Shikahogh State Preserve, Nature reserve in Syunik Province, Armenia
Shikahogh State Preserve is a nature reserve in Syunik Province extending across roughly 10,300 hectares on the northern slopes of the Meghri mountain range. The reserve holds over 1,000 plant species, including oak forests, hornbeam trees, and oriental beech, several of which are listed in Armenia's Red Book.
The protected area was established in 1958 from forestry grounds and underwent several name and status changes over the following decades. After an interim period, it returned to its current status in 1975 and has functioned as an established nature reserve since then.
The land holds traces of ancient settlement with Bronze Age burial grounds and medieval structures scattered across the mountains. These archaeological remains show how people have lived in this mountain landscape for thousands of years.
The terrain is mountainous and requires good physical fitness for hiking through forests and across slopes. Visitors should arrive with sturdy footwear, water, and proper gear, as weather conditions in the mountains can change quickly.
The forest region is home to large predators like leopards and bears as well as rare mountain goats that survive in this untouched area. These wild populations endured the widespread logging that ravaged the region after the Soviet collapse.
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