GARNI
The gorge of the Azat river
GORGE OF GARNI (THE GORGE OF THE AZAT RIVER)
The gorge of Garni stretches along the Azat (Garni) river and its confluent named Goght. It is remarkable for its beautiful, seemingly artificial rocks, which are formed of regular hexagon arbors. The latter stretch from valley bottom till the top of the gorge and are glorified as “Stone Symphony”.
The Azat River is the left confluent of the Araks River. The length of the Azat river is 55km, and the pool is 572km². It begins from the south-western slope of Geghama Mountain Range and crosses through Khosrov forest.
The part flowing through the reserve is also known as the Mil river. Near the Garni village joining the confluent Goght of the Azat river enters the gorge of Garni. That section of the gorge is called also the gorge of the Azat river. In the lowest flow the river comes out to Ararat valley. It has a big fall and a rocky stream. The river is basically lives on underground waters. It overflows in April – June.
On downpour days one may clearly hear how the waters tear stones from the ground and hit them to each other. The waters are used for irrigation and for receving electricity.
Arched bridge on the Azat river - XI c.
Near the village of Garni on the Azat river there is a single-flight 11th century bridge.On top of the gorge are the temple of Garni and Havuts Tar monastery complex. If one closely looks from Garni in the direction of the rocky peninsula, formulated as a result of the conjunction of the Azat river and its confluent Goght, they may observe that it resembles a guitar.
