Lorri Province, Ottoman Empire
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Lori ( hy, Լոռի, ), is a
province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''Roman province, provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire ...
('' marz'') of
Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...
. It is located in the north of the country, bordering Georgia. Vanadzor is the capital and largest city of the province. Other important towns include Stepanavan, Alaverdi, and
Spitak Spitak ( hy, Սպիտակ), is a town and urban municipal community in the northern Lori Province of Armenia. It is north of the capital, Yerevan, and west of the provincial center, Vanadzor. Spitak was entirely destroyed during the devastatin ...
. It is home to the
UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...
World Heritage Sites of Haghpat and Sanahin monasteries and the well-preserved Akhtala monastery, where Armenians, Georgians, and Greeks make an annual pilgrimage on September 20–21. The province was heavily damaged during the
1988 Armenian earthquake The 1988 Armenian earthquake, also known as the Spitak earthquake ( hy, Սպիտակի երկրաշարժ, ), occurred on December 7 at with a surface wave magnitude of 6.8 and a maximum MSK intensity of X (''Devastating''). The shock occurre ...
. The province is served by the Stepanavan Airport.


Etymology

The name Lori (Լոռի) is of Armenian origin (from Armenian "quail"), first appeared in the 11th century when King David I Anhoghin founded the fortified city of Lori. The fortress-city became the capital of the
Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget The Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget ( hy, Տաշիր-Ձորագետի Թագավորություն ''Tashir-Dzorageti t'agavorut'yun''), alternatively known as the Kingdom of Lori or Kiurikian Kingdom by later historians, was a medieval Armenian kingd ...
in 1065. The name Lori later spread through the region and replaced the original name of Tashir.


Geography

Situated at the north of modern-day Armenia, Lori covers an area of (12.7% of total area of Armenia). It is bordered by
Tavush Province Tavush ( hy, Տավուշ, ) is a province of Armenia located at the northeast of Armenia, bordered by Georgia from the north and Azerbaijan from the east. Internally, Tavush borders the Gegharkunik Province from the south, Kotayk Province from ...
from the east, Kotayk Province from the southeast,
Aragatsotn Province Aragatsotn ( hy, Արագածոտն, ) is a province ('' marz'') of Armenia. It is located in the western part of the country. The capital and largest city of the province is the town of Ashtarak. The Statistical Committee of Armenia reported ...
from the southwest and
Shirak Province Shirak ( hy, wikt:Շիրակ, Շիրակ, ) is a provinces of Armenia, province (''Administrative divisions of Armenia, marz'') of Armenia. It is located in the north-west of the country, bordering Turkey to the west and Georgia (country), Geor ...
from the west. The province is bordered by the Kvemo Kartli region of Georgia. Historically, the territories of modern-day Lori are associated with the cantons of Tashir, Boghnopor and Dzorapor of Gugark province of Ancient Armenia. Lori is a mountainous region, dominated by the ranges of Javakheti, Bazum, Pambak, Gugark, Halab and Somkheti. The highest point of the province is
Mount Achkasar Mount Achkasar ( hy, Աչքասար) is a tall mountain in Northern Armenia. Achkasar is highest peak of the Javakhk range in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains. See also *Javakheti Plateau *Mount Leyli *Mount Yemlikli Mount Yemlikli, also Eml ...
of the Javakheti range with a height of 3196 meters. The lowest point is 380 meters in the valley of Debed in the northeast of the province. The main water resource of the province is the Debed river with its tributaries Dzoraget, Pambak and Martsaget. The climate is characterized with extremely cold snowy winters and mild summers. The annual precipitation level is between .


