Ayrum
Coordinates: 41°11′42″N 44°53′33″E / 41.19500°N 44.89250°E
| Ayrum Այրում | |
|---|---|
|
Ayrum | |
  Ayrum | |
| Coordinates: 41°11′42″N 44°53′33″E / 41.19500°N 44.89250°E | |
| Country | Armenia |
| Province | Tavush |
| Founded | 1937 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Gigol Yeganyan |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.6 km2 (0.6 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 550 m (1,800 ft) |
| Population (2011) | |
| • Total | 2,400 |
| • Density | 1,500/km2 (3,900/sq mi) |
Ayrum (Armenian: Այրում) is a town in the Tavush Province of Armenia. The town is located 206 km (128 mi) northeast of the capital Yerevan and 73 km (45 mi) north of the provincial capital Ijevan. It is built on the shores of Debed river, only 2 km (1 mi) away from the Armenian-Georgian borderline. As of the official estimate of 2009, Ayrum has a population of 2,400. Around one-eighth of the population are Armenian refugees from Azerbaijan who were forced to leave their settlements during the Nagorno-Karabakh War. The population is mainly involved in agricultural activities.[1]
Ayrum has a mild temperature in summer with an average degree of 24 °C (75 °F). The temperature is quite cold during winter with an average degree of 1 °C (34 °F). The town has an elevation of 550 metres (1,804 feet) above sea level and an area of around 1.6 km2 (0.6 sq mi).
History
The settlement was founded in 1937 as a small village called Banavan within the Armenian SSR. It was founded as a labour settlement for the newly established food canning factory. The village has rapidly grown as a centre for food canning industry and received the status of small town in 1960.
With the new regulations of the administrative subdivisions of Armenia in 1995, Ayrum was classified as a village (rural settlement) within the Tavush Province. Later in 2006, Ayrum received the status of town (urban settlement).
The importance of the town is derived from its geographical location as a northern gate and railway hub for the entire republic. During the Soviet period, Ayrum was considered a large centre for the production of canned food.
