Mount Tezh

Pambak Mountains

Length: 106 km

Highest summit: Mount Tezh (3,101 m)

Coordinates: 40°41’14.79, 44°37’5.65

The Pambak Mountains begin at the Jajur Mountain Pass (1,952 m) and extend southeast to the Sevan Mountain Pass (2,114 m). The Pambak Mountains are one of the largest mountain ranges in Armenia and the highest peak is Mount Tezh (3,101 m), which stands in the center of the range. Among the other well-known summits are Mount Ampasar (3,053 m), Mount Khaghkhagh (3,044 m), Mount Gomasar (2,885 m), Mount Pahakasar (2,891 m), Mount Kamar (2,738 m), Mount Tsilkar (2,558 m) and Mount Harsnakar (2,483 m). Mount Tsaghkunyats and Mount Arjanots form the main branches of the mountain range.

Mount Tezh

The mountain range has an irregular shape, with steep slopes and short, 5-6 km ridges extending off it on the northern side. On the southern side, however, it has gentler slopes, and longer ridges of up to 12 km. Most of the range is formed from volcanic and sedimentary subsurface rock. The sedimentary subsurface of the range’s western part is comprised of limestone, sandstone and marlstone, while granite and diorite are more common in the central area.

As for plant cover, the central and eastern slopes of the Pambak Range, which descend into the Pambak Valley, are completely wooded, while the western part of the range, which heads toward the Spitak Concavity, is covered with mountain steppe. Several tributaries of the Pambak River begin on these slopes (Pambijur, Spitak, Paytajur and Tsaghkaru).

The southern slopes are covered with steppe vegetation, whereas the western slopes are quite steep and submerged under lava from the volcanic Mount Geghanist. As a result, black soil has formed on the lava. In the central part of the range, the terrain is mostly dry steppe and as a result, it is extremely jagged. The Ginedzor, Tchartchakis, Alvar, Tezh, Tsaghkamarg and several other rivulets begin here.

Mount Tezh is located on the border between the Lori and Kotayk provinces, 7 km southwest of Margahovit village. The right tributary (Aghstev) of the Kura River begins on the western slope of Mount Tezh, and the right tributary (Tezh) of the Gomaget River begins on the northern slope. The slopes of the mountain are steep cut and covered with sub-alpine and alpine meadows.

Photographers Tigran Varag and Aghasi Martirosyan