History

Excavations conducted in 1931 testify that the region of modern-day Lori was most probably settled during the 1st half of the 2nd millennium BC. Later, the region became part of the Urartu Kingdom between the 8th and 6th centuries BC. After the
Achaemenid The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenian Empire (; peo, wikt:𐎧𐏁𐏂𐎶, 𐎧𐏁𐏂, , ), also called the First Persian Empire, was an History of Iran#Classical antiquity, ancient Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great in 550 BC. Bas ...
invasion, the region became part of the 18th Satrapy of Persia. With the establishment of the Kingdom of Armenia in 331 BC, the region became part of the kingdom within the historic Gugark province, the 13th province of Greater Armenia. In the course of the 4th century, the region was ruled by members of the House of Mihran. Following the partition of Armenia in 387 between the
Byzantine Empire The Byzantine Empire, also referred to as the Eastern Roman Empire or Byzantium, was the continuation of the Roman Empire primarily in its eastern provinces during Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, when its capital city was Constantinopl ...
and Sassanid Persia, and the subsequent collapse of
Arsacid Armenia The Kingdom of Armenia, also the Kingdom of Greater Armenia, or simply Greater Armenia ( hy, Մեծ Հայք '; la, Armenia Maior), sometimes referred to as the Armenian Empire, was a monarchy in the Ancient Near East which existed from 331 BC ...
in 428,
Eastern Armenia Eastern Armenia ( hy, Արևելյան Հայաստան ''Arevelyan Hayastan'') comprises the eastern part of the Armenian Highlands, the traditional homeland of the Armenian people. Between the 4th and the 20th centuries, Armenia was partitioned ...
including Gugark province became under the rule of Sassanid Persia. In 658, Armenia was conquered by the
Arab The Arabs (singular: Arab; singular ar, عَرَبِيٌّ, DIN 31635: , , plural ar, عَرَب, DIN 31635: , Arabic pronunciation: ), also known as the Arab people, are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in Western Asia, ...
invaders. At the end of the 9th century, most of the Gugark province became part of the newly established Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia. In 979, King Kiurike I founded the
Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget The Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget ( hy, Տաշիր-Ձորագետի Թագավորություն ''Tashir-Dzorageti t'agavorut'yun''), alternatively known as the Kingdom of Lori or Kiurikian Kingdom by later historians, was a medieval Armenian kingd ...
under the rule of the Kiurikian dynasty and the protectorate of the Bagratid kings of Armenia. The capital of the kingdom was Matsnaberd (until 1065) and the
Lori fortress Lori Fortress ( hy, Լոռի բերդ) is an 11th-century Armenian fortress located near the Lori Berd village in Lori Province, Armenia. The fortress was built by David Anhoghin to become the capital of Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget in 1065. The ...
. The Kiurikians ruled the kingdom until 1118 when Tashir-Dzoraget became part of the
Kingdom of Georgia The Kingdom of Georgia ( ka, საქართველოს სამეფო, tr), also known as the Georgian Empire, was a medieval Eurasian monarchy that was founded in circa 1008 AD. It reached its Golden Age of political and economic ...
. The Seljuks invaded the region in the early 12th century, but their rule did not last long and in 1118–1122 the Georgian king
David the Builder David IV, also known as David the Builder ( ka, დავით აღმაშენებელი, ') (1073–1125), of the Bagrationi dynasty, was the 5th king of United Georgia from 1089 until his death in 1125. Popularly considered to be ...
conquered Lori and granted the rule to the House of Orbeli. The Orbeli's revolted unsuccessfully in 1177, after which a Kipchak named Kubasar was appointed '' spasalari'' of Lori. Later in 1185, the province became ruled by the Mkhargdzeli dynasty after Queen
Tamar of Georgia Tamar the Great ( ka, თამარ მეფე, tr, lit. "King Tamar") ( 1160 – 18 January 1213) reigned as the Queen of Georgia from 1184 to 1213, presiding over the apex of the Georgian Golden Age. A member of the Bagrationi dynasty ...
appointed the Sargis Mkhargrdzeli as its governor. However, the region was devastated by the Mongol invasion of 1236, and the Zakarian dynasty declined by the 2nd half of the 14th century. After fall of the
Kingdom of Georgia The Kingdom of Georgia ( ka, საქართველოს სამეფო, tr), also known as the Georgian Empire, was a medieval Eurasian monarchy that was founded in circa 1008 AD. It reached its Golden Age of political and economic ...
in 1490, Lori remained part of
Kingdom of Kartli The Kingdom of Kartli ( ka, ქართლის სამეფო, tr) was a late medieval/ early modern monarchy in eastern Georgia, centred on the province of Kartli, with its capital at Tbilisi. It emerged in the process of a triparti ...
until the 16th century. Lori was annexed by
Safavid Persia Safavid Iran or Safavid Persia (), also referred to as the Safavid Empire, '. was one of the greatest Iranian empires after the 7th-century Muslim conquest of Persia, which was ruled from 1501 to 1736 by the Safavid dynasty. It is often conside ...
as a result of the 1555
Peace of Amasya The Peace of Amasya ( fa, پیمان آماسیه ("Peymān-e Amasiyeh"); tr, Amasya Antlaşması) was a treaty agreed to on May 29, 1555, between Shah Tahmasp of Safavid Iran and Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire at the cit ...
and became part of Persia's Kartli-Kakheti province. After
Nader Shah Nader Shah Afshar ( fa, نادر شاه افشار; also known as ''Nader Qoli Beyg'' or ''Tahmāsp Qoli Khan'' ) (August 1688 – 19 June 1747) was the founder of the Afsharid dynasty of Iran and one of the most powerful rulers in Iranian h ...
's murder in 1747, the Georgian kingdoms of Kartli and
Kakheti Kakheti ( ka, კახეთი ''K’akheti''; ) is a region (mkhare) formed in the 1990s in eastern Georgia from the historical province of Kakheti and the small, mountainous province of Tusheti. Telavi is its capital. The region comprises eigh ...
became independent and united into a single kingdom by 1762. In 1800–01, together with the Georgian provinces of Kartli and Kakheti, Lori and Tavush were annexed by the
Russian Empire The Russian Empire was an empire and the final period of the Russian monarchy from 1721 to 1917, ruling across large parts of Eurasia. It succeeded the Tsardom of Russia following the Treaty of Nystad, which ended the Great Northern War. ...
to become part of the Georgia Governorate. Lori became officially part of the Russian Empire at the Treaty of Gulistan signed on 1 January 1813, between Imperial Russia and
Qajar Persia Qajar Iran (), also referred to as Qajar Persia, the Qajar Empire, '. Sublime State of Persia, officially the Sublime State of Iran ( fa, دولت علیّه ایران ') and also known then as the Guarded Domains of Iran ( fa, ممالک م ...
, following the Russo-Persian War of 1804–13. In 1862, Lori was transferred into the jurisdiction of the
Tiflis Governorate The Tiflis Governorate was a province ('' guberniya'') of the Caucasus Viceroyalty of the Russian Empire with its administrative center in Tiflis (present-day Tbilisi). In 1897, it constituted 44,607 sq. kilometres in area and had a population ...
. In 1880, Lori became part of the
Borchali The Borchaly uezd, was a county (''uezd'') of the Tiflis Governorate of the Caucasus Viceroyalty of the Russian Empire, and later of the independent and Soviet republics of Georgia. Its administrative center was the town of Shulavery (present-da ...
uyezd of the Tiflis Governorate. In the early 20th century, Lori was mostly populated by Armenians, with several Russian and Greek villages. In May 1918, the Ottoman Turkish forces moved towards
Yerevan Yerevan ( , , hy, Երևան , sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Y ...
and Karakilisa (now Vanadzor). On 25 May 1918, the Armenians led by Garegin Nzhdeh fought against the Turkish forces led by
Wehib Pasha Wehib Pasha also known as Vehip Pasha, Mehmed Wehib Pasha, Mehmet Vehip Pasha (modern Turkish: ''Kaçı Vehip Paşa'' or ''Mehmet Vehip (Kaçı)'', 1877–1940), was a general in the Ottoman Army. He fought in the Balkan Wars and in several thea ...
, at the vicinity of Karakilisa. On 28 May 1918, the Turks retreated from Karakalisa, Abaran and Sardarabad, paving way towards the declaration of the
Republic of Armenia A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...
on the same day. In late 1918,
Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions places Armenia in Western Asia; the CIA World Factbook , , and ''Ox ...
and Georgia fought a border war over Lori. Lori was claimed by both countries after 1918, when both declared its independence from Russian empire. Initially, Georgia controlled Lori. After turning down Armenian ultimatum, Georgian forces were attacked by Armenians and pushed back to river Khrami. Georgians consolidated and counterattacked pushing Armeanian forces out of contested area. In January 1919, the British brokered a peace agreement which left northern Lori as a neutral zone between the two countries. When Armenia was invaded by Turkish forces in November 1920, Georgia occupied the whole province, with permission by the Armenian government. Following Armenia's Sovietization in December 1920, Lori was incorporated into Soviet Armenia on 6 November 1921. During the Soviet period, modern-day Lori was divided into the raions of Kalinino, Tumanyan (Alaverdi until 1969), Kirovakan, Aragats, Spitak and Stepanavan. After the independence of Armenia, the 6 raions were merged as per the 1995 administrative reform, to form the Lori Province.


