View source for Mount Aragats

{{Short description|Mountain in the Lesser Caucasus}}
{{Redirect|Aragats}}
{{distinguish|Mount Arafat|Mount Ararat|Mount Arayat}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Mount Aragats
| photo = Mount Aragats 2020-05-11.jpg
| photo_size = 250px
| photo_caption = 
| elevation_m = 4090
| elevation_ref = <ref name="gvp"/><ref name="cadastre"/>
| prominence_m = 2143
| prominence_ref = <ref>{{cite web|title=High prominence mountains in Caucasus and Russia outside of Europe.|url=http://www.ii.uib.no/~petter/mountains/caucasus.html|website=ii.uib.no|publisher=Institutt for informatikk [[University of Bergen]]}}</ref>
| isolation_km = 
| isolation_ref = 
| parent_peak = 
| range = [[Lesser Caucasus]] [[Armenian Highlands]]
| listing = {{hlist|[[List of countries by highest point|Country high point]]|[[Ultra prominent peak|Ultra]]|Ribu}}
| country = Armenia
| state_type = [[Administrative divisions of Armenia|Provinces]]
| state = {{hlist| [[Aragatsotn Province|Aragatsotn]] | [[Shirak Province|Shirak]]}}
| settlement_type = Towns/villages
| settlement = {{hlist|[[Artik]]|[[Aparan]]|[[Talin, Armenia|Talin]]|[[Oshakan]]|[[Byurakan]]}}
| map = Armenia#Aragatsotn
| map_caption = Location in Armenia
| map_relief = 
| map_size = 250px
| label = 
| label_position = 
| pronunciation = 
| coordinates = {{coord|40|32|00|N|44|12|00|E|type:mountain_scale:100000|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_ref = 
| topo = 
| type = [[Stratovolcano]]
| age = [[Holocene]]<ref name="gvp"/>
| volcanic_arc = 
| volcanic_belt = 
| volcanic_field = 
| volcanic_arc/belt = 
| last_eruption = Unknown<ref name="gvp"/>
| first_ascent = July 1843<br />[[Khachatur Abovian]] and [[Moritz Wagner (naturalist)|Moritz Wagner]]<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Ketchian |first=Philip K. |title=Climbing Ararat: Then and Now |journal=[[The Armenian Weekly]] |volume=71 |issue=52 |date=December 24, 2005 |url=http://www.hairenik.com/armenianweekly/fea12240501.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090908015245/http://www.hairenik.com/armenianweekly/fea12240501.htm |archive-date=September 8, 2009 }}</ref>
| easiest_route = 
| normal_route = 
| access = 
| embedded = 
}}

'''Mount Aragats''' ({{langx|hy|Արագած}}, {{IPA|hy|ɑɾɑˈɡɑt͡s|pron}}) is an isolated four-peaked [[volcano]] [[massif]] in [[Armenia]]. Its northern summit, at {{convert|4090|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level, is the highest point of the [[Lesser Caucasus]] and Armenia. It is also one of the highest points in the [[Armenian Highlands]].{{efn|Because the Armenian Highlands is not a well-defined area, sources vary greatly on where Aragats ranks. Some sources call it the second highest (after [[Mount Ararat]] in Turkey),<ref name="armgeo"/><ref>{{cite book|last1=Aslani︠a︡n|first1=A. T.|title=Guide-book of Excursions of the All-union Conference for the Study of the Quaternary Period: Armenian SSR|contribution=Yerevan-Southern Summit of Aragats Volcano|date=1973|publisher=Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR Institute of Geological Sciences|page=72|quote=By its height among the highest peaks of the Armenian highland Aragats gives way only to Ararat — the famous biblical mountain that rises for more than 1 km.}}</ref> others the third highest (after Ararat and [[Mount Süphan|Süphan]], also in Turkey)<ref>{{cite book|last1=Hewsen|first1=Robert H.|author-link1=Robert H. Hewsen|author2=Anania Shirakatsi|author2-link=Anania Shirakatsi|title=The Geography of Ananias of Širak: Ašxarhacʻoycʻ, the Long and the Short Recensions|date=1992|publisher=Reichert|isbn=9783882264852|page=217|quote=The highest peak in the Armenian SSR, Aragac is the third highest mountain on the Armenian plateau after Ararat (16,916 ft. /5172 m), and Sip'an (Subhan, 14,543/4434).}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last1=Smith|first1=Adam T.|author-link1=Adam T. Smith|title=The Foundations of Research and Regional Survey in the Tsaghkahovit Plain, Armenia|contribution=Regional Investigations in the Tsaghkahovit Plain: Orientation and Methodology|date=2009|publisher=Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago|isbn=9781885923622|page=95|quote=Aragats is the third highest peak in the Armenian Highland after Great Ararat (5,165 m a.s.l.) and Süphan Dağı (4,434 m a.s.l.).}}</ref> and some the fourth highest (after Ararat, [[Sabalan]] in Iran, and Süphan).<ref name="Nazarian"/>}}

