Vayots Dzor Province

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The province is named after the Vayots Dzor canton of historic Syunik, the ninth province of Ancient Armenia. The exact etymology of the name Vayots Dzor is unknown, although it is popularly understood to mean valley or canyon of sorrows (vay is an exclamation of sorrow or pain in Armenian, a cognate of the word "woe").{{Cite book |last1=Hakobyan |first1=T. Kh. |url=http://nayiri.com/imagedDictionaryBrowser.jsp?dictionaryId=61&query=%D5%BE%D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%81+%D5%B1%D5%B8%D6%80 |title=Hayastani ev harakitsʻ shrjanneri teghanunneri baṛaran |last2=Melik-Bakhshyan |first2=St. T. |last3=Barseghyan |first3=H. Kh. |publisher=Yerevan State University |year=1998 |volume=4 |location=Yerevan |pages=744 |language=hy |trans-title=Dictionary of toponymy of Armenian and adjacent territories}} According to folk tradition, the region received this name after a powerful earthquake struck the area. Historian Grigor Ghapantsyan considers it more likely that the name Vayots Dzor derives from the name of an ancient tribe or ethnic group with the name Vay, perhaps connected with Biaini, the endonym of the ancient kingdom of Urartu.{{Cite book |last=Kapantsyan |first=Grigor |url=https://arar.sci.am/dlibra/publication/287511/edition/263992/content |title=Istoriko-lingvisticheskoe znachenie toponimiki drevney Armenii |publisher=Yerevan State University |year=1940 |location=Yerevan |pages=70 |language=ru |trans-title=Historical-linguistic meaning of toponyms of ancient Armenia |author-link=Grigor Ghapantsyan}}

File:Ջերմուկի ջրաբանական արգելավայր 3 (8).JPG

Situated at the southeastern end of modern-day Armenia, Vayots Dzor covers an area of 2,308 km² (7.8% of total area of Armenia). It the most sparsely populated province in the country. It borders the Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan from the west and the Kalbajar District of Azerbaijan from the east (administered as the Shahumyan Region of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic between 1993 and 2020). Domestically, it is bordered by the Gegharkunik Province from the north, Ararat Province from the northwest and Syunik Province from the southeast.

Historically, the current territory of the province occupies most of the Vayots Dzor canton of the historic Syunik province of Ancient Armenia.

File:Řeka Arpa.jpg

Vayots Dzor is a mountainous region. It is mainly divided into 3 mountain ranges: the Vardenis mountain range at the north, the Arpa range in the middle and the Vayk range at the south. At a height of 3522 meters, the Vardenis volcano in the north is the highest point in the province, while the Areni valley, at a height of 850 meters, is the lowest point. The 2586 meters-high Vayots Sar volcanic cone is located almost at the centre of the province.

Vayots Dzor has many rivers, mountains springs and mineral water, with the Arpa River being the most significant of them.{{citation needed|date=March 2017}} It flows 92 km in the territory of Vayots Dzor, through the settlements of Jermuk, Vayk, Yeghegnadzor, and Areni, among others. It originates in Vayots Dzor from the northwest part of the Syunik plateau at a height of 3260 meters, and flows into the Araks river. It has a number of tributaries that form waterfalls such as the Jermuk and the Herher.

Yeghegis river is the main tributary of Arpa. It flows into a valley that is protected by the government as a wildlife sanctuary.

Most of the rivers in Vayots Dzor are characterized by swift flow, deep fall and inclination. A large project was completed during the Soviet period to transfer the water of Arpa river to Lake Sevan. Thus, an underground water tunnel was opened in 1981 that starts from the basin of the Kechut reservoir to transfer the flow of the Arpa river into Kake Sevan.

A number of small lakes are also found in the valley of the Herher River.

File:Վայքի լեռնաշղթա.png

File:Areni-1 cave panorama.jpg]]

