Lori Province

{{Short description|Province of Armenia}} {{Distinguish|Province of Lodi}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Lori | native_name = Լոռի | native_name_lang = hy | settlement_type = [[Administrative divisions of Armenia|Province]] | image_skyline =  {{multiple image | border = infobox | perrow = 1/2/2/2/2 | total_width = 250 | image1 = Monasterio de Hnevank, Armenia, 2016-09-30, DD 80-82 PAN.jpg | image2 = Դսեղի Ծովեր (լիճ) 04.jpg | image3 = Sanahin bridge 2019-06-22 v2.jpg | image4 = Akhtala monastery 111.JPG | image5 = Օձունի վանական համալիր, կոթող մահարձան.jpg | footer = From the top to bottom-right: View of [[Hnevank|Hnevank Monastery]], Lake Tsover, [[Sanahin Bridge]], [[Akhtala Monastery]], [[Odzun Church]]}} | image_alt = | image_caption = | image_flag = | flag_alt = | image_shield = Lori marz coa.gif | shield_alt = | image_map = Lori in Armenia.svg | map_alt = | map_caption = Location of Lori within Armenia | coordinates = {{coord|40|55|N|44|30|E|region:AM_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[Armenia]] | established_date = | seat_type = [[Capital city|Capital]] {{nobold|and largest city}} | seat = [[Vanadzor]] | government_footnotes = | leader_party = | leader_title = [[Governor]] | leader_name = Aren Mkrtchyan<ref>[https://www.gov.am/en/regions/822/]</ref> | unit_pref = Metric | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 3,799 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_water_percent = Negligible | area_rank = [[Administrative divisions of Armenia|3rd]] | area_note = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_footnotes = <ref name="2022 Census">{{cite web|url=https://www.armstat.am/en/?nid=82&id=2623|title=The Main Results of RA Census 2022, trilingual / Armenian Statistical Service of Republic of Armenia|website=www.armstat.am|access-date=2025-09-11}}</ref> | population_total = 222,805 | population_as_of = 2022 | population_rank = [[Administrative divisions of Armenia|6th]] | population_density_km2 = auto | population_note = | demographics_type2 = GDP<ref>{{citation|title=Համախառն ներքին արդյունքն (ՀՆԱ) ըստ ՀՀ մարզերի եւ Երեւան քաղաքի 2015-2017թթ|url=https://armstat.am/file/article/sv_08_19a_112.pdf|website=armstat.am}}</ref> | demographics2_title1 = Total | demographics2_info1 = [[Armenian dram|֏]] 276.931 billion ([[US$]] 574 million) | demographics2_title2 = Per capita | demographics2_info2 = ֏ 1,263,372 (US$ 2,619) | timezone1 = [[Armenia Time|AMT]] ([[UTC+04]]) | timezone1_DST = | postal_code_type = [[postal codes in Armenia|Postal code]] | postal_code = 1701–2117 | iso_code = [[ISO 3166-2:AM|AM.LO]] | blank_name = [[FIPS 10-4]] | blank_info = AM06 | blank_name_sec2 = [[Human Development Index|HDI]] (2022) | blank_info_sec2 = 0.765<ref name="GlobalDataLab">{{Cite web|url=https://hdi.globaldatalab.org/areadata/shdi/|title=Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab|website=hdi.globaldatalab.org|language=en|access-date=2018-09-13}}</ref> {{color|#0c0|high}} · [[List of Armenian provinces by Human Development Index|8th]] | website = [http://lori.mtad.am/ Official website] | footnotes = | official_name = | population_est = 215,500<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://armstat.am/en/?nid=111|title=Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia|website=armstat.am}}</ref> | pop_est_as_of = 1 January 2019 }} {{Armenia sidebar}}

'''Lori''' ({{langx|hy|[[wikt:Լոռի|Լոռի]]}}, {{IPA|hy|lɔˈri|-|Hye-Lori.ogg}}) is a [[provinces of Armenia|province]] (''[[Administrative divisions of Armenia|marz]]'') of [[Armenia]]. It is located in the north of the country, bordering [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]. [[Vanadzor]] is the capital and largest city of the province. Other important towns include [[Stepanavan]], [[Alaverdi, Armenia|Alaverdi]], and [[Spitak]]. It is home to the [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Sites]] of [[Haghpat]] and [[Sanahin Monastery|Sanahin]] monasteries and the well-preserved [[Akhtala monastery]].

The province was heavily damaged during the [[1988 Armenian earthquake]].

