Shirak Province

For other uses, see Shirak (disambiguation).

Shirak Շիրակ
—  Province  —
Location of Shirak within Armenia
Coordinates: 40°50′N 43°55′E
Country	Armenia
Capital	Gyumri
Government
• Governor	Ashot Giziryan
Area
• Total	2,681 km2 (1,035.1 sq mi)
Area rank	6th
Population (2002)
• Total	257,242
• Rank	2nd
• Density	96/km2 (248.5/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+04
• Summer (DST)	UTC+05 (UTC)
Postal code	2601-3126
ISO 3166 code	AM-SH
FIPS 10-4	AM07
Website	www.shirakinfo.am

Part of the series on Armenia Հայաստան   Culture Art · Cinema Music · Media Sport · Vartavar History Politics Foreign relations of Armenia Demographics Administrative divisions Aragatsotn · Ararat · Armavir Gegharkunik · Kotayk · Lori · Shirak Syunik · Tavush · Vayots Dzor Yerevan (city with special status) Armenia portal

Shirak (Armenian: Շիրակ) is a province (marz) of Armenia. It is in the north-west of the country, bordering Turkey in the west and Georgia in the north. Its capital is Gyumri. Shirak is known as the homeland of khash. 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. Shirak is served by Shirak International Airport near Gyumri.

History

The ancient history of Shirak is similar to its cousin the Ararat Valley, steeped in legend to some, but found by archaeologists to have been inhabited 250,000 years ago, with settlements popping up along the Akhurian Valley beginning around 9000 BC. Agriculturally based, the region has few of the metallurgical centers found South, but still had sophisticated settlements.

---

Shirak borders the following marzer:

• Lori - east
• Aragatsotn - south

Communities

The province of Shirak consists of the following 119 communities (hamaynkner), of which 3 (bold in the table) are considered urban and 116 are considered rural. The division below is by raion, the administrative subdivisions of Armenia before 1995.

Gyumri	Artik	Maralik	Ashotsk	Amasia
Akhurik Akhuryan Arapi Arevik Aygebats Azatan Basen Bayandur Beniamin Getk Gharibjanyan Gyumri Hatsik Haykavan Hovit Hovuni Jajur Jajur kayaranin kits Jrarat Kamo Kaps Karmrakar Karnut Keti Krashen Lernut Marmashen Mayisyan Mets Sariar Pokrashen Shirak Vahramaberd Voskehask Yerazgavors	Anushavan Arevshat Artik Geghanist Getap Harich Haykasar Hayrenyats Horom Hovtashen Lernakert Lusakert Meghrashen Mets Mantash Nahapetavan Nor Kyank Panik Pemzashen Pokr Mantash Saralanj Saratak Spandaryan Tufashen Vardakar	Aghin Ani kayarani Anipemza Bagravan Dzithankov Dzorakap Gusanagyugh Haykadzor Isahakyan Jrapi Karaberd Lanjik Lusaghbyur Maralik Sarakap Sarnaghbyur Shirakavan	Arpeni Ashotsk Bashgyugh Bavra Dzorashen Ghazanchi Goghovit Hartashen Kakavasar Karmravan Krasar Lernagyugh Mets Sepasar Musayelyan Pokr Sariar Pokr Sepasar Salut Saragyugh Sarapat Sizavet Tavshut Torosgyugh Tsoghamarg Vardaghbyur Zuygaghbyur	Aghvorik Alvar Amasia Ardenis Aregnadem Bandivan Berdashen Byurakn Garnarich Gtashen Hoghmik Hovtun Jradzor Meghrashat Shaghik Tsaghkut Voghji Zarishat Zorakert

Gallery

• Shirak
• 

  Lmbatavank near Artik, 7th c.

• 

  Harichavank Monastery, 8th c.

• 

  Akhurian River

• 

  The village of Harich.

External links

• Shirak guide with detailed descriptions, by Rick Ney
• Shirak Marz Tourist Guide
• Shirak Regional Museum

References

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