Demographics


Population

According to the
1989 Soviet census The 1989 Soviet census (russian: Всесоюзная перепись населения 1989, lit=1989 All-Union Census), conducted between 12 and 19 January of that year, was the last one that took place in the Soviet Union. The census found ...
, the Lori Province (then part of the Gugark, Tashir,
Spitak Spitak ( hy, Սպիտակ), is a town and urban municipal community in the northern Lori Province of Armenia. It is north of the capital, Yerevan, and west of the provincial center, Vanadzor. Spitak was entirely destroyed during the devastatin ...
, Stepanavan, and Tumanyan districts in 1930–1995) had a population of 229,459. 116,180 or 50.63% of which was urban, distributed in the cities of Alaverdi (26,930), Kirovakan (75,616), Spitak (3,740) and Stepanavan (9,894), and 113,279 or 49.37% were rural, distributed in the districts of Gugark (20,368), Tashir (30,645), Spitak (8,613), Stepanavan (17,474), and Tumanyan (36,179). According to the 2011 official census, Lori has a population of 235,537 (111,675 men and 123,862 women), forming around 7.8% of the entire population of Armenia. The urban population is 137,784 (58.5%) and the rural is 97,753 (41.5%). The province has 8 urban and 105 rural communities. The largest urban community is the provincial center of Vanadzor, with a population of 86,199. The other urban centres are Alaverdi, Stepanavan, Spitak, Shamlugh, Tashir, Akhtala and Tumanyan. With a population of 4,578, the village of Metsavan is the largest rural municipality of Lori.


