Armenian Highland
Encyclopedia
The Armenian Highland is the central-most and highest of three land-locked plateau
s that together form the northern sector of the Middle East
. To its west is the Anatolian plateau which rises slowly from the lowland coast of the Aegean Sea
and rises to an average height of 3000 feet (914.4 m). In Armenia
, the average height rises dramatically from 3000 feet (914.4 m) to 7000 feet (2,133.6 m). To its southeast is the Iranian plateau
, where the elevation drops rapidly to an average 2000 feet (609.6 m) to 5000 feet (1,524 m) feet above sea level.
was signed in 1923, the Republic of Turkey was established. In its attempts to Turkify
the geographical and settlement names in Turkey, the authorities of the republic began a systematic campaign to alter non-Turkish placenames. These attempts included the name change of the geographical expression of "Armenia" or "Armenian plateau" to "Eastern Anatolia."
on the area has resulted in large volcanic formations and a series of massif
s and tectonic movement has formed the three largest lakes in the Highland, Lake Sevan
, Lake Van
and Lake Urmia
.
Most of the Armenian Highland is in Turkey's Eastern Anatolia Region
, and also includes northwestern Iran
, all of Armenia
, and western Azerbaijan
. Its eastern parts are also known as Lesser Caucasus
, which is a birth place of Armenian people.
.
The Armenian Plateau has been called the "epicenter of the Iron Age
", since it appears to be the location of the first appearance of Iron Age metallurgy in the late 2nd millennium BC
. In the Early Iron Age, the kingdom of Ararat
controlled much of the region.
Throughout Classical Antiquity and the Middle Ages, the Armenian Highland was a heavily contested territory of the Byzantine
, the Ottoman
, the Persian, and Arab
spheres of influence. It was finally conquered by the Ottoman Empire
in the 16th century, and during the 19th century, it was the boundary of the Ottoman and the Russian
spheres of influence. Since the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire after World War I
, it has been the boundary region of Turkey
, Iran
and the Soviet Union
and, since the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, Armenia
, Georgia
and Azerbaijan
.
was known by the Romans as the prunus armenicus (the Armenian plum) and was brought to Europe
from the Armenian plateau.
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
s that together form the northern sector of the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. To its west is the Anatolian plateau which rises slowly from the lowland coast of the Aegean Sea
Aegean Sea
The Aegean Sea[p] is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkan and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey. In the north, it is connected to the Marmara Sea and Black Sea by the Dardanelles and Bosporus...
and rises to an average height of 3000 feet (914.4 m). In Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, the average height rises dramatically from 3000 feet (914.4 m) to 7000 feet (2,133.6 m). To its southeast is the Iranian plateau
Iranian plateau
The Iranian plateau, or Iranic plateau, is a geological formation in Southwest Asia. It is the part of the Eurasian Plate wedged between the Arabian and Indian plates, situated between the Zagros mountains to the west, the Caspian Sea and the Kopet Dag to the north, the Hormuz Strait and Persian...
, where the elevation drops rapidly to an average 2000 feet (609.6 m) to 5000 feet (1,524 m) feet above sea level.
Name
Haykakan leṙnašxarh Armyanskoye nagorye- TurkishTurkish languageTurkish is a language spoken as a native language by over 83 million people worldwide, making it the most commonly spoken of the Turkic languages. Its speakers are located predominantly in Turkey and Northern Cyprus with smaller groups in Iraq, Greece, Bulgaria, the Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo,...
: Ermenistan Yaylası or Ermenistan Platosu
Political aspect
When the Treaty of LausanneTreaty of Lausanne
The Treaty of Lausanne was a peace treaty signed in Lausanne, Switzerland on 24 July 1923, that settled the Anatolian and East Thracian parts of the partitioning of the Ottoman Empire. The treaty of Lausanne was ratified by the Greek government on 11 February 1924, by the Turkish government on 31...
was signed in 1923, the Republic of Turkey was established. In its attempts to Turkify
Turkification
Turkification is a term used to describe a process of cultural or political change in which something or someone who is not a Turk becomes one, voluntarily or involuntarily...
the geographical and settlement names in Turkey, the authorities of the republic began a systematic campaign to alter non-Turkish placenames. These attempts included the name change of the geographical expression of "Armenia" or "Armenian plateau" to "Eastern Anatolia."
Geography
Its total area is about 400,000 km². Geologically recent volcanismVolcanism
Volcanism is the phenomenon connected with volcanoes and volcanic activity. It includes all phenomena resulting from and causing magma within the crust or mantle of a planet to rise through the crust and form volcanic rocks on the surface....
on the area has resulted in large volcanic formations and a series of massif
Massif
In geology, a massif is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole...
s and tectonic movement has formed the three largest lakes in the Highland, Lake Sevan
Lake Sevan
Lake Sevan is the largest lake in Armenia and the Caucasus region. It is one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world.Lake Sevan is situated in the central part of the Republic of Armenia, inside the Gegharkunik Province, at the altitude of 1,900m above sea level...
, Lake Van
Lake Van
Lake Van is the largest lake in Turkey, located in the far east of the country in Van district. It is a saline and soda lake, receiving water from numerous small streams that descend from the surrounding mountains. Lake Van is one of the world's largest endorheic lakes . The original outlet from...
and Lake Urmia
Lake Urmia
Lake Urmia , ancient name: Lake Matiene) is a salt lake in northwestern Iran, near Iran's border with Turkey. The lake is between the Iranian provinces of East Azerbaijan and West Azerbaijan, west of the southern portion of the similarly shaped Caspian Sea...
