Shirak Province
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| Shirak Շիրակ |
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|---|---|
| Province | |
| Location of Shirak within Armenia Location of Shirak within Armenia |
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| Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | |
| Country | Armenia |
| Capital and largest city |
Gyumri |
| Government | |
| • Governor | Felix Tsolakyan (2013-) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,681 km2 (1,035 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 6th |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 251,941[1] |
| • Rank | 2nd |
| Time zone | UTC+04 |
| Postal code | 2601–3126 |
| ISO 3166 code | AM-SH |
| FIPS 10-4 | AM07 |
| Website | official website |
Shirak (Armenian: Շիրակ, Armenian pronunciation: [ʃiˈɾɑk]), is a province (marz) of Armenia. It is located in the north-west of the country, bordering Turkey in the west and Georgia in the north. Its capital and largest city is Gyumri. It is as much semi-desert as it is mountain meadow or high alpine. In the south, the high steppes crash into mountain terrain, verdant green in the spring, hues of reddish brown in the summer. The province is served by the Shirak International Airport of Gyumri.
Contents
Etymology
Shirak Province is named after the Shirak canton of the historic Ayrarat province of Ancient Armenia, ruled by the Kamsarakan noble family between the 3rd and 8th centuries.
According to Movses Khorenatsi, the name Shirak is derived from Shara, who was the great grandson of Hayk the legendary patriarch and founder of the Armenian nation. However, according to the Shirak Regional Museum, many historians assume that the name is derived from the name Eriakhi found in an ancient Urartian cuneiform, where king Argishti I narrated about his invasion of the land of Eriakhi.[2]
Geography
Shirak Province occupies the northwestern part of Armenia and covers an area of 2,681 km² (9% of total area of Armenia). It has borders with Lori Province from the east, Aragatsotn Province from the south, Kars Province of Turkey from the west and Samtskhe-Javakheti region of Georgia from the north.
Historically, the current territory of the province mainly occupies the Shirak canton of Ayrarat province of Ancient Armenia.
Shirak is mainly dominated by the Ashotsk Plateue (1900 to 2100 meters height) at the north and the Shirak Plain (1400 to 1800 meters height) at the centre and south of the province. The vast plains of the province are surrounded with the Bazum and Pambak mountains from the east, Javakheti Range and Yeghnakhagh mountains from the north and the Aragats mass from the south. Akhurian River at the east, separates Shirak from the Kars Province of Turkey.
Akhurian River with its reservoir is the main water resource in the province. Lake Arpi at the northwest of Shirak is the only lake of the province.
Shirak is rich with tufa, pumice and limestone.
The climate is characterized with extremely cold snowy winters and mild summers.
The annual precipitation level can reach up to 700 mm.
History
Classical antiquity and Urartu period
Many ancient human settlements were found at the Akhurian valley dating back to around 9000 BC.[3] The territory of Shirak has been settled since the early Stone Age. At the higher areas that are above 2000 meters, many remains were found from the early Bronze Age. Other remains from the 2nd millennium BC, revealed that a civilization was founded between the 20th and 12th centuries BC. Wuth the start of the Iron Age during the 12th century BC, the relations among the ethnic groups of Armenian Highland has been developed. Soon after the establishment of the Urartu Kingdom of Van at the end of the 9th century BC, Shirak became part of the kingdom. 2 cuneiform scripts have been found in Shirak left by King Argishti I (786-764 BC), where he narrates about the invasion of the land of Eriakhi (the name that Shirak is derived from, according to many historians). According to the scripts, the region was home to a well developed civilization based on agriculture and cattle-breeding.[4]
Satrapy of Armenia and the ancient Armenian Kingdom
By the second half of the 6th century BC, Shirak became part of the Achaemenid Empire. The remains of a royal settlement found near the village of Beniamin dating back to the 5th to 2nd centuries BC, are a great example of the Achemenid influence in the region. By the beginning of the 5th century BC, Shirak became part of the Satrapy of Armenia under the rule of the Orontids. Later in 331 BC, the entire territory was included in the Ayrarat province of Ancient Armenian Kingdom as part of the Shirak canton.
During the 1st century AD, Shirak was granted to the Kamsarakan family, who ruled the region during the Arsacid Kingdom of Armenia.
Foreign rule and Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia
Following the partition of Armenia in 387 between the Byzantines and the Persians, and as a result of the fall of the Arsacid Kingdom of Armenia in 428, the region of Shirak became part of the Sasanian Empire of Persia.