The province is served by the [[Stepanavan Airport]].

==Etymology== The name Lori (Լոռի) is of Armenian origin (from Armenian "quail"), and first appeared in the 11th century when King [[David I Anhoghin]] founded the fortified city of [[Lori Berd Fortress|Lori]].<ref name="Hewsen">{{cite book|last=Hewsen|first=Robert H.|author-link=Robert H. Hewsen|title=Armenia: A Historical Atlas|publisher=University of Chicago Press|location=Chicago|year=2001|isbn=0-226-33228-4|page=114}}</ref> The fortress-city became the capital of the [[Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget]] in 1065. The name Lori later spread through the region and replaced the original name of Tashir.<ref name="Matevossian"/>

==Geography== [[File:View from Dsegh.JPG|thumb|left|Pambak mountains and [[Dsegh]] village]] Situated at the north of modern-day Armenia, Lori covers an area of {{convert|3,789|km2|0|abbr=out}} (12.7% of total area of Armenia). It is bordered by [[Tavush Province]] from the east, [[Kotayk Province]] from the southeast, [[Aragatsotn Province]] from the southwest and [[Shirak Province]] from the west. The province is bordered by the [[Kvemo Kartli]] region of [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]].

Historically, the territories of modern-day Lori are associated with the cantons of [[Tashir (historical region)|Tashir]], Boghnopor and Dzorapor of [[Gugark]] province of Ancient Armenia. [[File:3. Ստեփանավան 2011.JPG|thumb|[[Dzoraget River]]]] Lori is a mountainous region, dominated by the ranges of [[Javakheti Range|Javakheti]], Bazum, Pambak, Gugark, Halab and Somkheti. The highest point of the province is [[Mount Achkasar]] of the Javakheti range with a height of 3196 meters. The lowest point is 380 meters in the valley of Debed in the northeast of the province.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://lori.mtaes.am/description/ |title=Lori province description |access-date=2015-11-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925103445/http://lori.mtaes.am/description/ |archive-date=2015-09-25 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The main water resource of the province is the [[Debed]] river with its tributaries [[Dzoraget River|Dzoraget]], [[Pambak River|Pambak]] and Martsaget.

The climate is characterized with extremely cold snowy winters and mild summers. The annual precipitation level is between {{convert|600|and|700|mm|0|abbr=on}}.

==History== {{main|Lori (historic province)}} [[File:ԵԿԵՂԵՑԻ ՍԲ. ԳՐԻԳՈՐ ԼՈՒՍԱՎՈՐԻՉ, Դսեղ (1).JPG|thumb|The 7th-century Saint Gregory Church of Dsegh]]

Excavations conducted in 1931 testify that the region of modern-day Lori was most probably settled during the 1st half of the 2nd millennium BC. Later, the region became part of the Urartu Kingdom between the 8th and 6th centuries BC. After the [[Achaemenid Empire|Achaemenid]] invasion, the region became part of the 18th Satrapy of Persia.<ref>{{in lang|ru}}http://gumilevica.kulichki.net/HE1/he129.хтм{{Dead link|date=November 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} "Северо-Восточная Армения, продолжавшая называться Урарту, составляла 18-ю сатрапию и в то время, по всей вероятности, еще не вполне арменизировалась по языку; в ее состав входили наряду с армянами, урартами-алародиями и хурритами-матиенами также и восточные протогрузинские племена - саспиры."</ref> With the establishment of the [[Kingdom of Armenia (antiquity)|Kingdom of Armenia]] in 331 BC, the region became part of the kingdom within the historic [[Gugark]] province, the 13th province of Greater Armenia.<ref name="Matevossian">{{cite encyclopedia|first1=R.|last1=Matevossian|article=Լոռի [Lori]|editor=Hambardzumyan, Viktor|editor-link=Viktor Hambardzumyan|encyclopedia=[[Soviet Armenian Encyclopedia]]|volume=4|year=1978|publisher=Armenian Encyclopedia|location=Yerevan|language=hy|pages=663–64}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Hacikyan|first=Agop Jack|title=The Heritage of Armenian Literature: From the Oral Tradition to the Golden Age|volume=1|year=2000|publisher=Wayne State University Press|location=Detroit|isbn=9780814328156|author-link=Agop Jack Hacikyan|author2=Basmajian, Gabriel|author3=Franchuk, Edward S.|author4=Ouzounian, Nourhan|page=[https://archive.org/details/heritageofarmeni00ajha/page/172 172]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/heritageofarmeni00ajha/page/172}}</ref> In the course of the 4th century, the region was ruled by members of the [[House of Mihran]].<ref>[[Cyril Toumanoff|Toumanoff, Cyril]]. Introduction to Christian Caucasian History, II: States and Dynasties of the Formative Period. ''Traditio'' 17 (1961), p. 38.</ref>

