Azhdahak
| Mount Azhdahak | |
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Mount Azhdahak
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,597 m (11,801 ft) |
| Coordinates | 40°13′32.74″N 44°56′50.12″E / 40.2257611°N 44.9472556°ECoordinates: 40°13′32.74″N 44°56′50.12″E / 40.2257611°N 44.9472556°E |
| Geography | |
 Mount Azhdahak
Location in Armenia
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| Location | Gegharkunik Province, Armenia |
| Parent range | Armenian Highlands |
Azhdahak (Armenian: Աժդահակ) is a volcano in Armenia, the highest point of Gegham mountains. It has an elevation of 3,597 m above sea. It is part of the Ghegam Ridge volcanic field, which last erupted at 1900 BC ± 1000 years.
There is lake in the crater of volcano Azhdahak that is formed from melting snow. From the top of the mountain opens pictorial landscape of mountains Ararat, Hatis, Ara, Aragats, Lake Sevan, the whole Gegham mountains and Kotayk valley.
In the surroundings of Azhdahak there is a lake Akna (Armenian: Ակնալիճ Aknalich) of volcanic origin, “Akn” means "spring (water)" in Armenian.
The compound slag cone Azhdahak figures as a large strewn structure up to 1600m in diameter and about 370m high. The total area of volcano lavas, partly eroded and overlapped by the streams of Tar is around 8 square km. The cone is formed with slags, lapilli, sands, ashes, debris, lava boulders, slag, twisting, composite and spindle-shaped volcanic bombs.
Bird fauna of Gegham Mountain Range includes about 250 species, what makes 70% of all Armenia’s avifauna. Stony slopes are an irreplaceable habitat for birds of prey, such as:
On the snow-covered slopes traces of brown bear (Ursus arctos) are often found.
For the area of Gegham Mountains and surroundings of Azhdahak are typical following plants
A great number of petroglyphs - rock-carvings has been found in the surroundings of volcano Azhdahak. Most images depict men in scenes of hunting and fighting, as well as astronomical bodies and phenomena: the Sun, the Moon, constellations, the stellar sky, lightning, etc.
In Gegham mountains in cattle breeding are engaged Yazidi - one of national minorities of Armenia, who move to the mountains for the summer and live in tents with families and even with infants. The Yazidis - an ethno-confessional group, whose main identity is religion – Yazidism or Sharfadin. Nomadic stockbreeding is their major occupation. The Yazidi society is a caste system including three main components: the Shaykhs, the Pirs (clergy) and murids (laymen).
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Wikipedia