| Dilijan National ParkOne of the valuable natural resources of the spa town of Dilijan is a forest, which covers about 40,000 acres. To protect flora and fauna of the forest, enrichment and production of new varieties in local conditions, in 1958 was opened National Reserve, on the basis of which in 2002 was created "Dilijan National Park". The area of the Park is 24,232 hectares.
94% of the National Park is woodland, there are about 40 species valuable tree species and 18 species of shrubs. There are tree species such as oak, beech, hornbeam, common types of deciduous as maple, birch, ash, willow, linden, elm, and other. Coniferous forest in park covers a small and limited area.
There are 300-400 years summer juniper trees grow here, that reach 25 meters of height and have a diameter of 80-100 sm. Ancient copse situated in Getik watershed is the largest in Transcaucasia.
On the territory of the Park also grow wild fruit trees such as pears, apples and plums.
From shrub there are raspberry, hazelnut, euonymus, holly, rhododendron, cranberries, currants, gooseberries, jasmine, medlar, prickly thistle, blackberries etc. There are 1213 plant species of which can be taken in food. About 180 species of officinal plants grow (immortelle, mint, thyme, nectary, borduck etc.). In the forest there are different types of mushrooms; most of them could be used in food.
National Park is rich and diverse in wild animals: brown bears, wolfs, martens, otters, lynxes, wild cats, the Persian squirrels, forest dormouse, hedgehogs, chamois, red deer, wild boar, etc.
There are birds’ species: pheasant, quail, partridge, caspian turkey, wild pigeon, griffon vulture, eagle, vulture, dwarf eagle, golden eagle, and various kinds of hawks.
There are also lizards, snakes and turtles, green toad, Transcaucasian frog. Widespread fishes are species of river trout and crucian.
Fishing, hunting, fowling are prohibited in the Park.
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In the northern part of the city is situated Parz Lake at an altitude of 1400m. Its area is 2 hectares; the average depth is 8m. In 3 km from the village Ghosh, to the east from Parz Lake, there is Ghosh (Tzlka) Lake, at 1500m.
Special charm of overall view of the city attaches Aghstev River and its tributaries.
It originates in the north-west slope of mountain chain Pambak (2980m height), and flows into the Kura River. The total length of the river is 133 km. The annual runoff is 256 million cubic meters. Bldan and Xshtoxan are left-hand tributaries that flow into Aghstev in the central part of the city. | |
