jpg File:-Ducks lakes S-N 04.jpg File:-Mets Spitakasar S-N 01.jpg File:Mount Phoqr Spitakasar from Mt. Spiakasar, 2013.06.23 - panoramio.jpg File:Mount Spitakasar, 2013.06.23.jpg ==References==