Armenia is a land of mountains. Located after one another, as in a round dance, those giants reign over the surrounding, as the guards of Armenia. Among those giants the highest one is Aragats, the height of which is 4095ms and the peak of which is the highest one in Armenia. The first 3000ms of Aragats have been inhabited since old times. On the slopes of the mountain there are traces of old cultures as ‘’vishap” stones (dragon stones) which were connected with cult of water, rock-images etc.
Aragats has got its name after the name of Hayk’s son Aramanyak or mythological king Ara and was considered to be the throne of Ara. And really, the four snow-capped peaks of majestic Aragats are like a magnificent royal throne, which Aragats bears powerfully. The mountain is situated in the area of the regions of Aragatsotn and Shirak. It is one of the greatest extinct volcanoes.
As a result of the volcano its four peaks have come into existence. The crater is 3kms in diameter, and its depth is nearly 400ms. It has been turned into a glacier. The zone over the peak has preserved traces of old glaciers, among which the lake Qari lich (lake of stone) is famous. It is situated near the southern peak of the mountain at a height of 3200ms. This freshwater lake is surrounded by alpine meadows, where there are rare and endemic species of plants. There is an interesting legend about the origin of the lake. It is said that once Aragats and Masis were sisters. Once they argued about who was more beautiful. The mountain Maruta tried to solve the argument but could not pacify the sisters and cursed them to be divided from each other and never meet.
Masis, in its turn, damned Aragats to be in mourning and always with tears in the eyes. Everything happened like this. The sisters were once and for ever divided from each other, and at the top of Aragats from its tears a lake came into existence, the lake Qari lich, and thousands of springs originated from the slopes. From those cold springs, thaw waters and glaciers originate a number of rivers and rivulets which at some places turn into waterfalls.
Aragats is an interesting natural barn. It is rich in minerals of volcanic origin as tufa, pumice-stone, perlit-stone.Climbing the four peaks of Aragats can become a real adventure for tourists. The mountaineering itineraries lead to the peaks of the mountain, and above fresh and clear mountain air, alpine colorful flowers, “teary” Qari lich and majestic four peaks are waiting for them.