Ocean instead of Ararat

Territory of Armenia millions of years ago

According to scientists, the flora and fauna of that period was close to the current climate of Eastern and Equatorial Africa.

The Armenian Highlands is a part of the Alpide belt or Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt that emerged about 25 million years ago (the Neogene period). Before that time, Armenia was buried under the waters of the ancient Tethys Ocean that existed between the continents of Gondwana and Laurasia during much of the Mesozoic era, before the opening of the Indian and Atlantic oceans during the Cretaceous period.

As a land, Armenia was formed following long-lasting complicated geological transformations. The waters of the ocean shrank from time to time, allowing the earth's crust to go up and down. However, the small islands were flooded again had life hardly originated there.

Huge numbers of marine fauna fossils were discovered in the area: gastropods, ammonites, sea hedgehogs, etc. The thermophilic marine life proves that the ocean was tropic. Whale was one of the most ancient mammals found in the territory of the South Caucasus. The remnants supposed to be 55-65 million years old (the Eocene age) were found in the layers of Apsheron peninsula. Remains of sea-cows were spotted in the same area.

During the Oligocene (30-35 million years ago), the ocean waters ebbed, leaving masses of siltage, which is now part of our planet’s crust, as well as petrifaction.

The ancient ocean also left ‘live successors’ – the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, Caspian Sea and Persian Gulf.

Life started to originate in Armenia after the water had gone. The mountains were not high; the climate was warm enough for tropical plants and animals. During the Early Oligocene Sub-Epoch (Lower Oligocene), ferns, giant conifers, myrtles emerged. In the Miocene (the first geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about 23.03 to 5.332 million years ago), mammals like hippopotamuses, rhinoceroses, elephants and others appeared.

Skeleton of trogontherium elephants in the Geological Museum of Armenia

According to scientists, the flora and fauna of that period was close to the current climate of Eastern and Equatorial Africa. For example, in the territory of historic Armenia bones of big antelopes, which presently affect Africa, were found.

Besides, during various periods of time, remnants of mastodons, trogontherium elephants, mammoths, giraffes and rhinos were discovered across the Shirak Plato. Thus, while forming as a land, Armenia had a climate that resembled tropics.

At the end of the Tertiary period (about 7 million years ago), Armenia again undergoes drastic alternations as result of temperature changes that followed orogenic processes and orbital climate variations. However, despite cold spell, all ice ages had a feeble effect on Armenia.

During the Quaternary (2 million years ago), the Earth survived several ice epochs. While the Russian plains, most part of Europe and Northern America were covered with ice and snow, Armenia was not affected so aggressively. The ice covered only the highest mountains – Ararat, Aragats, Geghama highland and Zangezur mountain range - and slid down the river valleys till they reached 2000 meter mark, leaving gorges, mountain feet and valleys free.

Naturally, under the circumstances, animals and plants had either to resettle in warmer areas or get accustomed to the new conditions. As result of thousands-year-old changes, new species like Armenian muflon, bezoar goat, Caucasian tur, Armenian yellow bee, appeared.

Getting higher and higher, the Armenian Highlands transformed from tropical valleys and plains into severe mountainous areal 2000 meters above the sea level. That was the time of devastating earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The birth of biblical Ararat was one of the masterpieces of that epoch.