Meghri (river)
{{Infobox river
| name = Meghri
| image = Hearts Waterfall.jpg
| native_name = {{lang|hy|Մեղրի}}
| name_other = Meghriget
| country =
| subdivision_name1 = Armenia
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| country_type =
| subdivision_type2 = Province
| subdivision_name2 = Syunik
| source1 = Blue Lake
| mouth = Aras
| mouth_location = Meghri
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|38|53|19|N|46|16|0|E|region:AM-SU_type:river|display=inline,title}}
| length = {{cvt|36|km|mi}}
| source1_elevation = {{cvt|3250|m|ft}}
| mouth_elevation = {{cvt|380|m|ft}}
| discharge1_avg = {{cvt|3.53|m3|cuft}}
}}
The Meghri ({{langx|hy|Մեղրի}}, {{IPA|hy|mɛɣˈɾi|pron}}, also known as the Meghriget) is a tributary of the Aras River in the Syunik Province of southern Armenia. It descends steeply through the province, stretching {{convert|36|km|mi}} in length from its headwaters at Blue Lake to its confluence with the Aras, as a left tributary, south of the town of Meghri.
Geography
The Meghri is a river in Syunik Province, Armenia. It descends sharply over its course, from {{convert|3250|m|ft}} above sea level at its headwaters at Blue Lake, to an altitude of {{convert|380|m|ft}} at its confluence with the Aras.{{sfn|ArmStat|2021a|p=10}}{{sfn|ArmStat|2021b|p=378}}
The river's catchment area totals {{convert|336|km2|mi2}}. It has an average discharge of {{convert|3.53|m3|cuft}} per second, although this can increase dramatically during periods of flooding, up to a recorded high of {{convert|87.5|m3|cuft}} in March 1956.{{sfn|Vardanyan|Frolova|Galstyan|2021|p=198}}
A portion of the upper Meghri is within Arevik National Park.{{sfn|ArmStat|2021b|p=378}} The Meghri valley is the hottest and driest region in Armenia.{{sfn|Vardanyan|Frolova|Galstyan|2021|p=197}}
Flora and fauna
Due to its geographical separation from the rest of Armenia, several species of plants that grow within the Meghri basin are not found elsewhere in the country. It displays strong similarities with the flora of adjacent regions within Iran.{{sfn|Fayvush|Aleksanyan|2021|pp=84–85}}
The Eurasian otter is found in the Meghri river basin. Endangered in Armenia, otter populations have seen some recovery in the basin, where they frequently steal fish and pose a nuisance to aquaculture.{{sfn|Buzzard|Gyonjyan|Kaloyan|Aghasyan|2020|pp=196–202}} However, lower water levels from the installation of hydroelectric stations has caused many to migrate to the Aras itself.{{sfn|Buzzard|Gyonjyan|Kaloyan|Aghasyan|2020|pp=196–202}}
References
{{reflist}}
=Bibliography=
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite report |title=Marzes of the Republic of Armenia and Yerevan City in Figures |chapter=Geographical Characteristic of the Republic of Armenia |pages=8–13 |url=https://armstat.am/file/article/marzer_2021_1.pdf |publisher=Statistical Committee of Armenia (ArmStat) |date=2021a |ref={{harvid|ArmStat|2021a}}}}
- {{cite report |title=Marzes of the Republic of Armenia and Yerevan City in Figures |chapter=Syunik Marz |pages=377–388 |url=https://armstat.am/file/article/marzer_2021_33.pdf |publisher=Statistical Committee of Armenia (ArmStat) |date=2021b |ref={{harvid|ArmStat|2021b}}}}
- {{cite journal |first1=Paul J. |last1=Buzzard |first2=Andranik |last2=Gyonjyan |first3=Gor |last3=Kaloyan |first4=Levon |last4=Aghasyan |date=2020 |journal=IUCN Otter Specialist Group Bulletin |volume=37 |issue=4 |issn=1023-9030 |url=https://www.iucnosgbull.org/Volume37/Buzzard_et_al_2020.pdf |title=Update on the Status of the Eurasian Otter Lutra lutra in Armenia}}
- {{cite journal |first1=Georgi |last1=Fayvush |first2=Alla |last2=Aleksanyan |journal=Bocconea |issn=1120-4060 |doi=10.7320/Bocc29.077 |date=2021 |pages=77–89 |volume=29 |title=Plant Diversity in Riverine Wetlands of Armenia |doi-access=free}}
- {{cite journal |first1=Trahel G. |last1=Vardanyan |first2=Natalia L. |last2=Frolova |first3=Hrachuhi S. |last3=Galstyan |doi=10.24057/2071-9388-2020-122 |date=2021 |title=The Characteristics Of Extreme Maximum Runoff Of The Rivers Of Armenia In The Context Of Global Climate Change |journal=Geography, Environment, Sustainability |volume=14 |pages=196–208 |issn=2542-1565 |doi-access=free}}
{{refend}}