The Aragats massif is surrounded by the [[Kasagh (river)|Kasagh River]] on the east, the [[Akhuryan (river)|Akhurian River]] on the west, [[Ararat Plain]] on the south, and [[Shirak Plain]] on the north.<ref name="cadastre"/> The circumference of the massif is around {{convert|200|km|mi|abbr=on}},{{sfn|Adalian|2010|p=3}}<ref name="Nazarian"/> and covers an area of {{convert|6000|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}<ref name="encyclopedia.am"/> or around <small>{{frac|1|5}}</small> of Armenia's total area.{{efn|Armenia's territory is 29,743 km<sup>2</sup>.<ref>{{cite web|title=Armenia|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/armenia/|website=[[The World Factbook]]|publisher=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]}}</ref> 6,000 is its 20.2%.}} {{convert|944|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of the massif is located above {{convert|2000|m|ft|abbr=on}}.{{sfn|Martirosyan|2013|p=127}}

==Etymology and names==
According to Armenian tradition, the name of Aragats originates from the words {{Transliteration|hy|Ara}} and {{Transliteration|hy|gah}}, which translates to "Ara's throne", in reference to the legendary hero [[Ara the Handsome]].<ref name="armgeo"/><ref>{{cite web|title=Արագած|url=http://www.encyclopedia.am/pages.php?hId=72|website=encyclopedia.am|publisher=[[Armenian Encyclopedia Publishing]]|language=hy|quote=ՙԱրագած՚ անվանումը, ըստ ավանդության, ծագել է ՙԱրա՚ անունից և ՙգահ՚ բառից: Ասել է թե՝ Արայի գահ (խոսքը Հայոց թագավոր Արա Գեղեցիկի մասին է):}}</ref> Aragats was mentioned by the early medieval historian [[Movses Khorenatsi]], who in his ''[[History of Armenia (book)|History of Armenia]]'' claims that the mountain is named after {{Ill|Aramaneak|hy|Արամանյակ}}, the son of [[Hayk]], the legendary patriarch of the Armenian people. Aramaneak called his possessions "the foot of Aragats" ({{Langx|xcl|ոտն Արագածոյ|translit=otn Aragatsoy}} or {{Langx|xcl|Արագածոտն|translit=Aragatsotn|label=none}}).<ref>{{cite book|author1=Moses of Khoren|author-link1=Movses Khorenatsi|others=[[Robert W. Thomson]] (translator)|title=[[History of Armenia (book)|History of the Armenians]]|date=1978|publisher=Harvard University Press|pages=89–90}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Harutyunyan |first1=Sargis |title=Հայ հին վիպաշխարհը |publisher=Arevik |year=1987 |location=Yerevan |pages=[http://armenianhouse.org/harutyunyan/05-heroes.html 45–46] |language=hy |trans-title=The Ancient Armenian Epic World |contribution=Հերոսներ |trans-chapter=Heroes |author-link1=:hy:Սարգիս Հարությունյան}}</ref> The modern [[Aragatsotn Province]], dominated by the mountain, was formed in 1995.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Holding|first1=Deirdre|title=Armenia: with Nagorno Karabagh|date=2014|publisher=Bradt Travel Guides|isbn=978-1841625553|page=159|quote=Aragatsotn Province. The province whose name means 'foot of Aragats' comprises the land around Mount}}</ref>

A relatively modern name for the mountain is ''Alagöz'' ({{langx|ru|Алагёз}}), sometimes spelled ''Alagheuz'',<ref>{{cite news |title=Americans Conquer Great Mt. Alagheuz; Succeed in Reaching Peak in Armenia Which Baffled Expert Climbers for Years |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1922/04/16/archives/americans-conquer-great-mt-alagheuz-succeed-in-reaching-peak-in.html |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=April 16, 1922}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hovey |first1=Edmund Otis |author1-link=Edmund Otis Hovey |title=Southern Russia and the Caucasus Mountains |journal=[[Bulletin of the American Geographical Society]] |date=1904 |volume=36 |issue=6 |page=340 |doi=10.2307/198884 |jstor=198884 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/198884 |quote=Toward the west the view is bounded by the colossal Alagheuz...|url-access=subscription }}</ref> which literally means "variegated eye"<ref>{{cite book|title=[[Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary|Small Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary]]|contribution=[[:s:ru:МЭСБЕ/Алагез|Алагез]] (Alagez)|language=ru|quote=Алагез (пестрый глаз), потухш. вулкан в Ереванской губернии, 13490 ф. Богат. месторождения серы.}}</ref> in [[Turkish language|Turkish]] and [[Azerbaijani language|Azerbaijani]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Barnett|first1=R. D.|author-link1=Richard David Barnett|title=Cambridge Ancient History Volume III|contribution=Urartu|date=1982|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=0521224969|page=318|edition=second|quote=...slopes of Mount Aragats (modern Turkish Alagoz).}}</ref><ref name="slavrev"/> This term was widely used up until the mid-20th century in European,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Lynch|first1=H. F. B.|author-link1=H. F. B. Lynch|title=Armenia, travels and studies. Volume I: The Russian Provinces|date=1901|publisher=Longmans, Green, and Co.|location=London|page=[https://archive.org/stream/armeniatravelsst01lync#page/122/mode/2up 122]|url=https://archive.org/details/armeniatravelsst01lync}}</ref> [[Russian Empire|Tsarist Russian]],<ref>{{cite book|title=[[Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary|Brockhaus and Efron Encyclopedic Dictionary Volume I]]|contribution=[[:ru:s:ЭСБЕ/Алагёз|Алагёз]]|date=1890|page=347|language=ru}}</ref> and early Soviet<ref name="slavrev">{{cite journal|title=How Ordzhonikidze Helped Save a Framed Engineer|journal=The Current Digest of the Soviet Press|date=1964|volume=16|page=15|publisher=[[American Association for the Advancement of Slavic Studies]]|quote=In July, 1928, on an assignment from my editors, I was climbing the extinct volcano in Armenia [Mt. Aragats] that at the time still bore its Turkish name, Alagoz.}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=[[:ru:Советская военная энциклопедия|Soviet Military Encyclopedia]] Volume I|contribution=Алагез [Alagez]|date=1932|page=387|language=ru|quote=Алагез (армян. Арагац), изолированный горный массив в ССР Армении к С.-З. от г. Эривань.}}</ref> sources. Another version, ''Alagyaz'' ({{Lang|hy|Ալագյազ}}), has been used in Armenian.<ref name="Nazarian"/><ref>{{cite book|last1=Der Nersessian|first1=Sirarpie|author-link1=Sirarpie Der Nersessian|title=The Armenians|date=1969|publisher=Praeger|location=New York|page=11|quote=...the Alagoz (Aragats, 4180 m.) to the North of Mount Ararat...}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Melikset-Bek |first1=Levon |author-link1=:hy:Լեոն Մելիքսեթ-Բեկ |date=1956 |title=Ի. Գրիշաշվիլին և հայ գրականությունը |trans-title=I. Grishashvili and Armenian literature |url=https://arar.sci.am/dlibra/publication/118663/edition/108083/content |journal=Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences of the Armenian SSR: Social Sciences |language=hy |issue=2 |page=29 |quote=Ավ. Իսահակյանն [...] հայ բանաստեղծի շրթերում հնչում է Ալագյազ-Արագածը...}}</ref>{{efn|A folk song from [[Shirak Province|Shirak]] composed by [[Komitas]] is titled ''Alagyaz''.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sargsyan|first1=Arpine|title=Alagyaz|url=http://www.culturalcaucasus.org/index.php/en/art-men/doc/37-alagyaz.html|website=culturalcaucasus.org|publisher=Cultural Caucasus|date=22 February 2011}}</ref>}} A [[Alagyaz|village]] on the foot of Aragats is named Alagyaz.

