Vardenis

Until 1969, Vardenis was known as Basarkechar{{Cite book |last=Bournoutian |first=George A. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1037283914 |title=Armenia and Imperial Decline: The Yerevan Province, 1900–1914 |date=2018 |isbn=978-1-351-06260-2 |location=Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon |pages=362 |oclc=1037283914}} ({{Langx|hy|Բասարգեչար|translit=Basargechar|label=none}};{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Վարդենիս |trans-title=Vardenis |url=http://www.caa.am/community/vardenis1.html |access-date=11 October 2022 |website=Communities Association of Armenia |language=hy}}{{Cite web |last=Hakobyan |first=Tatul |date=21 March 2022 |title=Վարդենիսի շրջանի գյուղերը 1831 թվականին |trans-title=Villages of the Vardenis District in 1831 |url=http://www.aniarc.am/2022/03/21/vardenis-1831-villages-korkotyan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221012204802/http://www.aniarc.am/2022/03/21/vardenis-1831-villages-korkotyan/ |archive-date=12 October 2022 |access-date=11 October 2022 |website=ANI Armenian Research Center |language=hy |quote=Thus, in the village of Vardenis, which was called Basargechar until 1969, Armenians from Western Armenia settled before 1831.}}{{Cite book |last=Korkotyan |first=Zaven |url=http://haygirk.nla.am/upload/1512-1940/1901-1940/hayastani_bnakchutyuny_1932.pdf |title=Խորհրդային Հայաստանի բնակչությունը վերջին հարյուրամյակում (1831-1931) |publisher=Pethrat |year=1932 |location=Yerevan |pages=26–27 & 110–111 |language=hy |trans-title=The population of Soviet Armenia in the last century (1831–1931) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202085400/http://haygirk.nla.am/upload/1512-1940/1901-1940/hayastani_bnakchutyuny_1932.pdf |archive-date=2 February 2022}} {{Langx|az|Basargeçer}};{{Cite web |last=Nişanyan |first=Sevan |title=Vardenis |url=https://nisanyanmap.com/?yer=66097&haritasi=vardenis |access-date=11 October 2022 |website=Index Anatolicus |language=tr}} {{Langx|ru|Басаргечар}}{{Cite journal |last=E. G. |first=Ovannisyan |date=2017 |title="Экзорцизм культурной инаковости": социальная интеграция и экономическое выживание беженцев в постсоветской Армении |trans-title='Exorcism of Cultural Otherness': Social Integration and Economic Survival of Refugees in Post-Soviet Armenia |url=https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/ekzortsizm-kulturnoy-inakovosti-sotsialnaya-integratsiya-i-ekonomicheskoe-vyzhivanie-bezhentsev-v-postsovetskoy-armenii |journal=Вестник Пермского университета. Серия: История |volume=2 |issue=37 |pages=45–54 |issn=2219-3111 |via=CyberLeninka}}). The town was also known as Vasakashen ({{Langx|hy|Վասակաշեն|label=none}}). The ancient name of Vasakashen was in reference to Prince Vasak who built his palace here in the middle ages.

File:Vardenis khachkars.jpgs near the town's church]]

The current territory of Vardenis was part of the Sotk canton of historic Syunik; the 9th province of Greater Armenia. According to traditional legends, the settlement was founded as Geghamabak by Gegham; the grandson of the legendary Hayk who is considered the legendary patriarch and founder of the Armenian nation.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

According to historian Ghevond Alishan, prince Gaburn Vasak of the Siunia dynasty, founded the settlement of Vasakashen by establishing a palace on the territory of modern-day Vardenis during the 9th century, which survived until the 17th century.{{cite book|last1= Hakobyan|first1= Tadevos Kh.|last2= Melik-Bakhshyan|first2= Stepan T.|last3= Barseghyan|first3= Hovhannes Kh.|author-link1= Tadevos Hakobyan|trans-title= Dictionary of Toponyms of Armenia and Adjacent Territories|title= Հայաստանի և հարակից շրջանների տեղանունների բառարան|chapter-url= http://nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=61&dt=HY_HY&pageNumber=3860 |publisher= Yerevan State University Press|year= 1998|page= 782|volume= 4|oclc= 247335945|language= hy|chapter= Վարդենիս [Vardenis]}}

After the fall of the Arsacid dynasty of Armenia in the mid 11th century, control over the Sotk canton was transferred to the Smbatyan dynasty prince of Vaykunk (Tsar) in the land of Artsakh.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