Following the partition of Armenia in 387 between the [[Byzantine Empire]] and [[Sassanid Persia]], and the subsequent collapse of [[Arsacid dynasty of Armenia|Arsacid Armenia]] in 428, [[Eastern Armenia]] including Gugark province became under the rule of Sassanid Persia. In 658, Armenia was conquered by the [[Umayyad Caliphate|Arab]] invaders. At the end of the 9th century, most of the Gugark province became part of the newly established [[Bagratid Armenia|Bagratid Kingdom of Armenia]]. In 979, King [[Kiurike I]] founded the [[Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget]] under the rule of the Kiurikian dynasty and the protectorate of the [[Bagratuni dynasty|Bagratid kings of Armenia]]. The capital of the kingdom was Matsnaberd (until 1065) and the [[Lori Fortress|Lori fortress]]. The Kiurikians ruled the kingdom until 1118 when Tashir-Dzoraget became part of the [[Kingdom of Georgia]].

[[File:Haghpat-Nshan.jpg|thumb|Surp Nshan church at the [[Haghpat Monastery]], 10th century]]

The [[Seljuk Empire|Seljuks]] invaded the region in the early 12th century, but their rule did not last long and in 1118–1122 the Georgian king [[David IV of Georgia|David the Builder]] conquered Lori and granted the rule to the [[House of Orbeli]]. The [[House of Orbeli#Rise of Orbeli|Orbeli's revolted]] unsuccessfully in 1177, after which a [[Kipchaks|Kipchak]] named Kubasar was appointed ''[[Amirspasalar|spasalari]]'' of Lori. Later in 1185, the province became ruled by the [[Mkhargrdzeli|Mkhargdzeli dynasty]] after Queen [[Tamar of Georgia]] appointed the Sargis Mkhargrdzeli as its governor.<ref name="Matevossian"/> However, the region was devastated by the [[Mongol invasions of Georgia|Mongol invasion of 1236]], and the Zakarian dynasty declined by the 2nd half of the 14th century.<ref name="Matevossian"/> After fall of the [[Kingdom of Georgia]] in 1490, Lori remained part of [[Kingdom of Kartli]] until the 16th century.

Lori was annexed by [[Safavid Persia]] as a result of the 1555 [[Peace of Amasya]] and became part of Persia's [[Safavid Georgia|Kartli-Kakheti province]]. After [[Nader Shah]]'s murder in 1747, the Georgian kingdoms of [[Kingdom of Kartli (1484–1762)|Kartli]] and [[Kingdom of Kakheti|Kakheti]] became independent and united into a [[Kingdom of Kartli-Kakheti|single kingdom]] by 1762.<ref>{{cite book|last=Suny|first=Ronald Grigor|title=The Making of the Georgian Nation|year=1994|publisher=Indiana University Press|location=Bloomington|isbn=9780253209153|pages=55–56|author-link=Ronald Grigor Suny}}</ref>

[[File:Amrakits church, ArmAg (1).jpg|thumb|Saint Nikolai the Wonderworker, a Russian church in [[Amrakits]], built in 1848]]

In 1800–01, together with the Georgian provinces of Kartli and Kakheti, Lori and Tavush were annexed by the [[Russian Empire]] to become part of the [[Georgia Governorate]].<ref>{{in lang|ru}}Акты собранные Кавказской Археографической Коммиссиею. Том 1. Тифлис, 1866. С. 436–437. ''Грузия разделяется на 5 уездов, из коих 3 в Карталинии: Горийский, Лорийский и Душетский, и 2 в Кахетии: Телавский и Сигнахский.''</ref><ref name="Matevossian" /> Lori became officially part of the Russian Empire at the [[Treaty of Gulistan]] signed on 1 January 1813, between Imperial Russia and [[Qajar dynasty|Qajar Persia]], following the [[Russo-Persian War (1804–13)|Russo-Persian War of 1804–13]].

