Gegharkunik (Armenian: Գեղարքունիք, Armenian pronunciation: [ɡɛʁɑɾkʰuˈnikʰ]), is a province (marz) of Armenia. Gegharkunik was named after Gegham. Gegham was a Haykazuni King and fifth generation after Hayk. Gegham was the father of Sisak of Syunid nobles and Arma the grandfather of Ara the Beautiful. Geghama mountains and Geghama lake, presently Lake Sevan, were named after Gegham.
Gegharkunik Province is in the east of Armenia, bordering Azerbaijan and the Shahumyan Province of the Artsakh Republic. At 5,348 km², Gegharkunik is the largest province in Armenia by area. However, approximately 1,278 km² of its territory is covered by Lake Sevan, the largest lake in the Caucasus and a major tourist attraction of the region. It has anexclave inside Azerbaijan, Artsvashen, which was attacked and forcefully occupied by Azerbaijan during the Nagorno-Karabakh War. Its capital is Gavar.
| Province | |
 Location of Gegharkunik within Armenia |
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| Coordinates: 40°25′N 45°12′E |
Gegharkunik is situated in the East of the territory of the Republic of Armenia, surrounding the Lake Sevan. It borders RA Lori and Tavush marzer from the North, from the East it borders the state border of Azerbaijan and the border of Shahumyan Province of the Artsakh Republic, from the South – RA Vayots Dzor marz, from South-West – RA Ararat marz and from the West – RA Kotayk marz. The longest extension of the marz from the North- West to the South-East comprised 115 km, from the West to the East – 85 km, the deepest landslide is the canyon of the Getik river (village of Dsoravank, 1325 m), the highest peak – Ajdahak mountain (3598 m). Yerevan-Sevan-Dilijan highway of republican importance runs through the territory of the marz. “South-North” highway passing through the Vardenyats Mountain Pass is being constructed.
Lake Sevan (1260 km2, 1898 m above sea level) is located in Gegharkunik marz. It is the largest pool of fresh water of the Southern Caucasus. The lake has vital influence not only on balance of environment protection but on economy of the whole marz as well. Other lakes are the comparatively small crater lakes of Ajdahak and Aghmaghani, up to 50 m in diameter and with a depth of 15 m.
The longest rivers are Gavaraget (47 km) and Masrik (45 km). Masrik is of great importance, since its a spawning place for such endemic species as the Gegharkunik trout (Salmo ishchan gegarkuni), the Sevan koghak (Capoeta capoeta sevangi) and the Sevan beghlu (Barbus geokschaikus). The young fish of these species live in these rivers till they are 1 year of age. The Sevan trout (Salmo ischchan) and Sevan beghlu are included in the Red Book of Armenia.
Sevan National Park was established in 1978 to protect Lake Sevan. It occupies the territories of the Lake Sevan comprising the bed of intermontane concavity of Sevan and those freed from its bed. The area comprises 1501 square kilometers, of which 24.9 thousand hectares are lakeside land. It is surrounded with the slopes of mountain chains of Areguni, Geghama, Vardenis, Pambak and Sevan. Some 1600 plant and 330 animal species are found here. The park is divided into 3 zones: a reserve, a recreation zone, and a zone for economic use.
Getik State Reserve was established in 1971. Main protected objects are forest fauna.
Juniper Forest State Reserve was established in 1958. Main protected object is relict juniper, as well as other numerous species
The province of Gegharkunik consists of the following 92 communities (hamaynkner), of which 5 are considered urban and 87 are considered rural.
| Image | City (town) | Province | Founded | Land area (km2) | Population (2011 census) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Chambarak | Gegharkunik | 1830s | 6 | 5,850 |
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Gavar | Gegharkunik | 1830 | 16 | 20,765 |
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Martuni | Gegharkunik | ? | 10 | 12,894 |
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Sevan | Gegharkunik | 1842 | 8.5 | 19,229 |
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Vardenis | Gegharkunik | 1830 | 10 | 12,685 |
Sevanavank, 874 AD
Hayravank, 9th century
Noraduz cemetery, 10th century
Ttujur village
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