Vayots Dzor (Armenian: Վայոց Ձոր) is a beautiful province (like a state or region) in Armenia. It's located in the southeastern part of the country. Vayots Dzor shares borders with Azerbaijan to the west and east.

This province covers about 2,308 square kilometers. It's the least populated province in Armenia, with only about 52,324 people (as of 2011). The main city and capital of Vayots Dzor is Yeghegnadzor.

Vayots Dzor is famous for its many old landmarks and places to visit. These include the Areni-1 cave complex and its ancient winery. You can also find the 8th-century Tanahat Monastery and the 10th-century Smbataberd fortress here. The beautiful 13th-century Noravank monastery is another highlight. Vayots Dzor is also home to the spa town of Jermuk.

Long ago, the village of Gladzor in Vayots Dzor was home to the University of Gladzor. This was an important learning center in the 13th and 14th centuries.

What's in the Name?

The name Vayots Dzor comes from an old area called Vayots Dzor. This area was part of the historic Syunik region in Ancient Armenia.

No one knows for sure where the name Vayots Dzor came from. But many people believe it means valley of sorrows. This is because vay is an Armenian word for sorrow. Some folk stories say the region got this name after a big earthquake. However, some historians think it might come from an ancient tribe called Vay.

Exploring Vayots Dzor's Nature

View from the Jermuk Hydrological Sanctuary

Vayots Dzor is in the southeastern part of Armenia. It covers about 2,308 square kilometers. This is about 7.8% of Armenia's total area. It's the least populated province in the country.

Vayots Dzor is a very mountainous area. It has three main mountain ranges. These are the Vardenis mountains in the north, the Arpa range in the middle, and the Vayk range in the south. The highest point is the Vardenis volcano, which is 3,522 meters high. The lowest point is the Areni valley, at 850 meters. The Vayots Sar volcanic cone is a volcano located in the center of the province.

Arpa river

The province has many rivers, mountain springs, and mineral water sources. The Arpa River is the most important one. It flows for 92 kilometers through Vayots Dzor. It passes through towns like Jermuk, Vayk, Yeghegnadzor, and Areni. The Arpa River starts in Vayots Dzor and flows into the Araks river. It has smaller rivers joining it, which create beautiful waterfalls like Jermuk and Herher.

The Yeghegis river is another important river. It flows through a valley that is a protected wildlife area. Many rivers in Vayots Dzor flow quickly and have deep drops. During the Soviet era, a large tunnel was built. This tunnel moves water from the Arpa river to Lake Sevan.

There are also several small lakes in the valley of the Herher river.

Vayk mountain range

A Look Back in Time

The Areni-1 cave complex

Vayots Dzor has a very long history. People have lived here since ancient times. Archaeologists have found many old sites and objects. These date back to the Stone Age and the Bronze Age. There are even carvings on cliffs showing hunting scenes.

One amazing discovery is the Areni-1 cave complex. Between 2007 and 2011, archaeologists found a 6,100-year-old Areni-1 winery here! This winery had fermentation vats, a wine press, and storage jars. It's believed to be the oldest known winery in the world. They also found a 5,500-year-old leather shoe in Areni-1. This is the oldest known leather shoe ever found!

Around 800 BC, Vayots Dzor was part of the Kingdom of Urartu. Later, it became part of the Kingdom of Armenia.

Tanahat Monastery, founded in the 8th century, rebuilt during the 13th century

Between the 10th and 13th centuries, many churches, monasteries, bridges, and caravanserais (roadside inns for travelers) were built. This was when Vayots Dzor was part of the Kingdom of Syunik.

During the Middle Ages, the famous Silk Road passed through Vayots Dzor. This was a major trade route. Vayots Dzor was also home to one of Armenia's first universities. The University of Gladzor was started around 1280.

Jermuk canyon and forest

The time between the 15th and 17th centuries was difficult for Vayots Dzor. The region often became a battleground. Many villages and historical sites were destroyed. People had to leave their homes. Later, the area became known as Daralagez.

In the early 1800s, Vayots Dzor became part of the Russian Empire. After Armenia became independent, Vayots Dzor became one of its provinces in 1995.

People and Culture

Population

Malishka village

Vayots Dzor has the smallest population and lowest population density among Armenia's provinces. In 2011, the official census showed a population of 52,324 people. About 35% of the people live in cities, and 65% live in rural areas.

The province has 3 cities and 41 villages. The largest city is Yeghegnadzor, with about 7,944 people. Other cities are Vayk (5,877 people) and Jermuk (4,628 people). The village of Malishka is the largest rural community, with 4,460 people.

Ethnic Groups and Religion

Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Yeghegnadzor, 12th century

Most people in Vayots Dzor are ethnic Armenians. They belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church. The main church in the province is the Holy Mother of God Cathedral in Yeghegnadzor.

Some people in Vayots Dzor have ancestors who moved from Iran in the early 1800s.

