The Debed Canyon is the dramatic geographical setting of Alaverdi — a deep, forested gorge where the Debed River has cut through the volcanic plateau, leaving sheer walls of up to 400 metres on either side. The town sits at the bottom, hemmed in by the slopes, while the monasteries of Sanahin and Haghpat occupy the plateaus above.
The gorge itself is scenically remarkable. The drive or train journey into Alaverdi from Vanadzor involves descending into the gorge through a series of bends, with the forested walls closing in. The section of the M6 highway along the Debed River is one of the more dramatic roads in Armenia. For walkers, trails climb the gorge walls to the monastery plateaus — the ascent to Sanahin takes about 40 minutes and offers expanding views of the gorge and the old copper smelter below.