Stepanavan Dendropark

Stepanavan Dendropark Arboretum or Sochut Arboretum named after Edmon Leonovich is located in Gyulagarak village of Lori region, 12 km from Stepanavan city, 155 km north of Yerevan, at an altitude of about 1450 meters above sea level. The park was founded in 1931 by Edmon Leonowicz, a Polish engineer and forester. The area is about 35 ha. Leonovich worked as the director of the botanical garden until 1984, after which his son took over the position. In 1998, the area was designated as a special conservation zone. The area of 17.5 hectares of the park is a natural forest, and 15 hectares are ornamental trees. The area of the botanical garden is about 35 ha. It consists of natural forest, ornamental plants, small-leaved lychee alleys and other wild plant species. Most of the plants were brought from the Yerevan Botanical Garden, as well as from many other countries: Georgia, Ukraine, Russia, the Far East, etc.

Many varieties of plants were also obtained from Germany, France, Portugal, China and the USA. Currently, more than 500 plant species are represented here. During its existence, more than 2,500 plant species have been tested in an effort to find new species that can grow here. Currently, only 500 plant species have adapted to this region with extreme natural conditions. The California sequoia has a special value. The 5 huge trees planted close to each other are still young and will gain height in a few hundred years.

Photo By: Cosmo Deus