Vayots Dzor is first mentioned in the History of Armenia by Movses Khorenatsi. The region has been inhabited by humans since prehistoric times. Archaeological investigations have uncovered many sites and objects dating back to the Paleolithic Era and the Bronze Age, including carvings on cliffs depicting scenes of hunting and animals. The Areni-1 cave complex—including the 6,100-year-old Areni-1 winery—discovered in archaeological excavations conducted between 2007 and 2011, revealed that the region was settled during the 5th millennium BC (Late Chalcolithic Age). The winery consists of fermentation vats, a wine press, storage jars, pottery sherds, and is believed to be the earliest known winery in history.Maugh II, Thomas H. "[http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-ancient-winery-20110111,0,1469486.story?track=rss Ancient winery found in Armenia]." Los Angeles Times. January 11, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2011.Santini, Jean-Louis. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20140226122632/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jnfS9_C2iOXuputnMsniptf5eUhw?docId=CNG.f1f4be5ff8c0625cfbb007232f3c6225.8f1 Scientists find 'oldest ever' winery in Armenia]." Agence France-Presse. January 11, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2011.Owen, James. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20110112152642/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/01/110111-oldest-wine-press-making-winery-armenia-science-ucla/ Earliest Known Winery Found in Armenian Cave]." National Geographic. January 10, 2011. Retrieved January 14, 2011. A 5500-year-old leather shoe, the oldest known piece of leather footwear, has also been found in Areni-1.{{cite news |last=Dindar |first=Shereen |date=June 9, 2010 |title=World's Oldest Leather Shoe Found—Stunningly Preserved |work=National Post |location=Canada |url=http://news.nationalpost.com/2010/06/09/worlds-oldest-leather-shoe-found-in-armenia-2/ |access-date=June 11, 2010}}

As early as the 8th century BC, the area of modern-day Vayots Dzor was part of the Kingdom of Urartu. Later, it became part of the Kingdom of Armenia forming the Vayots Dzor canton of the province of Syunik, under the rule of the Siunia dynasty.

File:Tanade Church.jpg

The Orbelian family became especially prominent in Vayots Dzor and Syunik during the Middle Ages. Many churches, monastic complexes, bridges and caravanserais were built between the 10th and 13th centuries under their influence. Vayots Dzor benefited from its location on the Silk Road, particularly along the road that now links the town of Martuni with Yeghegnadzor. During this period, the province became home to the University of Gladzor. Founded around 1280 by Nerses of Mush, it was one of the earliest higher educational centres of medieval Armenia.

File:429 Djermouk canyon à l'entrée de la ville vu du pont.JPG

The period between the 15th and 17th centuries is considered by historians to be one of the darkest in the history of Vayots Dzor. The region became a frequent battlefield between the invading troops of the Turkic and Iranian tribes. As a result, many monuments and villages were destroyed and the population was displaced. It later became part of the Nakhichevan Khanate under Persian suzerainty and became known as Daralagyaz (also spelled Daralagez or Daralayaz).

During the first half of the 19th century, following the Russo-Persian War of 1826-28 and the resulting Treaty of Turkmenchay signed in 1828, Vayots Dzor passed from Iranian to Russian rule. In the same year that the territory came under Russian rule, it was incorporated into the newly established Armenian Oblast. In 1849, the Erivan Governorate was founded including Vayots Dzor, while in 1870, the governorate was further divided into uezds. Consequently, Vayots Dzor became part of the Sharur-Daralayaz uezd of the Erivan Governorate.

Between 1918 and 1920, the region was included within the short-lived Republic of Armenia. After the Sovietization of Armenia, Vayots Dzor became one of the regions that resisted Soviet rule and formed part of the unrecognized Republic of Mountainous Armenia under the leadership of Garegin Nzhdeh. However, after falling to the Bolsheviks in July 1921, Vayots Dzor became part of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic.

During the Soviet period, modern-day Vayots Dzor was divided into the raions of Yeghegnadzor and Azizbekov. After the independence of Armenia, the two raions were merged during the 1995 administrative reform to form the Vayots Dzor Province.

According to the 1989 Soviet census, the Vayots Dzor Province (then part of the Vayk and Yeghegnadzor districts in 1930–1995){{Cite web|title=Legislation: National Assembly of RA|url=http://www.parliament.am/legislation.php?sel=show&ID=2243&lang=rus|access-date=2022-02-11|website=www.parliament.am}} had a population of 60,357. 10,234 or 16.96% of which was urban, distributed in the city of Jermuk, and 50,123 or 83.04% were rural, distributed in the districts of Vayk (13,680) and Yeghegnadzor (36,443).{{Cite web|title=Демоскоп Weekly - Приложение. Справочник статистических показателей.|url=http://www.demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/sng89_reg1.php|access-date=2022-02-10|website=www.demoscope.ru}}File:Malishka 2.jpg village]]

The population and density in Vayots Dzor is the least among the provinces of Armenia. According to the 2011 official census, Vayots Dzor has a population of 52,324 (25,740 men and 26,584 women), forming around 1.7% of the entire population of Armenia. The urban population is 18,449 (35.26%) and the rural is 33,875 (64.74%). The province has 3 urban and 41 rural communities. The largest urban community is the provincial centre of Yeghegnadzor, with a population of 7,944. The other urban centres of Vayk and Jermuk have a population of 5,877 and 4,628 respectively.

