Goravan Reservation
Founded: 1958
Area: 200ha
From Yerevan: 54km/ 52min
Working days: Daily
Opening hours: 09:00-18:00
Gorovan State Nature Reservation was founded in 1958, on the territory of 200 ha. The reserve is located in Ararat region: on South-Western slopes of Urts Mountain Range.
The flora is rich with plants, typical for desert. The average annual temperature in the territory of the desert is +12 °C, minimum – -25 °C, maximum – +42 °C. The only Calligonum polygonoides ecosystem can be found right here. There are lots of various rare and valuable types of plants, listed in the Red Data Book of Armenia.
The fauna of the reserve includes about 20 species of animals. The most prominent ones are Mediterranean turtle, Persian Puritan, Dali mouse, listed in Red List of The International Union for Conservation of Nature. Dali mouse is an endemic species for our country. Despite the fact, that fauna of invertebrates is not studied in detail, 6 species of beetles were found in this plain of Araks. These beetles are met nowhere else in the world. There are also 20 species of endemics of Araks plain. According to the researchers, the fauna includes 700 species of invertebrates. Khor Virap monastery is in the same region.