However, Shirak is home to many early examples of the Armenian church architecture dating back to the 5th century, including the Yererouk, the Saint Mariné Church of Artik, and the Hokevank Monastery.
In 658 AD, during the height of the Arab Islamic invasions, Shirak -along with the rest of the Armenian territories- was conquered during the Muslim conquest of Persia, as it was part of Persian-ruled Armenia. It became part of the Emirate of Armenia under the Umayyad Caliphate. However, the Kamsarakan family continued to rule the region under the Arab Islamic rule of Armenia.
By the foundation of the Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia in 885, Shirak entered e new era of growth and progress, particularly when the city of Ani of Shirak became the capital of the kingdom in 961. By the second half of the 10th century, Shirak was under the influence of the Armenian Pahlavuni family, who were descendents of the Kamsarakans. The Bahlavunis had a greta contribution in the progress of Shirak with the foundation of many fortresses, monastic complexes, educational institutions, etc. The monasteries of Khtzkonk, Harichavank, Marmashen and Horomos were among the prominent religious and educational centres of medieval Armenia.
Seljuk period and Zakarid Armenia
After the fall of Armenia to the Byzantines Empire in 1045 and later to the Seljuk invaders in 1064, the region entered an era of downfall in all social, educational and cultural aspects.
Shirak has flourished again under the Zakarid rule by the beginning of the 13th century. The region was developed as a trade centre between the east and the west.
Demographics
According to the 2011 official census, Shirak has a population of 251,941 (121,615 men and 130,326 women), forming around 8.3% of the entire population of Armenia. The urban population is 146,908 (58.3%) and the rural is 105,033 (41.7%). The province has 3 urban and 116 rural communities. The largest urban community is the provincial centre of Gyumri, with a population of 121,976. The other urban centres of Artik and Maralik have a population of 19,534 and 5,398 respectively.
With a population of 4,838, the village of Azatan is the largest rural municipality of Shirak.
Ethnic groups and religion
The majority of the Shirak Province population are ethnic Armenians who belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church. The regulating body of the church is the Diocese of Shirak, headed by Bishop Mikayel Ajapahyan. The Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gyumri is the seat of the diocese.
However, there is a minority of Armenian Catholics, mainly in the villages of Arevik, Arpeni, Bavra, Ghazanchi, Marmashen, Mets Sepasar Panik and Sizavet. The city of Gyumri and the village of Azatan are also home to few members of the Armenian Catholic Church.
The presence of the small Russian Orthodox community along with the Russian military base personnel in Gyumri is marked with the church of Saint Nikolai the Wonderworker and the church of Saint Arsenije.
The small village of Shirakavan has around 30 Yazidis.
Economy
Agriculture
The economy of the province is mainly based on agriculture, including farming and cattle-breeding. It has a share of 11.6% in the annual total agricultural product of Armenia. Around 80% (2,145.5 km²) of the total area of the province are arable lands, out of which 36.7% (787 km²) are ploughed.[5]
The fertile Shirak plain is the largest producer of grains and potato in Armenia. The irrigation system in the province is highly developed. 9 water reservoirs of different sizes -with a total capacity of 673 million m³- are able to irrigate around 300 km² of farmlands.
Shirak is the 1st among the Armenian provinces in cattle-breeding business. There are also fish farming ponds near Gyumri and many rural communities.
Industry
During the Soviet period, the region was a major industrial hub within the Armenian SSR. After the independence, the industrial sector of the region has drastically declined. Currently, Shirak is the largest producer of building materials in Armenia, mainly tufa stones and pumice. Currently, the province contributes by 3.5% in the annual total industrial product of Armenia.
The provincial centre Gyumri is home to a large hosiery manufacturing enterprise from the Soviet period. It also has the breweries of "Gyumri" and "Aleksandrapol", 2 factories specialized in metal-plastic products, 2 electrical machines manufacturing enterprise, and a factory for chemical products. The nearby village of Akhuryan is home to the largest sugar factory in the Southern Cucasus region.
The town of Artik is famous for its tufa stones.It is home to many stone-processing factories including travertine, tufa and basalt. It also has the a metal casting factory.
During the Soviet period, the town of Maralik was a major industrial centre with a lights and electronics factory and 3 plants for building materials production. Currently, the only surviving plant in the town is the cotton-spinning factory.