How Vayots Dzor is Organized

Vayots Dzor is divided into 8 main areas called municipal communities. These include towns and villages.

Areni Community: Includes the town of Areni and villages like Agarakadzor and Rind.
Jermuk Community: Includes the town of Jermuk and villages like Gndevaz.
Vayk Community: Includes the town of Vayk and villages like Por.
Yeghegis Community: Includes the village of Shatin and other villages like Yeghegis.
Yeghegnadzor Community: Includes the town of Yeghegnadzor.

Culture and Traditions

The people of Vayots Dzor are very traditional. They celebrate many religious and traditional holidays. These include Trndez and Vardavar.

A big celebration is the harvest festival. It happens every year in Yeghegnadzor in October. People from all the villages come together. They decorate cars with flowers and bring their crops and berries. There are also shows and concerts.

Another popular event is the wine festival. It's held every October in the village of Areni.

Traditional Armenian bread, called lavash, and sweet bread, called gata, are still baked in old-style ovens called tandoors. Local dishes include sour banjar, kyalaglosh, and various meat dishes like rabbit kofta.

Yeghegnadzor is the main cultural center. It has a cultural palace, a public library, and an archaeological museum. In the town's park, you can see a vishapakar (dragon stone) that is thousands of years old.

Fortresses and Ancient Sites

Smbataberd fortress of the 10th century

Areni-1 cave complex and the Winery: Very old sites from the Stone Age.
Smbataberd fortress: A strong fortress from the 10th century.
Proshaberd fortress: Built in the 13th century.
Orbelian's Caravanserai: A historic inn for travelers, built in 1332.

Churches and Monasteries

Spitakavor Monastery of 1321

Tanahat Monastery: Founded in 735.
Shativank monastery: From the 10th century.
Tsakhats Kar Monastery: Built between the 10th and 11th centuries.
Noravank monastery: A famous monastery from the 10th-13th centuries.
Gndevank monastery: Also from the 10th-13th centuries.
Spitakavor Monastery: Built in 1321.
Areni Church: Built in 1321.

Media

Vardadzor is the local newspaper for Vayots Dzor. It's published every month in Yeghegnadzor. It shares news about politics, economy, and local events.

Getting Around Vayots Dzor

The M-2 Motorway is a main road that goes through the province. It connects Armenia from north to south. There are also many good local roads connecting the towns.

Near Jermuk, there's a small airstrip next to the Kechut Reservoir.

Economy and Industry

Agriculture and Wine Making

Orchards in Vayots Dzor

Agriculture is very important in Vayots Dzor. This includes farming and raising animals. Farmers grow fruits like apricots, cherries, apples, and grapes. They also raise sheep, goats, and bees.

Vayots Dzor is one of Armenia's top provinces for wine production. It's known for growing grapes and making wine. The discovery of the 6,100-year-old Areni-1 winery shows how long wine-making has been a tradition here.

Industry

The main industries in Vayots Dzor are bottling water, making alcoholic drinks (especially wine), food processing, and dairy products.

Zorah Wines Vineyards

Hin Areni Winery

Wine Production: Vayots Dzor has many wine producers. Some famous ones include:

* "Getap Wine Factory" (opened in 1938) * "Maran Winery" (opened in 1992) * "Areni Wine Factory" (opened in 1994) * "Zorah Wines" (opened in 2001) – their "2010 Zorah Karasi Areni Noir" was even on Bloomberg's top 10 list in 2012! * "Hin Areni Vineyards" (opened in 2007)

Dairy Products: Yeghegnadzor is known for its cheese and other dairy products. The "Golden Goat" factory makes famous goat cheese.
Mineral Water: Jermuk is famous for its mineral water. The "Jermuk Group" is the main producer of Jermuk mineral water.

There are also smaller factories that make building materials and jewelry.

Tourism

Jermuk spa town

Jermuk ropeway

Vayots Dzor attracts many tourists because of its rich history and beautiful nature. Jermuk is a popular spa town. It has many resorts and a ropeway. It's a great place for medical tourism in Armenia.

Some parts of the province are protected wildlife areas. These include the Herher Open Woodland Sanctuary and the Jermuk Forest Sanctuary. The Mozrov Cave, found in 1980, is also a protected natural and cultural site.

Learning and Education

Vayots Dzor was home to the medieval University of Gladzor. This university was started around 1280 and was a very important place for learning.

Today, the Armenian State University of Economics has a branch in Yeghegnadzor. It opened in 2008.

In the 2015–16 school year, Vayots Dzor had 50 public schools and 17 kindergartens. About 6,300 students attended these schools.

Sports and Activities

Arevik Stadium in Vayk

The town of Yeghegnadzor used to have a football team called Arpa FC. They played in Armenia's top football league. The towns of Vayk and Yeghegnadzor each have a football stadium.

Every August, the town of Jermuk hosts a big chess tournament called the FIDE Grand Prix Jermuk.