Margara

{{coord|40|02|01|N|44|10|26|E|display=title}} {{Infobox settlement |official_name = Margara |native_name = Մարգարա |pushpin_map = Armenia |mapsize = 150px |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Armenia |subdivision_type1 = Marz (Province) |subdivision_name1 = Armavir |leader_title = |leader_name = |established_title = |established_date = |area_total_km2 = |area_footnotes = |population_as_of = 2011 |population_total = 1,256<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/armenia/armavir/|title=Armavir (Armenia): Towns and Villages in Municipalities|website=www.citypopulation.de|access-date=2024-11-10}}</ref> |population_density_km2 = |timezone =   |utc_offset = +4 |timezone_DST =   |utc_offset_DST = +5 |coordinates = {{coord|40|02|01|N|44|10|26|E|region:AM|display=inline}} |elevation_m = |area_code = |website = }} thumb|Bridge over Arax at Margara in 1925. '''Margara''' ({{langx|hy|Մարգարա}}, also Romanized as '''Markara'''; formerly '''Margara-Gök''') is a town in the Armavir Province of Armenia. Margara is the closest border crossing to Turkey from Yerevan, though Turkey closed the border with Armenia in 1993.<ref>{{Cite news|date=12 January 2024 |title=Margara crossing point at Armenian-Turkish border ready for use after repair |url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1127874.html |access-date=2024-02-26 |website=armenpress.am |language=en}}</ref> The town is located on the other side of Alican. Margara has a road bridge across the Arax River to Turkey. The Margara border crossing was guarded by guards of the Russian Federal Security Service from 1992 to 2025. The Border Guard Service of Armenia patrols this crossing between Armenia and Turkey.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 March 2025 |title=From March 1, solely Armenian Border Guard Troops to control all entry and exit points of Armenia, announces Pashinyan |url=https://armenpress.am/en/article/1213259 |access-date=20 March 2025}}</ref>

==History== The border crossing was fully renovated on the Armenian side in 2024 in preparation for opening the land border between Turkey and Armenia for citizens of third countries and diplomatic passport holders, as per an agreement reached in 2022. The agreement is yet to be implemented.<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 January 2024 |title=Margara border crossing point on Armenian-Turkish border ready for use after renovation |url=http://tabdc.org/margara-border-crossing-point-on-armenian-turkish-border-ready-for-use-after-renovation/|access-date=20 March 2025}}</ref>

In 2023, the border crossing briefly reopened to allow the passage of humanitarian aid following the Turkey–Syria earthquake for the first time since 1988.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 February 2023 |title=Armenia-Turkey border crossing opened for first time in 35 years after massive quake |work=AFP via Al Arabiya |url=https://english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-east/2023/02/11/Armenia-Turkey-border-crossing-opened-for-first-time-in-35-years-after-massive-quake- |access-date=13 February 2023}}</ref>

In March 2025, the Margara border crossing again opened for 10 days to allow for humanitarian aid deliveries from Armenia to Syria.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 March 2025 |title=Armenia to deliver humanitarian aid to Syria through Margara checkpoint on Turkey border |url=https://en.armradio.am/2025/03/20/armenia-to-deliver-humanitarian-aid-to-syria-through-margara-checkpoint-on-turkey-border/ |access-date=20 March 2025}}</ref>

== See also == *Armavir Province

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090506215436/http://www.armenialiberty.org/video/1261.html Video about the Armenia-Turkey border at Margara] by ArmeniaLiberty (RFE/RL) *[http://world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&des=wg&geo=-17&srt=npan&col=abcdefghinoq&msz=1500&pt=c&va=x World Gazeteer: Armenia]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} – World-Gazetteer.com *{{ArmenianCensus|130}} *{{GEOnet2|32FA881E51783774E0440003BA962ED3}} *{{RediscoveringArmenia|40}}

Category:Populated places in Armavir Province Category:Yazidi communities in Armenia Category:Armenia–Turkey border crossings