Reports on Environment and Urban Development for Alaverdy

GEO ALAVERDI: ENVIRONMENT AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT

The area is rich with copper-sulfur volcanic rock, gypsum and stone reserves. The highland zoning re fl ects the city area, by stretching from arid to forested areas. Forest soils are usual, as well as carbonated and black soils. Alaverdi landscape (basically in Debed Valley) consists of sloped ridges, except for Sanahin lowland. The left bank slopes descent to the river abruptly, whereas the right bank slopes gradually. Alaverdi copper mine has been systematically studied since 1929. By its origin it is a hydrothermal mine of small depths and average temperatures. The mine area consists of volcanic tuff-basalts, conglomerates, high thickness sandstone layers. The main water body of the area is the Debed River, which heads from an absolute height of 870m, from the cross-section of Pambak and Dzoraget Rivers and fl ows into Khrami River in the territory of Georgia. River Debed fl ows through the mountain gorges of Somkheti and Gugarats. Till Ayrum the river fl ows through the deep valley (300-500m), then by lowland. The remaining, more low water rivers of the area are mainly the tributaries to Debed, and area characterized by high speed fl ows and abrupt deviations of the river bed. The Valley of Debed River has a form of a narrow and deep valley, which relatively expands in the area of Alaverdi. Tributary Lalvar passes through Alaverdi. The regime of the river is characterized by spring and fall high waters (120- 130 days). The increases in the level of water start in spring, from April, reach their maximum in May and continue till the fi rst half of June. The river is fed from ground waters, melting and rains. Debed River basin includes the steep ridges of the gorge, the plateaus of Akori and Sanahin, as well as the lowlands of Lalvar mountain chain. The absolute heights of the river basin are at 720 – 920m, whereas at the tops the altitudes are 960m – 1080m. The Chatindagh slopes on the right bank of the river are covered by broad- leaved forests and the forests on the left bank are not dense, spreading only towards the North-Western ridges of Lalvar highlands. Climate. Alaverdi is a hot climate, with mild winters of regular snow. In average the winter starts in the second 10-day period of December and ends in the beginning of March. The winter weather is unstable. Frosts, as well as sunny warm days are often. The spring is long-lasting, with regular humidity. The spring late frosts end in the second half of April.

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CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION. KEY PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ALAVERDI CITY

Environmental Knowledge for Change