Murovdağ

Murovdağ / Mrav
Murovdağ / Mrav
Highest point
Elevation	3,724 m (12,218 ft)
Dimensions
Length	70 km (43 mi)
Naming
Native name	Murovdağ/Mrav
Geography
	Location of the mountain
Country	Azerbaijan (partially; de facto, de jure; Artsakh (partially; de facto)
Range coordinates	40°16′00″N 46°19′00″E / 40.2667°N 46.3167°ECoordinates: 40°16′00″N 46°19′00″E / 40.2667°N 46.3167°E

The Murovdağ or Mrav (anglicized as Murovdagh, listen (help·info); Armenian: Մռավի լեռնաշղթա, romanized: Mravi Lernash'ghta)^[1]^[2] is the highest mountain range in the Lesser Caucasus. The range is about 70 kilometres (43 mi) long, and Gamish Mountain is its highest peak at 3,724 metres (12,218 ft). It is made up mainly of Jurassic, Cretaceous and Paleogene rocks.^[3]

The Murovdağ ridge or Mrav range extends north from Hinaldag Peak through Gamish (or Gomshasar) Mountain. The northeastern slope features a group of scenic lakes, including Göygöl near the northern slope. The Karabakh/Syunik Plateau extends from the south of Murovdağ/Mrav. Fir and spruce forests are spread as far southeast as the Murovdağ. The summer mountain pastures of Murovdağ/Mrav were traditionally used by Azerbaijani and Armenian shepherds.

History[]

Following the First Nagorno-Karabakh war, the mountain ridge formed the northern part of the line of contact separating the self-proclaimed Republic of Artsakh from Azerbaijan. Its southern slopes ran through the Martakert region of Nagorno-Karabakh.^[1] In 1993 the ridge was the scene of a battle between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces that ended in an Armenian victory.^[4]

During the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, the peak of Murovdag came under Azerbaijani control.^[5]^[6]^[7]