Conservation Area of Marakan

The conservation area of Marakan is located in the south of Aras shores and inside the city of Khoy.
On the north border of this region runs the river of Aras on the border of the Azerbaijan Republic.
The region extends north to the river of Aras, south to the eroded field of Ghatur Chai River, west to the agricultural lands of Ghara Ziyaeddin, and east to the main road which goes off Jolfa and continues towards the south. It is along the gas pipeline. Aras Dam,too, is situated in the northwest of the region.
The lowest height of the region, 720 m, is in the east part of the region and the maximum height, 2,100 m,is located on the heights of the Church Saint Stephanos. Generally, the whole region is surrounded by the fields and foothills and the heights rise in the middle part.
On Mehr 20, 1344 Marakan and Yekanat were approved as the protected areas and after an official announcement they were under protection. In 1346, the region of Yekanat was separated from Marakan. With an area of 92,715 hectares, Marakan was approved as a protected area following the number 1 directive of the supreme council of hunting and supervising hunts on Shahrivar 2, 1346.
Before 1346, the region was increasingly under destruction due to irregular grazing of herd, cutting down the trees, illegal hunting and spoiling the meadows, turning them into farm lands. But in 1346 after the regulations of protection were put into force and thanks to the attempts by gamekeepers, the vegetation of the region was restored.
The protected area of Marakan in Khoy is considered the main and most charming ecotourism spot, covering an area of 103,983 hectares. It is also amongst the oldest quadruple regions in the Environment Protection Organization.
Numbered 220, the region was approved for conservation by the supreme council of the Environment Protection on Mehr 7, 1380. The conserved area stretches an area of 11,435 hectares.
In the protected area of Marakan, 28 species from the 12 families and 5 orders of mammals are recognized the most important of which include Armenian sheep, leopard, goats, lynx, and gray hamster.
So far 128 bird species belonging to 34 families have been identified; the most prominent of which are osprey, golden eagle, lanner, Kabk Dorri-a kind of partridge- Kabk Chil-again a sort of partridge- Egyptian vulture, and eagle.
Also up to now 34 species of reptiles and fish are recognized in the place among which are Alborz serpents, spur-thighed tortoise, catfish , etc.
At least the height of the region in the bed of the river of Zab measures 1,300 m and the tallest height reaches 1,852 m on the peak of Haj Matak Mountain.
In addition to the oak trees, which cover 70% of the forest vegetation, small masses of Valik, hawthorn, Acer cinerascens , Keikam, walnut, wild almond, and sometimes sumac are also seen in the area.
Furthermore, single apple, pear, and wild plum trees as well as sweetbrier are found there. The reserved area involves 10 major types of diverse vegetation and some agricultural lands, forests, and rocks.
The vegetation is amazingly scattered all over the place and particularly in hot areas, in foothills, and in the gentle non-rocky slopes a combination of herbaceous communities and various plants such as grass, Astypa , Poa , oats , and Agropyron are seen along with sagebrush species. All over the place especially in high areas, different species of dry and the prickly plants and bushes, astragalus, Chubak, and Kolah Mir Hassan are also grown in the spot.
In some parts only sagebrush and grass are seen. On the foothills and various valleys in the region, especially on the northern and central heights, shrubs like cotoneaster, Ramnus, elm, wild pear, Kahi Boneh, and wild sweetbrier are spotted. Gaz plants exist on the banks of the river of Aras and Ghich, a kind of plant, is often seen on the west of Sham Valley dispersed from Guysal up to Agh Bolagh.
Abundant valleys are beautified with exuberant walnut trees. Also, on the edge and banks of the rivers, willow, ash- trees and poplar are found.
Among other distinguished animal species of the region include, brown bear, Persian squirrel, wild boar, wolf , rabbit , white stork , large grebe , King owl , sparrow-hawk, species of ducks, and various species of lizards.