Ethnic groups and religion

The majority of Lori are ethnic Armenians who belong to the
Armenian Apostolic Church , native_name_lang = hy , icon = Armenian Apostolic Church logo.svg , icon_width = 100px , icon_alt = , image = Էջմիածնի_Մայր_Տաճար.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , a ...
. The regulating body of the church is the Diocese of Gougark, headed by Archbishop
Sebouh Chouldjian , title = , image = BishopSebouh.jpg , image_size = , caption = Archbishop Sebouh Chouldjian , church = Armenian Apostolic Church , archdiocese = , province = , metropolis = , diocese = Diocese of Gougark , see = Mother See of Holy ...
. The Saint Gregory of Narek Cathedral in Vanadzor is the seat of the diocese. However, small communities of ethnic Russian
Molokan The Molokans ( rus, молокан, p=məlɐˈkan or , "dairy-eater") are a Spiritual Christian sect that evolved from Eastern Orthodoxy in the East Slavic lands. Their traditions—especially dairy consumption during Christian fasts—did not ...
s are mainly found in the villages of
Fioletovo Fioletovo ( hy, Ֆիոլետովո) is a village in the Lori Province of Armenia. Toponymy The village was known as ''Nikitino'' until 1936, when it was renamed ''Fioletovo'' in honour of the Russian Communist activist and one of the 26 Baku ...
and Lermontovo, and in less numbers in the villages of Sverdlov,
Mikhayelovka Mikhayelovka ( hy, Միխայելովկա; az, Mixaylovka) is a village in the Lori Province of Armenia. The village was populated by Azerbaijanis before the Azerbaijanis in Armenia#Nagorno-Karabakh_conflict, exodus of Azerbaijanis from Armenia ...
, Privolnoye, Pushkino,
Medovka Medovka ( hy, Մեդովկա), is a village in the Lori Province of Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of wor ...
and the town of Tashir. The total number of Molokans in Lori is 3,882 individuals. There are few Orthodox Russians and
Ukrainians Ukrainians ( uk, Українці, Ukraintsi, ) are an East Slavs, East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine. They are the seventh-largest nation in Europe. The native language of the Ukrainians is Ukrainian language, Ukrainian. The majority ...
in Vanadzor, Stepanavan and the village of
Amrakits Amrakits ( hy, Ամրակից) formerly known as ''Nikolayevka'' and later as ''Kirov'',Kiesling, ''Rediscovering Armenia'', p. 63, available online at thUS embassy to Armenia's website is a village in the Lori Province of Armenia Armenia () ...
. According to the Diocese of Gougark, as of February 2016, Lori is home to 259 places of worship, of which 3 monasteries, as well as 36 churches and 23 chapels, are active. The 793 individuals of the
Yazidi Yazidis or Yezidis (; ku, ئێزیدی, translit=Êzidî) are a Kurmanji-speaking endogamous minority group who are indigenous to Kurdistan, a geographical region in Western Asia that includes parts of Iraq, Syria, Turkey and Iran. The majo ...
community are found in the southern villages of the province including Lermontovo and
Lernantsk Lernantsk ( hy, Լեռնանցք, also romanized as Lernantsq; formerly, Chorlu and Chorlit) is a village in the Lori Province of Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Arme ...
. Lori is also home to a tiny Greek community of 655 individuals who speak the
Pontic dialect Pontic, from the Greek language, Greek ''pontos'' (, ), or "sea", may refer to: The Black Sea Places * The Pontic colonies, on its northern shores * Pontus (region), a region on its southern shores * The Pontic–Caspian steppe, steppelands str ...
. Small Greek communities could be found in the towns of Alaverdi, Akhtala, Stepanavan, Noyemberyan and Vanadzor. The majority of the
Yaghdan Yaghdan ( hy, Յաղդան), is a village in the Lori Province of Armenia. Until the 1988 Armenian earthquake it has a majority ethnic Greek Greek may refer to: Greece Anything of, from, or related to Greece, a country in Southern Europe: *Gre ...
village is Greek.


Administrative divisions

As a result of the administrative reforms in November 2017, Lori is currently divided into 57 municipal communities (''hamaynkner''), of which 7 are urban and 50 are rural: During the recent years, many rural settlements in Lori became abandoned, including the villages of Gyulludara,
Kizilshafak Dzyunashogh ( hy, Ձյունաշող) is a town in the Lori Province of Armenia near the Armenia–Georgia border. History Between May and July 1989, the Azerbaijani population of Gizil Shafag were subject to an unusual village exchange with t ...
and Kizkala.


Culture

Between the 11th and 13th centuries, the monasteries of Haghpat, Sanahin, Kobayr and
Bardzrakash Bardzrakash ( hy, Բարձրաքաշ) is a 10-13th-century. Armenian monastery located between Dsegh village and Tumanyan town within Lori marz, Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked cou ...
in
Dsegh Dsegh ( hy, Դսեղ), known as Tumanyan between 1938 and 1969, is a village in the Lori Province of Armenia. Dsegh is the birthplace of one of the most celebrated of Armenian poets Hovhannes Tumanyan from which took the name from 1938 to 1969. ...
served as centers of Armenian culture, theology and science. Scholars such as Hovhannes Imastaser, Grigor Tuteordi, Davit Kobayretsi, Grigor Magistros worked in these monasteries. The House-museum of Hovhannes Tumanyan in
Dsegh Dsegh ( hy, Դսեղ), known as Tumanyan between 1938 and 1969, is a village in the Lori Province of Armenia. Dsegh is the birthplace of one of the most celebrated of Armenian poets Hovhannes Tumanyan from which took the name from 1938 to 1969. ...
is among the notable cultural structures in Lori.


Fortresses and archaeological sites

*Kaytson Castle of the 10th century, * Kayan Fortress of the 10th century, *Akhtala Fortress of the 10th century, *
Lori Fortress Lori Fortress ( hy, Լոռի բերդ) is an 11th-century Armenian fortress located near the Lori Berd village in Lori Province, Armenia. The fortress was built by David Anhoghin to become the capital of Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget in 1065. The ...
of the 11th century, *Sanahin Bridge of 1195, *Yaghdan Bridge of the 13th century *Sedvi Fortress of the 13th century.


