Urts Mountains

Length: 27 km

Highest summit: Mount Urts (2,446 m)

Coordinates: 39°49’9.76, 44°54’45.69

Within the framework of the “Ours” project, we took on Mount Urts as our next task. It was the last climbing trip of an active winter. It was the 23rd of February, but the weather was like spring, so we climbed in light clothing. We started climbing from the southern part to avoid the deeper snow, but it turned out that there was no snow at all on the southern part. The starting point of our hike was like a desert, devoid of vegetation. It is my favorite type of landscape, when the view is open from all sides, and the air is dry and clean. At first we were climbing by the main road, until we reached a steep ascent. But first, two words about the Urts Mountains.

Mountain Urts

Urts Mountain Range is located between the rivers Aratso and Shaghap (tributary of Vedi River). It is in the south of Ararat Region. It has a fault-block origin. The range stretches from the north-west to the south-east. The length is 25 km, the height is 2445m (Mount Urts). The mountain range is uneven, the northern slopes are not so sharp, but the southern ones are quite steep, and there are also deep gorges.

Mountain Urts

Overcoming the difficulties of the track, we reached the peak. The weather was wonderful, the sun was shining, there was no wind. Only the date on the calendar was reminding us that it was still winter. There was a magnificent view from the peak. While we were on the slopes, a mountain caught our attention. It was mount Tezhqar (1735m), to the south from Tigranashen. The view of Tezhqar from different sides was with us during the whole way. From the peak, in different directions you can enjoy wonderful views of Ararat, Lakes of Armash, river Araks and the Monastery St. Karapet.

On the Urts Mountains you can often encounter bezoar goats and mouflons, which are registered in the red book. Hunting these animals is strictly prohibited. It is a buffer zone, as it is just next to Khosrov Reserve.

Photos by Tigran Shahbazyan, Tatev Hayrapetyan, Hasmik Melikyan, Babken Arzumanyan