Factories for dairy products are also found in Shirak, with the largest 2 firms are located in the villages of Azatan and Musayelyan.
Education
Gyumri is the main educational centre of the province educational institutions. The city is home to 3 universities:
- Gyumri State Pedagogical Institute named after Mikael Nalbandian,
- Progress University,
- Imastaser Anania Shirakatsi University.
Branches of the National Polytechnic University of Armenia, Armenian State University of Economics, Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory, Yerevan State Academy of Fine Arts, Yerevan State Institute of Theatre and Cinematography, European Regional Educational Academy and Haybusak University of Yerevan are also operating in the city.
As of the 2015-16 educational year, Shirak has 167 schools.[6]
Sport
Football, basketball and chess are the most popular sports in the province. However, other Olympic sports including wrestling and weightlifting are also popular, mainly in Gyumri. Shirak is home to many former and current World, Olympic and European champions in several types of sports who competed under the flag of Soviet Union and later under the Armenian flag.
The city is represented by the FC Shirak at the Armenian Premier League competition. Aragats FC were the second football club in Gyumri, but they were dissolved in 2002 due to financial difficulties.
FC Tufagorts (dissolved in 1995) and FC Sipan (dissolved in 1993), both from the town of Artik, had also represented the province in the football competitions of Armenia.
The largest sports venue of the province is the Gyumri City Stadium. Gyumri is also home to the FFA Football Academy. The towns of Artik and Maralik have a football stadium each with minor capacities.
Attractions
Fortresses and archaeological sites
- Horom Citadel of the Bronze Age-Urartian eras,
- Vahramaberd Fortress of the Urartian era dating back to 730-714 BC,
- Kumayri historic district of the early 19th century,
- Sev Berd fortress of the 1840s.
Churches and monasteries
- Yererouk Basilica, 4th-5th centuries,
- Saint Mariné Church of Artik of the 5th century,
- Hokevank Monastery of the 5th century,
- Surp Gevork Church of Artik, 6th-7th th-centuries,
- Tiravor Church of Mayisyan of the 7th century,
- Lmbatavank Church of the 7th century,
- Harichavank Monastery of the 8th century,
- Makaravank Church of Pemzashen of the 10th century,
- Marmashen Monastery of the 10th century,
- Saint Paul and Peter Church of Bardzrashen, 10th-13th centuries,
- Church of the Holy Saviour, Gyumri of 1872,
- Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God, Gyumri of 1884.
Other
Communities
The province of Shirak consists of the following 119 communities (hamaynkner), of which 3 are considered urban and 116 are considered rural.[7]
Towns or urban communities
| Image | City (town) | Province | Founded | Land area (km2) | Population (2011 census) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Artik | Shirak | 1939 | 9 | 19,534 |
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Gyumri | Shirak | 5th century BC as Kumayri rebuilt in 1837 as Alexandropol |
54 | 121,976 |
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Maralik | Shirak | 5th century (first mentioned) | 4 | 5,398 |
Villages or rural communities
Non-community villages
- Aghin kayaran, belongs to the Aghin community.
- Bardzrashen, belongs to the Isahakyan community.
- Darik, belongs to the Zorakert community.
- Hatsikavan, belongs to the Hatsik community.
- Kamkhut, belongs to the Gtashen community.
- Kharkov, belongs to the Norshen community.
- Paghakn, belongs to the Berdashen community.
- Yeghnajur, belongs to the Garnarich community.
Former villages
- Akhuryan kayaran, belongs to the Gharibjanyan community.
- Aravet, belongs to the Alvar community.
- Lorasar, belongs to the Tsaghkut community.
- Yerizak, belongs to the Zarishat community.
Gallery
- Shirak
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Vahramaberd amroc.jpg
Vahramaberd fortress, 8th century BC
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Lmbatavank.JPG
Lmbatavank near Artik, 7th century
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Harichavank Monastery, 8th century
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Marmashen Monastery.jpg
Marmashen monastery, 10th century
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246886809 343c5a6348 b.jpg
References
- ↑ Shirak population, 2011 census
- ↑ Shirak region history
- ↑ Shirak Marz: page 3 of 35 – TourArmenia
- ↑ Shirak history
- ↑ Armstat: Shirak Province
- ↑ Shirak Province schools
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shirak Province. |
- Shirak guide with detailed descriptions, by Rick Ney
- Shirak Marz Tourist Guide
- Shirak Regional Museum
| Provinces (մարզեր) |
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| City with special status |
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