With a population of 4,460, the village of Malishka is the largest rural municipality of Vayots Dzor.

File:Սուրբ Սարգիս, Եղեգնաձոր, 2015 (1).jpg

The majority of the Vayots Dzor Province population are ethnic Armenians who belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church. The regulating body of the church is the Diocese of Vayots Dzor, headed by Archbishop Abraham Mkrtchyan. The Holy Mother of God Cathedral (known also as Surp Sarkis) in Yeghegnadzor is the seat of the diocese.

A percentage of the population in Vayots Dzor have their ancestors migrated from the Iranian towns of Salmas and Khoy in 1829 and 1830.

{{Update|section|date=February 2023}}

As a result of the administrative reforms concluded by June 17, 2016, October 8, 2016, and June 9, 2017, Vayots Dzor is currently divided into 8 municipal communities (hamaynkner){{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20161005072337/http://gorispress.am/?p=4773 Նախատեսվում է իրականացնել համայնքների խոշորացման 14 պիլոտային ծրագիր]}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.lragir.am/index/arm/0/country/view/155056|title=Հայաստանի 328 համայնքների միավորմամբ կձևավորվի 34 համայնք. ԱԺ-ն քննարկում է ծրագիրը | Լրագիր}}{{Cite web|url=http://vdzor.mtad.am/about-communities/|title=Վայոց ձորի մարզպետարան|website=vdzor.mtad.am}}{{Cite book |title=ՀՀ ՄԱՐԶԵՐԻ ԵՎ ԵՐԵՎԱՆ ՔԱՂԱՔԻ ՍՈՑԻԱԼ-ՏՆՏԵՍԱԿԱՆ ԲՆՈՒԹԱԳՐԵՐԸ |trans-title=Socio-economic characteristics of the provinces of the Republic of Armenia and the city of Yerevan |chapter=ՎԱՅՈՑ ՁՈՐԻ ՄԱՐԶ |trans-chapter=Vayots Dzor Province |url=https://armstat.am/file/article/marzer_2022_29.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209070043/https://www.armstat.am/file/article/marzer_2022_29.pdf |archive-date=9 February 2023 |date=15 November 2022 |publisher=Statistical Committee of Armenia |location=Yerevan}}

• A cross denotes a town (urban settlement), otherwise, the settlements are villages (rural settlements).

File:Djermuk.JPG|Jermuk

File:Arevik Stadium, Vayk.jpg|Vayk

File:Yeghegnadzor landscape3.jpg|Yeghegnadzor

File:Areni Village, Armenia.jpg|Areni

File:2014 Prowincja Wajoc Dzor, Gladzor, Widok wsi z drogi H47 (03).jpg|Gladzor

File:Malishka Village, Armenia.jpg|Malishka

File:Yeghegis.jpg|Yeghegis

File:Թանգարանի շենք. Վայոց Ձորի երկրագիտական թանգարանը, ArmAg (1).JPG

Yeghegnadzor has a cultural palace, a public library and an archaeological museum. The town's public park has a vishapakar (dragon stone) dating back to the 2nd millennium BC.

File:Smbataberd.jpg fortress of the 10th century]]

• Areni-1 cave complex and the Winery of the Chalcolithic age,
• Smbataberd fortress of the 10th century,
• Proshaberd fortress of the 13th century,
• Ertij Fort of the 13th century,
• Agarakadzor bridge of the 13th century,
• Orbelian's Caravanserai of 1332.

File:Spitakavor-raffi kojian-DCP 3983.JPG of 1321]]

• Tanahat Monastery of 735,
• Saint Sion Monastery of the 8th century,
• Shativank monastery of the 10th century,
• Khotakerats Monastery of the 10th century,
• Tsakhats Kar Monastery, 10th-11th centuries,
• Noravank monastery, 10th-13th centuries,
• Gndevank monastery, 10th-13th centuries,
• Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Yeghegnadzor, 12th century,
• Noravank monastery of 1205,
• Spitakavor Monastery of 1321,
• Areni Church of 1321.

Vardadzor monthly is the regional newspaper of Vayots Dzor. It has been published in Yeghegnadzor since 15 November 2002.[https://vardadzortert.com/about/ Vardadzor monthly] It covers political, economical and regional news. It also has a literary supplement.

