SUMMIT OF MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
At over 4000m above Sea Level Mount Aragat is the highest point in Armenia and is isolated on a flat plain. Summitted here in late October the strong wind and -25C conditions have decorated the summit cross in horiztontal ice formations.
AMBERD FORTRESS, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
Amberd Fortress was built in the 7th Century fortress las is 2300, above sea level, on the slopes of Mount Aragats. It is positioned to guard the confluence of the Arkashen and Amberd rivers. The name translates to fortress in the clouds from Armenian.
VAHRAMASHEN CHURCH, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
Shrouded in Mist and adjacent to Amberd Fortress this church is a typical cruciform shape with four two-story chambers in the corners with a large circular twelve-faceted drum sits on top.
VAHRAMASHEN CHURCH, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
Across Armenia sites of Christian Architecture often occupy or lie adjacent to alternative beliefs rooted in Pagan superstition.
BYURAKAN OBSERVATORY, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
An aged scientist defies funding cuts and continues to conduct valuable astronomy work and maintaince in the aging complex.
BYURAKAN OBSERVATORY, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
Founded in 1946 by Viktor Hambardzumyan, whose notes are depicted, this observatory was one of the main astronomy centers of the USSR. The observatory has discovered special star clusters - stellar associations, more than 1,000 flare stars, dozens of Supernovae, hundreds of Herbig-Haro objects and cometary nebulae, hundreds of galaxies.
BYURAKAN OBSERVATORY, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
The house of Viktor Ambartsumian who was a Soviet Armenian scientist, and one of the founders of theoretical astrophysics. He worked in the field of physics of stars and nebulae, stellar astronomy, dynamics of stellar systems and cosmogony of stars and galaxies, and contributed to mathematical physics.Ambartsumian founded the Byurakan Observatory in 1946.
BYURAKAN OBSERVATORY, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
At present ZTA-2.6m telescope is the largest observational instrument of BAO operating since 1976. It was constructed at the LOMO (Leningrad Optical-Mechanical Association, Saint-Petersburg, Russia).
MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
Ater the breakup of the Soviet Union, the observatory fell into hard times. Today a group of dedicated astronomers and astrophyscisits maintain the facility.
BYURAKAN TOWNSHIP, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
An Armenian couple are married in a traditional ceremony before the festivities begin across the town.
SARNAGHBYUR, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
On the Western slopes of Mount Aragat the small agricultural township of Sarnaghbyur typifies the hardship of the region. Once productive land is suffering as climate change reduces annual rainfall. Here a small arable plot is restricted to where ground water reaches teh surface soil.
SARNAGHBYUR, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
30km above the township the snow-line of the higher altitude is clearly visible but is 5km higher than comparable times in decades past. Once frequented by shepherds with large herds of cattle of flocks of sheep the change in rainfall and snow patterns has rendered the pasture unproductive. Climate change has decimated the main source of income for these communities.
SARNAGHBYUR, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
A once productive cattle farm lies abandoned save for a few nomadic cattle. Once a thriving agricultural economy the combination of post-soviet economic collapse and degradation of pasture due to climage change has left communities in financial dificulty.
SARNAGHBYUR, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
A young shepherd boy tends to his small herd of cattle. Sarnaghbyur was historically an access point to the rich seasonal grassland that stretches up the slopes of Mount Aragat. Climate change and a reduction in rainfall have seen the pasture land and herds shrink.
SARNAGHBYUR, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
A shepherd watches his herd of cattle on the edge of town. He is one of 3 remaining farmers who still migrate their cattle from the town to what pasture land remains.
SARNAGHBYUR, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
A small cave within the town nick-named the 'Silver Spring' has long been a site of religious significance, worship and memorial. Once fed by underground glacial melt-water the spring has been dry for over 3 years. A tangible illustration on how climate change has effected water supply in the region.
SARNAGHBYUR, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
A small cave within the town nick-named the 'Silver Spring' has long been a site of religious significance, worship and memorial. Once fed by underground glacial melt-water the spring has been dry for over 3 years. A tangible illustration on how climate change has effected water supply in the region.
SARNAGHBYUR DAM, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
The fresh water reservoir south of town lies dry and depleted with the shoreline several metres below historic measurements. This massively restricts agricultural productuivity further across the Aragat plain that relies on the source for summer irrigation.
SARNAGHBYUR DAM, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
The fresh water reservoir south of town lies dry and depleted with the shoreline several metres below historic measurements. This massively restricts agricultural productuivity further across the Aragat plain that relies on the source for summer irrigation.
MARMASHEN MONASTERY, ARMENIA
Completed in the 10th century this monastery is 15 km north of Gyumri in the Shirak province of the Republic of Armenia.The churches at Marmashen are the best surviving examples of the Ani School of medieval Armenian architecture.
