Akdoğan Mountains ( tr, Akdoğan Dağları or Hamurpert Dağları); ( hy, Համուր, Khamur or Xamurpert); is a mountain range located at the zero point of the Muş and Erzurum border. It extends from the east of Akdoğan lake to Karaçoban district by crossing the border where Varto, Bulanık and

Hınıs Hınıs ( ku, Xinûs, hy, Խնուս, ''Khnus'') is a town and district of Erzurum Province in the Eastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. The population is 9,792 (as of 2010). Historical monuments in the town include the castle and the Ulu Cami Mosqu ...

districts intersect.

Geology and geomorphology

Akdoğan mountains appear as a mountain mass between the Hınıs Plain and the

Murat Murat may refer to: Places Australia * Murat Bay, a bay in South Australia * Murat Marine Park, a marine protected area France * Murat, Allier, a commune in the department of Allier * Murat, Cantal, a commune in the department of Cantal Elsewhe ...

river. It includes Akdoğan Lake, one of Turkey's highest and well-preserved lakes. It has rich water resources and some parts of the mountain consist of calcareous layers. Akdoğan Mountains are one of the important wetlands for birds and there are more than 100 small and shallow lakes on it. Most of the lakes are located around the

villages, located north of the 2879 meter peak. Akdoğan Mountains are one of the highest mountains in Muş province and have the most organized forests. The width of the Akdoğan mountains is 10 km and the length is 30 km. As a result of the volcanic eruptions in the Akdoğan Mountains, Akdoğan crater lakes was formed. Göztepe and Hızırbaba are one of the highest mountains on the Akdoğan mountains. Mount Süphan is visible even in the lowest parts of the region.

Biota

Flora

The main plant species in the Akdoğan mountains are toxic

Ferula ''Ferula'' (from Latin ''ferula'', 'rod') is a genus of about 220 species of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae, native to the Mediterranean region east to central Asia, mostly growing in arid climates. They are herbaceous perennial plants ...

and non-toxic Ferula, Rheum ribes, Gundelia,

Sorrel Sorrel (''Rumex acetosa''), also called common sorrel or garden sorrel, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the family Polygonaceae. Other names for sorrel include spinach dock and narrow-leaved dock ('dock' being a common name for the genus '' ...

Arum maculatum ''Arum'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Araceae, native to Europe, northern Africa, and western and central Asia, with the highest species diversity in the Mediterranean region. Frequently called arum lilies, they are not closely ...

Eremurus spectabilis ''Eremurus'' is a genus of deciduous perennial flowers in the family Asphodelaceae. They are also known as the foxtail lilies or desert candles. They are native to eastern Europe in (Russia and Ukraine), and temperate Asia from Turkey to China. ...

, Diplotaenia cachrydifolia Boiss,

Chaerophyllum ''Chaerophyllum'' is a genus of flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, with 35 species native to Europe, Asia, North America, and northern Africa. It includes the cultivated root vegetable '' Chaerophyllum bulbosum'' (turnip rooted chervil). ...

macrospermum, Thymus (plant),

Eryngium billardieri ''Eryngium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae. There are about 250 species.Wang, P., et al. (2012)Phytochemical constituents and pharmacological activities of ''Eryngium'' L. (Apiaceae). ''Pharmaceutical Crops'' 3 99-120. The ...

, Chondrilla juncea, Paeonia turcica, Astragalus kurdicus, Chicory and Euphorbia sp. In addition, there are Pleurotus eryngii var. ferulae mushrooms in every part of the mountain. Frangula alnus and Prunus cerasifera are located on the humid shores of the lakes. Oak trees, Crataegus monogyna, Malus sylvestris, Pyrus elaeagrifolia, Prunus mahaleb, Rosa canina, Aria edulis and

Cotoneaster nummularius ''Cotoneaster nummularius,'' the nummular or coinwort cotoneaster is a species of cotoneaster ''Cotoneaster'' is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, native to the Palaearctic region (temperate Asia, Europe, north Africa) ...

are other trees on the mountains.

Fauna

The main animals in the region are

Bear Bears are carnivoran mammals of the family Ursidae. They are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans. Although only eight species of bears are extant, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Nor ...

, Wolf,

Fox Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush''). Twelve sp ...

, Pig, Partridge,

Lynx A lynx is a type of wild cat. Lynx may also refer to: Astronomy * Lynx (constellation) * Lynx (Chinese astronomy) * Lynx X-ray Observatory, a NASA-funded mission concept for a next-generation X-ray space observatory Places Canada * Lynx, Ontar ...

, Duck, Turtle, Williams's jerboa,

Caspian turtle The Caspian turtle or striped-neck terrapin (''Mauremys caspica'') is a species of turtle in the family Geoemydidae (=Bataguridae), living in the eastern Mediterranean region from southwestern former USSR and central Iran to Saudi Arabia, Bahrai ...

and European green lizard.

References

{{Mountains of Turkey Mountains of Turkey Landforms of Muş Province Landforms of Erzurum Province Varto District Bulanık District