Shirak Province

Shirak
Շիրակ
Province

Shirak Province administration in Gyumri

Location of Shirak within Armenia
Coordinates: 40°50′N 43°55′E / 40.833°N 43.917°ECoordinates: 40°50′N 43°55′E / 40.833°N 43.917°E
Country Armenia
Capital Gyumri
Government
 • Governor Felix Tsolakyan (2013-)
Area
 • Total 2,681 km2 (1,035 sq mi)
Area rank 6th
Population (2011)
 • Total 251,941
 • Rank 2nd
 • Density 94/km2 (240/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 official website

Shirak (Armenian: Շիրակ, Armenian pronunciation: [ʃiˈɾɑk]) 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 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 25,000 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.[1]

Territory

Shirak borders the following provinces:

Shirak province is bordered by Turkey from the west and Georgia from the north.

Communities

The province of Shirak consists of the following 119 communities (hamaynkner), of which 3 are considered urban and 116 are considered rural.[2]

Towns or urban communities

Image City (town) Province Founded Land area (km2) Population (2011 est.)
Artik Shirak 1939 9 17,400
Gyumri Shirak 5th century BC as Kumayri
rebuilt in 1837 as Alexandropol		 54 146,100
Maralik Shirak 5th century (first mentioned) 4 6,100

Villages or rural communities

Non-community villages

External links

References

  1. ↑ Shirak Marz: page 3 of 35 – TourArmenia
  2. ↑ "RA Shirak Marz" (PDF). Marzes of the Republic of Armenia in Figures, 2002–2006. National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia. 2007.