==Geography and geology==
[[File:Mount Aragats from space.jpg|255px|thumb|Mount Aragats, topographic representation]]
[[File:Aragats aerial.jpg|255px|thumb|Aerial view of Aragats: a 2001 photo from the [[International Space Station]] ]]
[[File:Arakatz001.jpg|255px|thumb]]
Aragats is isolated from Armenia's other mountain ranges.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Researching Forest Raptors on Armenia's Highest Peak|journal=Russian Conservation News|date=2004|issue=35–42|page=32|quote=At 4,090 meters above sea level, Mt. Aragats is Armenia's tallest mountain massif. It is located in the central part of the republic, in Aragatsotn Region, where it is isolated from the rest of the country's mountain ranges.}}</ref> However, it is considered part and the highest point of the larger [[Lesser Caucasus]] mountain range.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mount Aragats|url=http://www.britannica.com/place/Mount-Aragats|website=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|quote=The highest point in both Armenia and the Lesser Caucasus range...}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia Americana: Cathedrals to Civil War|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaamer03scho|url-access=registration|date=2005|publisher=Scholastic Library Publishing|isbn=9780717201389|page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaamer03scho/page/86 86]|quote=The highest point within the Armenian part of the Lesser Caucasus is Mt. Aragats...}}</ref> It has four summits, which are named according to their relative geographic position:<ref name="armgeo"/>
*Northern—{{convert|4090|m|ft|abbr=on}}
*Western—{{convert|3995|m|ft|abbr=on}}
*Eastern—{{convert|3908|m|ft|abbr=on}}
*Southern—{{convert|3888|m|ft|abbr=on}}
Mount Aragats has a [[topographic prominence]] of 2,143 meters, [[List of Ultras of West Asia|more than some higher mountains]], such as [[Dykh-Tau]] (5,205 m high) in the Russian part of Great Caucasus Range.

Situated {{convert|40|km|mi}} northwest of the Armenian capital [[Yerevan]], Aragats is a large volcano with numerous [[fissure vents]] and [[adventive cones]]. Numerous large lava flows descend from the volcano and are constrained in age between the middle Pleistocene and 3,000 BCE. The summit crater is cut by a {{convert|13|km|mi}} long line of cones which generated possibly Holocene-age [[lahar]]s and lava flow.<ref name="gvp" /> The volcanic system covers an area of 5,000&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup> and is one of the largest in the region. More recent activity in flank centers occurred in Tirinkatar (0.48-0.61 Ma), Kakavasar, (0.52-0.54 Ma), and Ashtarak (0.58 Ma), as well as Jrbazhan in the summit area (0.52 Ma). The magmas feeding Aragats are unusually hot for arc-derived magmas, resulting in long and voluminous lava flows.<ref>{{cite journal|author1=Meliksetian, Khachatur|author2=Savov, Ivan|author3=Connor, Charles|author4=Halama, Ralf|author5=Jrbashyan, Ruben|author6=Navasardyan, Gevorg|author7=Ghukasyan, Yura|author8=Gevorgyan, Hripsime|author9=Manucharyan, Davit|author10=Ishizuka, Osamu|author11=Quidelleur, Xavier|year=2014|title=Aragats stratovolcano in Armenia - volcano-stratigraphy and petrology|journal=[[Geophysical Research Abstracts]]|volume=16|page=567|bibcode=2014EGUGA..16..567M|author12=Germa, Aurélie}}</ref>

