Cleanup at Azat Reservoir
Once or twice a year (except for 2020), the “4 Peaks” mountain club organizes a major cleanup with two goals: to educate children on caring for nature and, of course, to help nature breathe a little easier by clearing away trash. Even during hikes not specifically organized for cleanups, we never pass by without picking up litter.
Experience shows that areas near water basins and rivers are particularly polluted.
On March 21, we headed to the Azat Reservoir. Having been previously informed about the disastrous pollution in the area, we decided to organize a cleanup hike.
We started the hike near the village of Lanjazat. In a very short time and from a very small area, we collected 65 bags (120 liters each) of trash, cleaning only 1% (if not less) of the 2.85 sq. km coastal area of the Azat Reservoir. When the bags ran out and we moved on to the actual hike, passing through polluted areas, the children would say, “I wish I could pick this up…”, “Ms. Narine, aren’t we going to clean this shore too?”, “Why did people leave their trash here and go?” When they saw a group having a picnic on the shore, they would wonder, “I wonder if they’re going to leave trash?” We learned from parents that the kids shared their impressions at home, amazed by the volume of garbage.
Anyway, despite the emotional shock, we also enjoyed the beauty of the Azat Reservoir spread out under the watch of Mount Yeranos, with its beautiful islets, unique colors, and seagulls.
At the end of the hike, we returned to the trash we had collected, with great difficulty loaded it into a specially rented truck, and took it to the Nubarashen landfill. 90% of the collected waste was plastic bottles, 5% was glass bottles, and the other 5% consisted of various plastic and cloth scraps. Unfortunately, the plastic was not recyclable.
We posted about the cleanup on our page, and it went viral, reflecting people’s justified complaints and anger. The Lanjazat municipality contacted us, expressing their gratitude and willingness to support future cleanups. News websites also reached out, stating they would like to cover such future initiatives.
During discussions in various groups, we read opinions that the trash accumulated there because the Azat Reservoir has become a very popular destination. However, it should be noted that most of that trash reached the Azat Reservoir as a result of the negligence of visitors to Garni, Geghard, the Symphony of Stones, Havuts Tar, and other sites along the Azat River.
