Shirak Province facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shirak
Շիրակ
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Location of Shirak within Armenia
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| Country | Armenia |
| Capital and largest city |
Gyumri |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2,680 km2 (1,030 sq mi) |
| Area rank | 6th |
| Population
(2011)
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| • Total | 251,941 |
| • Rank | 2nd |
| • Density | 94.01/km2 (243.5/sq mi) |
| Time zone | AMT (UTC+04) |
| Postal code |
2601–3126
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| ISO 3166 code | AM-SH |
| FIPS 10-4 | AM07 |
| HDI (2017) | 0.753 high · 4th |
| Website | Official website: http://shirak.mtad.am/ |
Shirak, 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.
Geography
Shirak Province occupies the northwestern part of Armenia and covers an area of 2,680 km2 (1,035 sq mi) (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. The area is protected by the government as the Lake Arpi National Park.
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 (28 in).
Images for kids
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Vahramaberd fortress, 8th c. BC
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Orontid settlement of the 5th-2nd centuries BC
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Marmashen Monastery
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Saint Paul and Peter Church of Bardzrashen, flourished under the Zakarids
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Sev Berd or the Black Fortress near Gyumri, built during the 1830s by the Russians in response to the Russo-Turkish War of 1828–1829
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Saint Arsenije Russian Church, Gyumri
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Shirak Province administration in Gyumri
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Yererouk Basilica of the 4th-5th centuries, is one of the earliest samples of Armenian church architecture
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Harichavank Monastery, 8th century
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Shirak Airport
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Gyumri Railway Station
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Buckwheat fields in Shirak
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The Gyumri Brewery
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The Progress University in Gyumri
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Gyumri City Stadium
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Lake Arpi and its National park
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Tiravor Church in Mayisyan, 7th century
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Lmbatavank near Artik, 7th century
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The remains of Makaravank Church of Pemzashen, 10th century
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Aghin village
See also
In Spanish: Provincia de Shirak para niños
