Gegharkunik Գեղարքունիք
Location
Information
Capital	Gavar
Governor	Nver Poghosian
Area Total  - Water (%)	Ranked 1st 5,348 km² 23.8%
Population  - Total (2002)  - Density	Ranked 7th 215,371 58.9/km²
Abbreviations  - Postal code  - ISO 3166-2  - FIPS 10-4	1201-1626 AM.GR AM04
Website	www.gegharkunik.am

Gegharkunik (Armenian: Գեղարքունիք) is a province (marz) of Armenia. It is in the east of the country, bordering Azerbaijan. At 5,348 km², Gegharkunik is the largest province in Armenia by area. However, approximately 1,278 km² of its territory is covered by Lake Sevan, the largest lake in the Caucasus and a major tourist attraction of the region. Its capital is Gavar.

Contents 1 Location 2 Demographics 3 Climate 4 Water Resources 5 Specially Protected Areas 5.1 Sevan National Park 5.2 Akhnabad Yew Grove State Reservation 5.3 Getik State Reservation 5.4 Juniper Forest State Reservation 6 Communities 7 References 8 External links

[edit] Location

Gegharkunik is situated in the East of the territory of the Republic of Armenia, surrounding the Lake Sevan. It borders RA Lori and Tavush marzes from the North, from the East it borders the state border of Azerbaijan, from the South – RA Vayots Dzor marz, from South-West – RA Ararat marz and from the West – RA Kotayk marz. The longest extension of the marz from the North- West to the South-East comprised 115 km, from the West to the East - 85 km, the deepest landslide is the canyon of the Getik river (village of Dsoravank, 1325 m), the highest peak – Ajdahak mountain (3598 m). Yerevan-Sevan-Dilijan highway of republican importance runs through the territory of the marz. “South-North” highway passing through the mountain of Selim is being constructed.

[edit] Demographics

Demographics: Total population – 240.1 ths. (7.4% of the total population of Armenia) of which 160.6 ths. are rural population and 79.5 ths. urban. There are 5 towns and 87 rural communities.

[edit] Climate

The climate of Gegharkunik is mild mountainous. The winter is cold, snowy. The summer is warm, few clouds, comparatively humid weather. The Sevan Lake mitigates the winter frost and summer heat. Because of the lake, the average temperature in January is alsmost the same as in Yerevan. Precipitation is not abundant, 400-450mm on the lake surface, up to 1000 in the mountains.

[edit] Water Resources

The Lake Sevan (1260 km2, is 1898m above sea level ) is located in RA Gegharkunik marz, which is of particular importance not only for the marz but for the republic as well. It is the largest pool of fresh water of the Southern Caucasus. The lake has vital influence not only on balance of environment protection but on economy of the whole marz as well. Other lakes are comparatively small lakes of crater lakes of Ajdahak and Aghmaghani, - up to 50 m in diameter and at a depth of 15 m.

The longest rivers Gavaraget (47 km) and Masrik (45 km) are the longest rivers. Masrik is of great importance, since its a spawning place for such endemic species as Gegharkunik trout (Salmo ishchan gegarkuni), Sevan koghak (Capoeta capoeta sevangi ) and Sevan beghlu (Barbus geokschaikus). Besides, the young fish of the aforementioned species also live in these rivers till 1 year of age. This period is very important for the future survival of the species. The Sevan trout (Salmo ischchan) and Sevan beghlu are included in the Red Book of Armenia.

[edit] Specially Protected Areas

[edit] Sevan National Park

Sevan national park was established to protect Lake Sevan, is located in the territory of the marz (founded in 1978). It occupies the territories of the Lake Sevan comprising the bed of intermontane concavity of Sevan and those freed from its bed. The surface area comprises 150.1 ths. ha, 24.9 ths. ha of which are lakeside land territories. It is surrounded with the slopes of mountain chains of Areguni, Geghama, Vardenis, Pambak and Sevan. The species of 1600 plants and 330 animals are preserved here. The park is divided into 3 zones: a reserve, a recreation zone and a zone for economic use.

[edit] Akhnabad Yew Grove State Reservation

Akhnabad Yew Grove State Reservation was established in 1958. It is located on Mt. Tsaghkot of the Miapor mountain range near Aghavnavank. The main species of the reservation is yew (taxus baccata L.). On the territory of the reservation yew grows in the mixed forest (beech, oak, maple etc). 300-400 year, 25m and 70-90cm trunk diameter can be found there.

[edit] Getik State Reservation

Getik State Reservation was established in 1971. Main protected objects are forest fauna.

[edit] Juniper Forest State Reservation

Juniper Forest State Reservation was established in 1958. Main protected object is relict juniper, as well as other numerous species.

[edit] Communities

The province of Gegharkunik consists of the following 92 communities (hamaynkner), of which 5 (bold in the table) are considered urban and 87 are considered rural.^[1] The division below is by raion, the administrative subdivisions of Armenia before 1995. There are also settlements such as Chichakli.

Gavar	Sevan	Chambarak	Martuni	Vardenis
Berdkunk Gandzak Gavar Gegharkunik Hayravank Karmirgyugh Lanjaghbyur Lchap Noratus Sarukhan Tsaghkashen Tsovazard	Chkalovka Ddmashen Geghamavan Lchashen Norashen Semyonovka Sevan Tsaghkunk Tsovagyugh Varser Zovaber	Aghberk Antaramej Artanish Artsvashen Aygut Chambarak Dprabak Drakhtik Dzoravank Getik Jil Kalavan Martuni Shorzha Ttujur Vahan	Artsvanist Astghadzor Dzoragyugh Geghhovit Lichk Madina Martuni Nerkin Getashen Tazagyugh Tsakkar Tsovinar Vaghashen Vardadzor Vardenik Verin Getashen Yeranos Zolakar	Akhpradzor Akunk Areguni Arpunk Avazan Ayrk Azat Daranak Geghakar Geghamabak Geghamasar Jaghatsadzor Kakhakn Karchaghbyur Khachaghbyur Kut Kutakan Lchavan Lusakunk Makenis Mets Masrik Nerkin Shorzha Norabak Norakert Pambak Pokr Masrik Shatjrek Shatvan Sotk Torfavan Tretuk Tsapatagh Tsovak Vanevan Vardenis Verin Shorzha

[edit] References

• Report of the results of the 2001 Armenian Census, National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia

1. ^ "RA Gegharkunik Marz". Marzes of the Republic of Armenia in Figures, 2002-2006. National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia. 2007. http://www.armstat.am/file/article/marz_07_e_27.pdf. 

[edit] External links

• Gegharkunik Marz Tourist Guide

v • d • e Administrative divisions of Armenia Marzer (մարզէր) Aragatsotn · Ararat · Armavir · Gegharkunik · Kotayk · Lori · Shirak · Syunik · Tavush · Vayots Dzor City with special status Yerevan (capital)

Coordinates: 40°25′N 45°12′E / 40.417°N 45.2°E / 40.417; 45.2

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