Gavar

For places in Iran, see Gavar, Iran.

Coordinates: 40°21′32″N 45°07′36″E / 40.35889°N 45.12667°E / 40.35889; 45.12667

Gavar
Գավառ
Kyavar (Քյավառ)

Gavar

Seal
Gavar
Coordinates: 40°21′32″N 45°07′36″E / 40.35889°N 45.12667°E / 40.35889; 45.12667
Country  Armenia
Marz Gegharkunik
Founded
City status		 1830
1850
Government
 • Mayor Gurgen Martirosyan
Area
 • Total 16 km2 (6 sq mi)
Elevation 1,982 m (6,503 ft)
Population (2011 census)
 • Total 20,765
 • Density 1,300/km2 (3,400/sq mi)
Time zone AMT (UTC+4)
Postal code 1201-1205
Area code(s) (+374) 264
Vehicle registration 02
Sources: Population[1]

Gavar (Armenian: Գավառ), is a town in Armenia and the capital of the Gegharkunik Province. It is situated among the high mountains of Gegham range to the west of Lake Sevan, with an average height of 1982 meters above sea level. Located 98 kilometers east of the capital Yerevan, the town had a population of 20,765 as per the 2011 census. As of the 2016 official estimate, the population of Gavar is 19,500.[2]

Etymology

The town was known as Nor Bayezet or Novo-Bayazet until 1959, named after the Western Armenian town of Bayazet (historically known as Daroynk and Arshakavan). Between 1959 and 1995, the town was known as Kamo, named after the Bolshevik revolutionary Kamo (Simon Ter-Petrosian). On December 4, 1995, the town was renamed Gavar, meaning county in the Armenian language.

However, Gavar is colloquially known as Kyavar (Քյավառ)[3][4] since the 19th century.

History

Hayravank Monastery near Gavar

Gavar was founded in 1830 around 8 km west of the Lake Sevan by Armenian migrants from the town of Bayazit (historically known as Daroynk and Arshakavan) of the Ottoman Empire. Being known as "New Bayazit", the settlement achieved the status of a town in 1850.

However, the area of modern-day Gavar has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. Many historical tombstones, dating back to the 2nd millennium BC are founded in Gavar. The remains of a cyclopean fort dating back to the early Iron Age, are found on a hill at the centre of the town. It is supposed that the fortress was the royal capital of the Velikukhi region within the Urartu kingdom. It was surrounded with more than 22 minor fortifications. The region of Velikukhi was conquered by the Urartian king Sarduri II. His son, Rusa II renamed the fortress in honour of Khaldi; one of the three chief deities of Ararat.[5] The Artsvakar neighbourhood of Gavar is also home to another Iron Age fortress, dating back to the 2nd millennium BC.

Hatsarat Monastery

After the establishment of the ancient Kingdom of Armenia, the territory of modern-day Gavar was included within the Gegharkunik canton at the north of the historic Syunik province of Armenia Major.

Downtown Gavar

Many other medieval monuments, including monasteries, Khachkars (cross-stones), gravestones and a chapel are also found in the town. The Hatsarat neighbourhood (a separate village until the 1960s) is home to the Hatsarat Monastery with 2 churches dating back to the 7th and 19th centuries.[6]

Over the centuries, the area of modern-day Gavar had been severely destroyed, with the latest taking place during the 17th century, when it was ruined by Shah Abbas I of Persia.

Gavar, along with many other regions of Eastern Armenia became part of the USSR in December 1920. After achieving the status of an urban-type settlement in 1950, the town has been developed gradually over the years. It was once home to 36,400 people.[7]

After the independence of Armenia in 1991, the population has declined to 23,302 as reported in the 2001 census. Much of the Soviet era infrastructure has failed and the industrial capacity has floundered.

Geography and climate

Gavar in winter 2009

At an average height of 1982 meters above sea level, Gavar is situated on the shores of Gavaraget river. The town is dominated by the Gegham mountains from the west and the Lake Sevan from the east. At a height of 3,597 meters, mount Azhdahak is located around 15 km southwest of Gavar.

The town is surrounded by a number of villages including Noratus from the east, Karmirgyugh and Gandzak from the south.

Climate

Gavar features a humid continental (Köppen Dfb) climate, which is characterized by cold winters and varm summers. The annual precipitation level is 450 mm.

Climate data for Gavar
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 31
(−1)		 32
(0)		 38
(3)		 49
(9)		 58
(14)		 66
(19)		 73
(23)		 73
(23)		 68
(20)		 58
(14)		 45
(7)		 35
(2)		 52.2
(11.1)
Average low °F (°C) 14
(−10)		 15
(−9)		 21
(−6)		 29
(−2)		 37
(3)		 43
(6)		 49
(9)		 50
(10)		 42
(6)		 36
(2)		 28
(−2)		 20
(−7)		 32
(0)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.79
(20.1)		 0.91
(23.1)		 1.50
(38.1)		 1.97
(50)		 3.31
(84.1)		 1.61
(40.9)		 1.77
(45)		 1.65
(41.9)		 1.30
(33)		 1.61
(40.9)		 1.34
(34)		 0.87
(22.1)		 18.63
(473.2)
Source: http://en.climate-data.org/location/2017/

Demographics

The vast majority of the population in Gavar are ethnic Armenians whose ancestors migrated from the town of Doğubeyazıt during the 1820s and 1830s.

