Dendropark- botanical garden

Dendropark or Sochut is located in Stepanavan, Lori Province. It was founded by Polish engineer-forester Edmon Leonovich in 1933, who was the park’s director until 1984. The director’s post was then taken up by the founder’s son. In 1998 the park was proclaimed a Special Protected Area.

Botanical garden with 500 species
The botanical garden covers an area of 35 ha, out of which the 17.5 ha is occupied by the natural forest and the 15 ha by ornamental trees. Notably, Dendropark is considered the first natural forest landscape in the Transcaucasia that was converted into a forest park. There are currently over 500 species in the park.
Most of the species introduced in the garden were acquired from Yerevan Botanical Garden. But it should be said that the collection of Dendropark would probably not be this impressive if the species were obtained only from the Yerevan Botanical Garden. Many plants were acquired from other botanical gardens as well. Among those gardens are the botanical gardens in Tbilisi (Georgia), Kiev (Ukraine), Nikitski (Crimea), Leningrad and Moscow (former Soviet Union) and the Far East. In regard to these acquirements it should be noted that they were made possible via Yerevan Botanical Garden, which got them as part of an international exchange program.

Later on, specimens were acquired from such countries as the US, Germany, France, China and Portugal.
It’s especially popular in May when locals with respiratory problems come to inhale the pollen (not recommended for allergy sufferers!).