Churches and monasteries

* Odzun Church of the 5th century. * Saint George Church of Sverdlov of the 6th century, * Horomayr Monastery of the 7th century near Odzun, *Saint Gregory the Illuminator's Church of
Dsegh Dsegh ( hy, Դսեղ), known as Tumanyan between 1938 and 1969, is a village in the Lori Province of Armenia. Dsegh is the birthplace of one of the most celebrated of Armenian poets Hovhannes Tumanyan from which took the name from 1938 to 1969. ...
, 7th century, *
Hnevank Hnevank ( hy, Հնեվանք; meaning "Old Monastery") is a 7th-12th century Armenian Apostolic Church monastery, located near the village of Kurtan in the Lori Province of Armenia. The monastery is situated on a hill within a gorge, near where ...
Monastery, 7th–12th centuries, * Surp Hovhannes Monastery of Ardvi, 8th–13th centuries, *
Sanahin Monastery Sanahin Monastery is an Armenian monastery founded in the 10th century in the Lori Province of Armenia, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name Sanahin literally translates from Armenian as 'this one is older than that one', presumabl ...
of the 10th century, * Haghpat Monastery of the 10th century, *Church of the Forty Martyrs of the 11th century, *Khorakert Monastery of 1251 in
Jiliza Jiliza ( hy, Ջիլիզա) is a village in the Lori Province of Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world r ...
, *Surp Nshan Monastery of Sedvi near
Kachachkut Kachachkut ( hy, Կաճաճկուտ) is a village in the Lori Province of Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification ...
of the 13th century, * Church of the Holy Mother of God of Vanadzor, opened in 1831, *Saint Nikolai the Wonderworker Russian Church of
Amrakits Amrakits ( hy, Ամրակից) formerly known as ''Nikolayevka'' and later as ''Kirov'',Kiesling, ''Rediscovering Armenia'', p. 63, available online at thUS embassy to Armenia's website is a village in the Lori Province of Armenia Armenia () ...
, opened in 1848, *Gyulagarak church of 1876. *Russian Church of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary of Vanadzor, opened in 1895.


Transportation

Lori is connected to other parts of Armenia through a railway, national highways and a network of regional roads. The M-3 and M-6 highways passing through the province, connect the capital Yerevan with the Georgian capital
Tbilisi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), is the Capital city, capital and the List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia (country), Georgia, lying on the ...
. The M-8 highway connects Lori with Tavush Province to the east The provincial centre Vanadzor has a railway station with a South Caucasus Railway express service that connects the city with
Yerevan Yerevan ( , , hy, Երևան , sometimes spelled Erevan) is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's List of oldest continuously inhabited cities, oldest continuously inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Y ...
via
Gyumri Gyumri ( hy, Գյումրի, ) is an urban municipal community and the second-largest city in Armenia, serving as the administrative center of Shirak Province in the northwestern part of the country. By the end of the 19th century, when the city w ...
, and
Tbilisi Tbilisi ( ; ka, თბილისი ), in some languages still known by its pre-1936 name Tiflis ( ), is the Capital city, capital and the List of cities and towns in Georgia (country), largest city of Georgia (country), Georgia, lying on the ...
via
Ayrum Ayrum ( hy, Այրում), is a town and urban community in the Tavush Province of Armenia, located at a road distance of northeast of the capital Yerevan and north of the provincial capital Ijevan. It is situated on the shores of Debed river, ...
. In April 2012, a replacement bridge over the Zamarlu gorge just west of
Vahagnadzor Vahagnadzor ( hy, Վահագնաձոր; formerly, Shagali) is a town in the Lori Province of Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The U ...
was opened in order to secure the safe ongoing use of the line to Ayrum, but not before the all station service between Gyumri and Ayrum was discontinued leaving the likes of
Spitak Spitak ( hy, Սպիտակ), is a town and urban municipal community in the northern Lori Province of Armenia. It is north of the capital, Yerevan, and west of the provincial center, Vanadzor. Spitak was entirely destroyed during the devastatin ...
and Alaverdi without a passenger service. A new railway link between Vanadzor and
Fioletovo Fioletovo ( hy, Ֆիոլետովո) is a village in the Lori Province of Armenia. Toponymy The village was known as ''Nikitino'' until 1936, when it was renamed ''Fioletovo'' in honour of the Russian Communist activist and one of the 26 Baku ...
(west of
Dilijan Dilijan ( hy, Դիլիջան) is a spa town and urban municipal community in the Tavush Province of Armenia. The town is one of the most important resorts in Armenia, situated within the Dilijan National Park. The forested town is home to numer ...
) has also been proposed. Stepanavan Airport, located north of Vanadzor, is the nearest airport to the city.


Economy


Agriculture

The agriculture of Lori forms around 7.5% of the annual total agricultural product of Armenia. Approximately, 40% of the population in Lori are involved in agricultural activities, including farming and cattle-breeding. Almost 66.3% (2,511.5 km2) of the total area of the province are
arable land Arable land (from the la, arabilis, "able to be ploughed") is any land capable of being ploughed and used to grow crops.''Oxford English Dictionary'', "arable, ''adj''. and ''n.''" Oxford University Press (Oxford), 2013. Alternatively, for the ...
s, out of which 17% (421 km2) are ploughed. The main crops of the province are grains, followed by potato and vegetables. There is a large poultry farm in the town of Spitak.


