Vayots Dzor
Encyclopedia
Vayots Dzor is a province (marz
) of Armenia
. It lies in the south-east of the country, bordering the Nakhichevan
exclave of Azerbaijan
in the west and the Azerbaijan
in the east. It covers an area of 2,308 km². With a population of only 53,230 (2002 census), it is the most sparsely populated province in the country. The capital is Yeghegnadzor
.
, Vayots Dzor was a principality of the Kingdom of Syunik
. The name literally means "Valley of Woes" because the area was devastated by several earthquakes during its history.
monastery, the Smbataberd
fortress, and the Tsakhats Kar monastery. The spa town of Jermuk
, one of Armenia's premiere tourist attractions during Soviet times, is also located in the province.
, the administrative subdivisions of Armenia before 1995. She was part of Sharur-Daralagez uyezd in Erivan Governorate
as Daralagez before foundation of Democratic Republic of Armenia
in 1918.
Administrative divisions of Armenia
Armenia is subdivided into eleven administrative divisions. Of these, ten are provinces, known as marzer or in the singular form marz in Armenian....
) of Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. It lies in the south-east of the country, bordering the Nakhichevan
Nakhichevan
The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is a landlocked exclave of Azerbaijan. The region covers 5,363 km² and borders Armenia to the east and north, Iran to the south and west, and Turkey to the northwest...
exclave 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...
in the west and the 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...
in the east. It covers an area of 2,308 km². With a population of only 53,230 (2002 census), it is the most sparsely populated province in the country. The capital is Yeghegnadzor
Yeghegnadzor
Yeghegnadzor is the capital of the Armenian province of Vayots Dzor. The name of the city means "the valley of canes" in the Armenian language. During Joseph Stalin's time, the city was renamed after Soviet politician Anastas Mikoyan...
.
History
During the Middle AgesMedieval Armenia
-Prelude:Western Armenia had been under Byzantine control since the partition of the Kingdom of Armenia in AD 387, while Eastern Armenia had been under the occupation of the Sassanid Empire starting 428. Regardless of religious disputes, many Armenians became successful in the Byzantine Empire and...
, Vayots Dzor was a principality of the Kingdom of Syunik
Syunik
Syunik is the southernmost province of Armenia. It borders the Vayots Dzor marz to the north, Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave to the west, Karabakh to the east, and Iran to the south. Its capital is Kapan. Other important cities and towns include Goris, Sisian, Meghri, Agarak, and Dastakert...
. The name literally means "Valley of Woes" because the area was devastated by several earthquakes during its history.
Sights
The province is rich in historical and architectural sites, such as the NoravankNoravank
Noravank is a 13th century Armenian Apostolic Church monastery, located 122 km from Yerevan in a narrow gorge made by the Amaghu river, nearby the city of Yeghegnadzor, Armenia. The gorge is known for its tall, sheer, brick-red cliffs, directly across from the monastery. The monastery is best...
monastery, the Smbataberd
Smbataberd
Smbataberd is a fortress located upon the crest of a hill between the villages of Artabuynk and Yeghegis in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia.- Site :...
fortress, and the Tsakhats Kar monastery. The spa town of Jermuk
Jermuk
Jermuk is a spa town in the southern Armenian province of Vayots Dzor, 53 km east of Yeghegnadzor, the capital of Vayots Dzor. It was a popular destination during the Soviet era and nowadays is still famous for its hot springs and its brand of mineral water that is bottled in the vicinity...
, one of Armenia's premiere tourist attractions during Soviet times, is also located in the province.
Geography
Vayots Dzor borders the following marzer:- Ararat - northwest
- Gegharkunik - north
- Syunik - southeast
Communities
The province of Vayots Dzor consists of the following 44 communities (hamaynkner), of which 3 (bold in the table) are considered urban and 41 are considered rural. The division below is by raionRaion
A raion is a type of administrative unit of several post-Soviet countries. The term, which is from French rayon 'honeycomb, department,' describes both a type of a subnational entity and a division of a city, and is commonly translated in English as "district"...