===Glaciation===
Shortly after World War II, observations noted the presence of [[firn]] fields and snowfields on the sides of the crater cirque as well as moraines and glaciers inside the crater. An analysis in 1896 indicated a surface area of 5.5-5.8&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>, but it rapidly retreated afterward. The glaciation has been retreating on account of insufficient snowfall and increasing temperatures. Glacial meltwater dominates the upper part of the rivers descending from Aragats but its importance decreases farther down the valleys.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Davoyan|first1=M.O.|year=1971|title=Area of modern glaciation on Mt. Aragats and the diminution of firn basins|journal=International Geology Review|volume=13|issue=4|pages=530–533|bibcode=1971IGRv...13..530D|doi=10.1080/00206817109475464|issn=0020-6814}}</ref> Traces of prehistorical glaciation also exist including thick moraines in the summit area at an altitude of 2,600–3,000 m.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Maisuradze|first1=G.M.|year=1989|title=Anthropogene of the anticaucasus|journal=[[Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology]]|volume=72|pages=53–62|bibcode=1989PPP....72...53M|doi=10.1016/0031-0182(89)90131-4|issn=0031-0182}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box <!--Infobox begins-->
|metric first= Yes
|single line = Yes
|location = Mount Aragats (3227 m) (1981–2010 normals, extremes 1929–2010)
|Jan record high C = 6.2
|Feb record high C = 5.0
|Mar record high C = 7.1
|Apr record high C = 10.6
|May record high C = 11.8
|Jun record high C = 16.2
|Jul record high C = 22.1
|Aug record high C = 21.0
|Sep record high C = 18.6
|Oct record high C = 13.0
|Nov record high C = 10.4
|Dec record high C = 5.6
|year record high C = 
|Jan high C = -9.3
|Feb high C = -8.8
|Mar high C = -5.8
|Apr high C = -1.3
|May high C = 2.6
|Jun high C = 8.0
|Jul high C = 13.1
|Aug high C = 13.4
|Sep high C = 9.6
|Oct high C = 3.0
|Nov high C = -3.8
|Dec high C = -7.7
|year high C = 
|Jan mean C = -12.4
|Feb mean C = -12.4
|Mar mean C = -9.8
|Apr mean C = -5.0
|May mean C = -0.7
|Jun mean C = 4.7
|Jul mean C = 9.3
|Aug mean C = 9.4
|Sep mean C = 5.8
|Oct mean C = -0.1
|Nov mean C = -6.4
|Dec mean C = -10.3
|year mean C = -2.3
|Jan low C = -15.9
|Feb low C = -16.4
|Mar low C = -14.1
|Apr low C = -8.3
|May low C = -3.8
|Jun low C = 0.9
|Jul low C = 5.5
|Aug low C = 5.2
|Sep low C = 1.7
|Oct low C = -3.7
|Nov low C = -9.6
|Dec low C = -13.9
|year low C = 
|Jan record low C = -33.6
|Feb record low C = -33.0
|Mar record low C = -30.5
|Apr record low C = -25.9
|May record low C = -20.1
|Jun record low C = -13.3
|Jul record low C = -6.0
|Aug record low C = -5.8
|Sep record low C = -11.7
|Oct record low C = -22.0
|Nov record low C = -28.2
|Dec record low C = -31.6
|year record low C = 
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 72.8
|Feb precipitation mm = 93.8
|Mar precipitation mm = 86.1
|Apr precipitation mm = 101.9
|May precipitation mm = 87.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 66.2
|Jul precipitation mm = 64.9
|Aug precipitation mm = 46.2
|Sep precipitation mm = 33.2
|Oct precipitation mm = 66.4
|Nov precipitation mm = 78.1
|Dec precipitation mm = 78.6
|year precipitation mm = 876.1
|unit precipitation days = 1 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 7.9
|Feb precipitation days = 9.2
|Mar precipitation days = 9.3
|Apr precipitation days = 11.3
|May precipitation days = 10.4
|Jun precipitation days = 8.1
|Jul precipitation days = 7.0
|Aug precipitation days = 6.1
|Sep precipitation days = 5.0
|Oct precipitation days = 8.0
|Nov precipitation days = 7.9
|Dec precipitation days = 7.3
|year precipitation days = 97.3
|Jan sun = 133.2
|Feb sun = 127.2
|Mar sun = 156.3
|Apr sun = 150.2
|May sun = 193.6
|Jun sun = 260.9
|Jul sun = 283.8
|Aug sun = 273.5
|Sep sun = 244.8
|Oct sun = 174.8
|Nov sun = 144.9
|Dec sun = 128.9
|year sun = 2272.1
|Jan percentsun = 45
|Feb percentsun = 43
|Mar percentsun = 43
|Apr percentsun = 38
|May percentsun = 44
|Jun percentsun = 59
|Jul percentsun = 63
|Aug percentsun = 65
|Sep percentsun = 67
|Oct percentsun = 52
|Nov percentsun = 50
|Dec percentsun = 45
|year percentsun = 52
|source 1 = WMO<ref name="WMO">
{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211010042151/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1981-2010/RA-II/Armenia/WMO%20Aragac%20HM.xlsx
| archive-date = 10 October 2021
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/normals/WMO/1981-2010/RA-II/Armenia/WMO%20Aragac%20HM.xlsx
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1981–2010
| publisher = [[World Meteorological Organization]]
| access-date = 10 October 2021}}</ref>
|source 2 = ECA&D (average high and low, extremes)<ref>
{{cite web 
| url = https://www.ecad.eu/dailydata/customquery.php
| title = Custom query in ASCII
| publisher = [[European Climate Assessment and Dataset]]
| accessdate = February 18, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==History==
===Geological===
The volcano was constructed in four different phases. The first phase (possibly 2.5 Ma) occurred in the main crater and subsidiary vents and was [[basaltic andesite]] in composition. It crops out in deep gorges. The second phase (0.97–0.89 Ma, by [[K–Ar dating|K–Ar]]) involved the main vent, and subsidiary structures and was [[basaltic]] and [[andesitic]] in composition with ignimbrites and pyroclastic, with tuffs and lava flows emanating from satellite centers. It was the most voluminous and included the Shamiram and Yeghvard subsidiary centres. The third phase (0.74–0.68 Ma) while similar to the second was more restricted in regional extent to the [[Mantash]] River basin. The fourth stage (0.56–0.45 Ma) involved [[mafic]] lava flows from parasitic vents in the southern parts of the volcano.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Chernyshev |first1=I.V. |last2=Lebedev |first2=V. A. |last3=Arakelyants |first3=M. M. |last4=Jrbashyan |first4=R. T. |last5=Gukasyan |first5=Yu. G. |date=May 2002 |title=Quaternary geochronology of the Aragats volcanic center, Armenia: Evidence from K-Ar dating |journal=Doklady Earth Sciences |volume=384 |issue=4 |pages=393–398}}</ref>