Gavar used to have a population of more than 30,000 during the Soviet years. However, it has gradually declined after the independence of Armenia.

Here is the population timeline of Gavar since 1831:

Year 1831 1897 1926 1939 1959 1974 1989 2001 2011 2016
Population 1,346 8,486 8,447 8,277 8,751 21,382 31,234 26,621 20,765 19,500

Religion

The Holy Mother of God Cathedral built in 1905, at the centre of Gavar

The people of Gavar are mainly Christians and belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church. The Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God in Gavar is the seat of the Diocese of Gegharkunik of the Armenian Church. It was built in 1905 at the central square of the town, with the efforts of then-bishop Khoren Muradbegian with help of the local citizens. Until the late 1990s, it was the highest church in Armenia in terms of altitudes.

The town is also home to many other churches including:

The Noratus cemetery archaeological site is located in the Noratus village just 4 kilometers east of Gavar. It is home to a large number of impressive medieval khachkars (cross-stones).

Culture

World War II memorial in Gavar

Gavar has a history museum, a cultural palace, a drama theatre, many public libraries and monument dedicated to the victims of the Great Patriotic War during World War II.

Gavar has a portal which is used by many citizens abroad. The name of the portal is Kyavar as the locals pronounce the name of the city with a "ky" sound instead of a "g" sound at the beginning of the name.

Cuisine

The cuisine of Gavar is closely related with the oriental cuisine elements, characterized with various spices, vegetables, fish, and fruits combination.

Kyavari Kyufta (kofta of Gavar), the town's most favourite dish, is made from minced meat spiced with onions and rolled into balls before boiling in water. Served in slices, it is garnished with butter. People of Gavar like to eat bread with almost everything, and the two traditional types of bread in Gavar are lavash and matnakash.

The Kyavar baklava is a many-layered pastry with tissue-thin sheets of phyllo dough, filled with nuts and sugar and finished with a dousing of hot honey.

Transportation

Gavar is located on the M-10 Motorway that connects the town with northeastern Armenia. The H-39 Road connects Gavar with the surrounding town and villages.

Gavar has an airstrip since the Soviet years, located to the north of the town.

Economy

General view

After being granted the status of an urban-type settlement in 1950, the town became one of the major industrial centres of the Armenian SSR. It was home to a large electrical cable factory known as Kamokabel as well as a machines manufacturing plant.

However, after the independence of Armenia in 1991, most of the Soviet-era industry has dreadfully declined. However, the local economy is improving within slow rates as many native businessmen are returning to Gavar from Russia in the hope of finding new chances of investments.

Currently, Gavar is home to the "Gavar Furniture Factory" since 1948, the "Sevan Mineral Water Plant" founded in 1953 (reopened in 2015), the "Aquatic LLC" for processed crayfish founded in 2002, the "Kirakosyan" furniture factory founded in 2006, and the "Shushan Production Cooperative" for soft drinks.

Services

Gavar has a medical centre, a central hotel known as Khaldi, a local TV station known as Kyavar TV and many branches of local Armenian banks.

Education

Education continues to be one of the main values in the society of Gavar. A literacy rate of 99% was reported as early as 1960. Nowadays, there are nine public education schools, six nursery schools, four specialized technical intermediate colleges, one sports school, two music and art schools, one special school for children with special educational needs and one university in the town of Gavar.

The Gavar State University was opened in 1993 after the independence of Armenia. With its five faculties the Gavar University is a major educational centre for the entire province of Gegharkunik. The University provides degrees in Philology, Natural Sciences, Humanities, Economics and Education. Nowadays, more than 2,400 students are attending the university.

The Gavar Special School is the only school for mentally and physically handicapped children in the region. It is currently carrying out steps towards improvement and development with the assistance of its partners and sponsors on its way to become a leading institution among the special schools in Armenia.

International relations

Twin towns – Sister cities

Gavar is twinned with:

Notable natives

Here are some notable people who were born or raised in the town of Gavar:

References

  1. ↑ Gegharkunik
  2. ↑ Population estimate of Armenia as of 01.01.2016
  3. ↑ "Գեղարքունիքի ավանդապատումները". hzham.am. Գավառ, որը ժողովրդի մեջ գործածական է Քյավառ ձևով
  4. ↑ "Գեղարքունիք [Gegharkunik]". agro.am (in Armenian). Նախկինում բնակավայրի Գավառ անվանումը տեղացիների կողմից աղավաղվելով դարձել է Քյավառ:
  5. ↑ Find Armenia:Gavar
  6. ↑ Hatsarat, Gegharkunik
  7. ↑ Gavar portal:Kyavar
  8. ↑ Surp Karapet Church of Gavar
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