Armenian Highland

Armenian Highland or Armenian plateau, historical-geographical area, cradle of the Armenian people. It is located in Central Asia, between the Iranian "Asia Minor plateau". In the north are the Caucasus Mountains, the South Sea, and in the south, the Mesopotamian plain. The area of the highlands is about 400,000 square kilometers. There are two Armenian states in its territory, the Republic of Armenia and Artsakh, which together (about 42,000 square kilometers) make up about 11% of the territory of the highlands. The mountainous region of the Islamic Republic of Iran occupies almost the same area. In the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan there are Gardman and Goghtan (Nakhichevan) from the provinces of the highlands, in Georgia - Javakhk. About two-thirds of the Armenian plateau is now part of the Republic of Turkey.

Armenian Plateau

The Armenian plateau is noticeably different from the surrounding areas. It has an average height of 1500-1800 meters, and individual peaks have an absolute height of more than 3,000-4,000 meters. German geologist Carl Ritter called the Armenian Highlands an "mountainous island" rich in air and water. The highest point of the Armenian highlands is Mets Masis (Ararat, 5 165 m). Sabalan is the second highest in the highlands (Karadagh mountains, Iran, 4,811 meters high), the third is Jilo (in the Kordvats mountains, 4,168 m), the fourth is Aragats (Armenia, 4,090 m), and the fifth is Sipan (west of Lake Van). near the shore, height 4,058 m).

The Armenian Highlands and its borders

The Armenian people lived in the Armenian highlands and made their centuries-old history. It is a unique complex of natural conditions, a separate physical-geographical unit. The plateau stands out with its unique young volcanic landscape and intermountain depressions, high mountain lakes and fast-flowing rivers, with its pronounced upward zonation. Almost all the natural zones and zones of the earth meet here, from the subtropical to the snowy. The highest point is Mount Ararat, which is 5165 meters high.

The northern border of the Armenian Highlands

The northern border of the Highlands is the foothills of the Lesser Caucasus and the Archeological Mountains. In the east, the border with the Lesser Caucasus reaches as far as the Gharadagh Mountains and Mount Sohund. Leaning towards Lake Urmia, it includes the coastal provinces of the lake and reaches the Kordvats mountain range, which is considered to be the continuation of the Armenian Taurus. The southern border of the highlands reaches the Mardin or Masius mountains and the Armenian (Eastern) Taurus. Reaching the Euphrates, the western border with the Antitavros Mountains reaches the Holy Sea and the Arrelapontian Mountains. Due to its high altitude in neighboring Asia Minor and the Iranian highlands, German orientalists have called it a "mountain island." The highlands have an average altitude of 1500-1800 meters above sea level. The total area is about 400,000 square meters. km.