Large-flowered poppies of Armenia

Armenia is a small (289 thousand square km) mountainous country, located in the Caucasus region. Ancient geographers called it the "Mountain Island" or the "Roof of Asia Minor". This country of contrasts and wonders is notable for great landscape and biological diversity. In comparative small area one can observe semi-desert (even sandy desert) and alpine meadows, high-mountain lakes and dark forests, beautiful waterfalls and numerous vivid rocks.  

It is a wonder that more than a half of species of the whole Caucasian flora grows here, on the area that forms only 5% of the territory of Caucasus.

Nowadays, the condition of the environment in Armenia is alarming. The fuel and energy crisis of last years and poverty of the population have led to unfortunate results such as mass felling - nearly one third of the of the forests of Armenia has been destroyed. The medicinal, edible and especially decorative wild plant collection has excessively increased. In the first place the plants with big and beautiful flowers are under the treat.