Industry

As of 2016, the province has a contribution of around 6% in the annual total industrial product of Armenia. Lori is a major centre for metallurgical business, building materials production, as well as dairy products. *The Alaverdi copper smelter owned the "Armenian Copper Programme" company is the only smelter in Lori that is still in operation since the Soviet days. The largest copper mines are located in Alaverdi, Akhtala, Shamlugh and Teghut. *The city of Vanadzor is the main industrial centre of the province. The industry of the city is quite diversified with many firms specialized in garment manufacturing, chemical products, building materials, and dairy products. The largest garment manufacturers of the city are the "Dav-Gar" garment factory founded in 1962, the Darbbag's Sewing Factory founded in 1977 (privatized in 1996), the "Sarton" Sewing Factory founded in 1990, "Ruz-Dan" garment factory founded in 2000. The largest chemical plants of Vanadzor include the "Vanadzor ChimProm" founded in 1929, the "Gipk" enterprise for polymeric materials founded in 1967, and the "Gary Group" for polymeric materials founded in 1998. The "Beton" enterprise founded in 1988, the "Bionik" plant founded in 2004, and the "Karaberd" plant are specialized in building materials. The "DIET LLC", the "K&K" factory, and the "Katnagorts" plant are specialized in dairy products. Other major industrial plants of Vanadzor include the "Ardvin" electromechanical plant founded in 1956, the "Gems De Luxe" precious stone processing enterprise founded in 1996, and the "Jerutsogh" factory for heating equipments. The Vanadzor Thermal Power Plant is operating since 1961. *The town of Spitak is home to the "Spitak-1" organization for construction and building materials founded in 1985, the "Sev Kakach" cooperative for bakery production founded in 1987, the "Bee Art" plant for honey, and the "Vanuhi" garment factory. *Lori is famous for its cheese and other dairy products. The town Tashir is home to many firms for dairy products including the "Daughter Melania" cheese factory (since 1996, the "Dumikyan Brothers" cheese factory), the "Kalinino Kat" plant, and the "Tashir Kat" plant. *Other notable industrial plants in Lori include the "Bhez-Plazma" Electrical Products Manufacturing Enterprise founded in 1960 in Stepanavan, the "Titanyan Brothers" plant for building materials founded in 1964 in Alaverdi, the "INSI-NTK" plant for cosmetics and perfumes founded in 2006 in
Hobardz Hobardzi ( hy, Հոբարձի), is a village (rural community) in the Lori Province of Armenia. It is about 11 km south-east of Stepanavan (about 20 minutes by car) and is close to the villages of Vardablur and Gyulagarak. The Stepanavan De ...
, the "Katnarat Dairy Factory" founded in 2009 in Katnarat, the "Tutyan" linseed oil manufacturing enterprise founded in 2010 in Hartagyugh, the "Grig Stone" mining and stone-processing plant in Stepanavan, the "Hoosh" stone-processing plant in Tashir, and the "Sanasar Janjughazyan" plant for carbonated soft drinks in Vardablur. The
Dzoraget Hydroelectric Power Station The Dzoraget Hydroelectric Power Station ( hy, Ձորագետի հիդրոէլեկտրակայան) is situated in Dzoraget village, Lori Region, Armenia. The plant is located on the coast of Debed River, but it uses the flows of the waters of ...
( hy, Ձորագետի հիդրոէլեկտրակայան) is located in the Dzoraget village of Lori, on the shores of
Debed River The Debed ( hy, Դեբեդ) or Debeda ( ka, დებედა) is a river in Armenia and Georgia. It also serves as a natural boundary between Armenia and Georgia at the village Sadakhlo, Georgia. It is long, and has a drainage basin of . The ...
. It is in operation since on 15 November 1932 with the full installed capacity of 22.32 MW. As of 1980, the plant uses three generators with an installed capacity of 26.2 MW. The Dzoraget Hydro Power Plant is considered to be small size power plant.


Tourism

The mountainous nature, the mild summer climate and the green forests of Lori attract a large number of visitors during the summer season. Many sanatoriums, hotels, resorts and spas serve the province, mainly around Vanadzor, Stepanavan, Alaverdi, Dsegh and along the rivers of Dzoraget and Deped. The Monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin are a
UNESCO World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...
. Lori has 3 nature protected areas, including the Gyulagarak Sanctuary, the Margahovit Sanctuary, and the Rhododendron caucasicum Sanctuary near Aghstev river. The
Stepanavan Dendropark Officially Sochut Dendropark named after Edmund Leonowicz, commonly knowns as Stepanavan Dendropark ( hy, Ստեփանավանի դենդրոպարկ), is an arboretum located near the Gyulagarak village, Lori Province, Armenia. Located around 8 ...
as well as the Vanadzor Botanical Garden are major destinations for
ecotourism Ecotourism is a form of tourism involving responsible travel (using sustainable transport) to natural areas, conserving the environment, and improving the well-being of the local people. Its purpose may be to educate the traveler, to provide funds ...
lovers.


