Exploring the arboretums in Armenia

Armenia has a very nice nature, and this is actually what attracts the travelers the most. Like in all the other countries, in Armenia as well there are many sorts of plants and trees that are typical only to this region. But this time, I have decided to tell you about the places in Armenia where you can not only admire the local plants but also to see other ones collected in one place, from all over the world.  Today, let's explore the arboretums in Armenia.

“Sochut” dendropark of Stepanavan 

Stepanavan Arboretum (a park under the reserve of Ministry of Nature Protection of the Republic of Armenia) is one of those places I recommend to everyone who visits Armenia to go. This Dendropark is very different from the other ones, and you feel it from the first seconds you step there. This park is located in the Lori Province. It was founded back in 1931, by a Polish engineer- forester. It occupies an area of 35 hectares, half of which is natural forest and the other half ornamental trees. It is kind of a natural forest somehow transformed into a park. It now has more than 500 introduced species. This is exactly what the eco-travelers look for.

“Sochut” dendropark of Stepanavan

Stepanavan Dendropark, Gyulagarak, Armenia

Ijevan arboretum

In my previous story, I gave brief information on the city of Ijevan and Ijevan Subtropical Arboretum.  It is also a very impressive park within the forest, the collection of which includes around 625 species and varieties. The park was established by Lyudvig Sayadyan back in the Soviet times, and currently, it is much-liked spot by eco-travelers.  

Ijevan Dendropark (Ijevan Subtropical Arboretum)

Ijevan Arboretum, Ijevan, Armenia

Yerevan Botanical Garden

Yerevan Botanical Garden is not something new in the town and operates since 1935. It works under the auspices of Armenian National Academy of Sciences, which is a body that is responsible for the plant collections.  The garden is located in one of the suburbs of Yerevan. Here, you may see more than 200 species of endemic, unique plants. In its territory, there is also a greenhouse that currently has 300 species of tropical and sub-tropical plants. I have to say that not much is being done to reconstruct the greenhouse and its surroundings. The botanical garden may seem to you to be a bit abandoned, though it does not need any special care to attract its visitors as Mother Nature anyways does its job.

Yerevan Botanical Garden

2/1 Acharyan St, Yerevan 0040, Armenië

To be honest, in Armenia you do not need to go to arboretums to be in nature and see its beauty, as it is a country with rich nature, and you can see the mountains and forests everywhere. However, the botanical gardens I told you about are worth visiting (especially the one in Stepanavan), as in those places you can see the combination of local and other plats. These are the places where you can really hear the nature, and I am sure you will enjoy exploring the arboretums in Armenia.

Picture © credits to PınarEfe