Mount Aragats - Highest Mountain in Armenia

The Geography

Rising to 4,090 meters (13,420 feet) above sea level, Mount Aragats is the highest peak in Armenia and the pinnacle of the Lesser Caucasus. This majestic, four-peaked volcanic massif lies northwest of Yerevan, bordered by the Kasagh River to the east, the Akhurian River to the west, the Ararat Plain to the south, and the Shirak Plain to the north. Encompassing a circumference of approximately 200 kilometers (120 miles), Aragats spans a significant portion of the Armenian Highlands.

Mount Aragats has 4 summits which are named according to their relative geographic position:

Northern—4,090 m (13,420 ft)

Western—3,995 m (13,107 ft)

Eastern—3,908 m (12,822 ft)

Southern—3,888 m (12,756 ft)

Note that Mount Ararat is not in the territory of Armenia, since it came under Turkish control according to the 1921 Treaty of Moscow and Treaty of Kars.

All 4 summits of mount Aragats

Cultural significance

The slopes of Mount Aragats are rich with ancient archaeological sites, fortresses, petroglyphs, and the unique Vishaps (Dragonstones). Among these, Amberd Fortress stands as the most renowned. This historic fortress includes a three-story princely citadel, fortified walls, a bathhouse, a small chapel, a church, hidden passages, and reservoirs. While much of the original citadel has collapsed, the upper two floors and their five large rooms remain intact. Within the fortress grounds lies the 11th-century Vahramashen Church. In 1236, the fortress fell to Mongol forces, leaving it in ruins. Later, the Vachutian noble family partially rebuilt Amberd at the close of the 13th century, but it was permanently destroyed during the Timurid invasions at the end of the 14th century and has not been rebuilt since.

Medieval Amberd Fortress

Scientific Institutions

On the shore of Lake Kari, nestled at an elevation of 3200 meters, lies the Cosmic Ray Research Station, established back in 1943 by the esteemed Soviet physicists, brothers Artem and Abraham Alikhanyan. The station was the first of its kind in the Soviet Union to have the world's largest permanent magnet magnetic spectrometer. One can step inside the gates of the station to see a massive Dragon-stone on the shore of lake Kari!

Lake Kari and Cosmic Ray Resarch station as seen by me from the slopes of Southern Aragats

Additionally, the Byurakan Observatory, founded in 1946 by Victor Hambartsumian, sits proudly on the southern slopes of Aragats in the village of Byurakan, positioned at an altitude of 1,405 meters (4,610 feet).

The ZTA-2.6 telescope is the largest observational instrument at the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (BAO). Constructed by the Leningrad Optical-Mechanical Association (LOMO) in St. Petersburg, Russia, it is a twin of the G.A. Shain reflector located at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (CrAO). Architect Sargis Gurzadyan, 1976

Currently, the observatory is equipped with five instruments. The largest telescopes include a 2.64-meter reflector telescope with a sitall mirror, built in 1976 (the mirror was installed in 1984, with the previous mirror transferred to the ROT-54/2.6 telescope), and a 1-meter Schmidt telescope, which was the largest Schmidt telescope in the USSR and remains one of the largest Schmidt telescopes in the world. Other instruments include a 53-centimeter Super-Schmidt system telescope (similar to the WOW (AZT-1, f=1800)), as well as 50- and 40-centimeter reflector telescopes with electrophotometers and electropolarimeters.

Another scientific gem is the ROT54 which is a dream destination for urban explorers. Orgov Telescope, officially known as ROT-54/2.6, is a prominent radio-optical telescope located in Armenia’s Orgov village.

Aerial photo of ROT54

Constructed between 1975 and 1985, the Orgov Telescope operated from 1986 until it ceased activity around 1990. In the mid-1990s, plans for its restoration emerged, leading to modernization efforts between 1995 and 2010. This included the installation of advanced control computers and updated feeds, enabling resumed observations in partnership with the Russian Astronomical Society and the National Technical University of Athens. However, in 2012, operations halted again due to a control arm failure that immobilized the secondary mirror. With the Armenian state unable to fund repairs, the telescope was mothballed. Experts estimate that reviving the telescope would require $25 million for upgrades to control systems, digital sensor replacements, and data processing enhancements.

The control room of ROT54

Armenia’s High-Altitude Lakes

On the slopes of Mount Aragats, several high-altitude lakes serve as popular tourist destinations. Among these, Lake Kari (3,200 meters), Lake Rapi (3,005 meters), and Lake Mtnalich (3,465 meters) are particularly notable. Lake Kari, the highest lake in Armenia accessible by sedan, is reachable via an older yet well-maintained asphalt road constructed during the Soviet era to facilitate scientific research in the area.

Lake Kari (Stone Lake)

Aragats Gravity Hill

Gravity hills are found in numerous locations worldwide, including Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Chile, France, India, and Greece. Armenia’s gravity hill, located on the slopes of Mount Aragats, is among the most popular. These sites are often called "Magnetic Hill," "Magnetic Road," "Magic Road," or simply "Gravity Hill," as many lack specific local names. The phenomenon behind gravity hills is a captivating optical illusion resulting from the landscape's unique layout. This illusion creates the appearance of a slight downhill slope as an uphill incline. As a result, when a car is left out of gear on these hills, it seems to roll "uphill," defying gravity. This effect is similar to the experience within an Ames room, where perspective distortions lead objects to appear as though they’re defying gravitational laws.

In this video you can see how a water bottle "rolls up the hill"

For those interested in experiencing this firsthand, the coordinates of the Aragats Gravity Hill are 40°25′55″N 44°14′04″E, with another nearby site close to Amberd Fortress at 40°24'02"N 44°13'50"E.

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For a hiking tour to mount Aragats with me check out this link! Thanks