Ararat (, ) is a province (marz) of Armenia. Its capital and largest city is the town of Artashat.
The province is named after the biblical Mount Ararat. It is bordered by Turkey from the west and Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic from the south. It surrounds the Karki exclave of Nakhichevan which has been controlled by Armenia since its capture in May 1992 during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. Domestically, Ararat is bordered by Armavir Province from the northwest, Kotayk Province from the north, Gegharkunik Province from the east, Vayots Dzor Province from the southeast and the city of Yerevan from the north.
Two former capitals of Armenia are located in the modern-day Ararat Province, Artaxata and Dvin. It is also home to the Khor Virap monastery, significant as the place of Gregory the Illuminator's 13-year imprisonment and the closest point to Mount Ararat within Armenian borders.
Etymology
Ararat Province is named after the historic Ayrarat province of Ancient Armenia.
According to Movses Khorenatsi and the Ashkharatsuyts medieval Armenian geographical book of Anania Shirakatsi, Ayrarat was one of the 15 provinces of Armenia Major. It was considered the central province of the Armenian Highland.
It is believed that the name Ararat is the Armenian equivalent of the toponym Urartu.http://www.iranicaonline.org/articles/ayrarat Encyclopædia Iranica Online
Geography
Ararat has an area of 2,090 km2 (7% of total area of Armenia). It occupies the east of the central part of modern-day Armenia. From the north, it has borders with Armavir Province, Yerevan and Kotayk Province. From the east, its bordered by Gegharkunik and Vayots Dzor. Iğdır Province of Turkey and Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic respectively form the western and southern borders of the province.
Historically, the current territory of the province mainly occupies the Vostan Hayots canton of Ayrarat province of Ancient Armenia.
The province is located at the southeast of the Ararat plain, surrounded by the Yeranos mountains from the north, the mountains of Gegham, Dahnak and Mzhkatar from the east, Urts mountains from the south and the Araks river from the west. The mountains of Yerakh are located at the centre of the province. Approximately, 30% of the territory is plain, while the rest is dominated by mountains.
The highest point of Ararat province is the Spitakasar peak of Gegham mountains with a height of 3560 meters. The lowest point is 801 meters at the Araks valley. Araks, Hrazdan, Azat and Vedi, are the 4 major rivers the flow through the province. The climate within the territory of the province is highly diversified. It ranges between extremely arid climate at the lower plains and cold snowy climate at the heights.
The cliffy terrain of Khosrov Forest located at the northeast of the province, used to be the stronghold of the Endangered Caucasian leopards in Armenia. Between October 2000 to July 2002 tracks of no more than 10 individuals were found in an area of .Khorozyan, I., Malkhasyan, A. (2002). Ecology of the leopard (Panthera pardus) in Khosrov Reserve, Armenia: implications for conservation. Scientific Reports of the Zoological Society "La Torbiera" 6: 1–41.
History
The region of modern-day Ararat Province is among the earliest locations that was settled by the people of the Armenian Highland. It mainly includes the 3 cantons of Vostan Hayots, Urstadzor and Arats of the historic Ayrarat province. Vostan Hayots was known since the establishment of the Artaxiad Kingdom of Armenia at the beginning of the 2nd century BC. The ancient Armenian capitals of Artaxata founded in 176 BC, and Dvin founded during the 4th century AD, were both located within the Vostan Hayots canton. The other cantons of Urtsadzor and Arats were first mentioned in the 5th century AD by Yeghishe the historian in his "History of Vardan and the Armenian War" historical work.
After the fall of the Armenian Kingdom in 428, the region became part of the Sasanian Empire of Persia until the Arab conquest of Armenia in the mid-7th century. According to the 8th-century historian Ghevond, the Armenian princes of Urtsadzor canton participated in the failed revolution of 775 in Erciş against the Abbasid rulers of Arminiya.
At the end of the 9th century, the 3 cantons became part of the newly established Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia. However, between the 11th and 15th centuries, the region suffered from the Seljuk, Mongol, Ag Qoyunlu and Kara Koyunlu invasions, respectively. At the beginning of the 16th century, the territory of modern-day Ararat became part of the Erivan Beglarbegi within the Safavid Persia. During the first half of the 18th century, the territory became part of the Erivan Khanate under the rule of the Afsharid dynasty and later under the Qajar dynasty of Persia. It remained under the Persian rule until 1827–1828, when Eastern Armenia was ceded by the Russian Empire as a result of the Russo-Persian War of 1826–28 and the signing of the Treaty of Turkmenchay.
With the fall of the Russian Empire and as a result of the decisive Armenian victories over the Turks in the battles of Sardarabad, Abaran, and Gharakilisa, the region became part of the independent Armenia in May 1918, however, its western reaches remained occupied by the Ottoman Empire (by virtue of the Treaty of Batum) until the latter's withdrawal in late 1918. In July 1919, lasting until mid-1920, the Azerbaijanis-inhabited regions of Ararat, Vedibasar and Zangibasar, revolted against the Armenian government as part of the Muslim uprisings in Kars and Sharur–Nakhichevan.
After 2 years of brief independence, Armenia became part of the Soviet Union in December 1920. From 1930 until 1995, modern-day Ararat was divided into 3 raions within the Armenian SSR: Masis raion, Artashat raion, and Ararat raion (known as Vedi raion until 1968)—there was also the Gharabaghlar raion which was formed in 1937 but later dissolved and attached to the Vedi raion in 1951, its administrative center was the town Urtsadzor. With the territorial administration reform of 1995, the 3 raions were consolidated into the Ararat Province.