In 1862, Lori was transferred into the jurisdiction of the [[Tiflis Governorate]]. In 1880, Lori became part of the [[Borchali]] uyezd of the Tiflis Governorate. In the early 20th century, Lori was mostly populated by Armenians, with several Russian and Greek villages.<ref name="Matevossian"/> In May 1918, the Ottoman Turkish forces moved towards [[Yerevan]] and Karakilisa (now [[Vanadzor]]). On 25 May 1918, the Armenians led by [[Garegin Nzhdeh]] fought against the Turkish forces led by [[Wehib Pasha]], at the vicinity of Karakilisa. On 28 May 1918, the Turks retreated from [[Battle of Karakilisa|Karakalisa]], [[Battle of Abaran|Abaran]] and [[Battle of Sardarabad|Sardarabad]], paving way towards the declaration of the [[First Republic of Armenia|Republic of Armenia]] on the same day.

In late 1918, [[First Republic of Armenia|Armenia]] and [[Democratic Republic of Georgia|Georgia]] fought a [[Georgian–Armenian War|border war]] over Lori. Lori was claimed by both countries after 1918, when each declared its independence from Russian empire. Initially, Georgia controlled Lori. After turning down Armenian ultimatum, Georgian forces were attacked by Armenians and pushed back to river Khrami. Georgians consolidated and counterattacked, pushing Armenian forces out of the contested area. In January 1919, the British brokered a peace agreement which left northern Lori as a [[Neutral territory|neutral zone]] between the two countries. Once the British had left the region and the Caucasus as a whole, Armenian forces took control over the region. When Armenia was invaded by Turkish forces in November 1920, Georgia occupied the whole province, with permission by the Armenian government. Following Armenia's Sovietization in December 1920, Lori was incorporated into [[Soviet Armenia]] on 6 November 1921.<ref name="Matevossian"/>

During the Soviet period, modern-day Lori was divided into the raions of Kalinino, Tumanyan (Alaverdi until 1969), Kirovakan, Aragats, Spitak and Stepanavan. After the independence of Armenia, the 6 raions were merged as per the 1995 administrative reform, to form the Lori Province.

[[File:Lori Berd fortress pano.jpg|800px|thumb|center|{{center|[[Lori Fortress|Lori]], the capital of the [[Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget]]}}]]

==Demographics== ===Population=== According to the [[Soviet Census (1989)|1989 Soviet census]], the Lori Province (then part of the Gugark, Tashir, Spitak, Stepanavan, and Tumanyan districts in 1930–1995)<ref name=":12">{{Cite web|title=Legislation: National Assembly of RA|url=http://www.parliament.am/legislation.php?sel=show&ID=2243&lang=rus|access-date=2022-02-11|website=www.parliament.am}}</ref> had a population of 229,459. 116,180 or 50.63% of which was urban, distributed in the cities of Alaverdi (26,930), Kirovakan (75,616), Spitak (3,740) and Stepanavan (9,894), and 113,279 or 49.37% were rural, distributed in the districts of Gugark (20,368), Tashir (30,645), Spitak (8,613), Stepanavan (17,474), and Tumanyan (36,179).<ref name=":02">{{Cite web|title=Демоскоп Weekly - Приложение. Справочник статистических показателей.|url=http://www.demoscope.ru/weekly/ssp/sng89_reg1.php|access-date=2022-02-10|website=www.demoscope.ru}}</ref>

According to the 2011 official census, Lori has a population of 235,537 (111,675 men and 123,862 women), forming around 7.8% of the entire population of Armenia. The urban population is 137,784 (58.5%) and the rural is 97,753 (41.5%). The province has 8 urban and 105 rural communities. The largest urban community is the provincial center of Vanadzor, with a population of 86,199. The other urban centres are Alaverdi, Stepanavan, Spitak, Shamlugh, Tashir, Akhtala and Tumanyan.

With a population of 4,578, the village of [[Metsavan]] is the largest rural municipality of Lori.

===Ethnic groups and religion=== [[File:Vanadzor, Russian church.jpg|thumb|The Russian church in Vanadzor]] [[File:Fioletovo2 (6 sept 2008).jpg|thumb|Fioletovo is mostly populated by Spiritual Christians from Russia]] The majority of Lori are ethnic Armenians who belong to the [[Armenian Apostolic Church]]. The regulating body of the church is the [[Diocese of Gougark]], headed by Archbishop [[Sebouh Chouldjian]]. The Saint Gregory of Narek Cathedral in [[Vanadzor]] is the seat of the diocese.