===Cultural===
Numerous engravings have been made around the volcano, including rock paintings portraying animals and human-like figures in the [[Kasagh River]] valley possibly dating to the early Holocene, and in [[Aghavnatun]] on the southern side of the volcano including petroglyphs showing animals that were possibly created in the 4th to 1st millennia BCE.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.academia.edu/2111647|title=The Rock Art of the Mt. Aragats System|publisher=[[:it:Centro camuno di studi preistorici|Centro camuno di studi preistorici]]|date=24 May 2007|first=Anna|last=Khechoyan}}</ref>

According to an ancient Armenian legend, Aragats and [[Mount Ararat]] were loving sisters who parted after a quarrel and separated permanently.<ref name="Abrahamian"/> Another legend tells that [[Gregory the Illuminator]], who converted Armenia to Christianity in the early 4th century, "used to pray on the peak of the mountain. At nighttime an icon lamp shone to give light to him, the lamp hanging from heaven using no rope. Some say that the icon lamp is still there, but only the worthy ones can see it."<ref name="Abrahamian" />

[[File:Aragats from the Plain of Alexandropol.png|thumb|Aragats from the [[Shirak Plain]], probably in 1901]]

In 1935, on the 15th anniversary of [[Red Army invasion of Armenia|Armenia's Sovietization]], around one thousand people climbed the summit of Aragats from five directions.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sekoyan |first1=V. |title=[[Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia]] Volume 13 |date=1987 |location=Yerevan |page=[https://hy.wikisource.org/wiki/%D4%B7%D5%BB:%D5%80%D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D5%8D%D5%B8%D5%BE%D5%A5%D5%BF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D5%80%D5%A1%D5%B6%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%A3%D5%AB%D5%BF%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%B6_(Soviet_Armenian_Encyclopedia)_13.djvu/324 324] |language=hy |chapter=Տուրիզմ [Tourism] |quote=1935-ին, Հայաստանում սովետական կարգերի հաստատման 15-ամյակի կապակցությամբ, ավելի քան 1000 մարդ 5 տարբեր կետից բարձրացել է Արագածի գագաթը։}}</ref> On May 28, 2005—the anniversary of the establishment of the [[First Republic of Armenia]]—around 250,000 people participated in a Dance of Unity ({{langx|hy|Միասնության շուրջպար}}) around Mount Aragats in a mass display of national unity. The quarter million participants, among them then-President [[Robert Kocharyan]] and Defense Minister [[Serzh Sargsyan]], formed a {{convert|163|km|mi|adj=on}} ring around the mountain after a blessing from Catholicos [[Karekin II]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stepanian |first1=Ruzanna |title=Thousands Dance To Mark Armenia's Independence Holiday |url=https://www.azatutyun.am/a/1577120.html |work=azatutyun.am |agency=[[RFE/RL]] |date=30 May 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Armenian people united around Aragats mountain|url=http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/politics/news/13521/|access-date=20 June 2013|agency=[[PanARMENIAN.Net]]|date=28 May 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Միասնության շուրջպարը գրկեց Արագած լեռը|url=https://armenpress.am/arm/news/418093/miasnutyan-shurjpary-grkec-aragats-lery.html|agency=[[Armenpress]]|date=28 May 2005|language=hy}}</ref> The organizers hoped the event would be included in the ''[[Guinness World Records]]''.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vardanian|first1=Gegham|title=Armenia's Big Dance|url=https://iwpr.net/global-voices/armenias-big-dance|publisher=[[Institute for War and Peace Reporting]]|date=2 June 2005}}</ref> Prior to the dance, some 110,000 trees were planted on the slopes of Aragats.<ref>{{cite web|title=Մի ֆոտոյի պատմություն. միասնության շուրջպար |url=http://www.1tv.am/hy/news/2015/05/28/%D5%87%D5%B8%D6%82%D6%80%D5%BB%D5%BA%D5%A1%D6%80/16568 |website=1tv.am |publisher=[[Armenia 1|Public Television of Armenia]] |language=hy |date=28 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429122013/http://www.1tv.am/hy/news/2015/05/28/%D5%87%D5%B8%D6%82%D6%80%D5%BB%D5%BA%D5%A1%D6%80/16568 |archive-date=April 29, 2016 }}</ref>

