Highly precipitous terrain engenders a great diversity of natural and climatic conditions when almost every gorge holds its own microclimate. Girdling the reserve from the south and west, Meghri Ridge hinders penetration of dry air masses from Iran but retains moist airflows blowing from the Caspian Sea. As a result, climate in Shikahogh is humid and warm.

The reserve is located on elevations from 700 m above sea level (Tsav riverside) up to over 2000 m on the Meghri Ridge. Foothills and middle heights are covered by dense broadleaf forests which are replaced by subalpine meadows on higher altitudes. The heights of 1400-1800 m and slope declivities of 30-40 deg. dominate throughout the reserve. Some parts of the Meghri Ridge are marked by steep rocky massifs protruding through the forests.

Shikahogh abounds with small streams carrying their rapid waters to the Tsav River and its tributaries, Shikahogh and Mazra. There are some freshwater springs surrounded by swampy habitats.

In foothills, snow cover melts fast and forms only occasionally, reaching the thickness of no more than 10 cm. In contrast, on the maximum heights it reaches 200 cm and lies up to 230 days per annum. Mean annual precipitation varies from 530 mm in foothills to 850 mm on mountaintops.

The soils present in Shikahogh belong to the mountain-forest and mountain-grassland types with their varieties. The most widespread habitats are oak, hornbeam and oak-hornbeam forests which cover the middle heights of 1000-2200 m. The sparse forests of the Arax oak Quercus araxina and the Christ’s-thorn Paliurus spina-christi (sibljak) are distributed over the lower elevations, beneath 900-1000 m, and spread across the cleared oakeries. Higher habitats, up to 1300 m, are represented by forests of the Georgian oak Quercus iberica and accompanying species which is replaced by the Caucasian oak Quercus macranthera with heights. Forests of the Caucasian hornbeam Carpinus caucasica are common on the northern slopes and the Mtnadzor district still holds a pristine oak woodland. The Caucasian oak forms sparse forests along the tree line at ca. 2400 m and deep forests with well-developed canopy beneath them. This pattern is depicted on the maps of the Ministry of Nature Protection of Armenia adapted by the authors of this website.

Secondary after-forest meadows are present somewhere in the middle heights, but their areas are limited due to low intensity of deforestation.

Subalpine meadows are very rich in different species of herbs.

The website was created in 2009 as part of the project “Biodiversity Protection and Community Development: Implementing Ecoregional Conservation Plan Targets in South Armenia”. The project was implemented by WWF Norway and WWF Armenia with the financial support of the Norwegian Government.

© Shikahogh State Reserve