.
Most of the Armenian Highland is in Turkey's Eastern Anatolia Region
Eastern Anatolia Region
The Eastern Anatolia Region is one of seven non-administrative subdivisions of Turkey and encompasses its eastern provinces.The region and the name "Doğu Anadolu Bölgesi" were first defined at the First Geography Congress in 1941. It has the highest average altitude, largest geographical area, and...
, and also includes northwestern Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, all of Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, and western Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. Its eastern parts are also known as Lesser Caucasus
Lesser Caucasus
Lesser Caucasus is one of the two main mountain ranges of Caucasus mountains, of length about 600 km....
, which is a birth place of Armenian people.
History
From 4,000 B.C. to 1,000 B.C., tools and trinkets of copper, bronze and iron were commonly produced in this region and traded in neighboring lands where those metals were less abundant. It is also traditionally believed to be one of the possible locations of the Garden of EdenGarden of Eden
The Garden of Eden is in the Bible's Book of Genesis as being the place where the first man, Adam, and his wife, Eve, lived after they were created by God. Literally, the Bible speaks about a garden in Eden...
.
The Armenian Plateau has been called the "epicenter of the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
", since it appears to be the location of the first appearance of Iron Age metallurgy in the late 2nd millennium BC
2nd millennium BC
The 2nd millennium BC marks the transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age.Its first half is dominated by the Middle Kingdom of Egypt and Babylonia. The alphabet develops. Indo-Iranian migration onto the Iranian plateau and onto the Indian subcontinent propagates the use of the chariot...
. In the Early Iron Age, the kingdom of Ararat
Urartu
Urartu , corresponding to Ararat or Kingdom of Van was an Iron Age kingdom centered around Lake Van in the Armenian Highland....
controlled much of the region.
Throughout Classical Antiquity and the Middle Ages, the Armenian Highland was a heavily contested territory of the Byzantine
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
, the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
, the Persian, and Arab
Caliphate
The term caliphate, "dominion of a caliph " , refers to the first system of government established in Islam and represented the political unity of the Muslim Ummah...
spheres of influence. It was finally conquered by the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
in the 16th century, and during the 19th century, it was the boundary of the Ottoman and the Russian
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
spheres of influence. Since the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, it has been the boundary region of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and, since the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
and Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
.
Flora and fauna
The apricotApricot
The apricot, Prunus armeniaca, is a species of Prunus, classified with the plum in the subgenus Prunus. The native range is somewhat uncertain due to its extensive prehistoric cultivation.- Description :...
was known by the Romans as the prunus armenicus (the Armenian plum) and was brought to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
from the Armenian plateau.
Notable peaks
| Rank | Mountain | Prominence | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mount Ararat Mount Ararat Mount Ararat is a snow-capped, dormant volcanic cone in Turkey. It has two peaks: Greater Ararat and Lesser Ararat .The Ararat massif is about in diameter... |
5,165 m |  Turkey Iğdır ProvinceIgdir Province Iğdır Province is a province in eastern Turkey, located along the border with Armenia, Azerbaijan , and Iran. Its adjacent provinces are Kars to the northwest and Ağrı to the west and south... |
| 2 | Mount Aragats Mount Aragats Mount Aragats , Alagoz - is a large andesitic-to-dacitic stratovolcano in NW Armenia about 40 km NW of the capital city of Yerevan. It is the highest point in Armenia, located in the province of Aragatsotn, northwest from Yerevan. Located on its slopes are the Byurakan Observatory and the... |
4,095 m |  Armenia Aragatsotn Province |
| 3 | Mount Süphan Mount Süphan Mount Süphan , is a stratovolcano located in eastern Turkey, immediately north of Lake Van. It is the second highest volcano in Turkey, after the mount Ararat.-External links:*... |
4,058 m | Turkey Bitlis Province Bitlis Province Bitlis Province is a province of eastern Turkey, located to the west of Lake Van.-History:Bitlis was formed as an administrative district in the 17th Century... |
| 4 | Mount Kapudzhukh Mount Kapudzhukh Kapudzhukh is a mountain in the Caucasus. It is tall and is on the international border between Armenia and Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, an exclave of Azerbaijan.... |
3,906 m | Syunik Syunik Syunik is the southernmost province of Armenia. It borders the Vayots Dzor marz to the north, Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave to the west, Karabakh to the east, and Iran to the south. Its capital is Kapan. Other important cities and towns include Goris, Sisian, Meghri, Agarak, and Dastakert... ,  Azerbaijan Ordubad |
| 5 | Mount Azhdahak Azhdahak Azhdahak – Volcano Azhdahak , elevation - 3597 m above sea level - the highest point of Geghama Mountain Range in Armenia. Azhdahak is part of the Ghegam Ridge volcanic field, which last erupted at 1900 BC ± 1000 years.... |
3,597 m | Armenia Gegharkunik Province |
| 6 | Mount Kezelboghaz | 3,594 m | Armenia Syunik Province |
| 7 | Mount Artos | 3,515 m | Turkey Van Province Van Province Van Province is a province in eastern Turkey, between Lake Van and the Iranian border. It is 19,069 km2 in area and had a population of 1,035,418 at the end of 2010.... |