The M-2 Motorway that connects Armenia from north to south, passes through the province. On the other hand, the towns of Yeghegnadzor are domestically connected through a number of well-developed roads.

The Jermuk airstrip is located near Jermuk, adjacent to the Kechut Reservoir.

File:Orchards near Azatek, Vayots Dzor, Armenia 2613.jpg

Vayots Dzor has the poorest agricultural index among the Armenian provinces, forming 2.2% of the annual total agricultural product of Armenia. Around 82.5% (1,903 km²) of the total area of the total area of the province arable lands, out of which only 8.5% (162 km²) are ploughed.{{Cite web|url=http://www.armstat.am/file/RegStat/marz/MARZ_10.pdf|title=Armstat: Vayots Dzor}}

The industry of Vayots Dzor contributes 1% of the annual total industrial product of Armenia. Industry is mainly based on water bottling, alcoholic drinks production (mainly wine), food-processing and dairy products. The discovery of the 6100 year-old Areni-1 winery has provided increased awareness of the ancient tradition of wine-making in Armenia and particularly in the region of ancient Syunik.

File:Rind Vineyard.jpg

File:Hin Areni wine factory.jpg

• Wine production: Vayots Dzor has a large number of wine producers (mainly producing under the category of "Areni wine"), including:
• "Yacoubian-Hobbs" (wine), first vintage 2014
• "Getap Wine Factory" (Vedi Alco Winery branch), opened in 1938 in Getap.
• "Maran Winery", opened in 1992 in Yeghegnadzor.
• "Areni Wine Factory", opened in 1994 in Areni.
• "Old Bridge Winery", opened in 1998 in Yeghegnadzor.
• "Getnatoun Winery" (wine, brandy), opened in 1999 in Yeghegnadzor.{{Cite web|url=http://getnatoun.am/en/|title=About Getnatoun wine factory}}
• "Vayk Group Winery" (wine, vodka), opened in 2000 in Vayk.
• "Ginekar Winery", opened in 2000 in Aghavnadzor.
• "Mets Syunik Winery" ("Matevosyan Wine"), opened in 2001 in Aghavnadzor.
• "Zorah Wines", opened in 2001 in Rind.{{Cite web|url=https://www.zorahwines.com/our-story/|title=Our story|website=Zorah Wines}} The company's "2010 Zorah Karasi Areni Noir" was ranked in the 2012 Bloomberg's top 10 list.{{Cite web|url=https://asbarez.com/armenian-wine-makes-bloombergs-top-10-list/|title=Armenian Wine Makes Bloomberg's Top 10 List – Asbarez.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://oldworldwinetours.com/en/wine-tours-in-armenia/armenia-best-wineries|title=Armenia's Best Wineries | Wine Tours in Armenia | Oldworldwinetours.com|website=oldworldwinetours.com}}
• "Areni Wine Winery", opened in 2003 in Areni.
• "Hin Areni Vineyards", opened in 2007 in Areni.{{Cite web|url=https://hinareniwine.am/|title=Hin Areni Wine|website=hinareniwine.am}}
• "Trinity Canyon Vineyards", opened in 2009 in Aghavnadzor.{{Cite web|url=http://trinitycv.com/home|title=Home | Armenian Wine | Trinity Canyon Vineyards|first=Trinity|last=LLC|website=trinitycv.com}}
• Yeghegnadzor has many plants for cheese and other dairy products. The town is famous for its goat cheese produced by the "Golden Goat" factory founded in 2000. It is also home to the "Selim LLC" for dairy products founded in 2002. Other industrial firms of the town include the "Rafelgrig" for electrical products founded in 1968, the "Izoton" company for oak-wood made barrels for wine and brandy aging founded in 2003,{{Cite web|url=http://www.izoton.am/en/index.html|title=IZOTON::|website=www.izoton.am}} and the Yeghegnadzor Cannery operating since 2015.{{Cite web|url=http://yn.am/?index&p=46222&l=am|title=240 նոր աշխատատեղ Եղեգնաձոր քաղաքում (ֆոտո)|first=Armenian Information|last=Center|website=yn.am}}
• Vayk is home to the "WCW of Vaik" building materials factory founded in 1968, the "Arpi Mineral Waters Factory" founded in 1973, and the "Meg Ararat" factory for tea production founded in 2008.
• Jermuk is known for its mineral water production. The town is home to the "Jermuk Group" CJSC, currently the main producer of Jermuk mineral water. Founded in 1999, Jermuk Group acquired the original water producing factory known as "Jermuk Mayr Gortsaran" operating since 1951. Another water bottling factory known as "Jermuk Service Enterprise" was founded in 2014.

