Most of Armenia is rugged, bleak and treeless. Like much of the Mediterranean and Middle East, the forests disappeared centuries ago and overgrazing (by goats in particular) and the resulting change in climate, has meant that the forest has never recovered and the landscape remains desolate.
However in the northeast of Armenia towards the Georgian border, the altitude dips to 350 metres resulti in a warmer, wetter micro climate and green lush forests. The area around the main town of town of Dilijan has long been a popular summer retreat for locals and Russians as far back as the nineteenth centre.
It is so wet that the newly constructed International School even has a thick turf roof.
Naturally there is yet another medieval monastery located in the verdant district - in this case the Haghartsin. Of the three churches in the complex, the oldest dates to the 13th century.
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