Martakert is a province of the de facto

De facto

De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...

independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

Nagorno-Karabakh Republic

The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic , or Artsakh Republic is a de facto independent republic located in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia...

. Its territory is a de jure

De jure

De jure is an expression that means "concerning law", as contrasted with de facto, which means "concerning fact".De jure = 'Legally', De facto = 'In fact'....

part of Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...

, divided between the Tartar

Tartar (rayon)

Tartar is a rayon of Azerbaijan. Most of it has been under the control of the breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh Republic since the Nagorno-Karabakh War, as part of Martakert Province....

 and Kelbajar rayon

Rayon

Rayon is a manufactured regenerated cellulose fiber. Because it is produced from naturally occurring polymers, it is neither a truly synthetic fiber nor a natural fiber; it is a semi-synthetic or artificial fiber. Rayon is known by the names viscose rayon and art silk in the textile industry...

s after Azerbaijan's abolition of the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast in 1991. The Sarsang reservoir

Sarsang reservoir

The Sarsang reservoir is a large lake located de-jure in Tartar Rayon of Azerbaijan and de-facto in Martakert Province of Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, formed by a hydroelectric dam. It is one of Azerbaijan's 61 water reservoirs, however Azerbaijan does not control the territory it is located...

 is located in this province.

Cultural sites

The Gandzasar monastery

Gandzasar monastery

Gandzasar monastery is a 10-13th century Armenian monastery situated in the Mardakert region of Nagorno-Karabakh, near the village of Vank. "Gandzasar" means treasure mountain or hilltop treasure in Armenian. The monastery holds relics believed to belong to St. John the Baptist and St Zechariah,...

, the Yeghishe Arakyal Monastery and the 17th century Armenian monastery Yerits Mankants are located in this province. In the summer of 2006, Armenia

Armenia

Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...

n media announced that the ruins of an ancient city built by King Tigranes the Great

Tigranes the Great

Tigranes the Great was emperor of Armenia under whom the country became, for a short time, the strongest state east of the Roman Republic. He was a member of the Artaxiad Royal House...

 had been discovered in the Mardakert region. Archaeologist Hamlet Petrosyan said it was no coincidence that that very location had been chosen for excavation - history had pointed to it strongly.

See also

• Surp Hovhannes Mkrtich Church
  Surp Hovhannes Mkrtich
  Surp Hovhannes Mkrtich, is an Armenian church located in Nagorno-Karabakh, in the town of Martakert. Compared to most Armenian churches, Surp Hovhannes Mkrtich is new, having been built in 1881. In 2003 the church was renovated....