==Nearby settlements==
The following settlements are located on the slopes or foot of Aragats: [[Ashtarak]],<ref>{{cite book|last1=Kaeter|first1=Margaret|title=The Caucasian Republics|date=2004|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=9780816052684|page=[https://archive.org/details/caucasianrepubli00kaet/page/68 68]|quote=In between Gyumri and Yerevan lies Mount Aragats, the highest mountain currently in Armenia, at about 14,000 feet. Ashtarak, the closest town of any size, has 20,000 people...|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/caucasianrepubli00kaet/page/68}}</ref> [[Artik]], [[Aparan]], [[Talin, Armenia|Talin]], [[Oshakan]], [[Byurakan]].

==Main sights==
===Historic and cultural sites===
[[File:Arshakunyats Mausoleum 02.jpg|[[Arshakid Mausoleum]].|thumb]]
[[File:Amberd fortress and church 2009.jpg|[[Amberd]] and [[Vahramashen Church]].|thumb]]
[[File:Tegher Monastery.jpg|[[Tegher Monastery]].|thumb]]
[[File:Հայոց այբուբենի հուշարձան, Արտաշավան.JPG|Alphabet park.|thumb]]
 
Aragats has historically played a significant role in Armenian history and culture. Numerous historical and modern monuments are located on its slopes, some of which are listed below.<ref name="Abrahamian"/>

The 4th-century [[Arshakid Mausoleum|mausoleum]] of the [[Arsacid dynasty of Armenia|Arsacid (Arshakuni) dynasty]] is located in the village of [[Aghtsk]], on the slopes of Aragats.<ref name="Abrahamian"/>

The early medieval fortress of [[Amberd]] and the nearby 11th-century [[Vahramashen Church]] are located on the slopes of Aragats, at an altitude of {{convert|2300|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref name="Ghafadaryan">{{cite book|last=Ghafadaryan|first=K.|author-link=Karo Ghafadaryan|title=[[Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia]] Volume I|contribution=Ամբերդ (Amberd)|date=1974|page=[https://hy.wikisource.org/wiki/%D4%B7%D5%BB:%D5%80%D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D5%8D%D5%B8%D5%BE%D5%A5%D5%BF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D5%80%D5%A1%D5%B6%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%A3%D5%AB%D5%BF%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%B6_(Soviet_Armenian_Encyclopedia)_1.djvu/278 278–280]|language=hy}}</ref> One source calls Amberd the "biggest and the best preserved fortress" in modern-day Armenia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ashtarak-Oshakan-Amberd fortress–Letter Park|url=http://www.wonderlandarmenia.com/index.php/fa/tours/daily-tours/49-7-ashtarak-oshakan-amberd-fortress-letter-park|website=wonderlandarmenia.com|date=2014}}{{dead link|date=February 2024|bot=medic}}</ref>

The Alphabet Park ({{Transliteration|hy|Tar’eri purak}}) is located near the village of [[Artashavan]]. It was founded in 2005 on the 1600th anniversary of the invention of the [[Armenian alphabet]]. It features sculptures of the 39 letters of the [[Armenian alphabet]] and statues of notable Armenians, such as [[Mesrop Mashtots]] (the inventor of the alphabet), Armenia's national poet [[Hovhannes Tumanyan]], [[Khachatur Abovian]] (father of modern Eastern Armenian literature), and others.<ref>{{cite web|title=Հայոց այբուբենի հուշարձան|url=http://www.hyurservice.com/arm/sights/armenian_alphabet_monument_arm.html|website=hyurservice.com|publisher=Hyur Service|language=hy}}</ref> In 2012, a {{convert|33|m|ft|adj=on}} high cross, composed of 1711 large and small iron crosses, symbolizing the number of years since Armenia's conversion to Christianity in 301, was installed on a hill near the park. A cross is added on an annual basis.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Mkrtchyan|first1=Anush|title=Տառերի պուրակում տեղի ունեցավ 33 մետրանոց Սուրբ խաչի բացումը|url=http://www.azatutyun.am/content/article/24745783.html|work=azatutyun.am|agency=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]]|date=20 October 2012|language=hy}}</ref>

===Scientific institutions===
[[File:Jezero Kari.jpg|[[Lake Kari]] and the [[Aragats Cosmic Ray Research Station]] (in the background).|thumb]]
The [[Aragats Cosmic Ray Research Station]] is a [[cosmic-ray observatory]] near [[Lake Kari]], at around {{convert|3200|m|ft|abbr=on}} above sea level. It was founded in 1943 by the brothers [[Artem Alikhanian]] and [[Abram Alikhanov]]. The Nor-Amberd station, built in 1960, is located at {{convert|2000|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Research Stations |url=http://crd.yerphi.am/Research_Stations |website=crd.yerphi.am |publisher=[[Yerevan Physics Institute]]}}</ref>