, the administrative subdivisions of Armenia before 1995. She was part of Sharur-Daralagez uyezd in Erivan Governorate
Erivan Governorate
Erivan Governorate was one of the guberniyas of the Russian Empire, with its centre in Erivan . Its area was 27,830 sq. kilometres. It roughly corresponded to what is now most of central Armenia, the Iğdır Province of Turkey, and Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave...
as Daralagez before foundation of Democratic Republic of Armenia
Democratic Republic of Armenia
The Democratic Republic of Armenia was the first modern establishment of an Armenian state...
in 1918.
| Vayk | Jermuk | Yeghegnadzor |
|---|---|---|
|
Gndevaz Gndevaz is a village in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. It is home to the 10th century Gndevank Monastery.... Jermuk Jermuk is a spa town in the southern Armenian province of Vayots Dzor, 53 km east of Yeghegnadzor, the capital of Vayots Dzor. It was a popular destination during the Soviet era and nowadays is still famous for its hot springs and its brand of mineral water that is bottled in the vicinity... |
Agarakadzor Agarakadzor is a village in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. 2 km from the village is a 13th century bridge that once served as the main route to Julfa. 2 km east of Agarakadzor is a 13-15th century cemetery.- References :... Aghavnadzor, Vayots Dzor Aghavnadzor is a village in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. 1 km east of the village is the 13th c. Aghjkaberd fort. The 12th century church of S. Astvatsatsin is 4 km northeast, with a funerary monument from the year 1009 nearby. The ruins of a caravanserai are 4 km northwest, and 4 km... Aghnjadzor Aghnjadzor is a village in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. One kilometer north of the village is the site of the notable Lernantsk Caravanserai, appearing east of the road like a half-buried Quonset hut. It was built at approximately the same period as the Selim Caravanserai but is smaller... Areni Areni is a village in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. It is best known for its wine production, although the majority of wine produced locally is from the nearby village of Getap. The church of S. Astvatsatsin is a single-nave two-aisled domed Armenian church completed in the year 1321, and... Arpi, Armenia Arpi is a town in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com... Artabuynk Artabuynk is a town in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com... Chiva, Armenia Chiva is a village in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia.... Getap, Vayots Dzor Getap is a town in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. Its main industry is wine production with there being many vineyards in the village. It is amazing to visit in the spring and summer when the grapes are collected for the wine.- References :... Gladzor Gladzor is a town in the Vayots Dzor province of Armenia.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com... Gnishik Gnishik is a town in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. The Gnishik community, including the town of Mozrov has a combined population of 141.... Goghtanik Goghtanik is a town in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia.... Hermon, Armenia Hermon is a town in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. Hermon is identified with the monastic center of "Hermoni Vank" dating from the 9th century.... Horbategh Horbategh is a town in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia.... Hors, Armenia Hors is a town in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia.... Karaglukh Karaglukh is a town in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia.... Khachik, Armenia Khachik is a town in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia.... Malishka Malishka is translated as "the little one" from Russian.Malishka is a town in the Vayots Dzor province of Armenia.- Gallery :Malishka is the second largest village in Armenia by population and the largest by land mass. Almost all of the population lives by subsistence farming... Salli, Armenia Salli is a town in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia.... Shatin, Armenia Shatin is a town in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com... Vardahovit Vardahovit is a town in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia.... Vernashen Vernashen is a town in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia. The 13th century fortress of Proshaberd, also known as Boloraberd is located nearby.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com... Yeghegis Yeghegis is a town in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia.... Yeghegnadzor Yeghegnadzor is the capital of the Armenian province of Vayots Dzor. The name of the city means "the valley of canes" in the Armenian language. During Joseph Stalin's time, the city was renamed after Soviet politician Anastas Mikoyan... Yelpin Yelpin is a village community located in the South-West of Armenia in Vayots Dzor province . It is located 97 km away from Yerevan and 27 km away from provincial center Yeghegnadzor... |