Hrazdan River

Hrazdan Հրազդան
The Hrazdan from below Proshian
Origin	Lake Sevan
Mouth	Aras River
Basin countries	Armenia
Length	141 km
Source elevation	1097 m
Mouth elevation	826 m
Avg. discharge	17.9 m3/s (632 cu ft/s)
Basin area	2560 km2 (988 sq mi)

The Hrazdan (Armenian: Հրազդան) is a major river of Armenia. It starts at the northwest extremity of Lake Sevan and flows south through the Province of Kotayk and Armenia's capital, Yerevan. It then joins the Aras River along the border with Turkey. A hydro-electric plant is located on the Hrazdan River. The Hrazdan River is one of Armenia's most important rivers because fishing operations and hydro-electric plants are located along the banks of the river. Moreover, the river's waters are in demand for the irrigation of crops.

Name

In 7th century BC, King Rusa II of Urartu ordered a canal to be dug from the country of Aza (in the Ararat Plain) to Kuera (in the Valley of Kuarlini, now Ejmiatsin). That river was called the Ildarunia in Rusa II’s inscription. Ildarunia was a local ancient name for the Hrazdan River. The name Hrazdan was first mentioned by Movses Khorenatsi as "House of Varuzhanyants in the bank of the Hrazdan River" (Armenian: «Վարուժանյանց տուն՝ Հրազդան գետի ափին»). The Hrazdan River, like the Kasagh River, Metsamor River, Urtsadzor River, and Arpa River, flows to the Araks River. Anania Shirakatsi mentioned the same location of the Hrazdan River with the name Aspahen in his inscription as "Aspahen River that is Khozmor" (Armenian: «Ասպահեն գետ, այսինքն՝ Խոզմոր»). The Aspahen had two names: Metsamor and Khozmor. The suffix –mor means 'swamp'. During the era of Persian influence on Armenian, the name of the river changed. The new name was Phrazdana. The cluster Phr- changed to Hr-, and so the name changed to Hrazdan. Hrazdan also has a popular name as Zangu, which in Armenian means ringing or resonant, an attribute of its rapid and noisy flow.

Gallery

A panorama of the Hrazdan River gorge and Davtashen from Arabkir

Panorama of gorge and hydroelectric power plant along the Hrazdan River in Arabkir

References

• Ալբերտ Փարսադանյան: «Գիտելիքների Շտեմարան-2», էջ 207. «ՎՄՎ-ՊՐԻՆՏ», Երևան, 2005.

v t e Yerevan landmarks Famous and historic structures Shengavit Settlement Erebuni Fortress Teishebaini Yerevan Red Bridge Yerevan Ararat Wine Factory Yerevan Brandy Company Komitas Pantheon Mother Armenia Tsitsernakaberd Genocide Memorial Yerevan Cascade Yerevan TV Tower Yerablur Cemetery Religious buildings Katoghike Tsiranavor Church of Avan Holy Mother of God Kathoghike Church Surp Zoravor Astvatsatsin Church Blue Mosque Saint Sarkis Cathedral Russian Church of the Holy Mother of God Saint John the Baptist Church Saint Sarkis Church of Nor Nork Saint Gregory Cathedral Holy Trinity Church Demolished historic structures Saint Paul and Peter Church Yerevan Fortress Gethsemane Chapel Abbas Mirza Mosque Saint Nikolai Cathedral Saint Gregory the Illuminator Church Nature and parks Hrazdan River Yerevan Lake Lovers' Park English Park Yerevan Botanical Garden Circular Park Victory Park Lyon Park Tumanyan Park Ajapnyak Public Park Entertainment and recreation Moscow Cinema Nairi Cinema Yerevan Circus Yerevan Zoo Yerevan Vernissage Yerevan Water World Dalma Garden Mall Cultural institutions Yerevan Opera Theater Sundukyan State Academic Theatre Stanislavski Russian Theatre Paronyan Musical Comedy Theatre Yerevan Drama Theatre Komitas Chamber Music Hall National Library of Armenia Khnko Aper Children's Library National Gallery of Armenia History Museum of Armenia Charents Museum of Literature and Arts Matenadaran Institute of Ancient Manuscripts Erebuni Museum Yerevan History Museum Sergei Parajanov Museum House-Museum of Aram Khachaturian Armenian Center for Contemporary Experimental Art Cafesjian Museum of Art ARF History Museum Charles Aznavour Museum Education Yerevan State University Yerevan State Medical University Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction Yerevan Komitas State Conservatory Armenian State Pedagogical University Armenian National Agrarian University State Engineering University of Armenia Yerevan State Linguistic University Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture Armenian State University of Economics Haybusak University American University of Armenia French University in Armenia Eurasia International University Russian-Armenian University QSI School Science and technology National Academy of Sciences Yerevan Physics Institute Yerevan Computer Research and Development Institute Mergelyan Institute of Mathematical Machines Shengavit Medical Center Nork-Marash Medical Center Agribusiness Teaching Center Economic Development and Research Center Economy and Values Research Center Tumo Center for Creative Technologies Sport venues Republican Stadium Hrazdan Stadium Nairi Stadium Pyunik Stadium Mika Stadium Banants Stadium Football Academy Stadium Yerevan Chess House Hovik Hayrapetyan Equestrian Centre Karen Demirchyan Complex Yerevan Velodrome Transportation Yerevan Railway Station Trolleybuses in Yerevan Erebuni Airport Zvartnots International Airport Yerevan underground stations (Barekamutyun, Marshal Baghramyan, Yeritasardakan, Republic Square, General Andranik, David of Sasun, Gortsaranain, Shengavit, Garegin Nzhdeh Square, Charbakh) Squares, streets and bridges Republic Square Freedom Square Garegin Nzhdeh Square Abovyan Street Mashtots Avenue Baghramyan Avenue Komitas Avenue Northern Avenue Victory Bridge Hrazdan Gorge Aqueduct Great Bridge of Hrazdan Davtashen Bridge Government and financial institutions Presidential Palace Government House National Assembly National Security Service Yerevan City Hall Constitutional Court Police building Central Bank Armenian Stock Exchange Community districts Ajapnyak Arabkir Avan Davtashen Erebuni Kanaker-Zeytun Kentron Malatia-Sebastia Nork-Marash Nor Nork Nubarashen Shengavit Category:Yerevan

See also

• Rivers and lakes in Armenia
• Geography of Armenia

Coordinates: 39°59′25″N 44°27′10″E / 39.99028°N 44.45278°E / 39.99028; 44.45278