The [[Byurakan Observatory]], established in 1946 by [[Victor Ambartsumian]], is located on the southern slopes of Aragats, near the village of [[Byurakan]], at an altitude of {{convert|1405|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=History of the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory |url=http://www.aras.am/BAO/history.html |website=aras.am |publisher=Armenian Astronomical Society |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429082053/http://www.aras.am/BAO/history.html |archive-date=April 29, 2016 }}</ref> It made Armenia one of the world's centers for the study of [[astrophysics]] in the 20th century.{{sfn|Adalian|2010|p=354}}

The [[Orgov Radio-Optical Telescope|ROT-54/2.6]], a [[radio telescope]] built in 1985 by the radiophysicist [[Paris Herouni]] in the village of [[Orgov]], on the slopes of Aragats.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kotlyar |first1=Pavel |title=Война во Вьетнаме выиграна благодаря армянским радиофизикам |url=https://www.gazeta.ru/science/2016/06/14_a_8304977.shtml |website=gazeta.ru |language=ru |date=14 July 2016}}</ref>

===Gravity hill===
On the highway leading to fortress Amberd is a [[gravity hill]],<ref name=Aragatsmystery>{{cite web| url=https://www.armgeo.am/en/gravity-hill-in-aragats/ |title=Mystery of Aragats| website=Armenian Geographic}}</ref> which has become a tourist attraction, due to an optical illusion leading to a downhill slope appearing to be uphill.

=== Mount Aragats hike ===
Mount Aragats is a popular hiking destination<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pahlevanyan |first=Elen |date=January 6, 2022 |title=Top 5 Highest Mountains to Hike in Armenia |url=https://thecascadetravel.com/blog/highest-mountains-to-hike-in-amenia/ |website=thecascadetravel.com |language=English}}</ref> among locals and tourists. The southern, lowest peak is the most visited one. The hiking trail is approximately 5 kilometers long, and it typically takes between 2.5 and 3 hours to complete.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

==In culture==
[[File:10,000 Armenian dram - 2003 (obverse).png|250px|thumb|The obverse side of the 10,000 [[Armenian dram]] banknote depicts Aragats and poet [[Avetik Isahakyan]].]]

Mount Aragats plays a special role in Armenian history and culture. Along with [[Mount Ararat]], it is considered a sacred mountain for the Armenians.<ref name="Abrahamian"/>

Aragats is a [[Armenian name#Given names|male first name]] in Armenia,<ref>As of 2022, there are 161 people named Aragats in Armenia's voters list. {{cite web |title=Արագած (Aragats) |url=http://www.anun.am/f/817 |website=anun.am |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230105174609/http://www.anun.am/f/817 |archive-date=5 January 2023 |language=hy}}</ref> used especially in areas surrounding the mountain.{{efn|Two examples of notable people named Aragats include Aragats Akhoyan, member of the parliament, born in [[Aghtsk|Dzorap]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Aragats Akhoyan|url=http://www.parliament.am/deputies.php?ID=1109&sel=details&lang=eng|website=parliament.am|publisher=National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia}}</ref> and Aragats Mkrtchyan, a veteran of the [[First Nagorno-Karabakh War]], from [[Talin, Armenia|Talin]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Յուրաքանչյուր մարտ մի քանի րոպեում ես հաղթում. Արագած Մկրտչյան|url=http://razm.info/18691|website=razm.info|publisher=Armenian Ministry of Defense|language=hy|date=23 August 2013}}</ref> Both of these settlements are located in the [[Aragatsotn Province]].}}{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

Mt. Aragats is often associated with [[Gyumri]], Armenia's second-largest city. The mountain is depicted on the coat of arms of Gyumri.<ref>{{cite web|title=Symbols of Gyumri|url=http://www.gyumricity.am/index.php/en/gyumri/symbols-of-gyumri|website=gyumricity.am|publisher=Gyumri Municipality|access-date=2016-05-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325065326/http://www.gyumricity.am/index.php/en/gyumri/symbols-of-gyumri|archive-date=2016-03-25|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is also depicted on the obverse side of the 10,000 [[Armenian dram]] banknote (in use since 2003) in the background of [[Avetik Isahakyan]], a poet born in Gyumri.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Cuhaj|first1=George S.|title=Standard Catalog of World Paper Money, Modern Issues, 1961-Present|date=2015|publisher=F+W Media, Inc|isbn=9781440244117|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=h2yYCAAAQBAJ&pg=PA63&dq=Avetik+Isahakyan 63]}}</ref>
 
Numerous Armenian poets (e.g., Avetik Isahakyan)<ref name="encyclopedia.am"/><ref>[[:hy:s:Արագածին|Արագածին]]</ref> have written about Aragats. [[Marietta Shaginyan]] compared Aragats to a "half-open bud of a giant [[pomegranate flower]]".<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mikhaĭlov|first1=Nikolaĭ Nikolaevich|title=A Book About Russia: In the Union of Equals: Descriptions, Impressions, the Memorable|date=1988|publisher=Progress Publishers|page=109|quote=Aragats, the highest mountain in Armenia, rises with its split white cone, like the half-open bud of a giant pomegranate flower, to use the words of the well-known Soviet writer Marietta Shaginyan.}}</ref> In one short poem, [[Silva Kaputikyan]] compares Armenia to an "ancient rock-carved fortress", the towers of which are Mount Aragats and [[Mount Ararat]].