Education

Gugark was one of the major educational centres throughout the history. The historic University of Sanahin opened in 966 AD by the efforts of the Bagratuni queen Khosrovanush, was located in the area of modern-day Sanahin. Currently, Vanadzor has 2 universities: the "
Vanadzor State University Vanadzor State University named after Hovhannes Tumanyan (VSU) ( hy, Վանաձորի Հովհաննես Թումանյանի անվան Պետական Համալսարան), is a public university in Vanadzor, Lori Province, Armenia. With 5 facu ...
named after Hovhannes Tumanyan", and "Mkhitar Gosh Armenian-Russian International University". Branches of the Yerevan State University and
National Polytechnic University of Armenia The National Polytechnic University of Armenia () is a technical university located in Yerevan, Armenia. Established as the Karl Marx Institute of Polytechnic in 1933, it provides educational and research programs in various fields of technology ...
are also operating in the city. The State College of Alaverdi offers an opportunity in pedagogical studies with a duration of two years, while the Tumanyan branch of the "Northern University" offers degrees in nursing and dental prosthesis. As of the 2015–16 educational year, Lori was home to 162 schools. The
Vanadzor Technological Center Vanadzor ( hy, Վանաձոր) is an urban municipal community and the third-largest city in Armenia, serving as the capital of Lori Province in the northern part of the country. It is located about north of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2011 cen ...
is operating since October 2016. It is intended to promote the business and technology environment in the entire region of Lori. The Children of Armenia Fund (COAF), a
non-profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
NGO that is focused on child-centered development of rural Armenia, opened the first COAF SMART Center in Debet village of Lori in May 2018. The COAF SMART Center is a regional education hub designed to connect more villagers to the programs and opportunities offered by COAF and bring together different regions through hosting organization-wide events. It offers a wide array of resources for children and their families through technologically advanced classrooms and labs. The organization claims to ensure access to all communities by providing transportation to and from villages.


Sport

Football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly c ...
,
handball Handball (also known as team handball, European handball or Olympic handball) is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each (six outcourt players and a goalkeeper) pass a ball using their hands with the aim of throwing it into the g ...
and winter sports are popular in Lori. There are football stadiums in Vanadzor, Alaverdi, Akhtala and Tumanyan.
Lori Vanadzor Lori may refer to: *Lori (given name) *Lori Province, Armenia * Lori Fortress, a fortress in Armenia * Lori Berd, a village in Armenia * Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget, a historical Armenian kingdom from c. 980 to 1240, sometimes known as the Kingdom o ...
,
FC Vanadzor FC Vanadzor ( hy, Ֆուտբոլային Ակումբ Վանաձոր), is a defunct Armenian football club from the town of Vanadzor, Lori Province. The club made its professional debut in the independent Armenian leagues in the 1992 Armenian F ...
,
Debed FC Debed FC ( hy, Դեբեդ Ֆուտբոլային Ակումբ), is a defunct Armenian football club from Alaverdi, Lori Province Lori ( hy, Լոռի, ), is a province ('' marz'') of Armenia. It is located in the north of the country, borderin ...
and
FC Akhtala FC Akhtala ( hy, Ֆուտբոլային Ակումբ Ախթալա), is a defunct Armenian football club from Akhtala, Lori Province. The club was formed in 1988 and participated in the Armenian First League season in 1992. However, the club was di ...
had represented the province in the domestic football competitions. However, they were all dissolved due to financial difficulties. The FFA Vanadzor Football Academy opened its doors on 29 October 2016. In 2017 the newly founded
Lori FC Lori may refer to: *Lori (given name) *Lori Province, Armenia *Lori Fortress, a fortress in Armenia *Lori Berd, a village in Armenia *Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget, a historical Armenian kingdom from c. 980 to 1240, sometimes known as the Kingdom of L ...
made its debut in the
Armenian First League The Armenian First League is currently the second level football competition in Armenia after the Armenian Premier League The Armenian Premier League ( hy, VBET Հայաստանի Պրեմիեր Լիգա, known as the VBET Armenian Premier Lea ...
, representing the city of Vanadzor. Vanadzor is one of the prominent centers for winter sports in Armenia with ski facilities near the city.


