The road to Noravank follows the Gnishik River Canyon, eight kilometers of stunning terrain and spectacular rock formations, which appear from the abundant volcanic deposits in the region. The canyon area is famous for its numerous caves (Bird, Mageli, Archeri and Mozrov Caverns), its Flora (Wild Yellow Rose, pistachio, wild pear, herbs and berries) and fauna. This area has been recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) hosting some globally threatened bird species. It also hosts extensive colonies of endangered bats and one of the country’s most treasured and endangered animals, the Caucasian Leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor). Noravank canyon flora is also very interesting and you can find not only rare plants but also an entire row of wild relatives of rare endemic cultivated plants, many species of medicinal plants, among them Spreading Pellitory and Scrophularia, a wonderful medicinal plant living in rock crevices, used as a homeopathic medicine to treat kidney stones.