MARMASHEN MONASTERY, ARMENIA
Marmashen was the dynastic burial place for the Pahlavids.An inscription dated 1029 is carved on the south façade of the Katoghike church, the largest church in the complex. It states that Prince Vahram Pahlavouni constructed the monastery, but does not give precise references to any specific buildings within the monastery.
RIVER AKHURIAN, ARMENIA
The river Akhurian forms much of the border between Western Armenia and Eastern Turkey. Glacial meltwater from the Aragat Massif has much reduced the flow of the river in Spring effecting agriculture and efficiency of the hydroelectric schemes.
RIVER AKHURIAN, ARMENIA
The river Akhurian forms much of the border between Western Armenia and Eastern Turkey. Glacial meltwater from the Aragat Massif has much reduced the flow of the river in Spring effecting agriculture and efficiency of the hydroelectric schemes.
MARMASHEN MONASTERY, ARMENIA
An small scale apple farmer takes a cigarette break in his orchard on the banks of the River Akhurian. Climate change has reduced the seasonal water availability of the river and his land thus reducing his crop.
GYUMRI, ARMENIA
The Spitak earthquake of 7 December 1988 had its most devastating effect in Leninakan now called Gyumri. The main reason that the quake claimed so many lives was the poor quality of the construction of the apartment blocks in which so many inhabitants were buried alive.
GYUMRI, ARMENIA
The Spitak earthquake of 7 December 1988 had its most devastating effect in Leninakan now called Gyumri. The main reason that the quake claimed so many lives was the poor quality of the construction of the apartment blocks in which so many inhabitants were buried alive.
GYUMRI, ARMENIA
The ruined structure of the Shirak Hotel remains an unofficial memorial and poignant reminder of the horror of the 1988 Spitak Earthquake that claimed over 25000 lives.
HARICHAVANK MONASTERY, ARMENIA
Harichavank known as one of the most famous monastic centers in Armenia and it was especially renowned for its school and scriptorium. Archaeological excavations of 1966 indicate that Harich was in existence during the 2nd century BC, and was one of the more well known fortress towns in Armenia.
ARAGATSON, ARMENIA
Aragatson is a village in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia in the shadow of Mount Aragats twin peaks. Aragatsotn was a former sovkhoz soviet collective farm founded in 1971. It relies heavily on the main meltwater stream from the dwindling glaciers of Mount Aragats basin formation.
MOUNT ARAGAT GLACIER, ARMENIA
Observations shortly after World War II showed the presence of snowfields on the sides of the crater cirque, as well as moraines and permanent glaciers inside the crater. An analysis in 1996 indicated a surface area of 5.5-5.8 km2, but rapidly retreated afterwards. The glaciation here has been retreating on account of insufficient snowfall and increasing
MOUNT ARAGAT GLACIER, ARMENIA
Observations shortly after World War II showed the presence of snowfields on the sides of the crater cirque, as well as moraines and permanent glaciers inside the crater. An analysis in 1996 indicated a surface area of 5.5-5.8 km2, but rapidly retreated afterwards. The glaciation here has been retreating on account of insufficient snowfall and increasing
ARAGATSON, ARMENIA
Aragatson is a village in the Aragatsotn Province of Armenia in the shadow of Mount Aragats twin peaks. Aragatsotn was a former sovkhoz soviet collective farm founded in 1971. It relies heavily on the main meltwater stream from the dwindling glaciers of Mount Aragats basin formation.
ARA, MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
Shepherds bring in their flocks of sheep every evening across the Aragat Plain. The sheep must be protected from predation by Wolves and the extreme temperatures. Climate change has a seen a dramatic change in the weather conditions, rainfall and quality of the pasture.
MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
A contemporary symbol of Christianity marks the turning towards the peak of Mount Aragats. .
MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
Deep within a purpose built concrete bunker Cosmic Ray Detector units monitor different forms of radiation associated with thunderstorms, lightning and variations in the suns output.
MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
An aged circuit board within the receives electrical impulses and data feeds from the cosmic ray detectors positioned across the mountain side.
MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
The bunker of Cosmic Ray Detectors is accessible via a dim, damp access route direct from the basement of the accomodation block. Essential when snow-drifts exceed several metres in winter.
MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
The Mount Aragats Cosmic Ray Division facility operates and is staffed year around despite harsh winter conditions. Here detector units are positioned on stilts to keep them above the deep snow drifts.
MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
A derelict astronomy lab at 3200m above seal level on the South Western slopes of Mount Aragat.
MOUNT ARAGAT, ARMENIA
A snowy vista captured from Mount Aragats Cosmic Ray Division facility.