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Nature
Nature
The flora
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Since times
immemorial, a great number of flowers have been grown in Armenia and the
history of many flowers is connected with this country. In XVIII c., J. P. de
Toumefort, professor in the French court traveled through Armenia. He noticed
that the Armenian flora is very rich in wild flowers, especially tulips and
irises. He took a great number of bulbs and offshoots with him back to France
where he got valuable flowers through interbreeding. Later, part of these
flowers were taken to Holland. Today several varieties of world-famous tulips
and irises are known to have Armenian origin
The main occupation of the people in mountainous valleys has since ancient times been the cultivation of grain, vine, flax, toadflax, sesame, apricot, peach, cherry, pear, apple and other fruit-trees. Armenia is homeland to a number of these trees. Some Armenian fruits outshine their counterparts in the world with their looks, sweetness and taste. In old times, Armenians had 15 varieties of fruit. Among them the apricot, grape, pear and pomegranate were princesses. while the rest were the maidservants. The pomegranate was the King of fruit with its crown and the apricot was the Lady of Ladies.
Armenians have grown apricot since ancient times. In IV BC, Alexander of Macedon took the apricot to Greece and called it armeniaka (the Armenian fruit). Later this name was spread all over Europe. Armenia is one of the oldest places of viticulture and, at present, there are more than 200 old and new high-quality varieties of grape in country. The local varieties Voskehat, Garan Dmak. Mskhali, Kangoun, Yerevan and the imported Rkatsiteli, Kakheti, Mouskat, Kaberne and Resling are widely popular in the world. Best quality grapes are grown in the Ararat Valley and the regions of Meghri and Yeghegnadzor. They are used to make cognac and wine, including Kheres, Madera, Alikant, Malaga, Portvain, etc.
The Fauna
The
fauna
of the country is
also very rich and Diverse. Around 17 000 species of animals are known to live
in Armenia, which, is rare for such a small territory. There are 10000 species
of insects, 1000 species of invertebrates and 460 vertebrates. The vertebrates include
birds (303 species), mammals (86
species), reptiles (39 species), fishes (28 species) and amphibians (6
species). One is likely to come across mammals such as the brown bear, wild
cat, lynx, wolf, fox, badger, marten, weasel, jackal, deer, wild boar, hare and
squirrel; 40 % of the migrant birds from the CIS and 4 % of the migrant birds
from the rest of the world. One of the main world routes of bird passage lies
over the country. Of great interest among insects is the Armenian vordan
karmir (cochineal). 18 mammals, 67 birds, 11 reptiles, 2 fishes and 1
amphibian are included in The Armenian Red Book.
The main occupation of the people in mountainous valleys has since ancient times been the cultivation of grain, vine, flax, toadflax, sesame, apricot, peach, cherry, pear, apple and other fruit-trees. Armenia is homeland to a number of these trees. Some Armenian fruits outshine their counterparts in the world with their looks, sweetness and taste. In old times, Armenians had 15 varieties of fruit. Among them the apricot, grape, pear and pomegranate were princesses. while the rest were the maidservants. The pomegranate was the King of fruit with its crown and the apricot was the Lady of Ladies.
Armenians have grown apricot since ancient times. In IV BC, Alexander of Macedon took the apricot to Greece and called it armeniaka (the Armenian fruit). Later this name was spread all over Europe. Armenia is one of the oldest places of viticulture and, at present, there are more than 200 old and new high-quality varieties of grape in country. The local varieties Voskehat, Garan Dmak. Mskhali, Kangoun, Yerevan and the imported Rkatsiteli, Kakheti, Mouskat, Kaberne and Resling are widely popular in the world. Best quality grapes are grown in the Ararat Valley and the regions of Meghri and Yeghegnadzor. They are used to make cognac and wine, including Kheres, Madera, Alikant, Malaga, Portvain, etc.
The Fauna
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There have always
been chamois in the Armenian mountains. In Akkadian the chamois was called
armatu (Armenian). Even now, there is a species of chamois, which is called
the Armenian chamois or ovis ophion armeniana.
Armenia is also one
of the countries where horses appeared first. Remains of wild horses have been
found in the Armenian mountains. According to the Egyptian priest Maneton, the
taming of horses was first practiced in Armenia. The studhorse was the most popular.
It was big in size and 'of unrivalled beauty' (Strabo). The Armenian historians
described the studhorse as 'fast-footed,' 'fast- winged' or 'kites.' These were
magnificent studhorses, and Assyrian and Persian kings used to fill their
stables with them. One of the 4 famous canals of the Ancient World (unfairly
called after Semiramis) was built by King Menua of Van (810-788 BC) who used to
be a brave horseman. His horse Artsibeh (eagle) made a jump of 11.39 m. This
was an exclusive jump and, as such, was recorded in lapidary inscriptions. It
had remained unchallenged for about 2800 years and only in 1975 Swinger, German
K. Berdman's horse made a jump of 22.16 m.
