Hunot Canyon

Hunot Canyon lies in the heart of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh); its largest cave, Avan Harutyun's cave, is southwest of Shushi. Its official geographical name is the Karkar Gorge, but it is better known as Hunot Gorge because of the many hawthorn trees that grow here.

The gorge brings together historical, natural and architectural landmarks: Avan Harutyun's cave, the Mamrot Qar (Mossy Rock) waterfall, the ruins of Hunot village, a medieval bridge and ancient watermills. The whole area is surrounded by towering cliffs.

The waterfall is often called “The Umbrellas” because of its umbrella-like shape. It rises from a spring deep in the gorge, and its water runs over moss-covered rocks into a canopy-shaped grotto. It can be reached on foot through the ruins of Hunot and across the medieval stone bridge.

Hunot village, on the left bank of the Karkar River, was founded in the 18th century, had about 130 inhabitants by 1895 and was strategically important for Shushi. Avan Harutyun's cave is the largest in the gorge; near its entrance stand stone walls and other structures used in different periods from the 2nd millennium BC to the 18th century.

In November 2020 part of the Hunot Gorge Nature-History Reserve came under the control of Azerbaijani armed forces, and by September 2023 the whole reserve was under their control.