Demographics Population According to the 1989 Soviet census, the Ararat Province (then part of the Ararat, Artashat, and Masis districts in 1930–1995) had a population of 266,527. 52,429 or 19.67% of which was urban, distributed in the cities of Ararat (20,105) and Artashat (32,324), and 214,098 or 80.33% were rural, distributed in the districts of Ararat (64,657), Artashat (73,269), and Masis (76,172). According to the 2022 official census, Ararat has a population of 248,982 (122,939 men and 126,043 women), forming around 8.5% of the entire population of Armenia. The urban population is 66,759 (26.8%) and the rural is 182,223 (73.2%). The province has 4 urban and 93 rural communities. The largest urban community is the provincial centre of Artashat, with a population of 19,020. The other urban centres are Ararat, Masis and Vedi.
With a population of 8,376, the village of Ayntap is the largest rural municipality of Ararat.
Ethnic groups and religion The majority of the Ararat Province population are ethnic Armenians who belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church. The regulating body of the church is the Araratian Pontifical Diocese, headed by Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan (seat in Yerevan).
However, the village of Verin Dvin is predominantly populated by Assyrians belonging to the Assyrian Church of the East, whose ancestors migrated to Armenia from Iran during the 1st half of the 19th century. Almost half of the population of the village of Dimitrov is also Assyrian. The provincial centre Artashat is also home to a small Assyrian community. The approximate number of the Assyrians in Ararat Province is around 2,500.
Administrative divisions
Ararat is currently divided into 5 municipalities (hamaynkner), of which 4 are consolidated and 1 community inhabited by Assyrians: MunicipalityTypeArea (km2)Population (2022 census)CentreIncluded villagesArarat MunicipalityUrban420.4137,758AraratArarat, Avshar, Armash, Yeraskh, Zangakatun, Lanjar, Noyakert, Urtsalanj, Paruyr Sevak, Surenavan, Vardashat, TigranashenArtashat MunicipalityUrban620.7686,598ArtashatAbovyan, Azatavan, Aygezard, Aygepat, Aygestan, Araksavan, Arevshat, Baghramyan, Bardzrashen, Berdik, Berkanush, Byuravan, Burastan, Getazat, Dalar, Deghdzut, Dimitrov, Ditak, Dvin, Lanjazat, Kanachut, Kakavaberd, Hnaberd, Hovtashen, Masis, Mkhchyan, Mrganush, Mrgavan, Mrgavet, Narek, Nshavan, Norashen, Shahumyan, Vostan, Jrashen, Vardashen, Verin Artashat, KaghtsrashenMasis MunicipalityUrban18.7376,751MasisAyntap, Azatashen, Arbat, Argavand, Arevabuyr, Geghanist, Getapnya, Dashtavan, Darakert, Darbnik, Zorak, Khachpar, Hayanist, Hovtashat, Ghukasavan, Marmarashen, Nizami, Nor Kharberd, Nor Kyurin, Norabats, Noramarg, Jrahovit, Rranchpar, Sayat-Nova, Sis, SipanikVedi MunicipalityUrban40.2446,085VediAygavan, Aralez, Ginevet, Goravan, Dashtakar, Yeghegnavan, Lanjanist, Lusashogh, Lusarat, Nor Kyank, Nor Ughi, Shaghap, Vosketap, Sisavan, Vanashen, Taperakan, Urtsadzor, Pokr VediVerin Dvin MunicipalityRural12.341,790Verin DvinA community inhabited by a national minority (Assyrians).
During the recent years, many rural settlements in Ararat became abandoned, including the village of Kakavaberd.
Culture
There are cultural palaces as well as public libraries in the towns of Ararat, Artashat, Masis and Vedi. The provincial centre Artashat is also home to the Amo Kharazyan drama theatre.
The province has many art academies, sport schools and musical schools, mainly in the urban settlements.
The House-museum of Vazgen Sargsyan is operating in the village of Ararat since 2001.
Fortresses and archaeological sites Ancient Artashat archaeological site, Ancient Dvin archaeological site, Kakavaberd fortress of the 4th century, Tapi Fortress of the 10th century, Mausoleum of Kara Koyunlu emirs in Argavand, built in 1413.
Churches and monasteries Aghjots Vank monastery of the 13th century, Hovhannes Karapaet Monastery near Shaghap, from the 13th century, Khor Virap monastery of the 17th century.
Transportation The M-2 Motorway that connects the capital Yerevan with southern Armenia and the Iranian border, passes through the Ararat Province.
The towns of Artashat and Ararat used to have a railway station that connected Yerevan with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic during the Soviet years.
Economy
Agriculture and viticulture
Being located at the fertile Ararat plain, the province contributes with 15% in the annual total agricultural product of Armenia. Around 75% (1,567 km2) of the total area of the province are arable lands, out of which 17.23% (270 km2) are ploughed.
Orchards mainly produce grapes, apricot and peach. Other products include pear, apple, melon, watermelon, eggplant, grains and dry seed. Ararat is among the leading provinces of Armenia in wine production in terms of grape cultivation and wine export (along with the provinces of Ararat and Vayots Dzor).
The irrigation infrastructure of the province is quite developed. 90% of the farmlands are irrigated, mainly using canals opened from the rivers of Vedi and Azat.
The Geghanist village has a specialized plant in producing fertilizers and irrigation system design.
The province has 2 large poultry farms in the village of Kaghtsrashen and the town of Masis.
Recently, fish farming has significantly developed in the province. The largest fish farming ponds are located at the vicinity of Armash village.
Industry Ararat is among the most industrialized provinces of Armenia with many large industrial firms. It currently has a contribution of 10% in the annual total industrial product of Armenia.
Production of alcoholic drinks is among the leading sectors in Ararat with a large number of factories spread all over the communities of the province. Major producers of the province include: