One of the most specific sights of Armenia is Sochut Dendropark, commonly known as Stepanavan Dendropark – an arboretum located near the Gyulagarak village, Lori province. A huge forest-park is located on an area of 35 hectares, 17.5 of which are covered with natural forest, and 15 – grown ornamental plants. Visitors can fully enjoy intimate communication with beautiful nature here and admire the many unusual trees. Seedlings of rare species were often acquired through exchange; so Stepanavan Dendropark collaborated with reserves of Tbilisi, Moscow, Kiev and other cities. Over the many years of existence, scientists have tried to grow up to 2500 different plant species here. However, as a result, only about 500 species were able to adapt to the conditions of highland Armenia. A picturesque green park resembling a magical forest is perfect for family visits, and different seasons in their own way “decorate” the surrounding landscape.
The well-established transport infrastructure of Armenia allows to get to Dendropark by a private car or with the help of various travel companies which offer regular excursions and tours to different sights of the country. Due to the geographical location of Dendropark the trip will not seem long.
The high season in Armenia lasts for a long time due to the pleasant climate conditions. Warm days in Armenia start in March and last until late autumn; winter is usually snowless and not long. The high precipitation season is variable. The tourist season for Dendropark depends on the weather conditions.
The Stepanavan Dendropark is located at an altitude of 1550 meters above sea level. The climate here is quite cold. It is quite snowy here from December to March, and the total amount of precipitation is 550 mm / year.
One of the most interesting "inhabitants" of the Dendropark is a California sequoia. Five, still young, seedlings have taken root well here and continue to grow. Unfortunately, when planting, the park staff did not quite correctly calculate the possible sizes of the “adult” sequoia, so after a few hundred years the trees could simply “collide” with trunks.
The Stepanavan Dendropark was founded in 1933 by the famous biologist Edmond Leonowicz. Currently, the director of the Dendropark is his son - Vitaly Leonowicz.
LORI FORTRESS
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