=== In visual art ===

Numerous artists have painted Aragats. Some examples of paintings of Aragats are kept at the [[National Gallery of Armenia]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

<gallery>
Արագած (1905) Գևորգ Բաշինջաղյան.jpg|[[Gevorg Bashinjaghian]], 1905
Արագած լեռը (1917) Եղիշե Թադևոսյան.jpg|[[Yeghishe Tadevosyan]], 1917
Արագած Փանոս Թերլեմեզյան.jpg|[[Panos Terlemezian]], probably 1941
</gallery>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Aragats 2019-05-12.jpg
File:Aragats 1112.jpg
File:Aragats from Gyumri 1.jpg
File:Aragats from mt. Guthanasar - panoramio.jpg
File:Aragats in snow.jpg
File:Aragats, view from Tsaghkunyatc - panoramio (1).jpg
File:Aragats from airplane.jpg
File:Mount Aragats 23.jpg
File:27 - Le mont Aragats.JPG
File:Aragats crater 26.jpg
File:Lake on mount Aragats - Լիճ Արագած լեռան վրա.jpg
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Lake Kari]]
* [[List of volcanoes in Armenia]]
* [[List of elevation extremes by country]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|3|refs=

<ref name="gvp">{{cite gvp|vn=214060|name=Aragats}}</ref>

<ref name="armgeo">{{cite news|title=Արագած|url=http://www.armgeo.am/aragats/|work=armgeo.am|publisher=Armenian Geographic|date=27 May 2015|language=hy}}</ref>

<ref name="encyclopedia.am">{{cite web|title=Արագած (Aragats) |url=http://encyclopedia.am/pages.php?bId=1&hId=72 |website=encyclopedia.am |publisher=[[Armenian Encyclopedia Publishing]] |language=hy |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160314215641/http://encyclopedia.am/pages.php?bId=1&hId=72 |archive-date=March 14, 2016 }}</ref>

<ref name="Nazarian">{{cite book|last1=Nazarian|first1=Kh.|title=[[Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia]] Volume I|contribution=Արագած (Aragats)|date=1974|page=[https://hy.wikisource.org/wiki/%D4%B7%D5%BB:%D5%80%D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D5%8D%D5%B8%D5%BE%D5%A5%D5%BF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D5%80%D5%A1%D5%B6%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%A3%D5%AB%D5%BF%D5%A1%D6%80%D5%A1%D5%B6_(Soviet_Armenian_Encyclopedia)_1.djvu/677 677–678]|language=hy}}</ref>

<ref name="Abrahamian">{{cite book|last1=Abrahamian|first1=Levon |authorlink=Levon Abrahamian|editor1-last=Grant|editor1-first=Bruce|editor2-last=Yalçın-Heckmann|editor2-first=Lale|title=Caucasus Paradigms: Anthropologies, Histories and the Making of a World Area|contribution=Dancing around the mountain: Armenian identity through rites of solidarity|date=2007|publisher=Lit Verlag|location=Berlin|isbn=9783825899066|pages=167–188|url=https://www.academia.edu/10712639}}</ref>

<ref name="cadastre">{{cite book|script-title=hy:Հայաստանի Հանրապետության Ֆիզիկաաշխարհագրական օբյեկտների համառոտ տեղեկատու-բառարան|trans-title=Dictionary of Physical-Geographic Objects in the Republic of Armenia|year=2007|publisher=State Committee of the Real Estate Cadastre|url=http://www.cadastre.am/storage/files/pages/pg_907653908_fizashx._bar.pdf|page=15|language=hy}}</ref>

}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book|last=Adalian|first=Rouben Paul|title=Historical Dictionary of Armenia|year=2010|publisher=Scarecrow Press|location=Lanham, Maryland|isbn=978-0-8108-7450-3|author-link=Rouben Paul Adalian}}
*{{cite journal|last1=Martirosyan |first1=Levon M. |title=Արագած լեռնազանգվածի ռեկրեացիոն ռեսուրսները եվ դրանց գնահատումը (Recreational Resources and Mountain Mass Evaluation of Aragats) |journal=Scientific Proceedings |date=2013 |issue=2 |url=http://gspi.am/media/journal/2013n2a/Martirosyan%20L.%20M.pdf |publisher=[[Gyumri State Pedagogical Institute]] |language=hy |pages=125–132 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429093037/http://gspi.am/media/journal/2013n2a/Martirosyan%20L.%20M.pdf |archive-date=April 29, 2016 }}

{{Commons category|Mount Aragats}}
{{Mountains of Armenia}}
{{Armenia topics}}
{{Ultras of Europe}}
{{Highest points of Asia}}
{{Highest points of Europe}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aragats}}
[[Category:Subduction volcanoes]]
[[Category:Volcanoes of Armenia]]
[[Category:Mountains of Armenia]]
[[Category:Polygenetic volcanoes]]
[[Category:Pliocene stratovolcanoes]]
[[Category:Pleistocene stratovolcanoes]]
[[Category:Holocene stratovolcanoes]]
[[Category:Geography of Aragatsotn Province]]
[[Category:Four-thousanders of the Caucasus]]
[[Category:Four-thousanders of the Armenian Highland]]
[[Category:Stratovolcanoes of Asia]]
[[Category:Ultra-prominent peaks of Europe]]