Order No. 274-N of the Minister of Environmental Protection validating the Regulation on nature monuments “Basalt Columns” and “Anonymous Cave”. Country/Territory Armenia Document type Regulation Date 2017 Source FAO, FAOLEX Subject Environment gen. Keyword Protected area Ecosystem preservation Cultural heritage Research Monitoring Tourism Geographical area Asia, CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), Europe, Europe and Central Asia, Landlocked Developing Nations, Western Asia Abstract Nature monuments “Basalt Columns” is a piece of historical and cultural heritage of national scientific significance represented by huge columnar basalts with a hexagonal-pentagonal section formed as a result of the slow freezing of the inner parts of the lava flows. The following activities shall be prohibited on the territory of nature monument: (a) water abstraction, drilling and blasting operations; (b) removal of soil cover and destruction of natural habitats of wild fauna and wild flora; (c) geological works; (d) timber extraction; (e) any activity disturbing the appearance of nature monument; and (f) rock climbing and adventure tourism. The following activities shall be authorized on the territory of nature reserve: (a) recreation; (b) scientific research and monitoring; and (c) organized tourism. “Anonymous Cave” is a geological monument of national scientific significance formed as a result of the collapse of basalt columns with precise pentagonal, hexagonal and different thicknesses. The following activities shall be prohibited on the territory of nature monument: (a) water abstraction, drilling and blasting operations; (b) removal of soil cover and destruction of natural habitats of wild fauna and wild flora; (c) geological works; (d) timber extraction; (e) any activity disturbing the appearance of nature monument; and (f) rock climbing and adventure tourism. The following activities shall be authorized on the territory of nature reserve: (a) recreation; (b) scientific research and monitoring; and (c) organized tourism. Full text Armenian Website www.arlis.am