In the 19th century, many Armenians from the area migrated to Georgia. During 1829–1830, the settlement was re-inhabited by Armenian migrants from Diadin (Tateon) in Western Armenia. From 1930 to 1995 it was an administrative centre. Until 1969, the town was officially called Basargechar. The first general urban plan of Vardenis was applied in 1952. The updated plan of the town, including the community lands, was developed by the requirement of the Ministry of Urban Planning of Armenia in 2004.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Vardenis is one of the oldest settlements in Armenia. The town and its vicinities are rich in cultural heritage, with 568 monuments recorded. The most interesting are the Makenats monastery, the basilica in Sotk, the chapels of Ayrk and Karchaghbyur, the tombs of 3rd-1st millennia BC, the Cyclopean masonry, and the medieval khachkars (cross-stones). In the centre of Vardenis is located the Church of Surp Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God), built in 1905, where the Armenian historian Hovhannes Tsaretsi worked. The church is surrounded with numerous khachkars dating back to the 14th and the 17th centuries.

Whilst part of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, Vardenis was the administrative capital of the eponymous Vardenis District.{{Cite web |title=Legislation: National Assembly of RA |url=http://www.parliament.am/legislation.php?sel=show&ID=2243&lang=rus |access-date=2022-10-11 |website=www.parliament.am}}

In 2020, during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, Vardenis was struck by a rocket launched from an Azerbaijani drone.{{Cite web|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/842556/azerbaijan-fires-at-vardenis-armenia.html|title = Azerbaijan fires at Vardenis, Armenia| date=7 April 2016 }}{{Cite web|url=https://asbarez.com/14-year-old-boy-injured-from-azeri-drone-attack-on-vardenis/|title=14-Year-Old Boy Injured from Azeri Drone Attack on Vardenis – Asbarez.com|date=14 October 2020 }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-armenia-azerbaijan-casualties-idUSKBN26K1MH|title=Armenia reports first death on its soil after Azeri shelling|newspaper=Reuters|date=29 September 2020}}

In September 2022, Vardenis as well as several other Armenian towns, including Jermuk (Vayots Dzor Province), Goris (Syunik Province) and Sotk (Gegharkunik Province), came under attack by Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Many residential houses were damaged as a result of the shelling; people were displaced from their homes.{{Cite web|url=https://panarmenian.net/m/arm/news/302541|title=PanARMENIAN.Net - Mobile|website=panarmenian.net}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.1lurer.am/hy/2022/09/14/Ադրբեջանական-հարձակման-հետևանքով-առնվազն-2570-անձ-տեղահանվել-է-ՄԻՊ/795272|title=Ադրբեջանական հարձակման հետևանքով առնվազն 2570 անձ տեղահանվել է. ՄԻՊ|website=www.1lurer.am|date=14 September 2022 }}

File:Sevsar volcano 13.jpg

File:Paisaje montañoso de Vardenis.jpg

File:Plaza central de Vardenis.jpg

File:Surb Hakob Church, Vardenis, Armenia - panoramio.jpg

File:Vardenis018.jpg

Located in the valley of the Masrik River at an elevation of 2006 meters above sea level, Vardenis is dominated by the {{convert|82|km|mi|adj=on}} range of Vardenis mountains. The highest peak of the range is Mount Vardenis at {{convert|3,522|m|ft}} above sea level, located around 23 km southwest of Vardenis town. The town is also bordered by the Sevan mountain range to the north. Vardenis is approximately {{convert|6|km|mi|0}} away from the southeastern shores of Lake Sevan.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Vardenis is {{convert|1,943|m|ft|abbr=off}} above sea level, with mild summers and cold winters. The average winter temperature is {{convert|-6|C|F}}. The winter lasts for six months, with sub-zero temperatures prevailing. The snow falls in November and melts in mid-April. Vardenis is known for high insolation with 2,500 to 2,700 hours annually. Precipitation comprises {{convert|400|to|500|mm|in}}. The number of blizzard days is 30, of which 13 are in January.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

The summer is short, mild, sunny and humid, with minimal precipitation. The average minimum temperature of July–August is {{convert|16|C|F}}. while the maximum makes up to {{convert|35|C|F}}. Eastern winds prevail during the whole year. The autumn is mild, with the first half being moderately cloudy. The second half is unstable.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Meteorological observations of the town (air temperature, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, absolute humidity, wind direction and speed etc.) are implemented by Vardenis-Masrik meteorological stations, established in the 1940s at {{convert|1842.7|m|ft|1|abbr=off}} above sea level.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

