This contribution refers to ongoing research project funded by the Government of the Republic of Armenia titled “Geopark as an impetus for sustainable economic development and environmental protection in Gegharkunik and Vayots Dzor Provinces, Armenia” currently implemented by the Institute of Geological Sciences of the Armenian NAS. Tectonically and volcanically active territory of Armenia, located in Arabia-Eurasia continent-continent collision zone, is characterized by a complex geological history and the presence of a mosaic of different geological blocks and terranes, for instance, continental blocks, ophiolites and arcs merged together by long-lasting convergent plate geodynamics. The presence of internationally significant geological sites combined with rich archeological, historical and cultural context strongly supports the idea of establishment of Geopark in Armenia, also taking into account potential economic benefits both at country level and for more than one hundred local communities.The suggested area for the first Armenian Geopark comprises several thousand sq.km, mostly in Gegharkunik and Vayots Dzor provinces. The selected area Geopark is unique also in its diverse mountain landscapes and volcanic landforms. Given the presence of active faults, volcanoes and significant examples of volcano-tectonic interactions, as well as certain well-pronounced evidence of hazardous geological phenomena, such as surface ruptures, Holocene volcanism, tectonically induced landslides, sedimentological and paleontological evidence of past mass extinction events, geothermal activity, etc., it is proposed to establish a Geopark focused on geological hazards.Post-collisional volcanism is one of the key features of geology of Armenia and volcanological geosites play a significant role in the proposed Geopark, particularly, some of Pleistocene-Holocene volcanoes, lava flows, lava tubes, lava falls, crater lakes, as well as thick obsidian flows with records of Paleolithic use and other sites.To date, 40 geosites, classified according to geological phenomena having an international or regional significance, have been selected and documented according to local experience and international approaches. Some of the selected geosites are characterized by a complex geological record, with a long history of research and multidisciplinary studies.The proposed Armenian Geopark aims at wider sharing of the accumulated geological knowledge with society and attracting tourists as a factor of sustainable development. It is suggested that the establishment of Geopark in Armenia will strongly support the protection of rich geological heritage and geoconservation, contributing to sustainable management of protected areas and spreading Earth sciences oriented knowledge and education in Armenia and beyond, in the entire region.

The Arteni volcanic complex (Armenia) represents a distinctive volcanic landscape characterized by well-preserved pyroclastic deposits, rhyolitic domes, extensive obsidian flows, and significant archaeological evidence. This study aims to evaluate the geoheritage value of the complex and to develop a scientifically grounded geotouristic trail model based on the targeted selection of representative viewpoints. Field-based investigations were integrated with semi-quantitative viewpoint assessment and GIS-supported spatial analysis, including morphometric, viewshed, and accessibility analyses. The results allowed the identification of key viewpoints (VP1–VP9), effectively representing the principal stages of volcanic evolution, including explosive eruptions, lava flow emplacement, and dome formation. Spatial analysis demonstrates that the selected view-points enable the development of a coherent, accessible, and scientifically meaningful geotouristic route while balancing scientific representativeness with visitor accessibility and safety. In addition, the widespread occurrence of obsidian and associated archaeological artifacts highlights the combined geological and cultural significance of the area. The proposed approach provides a transferable framework for the development of scientific geotourism in volcanic regions and contributes to geoheritage conservation, geoeducation, and sustainable regional development.

We perform Rayleigh wave ambient noise tomography to investigate crustal seismic velocity structure and sources of volcanism in Armenia. Armenia, a key part of the tectonically and volcanically active Caucasus‐Anatolia region, is actively being deformed by the ongoing Arabian‐Eurasian continental collision. Unlike typical intracontinental settings, Armenia exhibits exceptional diversity of volcanic compositions and eruption styles: large stratovolcanoes are interspersed among more broadly distributed monogenetic cones and extensive lava flows. This study presents the first seismic tomography model of Armenia with sufficient resolution to infer potential magma sources. We analyze ∼19 months of continuous ambient noise data recorded by 32 seismic stations, extracting Green's functions and Rayleigh wave dispersion curves. A two‐step tomographic inversion first yields 2D group velocity maps, followed by a 3D shear‐wave velocity model. Synthetic tests confirm the model's resolution and ability to detect lateral and vertical velocity anomalies. Our results reveal prominent low‐velocity anomalies down to 25 km beneath monogenetic cones, likely indicating magma transport zones. At greater depths, velocity anomalies reverse sign. A high‐velocity zone at 40 km depth beneath dispersed cones suggests crustal thinning and asthenosphere upwelling. Beneath Lake Sevan, we identify two distinct structures: a low‐velocity anomaly in the NW linked to fault‐related fracturing and fluid saturation, and a high‐velocity anomaly in the SE that may represent a rigid block, possibly remnant oceanic crust. This study provides new insights into crustal structure beneath Armenia, shedding light on its magmatic and tectonic evolution.

This study examines the hydrochemistry of mineral and freshwaters circulating in the crater of the Aragats volcano and on its Еastern and Сouthern slopes, as well as to clarifying several related issues. On the Еastern slopes, in connection with the composition of the mineral waters, a natural acid drainage phenomenon has been observed, which propagates downstream along the main tributary and gradually diminishes within the territory of the Tsaghkashen Village. In this area, noticeable differences are also observed in the compositions of waters discharging from outlets located in proximity to one another, which may be explained by the substantial difference in the depths of formation of the mineral and freshwater bodies, as well as by the isolation of their respective pathways to the Earth's surface. The most widespread and dominant water types were distinguished for the investigated sites, and their chemical formulas were determined according to Kurlov's classification.

The Arteni volcanic complex (Armenia) represents a distinctive volcanic landscape characterized by well-preserved pyroclastic deposits, rhyolitic domes, extensive obsidian flows, and significant archaeological evidence. This study aims to evaluate the geoheritage value of the complex and to develop a scientifically grounded geotouristic trail model based on the targeted selection of representative sites. Field-based investigations were integrated with a simplified semi-quantitative assessment of selected sites and Geographic Information System (GIS)-supported spatial analysis, including topographic, viewshed, and accessibility analyses. The results allowed for the selection of nine representative sites, effectively representing the principal stages of volcanic evolution, including explosive eruptions, lava flow emplacement, and dome formation. Spatial analysis demonstrates that the selected sites enable the development of a coherent, accessible, and scientifically meaningful geotouristic route while balancing scientific representativeness with visitor accessibility and safety. In addition, the widespread occurrence of obsidian and associated archaeological artifacts highlights the combined geological and cultural significance of the area. The proposed approach provides a transferable framework for the development of geotourism in volcanic regions and contributes to geoheritage conservation, geoeducation, and sustainable regional development.