Notable natives

* Hovhannes Tumanyan (1869-1923), the all-Armenian poet *
Avetik Sahakyan Avetik Hovhannesi Sahakian ( hy, Աւետիք Սահակեան; 1863–1933), also known as Father Abraham, was an Armenian politician, the Parliamentary President (speaker) of the First Republic of Armenia in 1918–19, the social security minis ...
(1863–1933), Armenian politician of the
First Republic of Armenia The First Republic of Armenia, officially known at the time of its existence as the Republic of Armenia ( hy, Հայաստանի Հանրապետութիւն), was the first modern Armenian state since the loss of Armenian statehood in the Middle ...
. *
Stepan Zoryan Stepan Yeghiayi Zoryan ( hy, Ստեփան Եղիայի Զորյան, born Stepan Yeghiayi Arakelyan; September 16, 1890 – October 14, 1967) was a Soviet Armenian writer. Biography Stepan Zoryan (real surname Arakelyan) was born in 1890 to a ...
(1889–1967), Armenian writer. * Suren Aghababyan (1922–1986), Soviet Armenian literary critic. *
Sos Sargsyan Sos Sargsyan ( hy, Սոս Սարգսյան; 24 October 1929 – 26 September 2013) was a prominent Armenian actor, director and writer. Biography Sos Sargsyan was born in Stepanavan in northern Armenia, at the time part of the Soviet Union. He ...
(1929–2013), prominent actor,
People's Artist of the Soviet Union People's Artist of the USSR ( rus, Народный артист СССР, Narodny artist SSSR), also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to artists of the Soviet Union. Nomenclature and significan ...
. *
Artavazd Peleshyan Artavazd Peleshyan ( hy, Արտավազդ (Արթուր) Փելեշյան, Artavazd (Art’ur) P’eleshyan; also ''Pelechian, Peleshian''; born February 22, 1938) is an Armenian director of essay films, a documentarian in the history of film art, ...
, director and filmmaker. *
Shavarsh Karapetyan Shavarsh Vladimiri (Vladimirovich)Minor Pl ...
, Soviet Armenian fin-swimmer. *
Eduard Nalbandyan Eduard Aghvani Nalbandian ( hy, Էդվարդ Աղվանի Նալբանդյան; born July 16, 1956) is an Armenian diplomat who served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia from April 2008 to May 2018. Biography Edward Nalbandian was born i ...
, Armenian politician. *
Sergei Alifirenko Sergei Gennadievich Alifirenko (russian: Серге́й Геннадиевич Алифиренко, born 21 January 1959) is a Russian pistol shooter, originally from Armenia, specializing in the 25 m Rapid Fire Pistol event. He was born in Kir ...
, Olympic gold-medalist pistol shooter. *
Tigran Sargsyan Tigran Sureni Sargsyan ( hy, Տիգրան Սուրենի Սարգսյան, born 29 January 1960) is an Armenian political figure who was Prime Minister of Armenia from 2008 to 2014. Previously he was Chairman of the Central Bank of Armenia from 1 ...
, Armenian politician. *
Stepan Sarkisyan Stepan Sarkisyan ( hy, Ստէփան Սարգսյան, born 15 September 1962) is a former Soviet Armenian Freestyle wrestler. He's an Olympic silver medalist and European Champion and was awarded the Honoured Master of Sports of the USSR title in ...
,
freestyle wrestling Freestyle wrestling is a style of wrestling originated from Great Britain and the United States. Along with Greco-Roman, it is one of the two styles of wrestling contested in the Olympic Games. American high school and men's college wrestling ...
Olympic silver-medalist. * Armen Gyulbudaghyants, prominent footballer and football manager. *
Gor Mkhitarian Gor Mkhitarian ( hy, Գոռ Մխիթարյան; born in 1973 in Vanadzor, Armenia) is an Armenian singer and songwriter who started his musical career in Armenia. He immigrated to the United States and now is based in Los Angeles. In Armenia, he ...
, Armenian rock musician and singer. * Vic Darchinyan, Armenian professional boxer, three-division world champion. * Roman Mitichyan, Armenian-American professional mixed martial artist, actor and stuntman. *
Nareh Arghamanyan Nareh Arghamanyan ( hy, Նարե Արղամանյան; born in Vanadzor, Armenia, 1989) is an Armenian pianist. She is best known for winning the 2008 Montreal International Musical Competition. Biography Arghamanyan began her piano studies at t ...
, Armenian pianist, winner of the 2008 Montreal International Musical Competition. *
Mane Tandilyan Mane Tandilyan ( hy, Մանե Թանդիլյան; born 3 April 1978), is an Armenian historian and politician, Member of the National Assembly of Armenia and former Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of the Republic since 12 May 2018 until she ...
, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia (2018). *
Anastas Mikoyan Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan (; russian: Анаста́с Ива́нович Микоя́н; hy, Անաստաս Հովհաննեսի Միկոյան; 25 November 1895 – 21 October 1978) was an Armenian Communist revolutionary, Old Bolshevik an ...
,
Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
revolutionary,
Old Bolshevik Old Bolshevik (russian: ста́рый большеви́к, ''stary bolshevik''), also called Old Bolshevik Guard or Old Party Guard, was an unofficial designation for a member of the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Par ...
and statesman * Artem Mikoyan,
Soviet The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, ...
Armenian Armenian may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to Armenia, a country in the South Caucasus region of Eurasia * Armenians, the national people of Armenia, or people of Armenian descent ** Armenian Diaspora, Armenian communities across the ...
aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines ...
designer, MIG


Gallery

File:Odzun-church-south.jpg, Odzun Church File:Axtala1.jpg, Akhtala monastery File:Pushkin Pass.jpg, Northern Lori as seen from the Pushkin mountain pass File:Lermontovo, Armenia.jpg, The village of Lermontovo File:Karmir Aghek.jpg, Somkheti mountains and Karmir Aghek village


See also

* Gomshavar *
Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget The Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget ( hy, Տաշիր-Ձորագետի Թագավորություն ''Tashir-Dzorageti t'agavorut'yun''), alternatively known as the Kingdom of Lori or Kiurikian Kingdom by later historians, was a medieval Armenian kingd ...
*
Lori Fortress Lori Fortress ( hy, Լոռի բերդ) is an 11th-century Armenian fortress located near the Lori Berd village in Lori Province, Armenia. The fortress was built by David Anhoghin to become the capital of Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget in 1065. The ...
*
Manvo Manvo (also, Manes) is a town in the Lori Province of Armenia Armenia (), , group=pron officially the Republic of Armenia,, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of Western Asia.The UNbr>classification of world regions place ...
* Sanain


References


External links


Lori Marz Tourist Guide
* {{Authority control Provinces of Armenia