There are many small plants for building materials production in the villages of Areni, Agarakadzor and Yeghegis, while the village of Malishka is home to a jewelry plant.

File:Jermuk Jrabuzharan.JPG spa town]]

File:Jermuk ropeway.JPG

The cultural heritage and the natural monuments of the region attract a number of tourists. Jermuk and the surrounding forests are a tourist attraction with many sanatoriums, spa resorts and its ropeway. It is considered one of the centres of medical tourism in Armenia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.panarmenian.net/eng/details/251334/|title=Snow art fest is one more reason to pack your bag for Armenia: This winter is ideal for it|website=PanARMENIAN.Net}}

Some areas of the province are listed as protected wildlife sanctuaries, including the Herher Open Woodland Sanctuary, the Jermuk Forest Sanctuary, the Jermuk Hydrological Sanctuary, and the Yeghegnadzor Sanctuary.

The Mozrov Cave was found in 1980 near the village of Arpi. It is protected as a natural and cultural monument of Armenia.

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File:Manuscript of Gladzor University, 13-14th century, village Vernashen, Vayots Dzor, Armenia, 09.jpg of the Gladzor University, 13-14th centuries]]

Vayots Dzor was home to the medieval Armenian University of Gladzor that was established around 1280 by Nerses of Mush{{cite web|last=Arnavoudian|first=Eddie|title=Science versus Religion: the case of the Medieval Armenian University|url=http://groong.usc.edu/tcc/tcc-20101122.html|publisher=Armenian News Network / Groong, University of Southern California|access-date=2 November 2013|date=22 November 2010}} and operated until 1340 and "left behind a rich intellectual heritage".{{cite book|last=Nersessian|first=Vrej|title=The Bible in the Armenian Tradition|year=2001|publisher=British Library|location=London|isbn=9780892366408|page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=7tSkalMzNvkC&dq=Gladzor+1340&pg=PA43 43]}}

Currently, the Yeghegnadzor branch of the Armenian State University of Economics is operating in the province since 2008.

As of the 2015–16 academic year, Vayots Dzor was home to 50 public schools as well as 17 pre-school kindergartens:{{Cite web|url=http://www.ktak.am/schoolslist/10_Pet_VayocDzor.pdf|title=Vayots Dzor Province schools}} The number of the students was around 6,300, while the academic staff included around 1,100 teachers. Around 1,000 children attended the kindergartens.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aravot.am/2016/08/26/729440/|title=Կայացել է ՀՀ Վայոց ձորի մարզի հանրակրթական հաստատությունների ղեկավարների օգոստոսյան ամենամյա խորհրդակցությունը | Առավոտ - Լուրեր Հայաստանից}}

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File:Arevik stadium2, Vayk.jpg

Arpa FC of Yeghegnadzor -founded as Momik FC in 1992- used to represent the town in the Armenian Premier League football competition. Like many other Armenian football clubs, Arpa FC was dissolved in early 2003 and is currently inactive from professional football. The towns of Vayk and Yeghegnadzor have a football stadium each with minor capacities.

Every year, during the month of August, Jermuk hosts the FIDE Grand Prix Jermuk chess tournament.

• Ara Abramyan, Armenian businessman based in Russia.
• Narek Sargsyan, Armenian architect and politician.
• Kamsar (Kamo Sahakyan), renowned Armenian painter.
• Narine Dovlatyan, Armenian singer and actress.

File:Noravank.JPG|Noravank, 1205 AD

File:Areni church.jpg|Areni Church, 1321 AD

File:Ջերմուկի անտառային արգելավայր (13).JPG|Jermuk Forest Sanctuary

File:Ջերմուկի ջրաբանական արգելավայր 2, Կեչուտի ջրամբար (4).JPG|Kechut reservoir

File:Jermuk Waterfall4.jpg|Jermuk Waterfall

• Areni-1 cave complex
• Areni-1 winery
• Geshin
• Gharaghaya
• Gyabut
• Gyadikvank
• Syunik (historic province)
• Siunia dynasty
• Sharur-Daralagezsky Uyezd

{{reflist|2}}

{{Commons category|Vayots Dzor Province}}

• [http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Rediscovering_Armenia_Guidebook-_Vayots_Dzor_Marz Vayots Dzor Marz Tourist Guide]

{{Vayots Dzor}}

{{Administrative divisions of Armenia}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Provinces of Armenia

Category:1995 establishments in Armenia