The town of Vardenis is situated on the Masrik plain, in the valley of Masrik river. From the north it is bordered by Lake Sevan, from the east by Zangezur mountains and from the southeast by Vardenis mountains. From a morphological point of view, Masrik represents an intermountain area filled with fluvial-lacustrian deposits. The major part of the town, i.e. alluvial-proluvial-accumulative plain, is presented by claysands, clays, sands, several subsoils. The south-eastern part of the town sits on erosion-denudational slopes, presented by slightly eroded, poriferous basalt. On the whole territory of Vardenis there are no active tectonic rifts. The projected earthquake acceleration varies between 0.28 and 0.32g. In the town centre, the acceleration is 0.32g (8.5 magnitude), in the southern and eastern parts the magnitude reaches up to 8.25-8.5.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

The town is at the proximity of Sevan National Park which is very rich in biodiversity.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

The area of Vardenis is rich with metal and non-metal resources. The gold mine of Sotk is active. There are numerous types of rock used in construction, as well as mines of semi-precious stones.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

The Zangezur range is made up of paleogenic granitoids, volcanic and sedimentary deposits. In general, Syunik region is rich in mineral resources, including stones and metals.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

The mineral resources of Vardenis can be classified as follows:{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Gegharkunik province is rich in water resources (surface, ground fresh and mineral waters). Water resources of the whole province comprise about {{convert|692,000|m3|ft3|0|abbr=off}} per day. Water resources of the Vardenis area amount to about {{convert|248|m3|ft3|abbr=off}} a day, of which about {{convert|115|m3|ft3}} a day are subject to use.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Masrik river runs through the northern part of the town. The horizon of the ground waters of this artesian basin lies {{convert|1.5|and|5|m|ft|abbr=off}} deep, which together with the horizon of weak pressured waters creates a joint water-bearing horizon. The fluctuations in the water level are between {{convert|0.24|and|0.57|m|in|abbr=off}}.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Water in Vardenis is supplied by "Akunk", "Shat Jrer" and "Akner" water-pipe systems. The pipes of inner system and captation are currently in quite poor technical and sanitation condition.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

File:Church of the Holy Mother of God, Vardenis3.jpg

File:Vardenis 3.jpg

In the 2001 census, the town of Vardenis had a population of 12,753. Deterioration of economic potential, difficult financial situation, high unemployment rates and other problems resulted in decrease of the population. In comparison with 1996, the population decreased by 14%, mainly due to youth migration, and consequently low birth rates.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Currently, the town is mainly populated by ethnic Armenians who belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Holy Mother of God church, built between 1903 and 1912, is the town's main church regulated by the Diocese of Gegharkounik based in Gavar.

The population of Vardenis since 1831 is as follows:

There are numerous roads to different parts of Armenia passing through the northeast, west and southeast of the town.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

The population is mainly engaged in agriculture, trade and services. The Sotk gold mine which is considered to be one of the largest deposits in Armenia is located {{convert|20|km|0|abbr=off}} east of the town. Many small dairy and bakery enterprises are still functioning in Vardenis since the Soviet times.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

The largest industrial firm in Vardenis is the "Samelon Vardeins Sea-Buckthorn Processing Plant" for alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, founded in 2000. The town is also home to the "Gnel Khachatryan" plant for dairy products, as well as many small furniture manufacturing plants.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Vardenis has four public education schools and three kindergartens. The town is also home to the house-museum of Viktor Hambardzumyan whose father philologist "Hamazasp Hambardzumyan" was a native of Vardenis.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Lernagorts Vardenis FC was the only football club of that represented the town in domestic competitions. They played their home games at the Vardenis City Stadium located at the western edge of the town. However, the club was forced to dissolve in 1995 due to financial difficulties.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Vardenis is twinned with:

• 23px Romans-sur-Isère, France{{citation needed|date=September 2020}}

• Ashot Petrosian (1930-1998), Soviet-Armenian mathematician{{Citation needed|date=December 2019}}
• Taguhi Tovmasyan (born 1982), politician
• Ferdinand Karapetian (born 1992), European champion in judo

{{Commons category|Vardenis}}

{{reflist}}

{{Gegharkunik|state=expanded}}

{{Cities and towns in Armenia}}

{{portal bar|Geography}}

Category:Populated places in Gegharkunik Province

Category:Erivan Governorate

Category:Populated places established in 1830