Mount Aragats
Overview
Type: Stratovolcano
Age: Since Pliocene
Elevation: 4,090 m/13,419 ft
Coordinates: 40°32′00″N 44°12′00″E
Distance from Yerevan: 60 km /37.2 mi
Near Yerevan, one can find the highest point of the Lesser Caucasus Mountains and of Armenia – Mount Aragats. Located about 60 km/37.2 mi northwest of Yerevan, Aragats is a massive mountain with four
summits and one of the largest
craters in the world. The highest and northernmost summit is 4,090m/13,419 ft high, with the western summit at 4,080 m/13,386 ft, the eastern summit at 3,916 m/12,846 ft and the southern summit at 3,887 m/12,753 ft. A 350 m/1,148 ft deep massive crater, which stretches for three kilometers, is located between the peaks of this extinct volcano. The high uplands provide grazing for sheep in the summer months, as well as clear air for the observatories. Hundreds of fresh water springs run down the slopes creating brooks. The rocks, greenery, wildflowers, and views make the ascent of Aragats unforgettable. From the western uplands of Aragats begins a great view overlooking the Ararat Valley.
Aragats and Amberd (Video)