However, small communities of [[Spiritual Christians]] from Russia are mainly found in the villages of [[Fioletovo]] and [[Lermontovo, Armenia|Lermontovo]], and in less numbers in the villages of [[Sverdlov, Armenia|Sverdlov]], [[Mikhayelovka]], [[Privolnoye, Armenia|Privolnoye]], [[Pushkino, Armenia|Pushkino]], [[Medovka]] and the town of [[Tashir]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.aniarc.am/2021/03/04/molokans-armenian-lermontovo-fioletovo/|title=Մոլոկաններ. մոնոէթնիկ Հայաստանի էթնիկ գույները|date=March 4, 2021}}</ref> The total number of Spiritual Christians from Russia in Lori is about 3,882 individuals.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} There are few Orthodox Russians and [[Ukrainians]] in Vanadzor, Stepanavan and the village of [[Amrakits]].

According to the Diocese of Gougark, as of February 2016, Lori is home to 259 places of worship, of which 3 monasteries, as well as 36 churches and 23 chapels, are active.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://hetq.am/hy/article/65830|title=Եկեղեցաշինությունը նորանկախ Լոռիում. Կարապետյաններ, Վալերի Մեջլումյան, Վլադիմիր Մովսիսյան եւ ուրիշներ|website=Hetq.am|date=22 February 2016 }}</ref>

The 793 individuals of the [[Yazidis in Armenia|Yazidi]] community are found in the southern villages of the province including Lermontovo and [[Lernantsk]].

Lori is also home to a tiny Greek community of 655 individuals who speak the [[Pontic Greek|Pontic dialect]]. Small Greek communities could be found in the towns of Alaverdi, Akhtala, Stepanavan, Noyemberyan and Vanadzor. The majority of the [[Yaghdan]] village is Greek.

==Administrative divisions== {{Update|section|date=February 2023}} [[File:Լոռու մարզկենտրոնի շենքը, Վանաձոր 01.JPG|thumb|Lori Province administration in Vanadzor]]

As a result of the administrative reforms in November 2017, Lori is currently divided into 57 municipal communities (''hamaynkner''), of which seven are urban and 50 are rural:<ref>{{cite web|title=RA Lori Marz|work=Marzes of the Republic of Armenia in Figures, 2002–2006|publisher=National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia|url=http://www.armstat.am/file/article/marz_07_e_28.pdf|date=2007}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.am/legislation.php?sel=show&ID=5370&lang=arm|title=Legislation: National Assembly of RA|website=www.parliament.am}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://lori.mtad.am/about-communities/|title=Լոռու մարզպետարան|website=lori.mtad.am}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.lragir.am/index/arm/0/country/view/155056|title=Հայաստանի 328 համայնքների միավորմամբ կձևավորվի 34 համայնք. ԱԺ-ն քննարկում է ծրագիրը | Լրագիր|access-date=2017-11-11|archive-date=2017-12-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218223556/http://www.lragir.am/index/arm/0/country/view/155056|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=ՀՀ ՄԱՐԶԵՐԻ ԵՎ ԵՐԵՎԱՆ ՔԱՂԱՔԻ ՍՈՑԻԱԼ-ՏՆՏԵՍԱԿԱՆ ԲՆՈՒԹԱԳՐԵՐԸ |trans-title=Socio-economic characteristics of the provinces of the Republic of Armenia and the city of Yerevan |chapter=ԼՈՌՈՒ ՄԱՐԶ |trans-chapter=Lori Province |url=https://armstat.am/file/article/marzer_2022_25.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209065715/https://www.armstat.am/file/article/marzer_2022_25.pdf |archive-date=9 February 2023 |date=15 November 2022 |publisher=[[Statistical Committee of Armenia]] |location=Yerevan}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable sortable" |- !Municipality !Type !Area (km2) !Population (2022 census) !Centre !Included villages |- |[[Akhtala Municipality]] |Urban | | |[[Akhtala]] |[[Akhtala aroghjaranin kits]], [[Bendik]], [[Chochkan]], [[Mets Ayrum]], [[Neghots]], [[Pokr Ayrum]], [[Shamlugh]], [[Verin Akhtala]] |- |[[Alaverdi Municipality]] |Urban | |32,899 |[[Alaverdi, Armenia|Alaverdi]] |[[Akner, Lori|Akner]], [[Akori, Armenia|Akori]], [[Jiliza]], [[Kachachkut]], [[Haghpat]], [[Tsaghkashat]] |- |Spitak Municipality |Urban |5.5 |38,037 |[[Spitak]] | |- |[[Stepanavan Municipality]] |Urban |14 |13,349 |[[Stepanavan]] |[[Armanis]], [[Katnaghbyur, Lori|Katnaghbyur]], [[Urasar]] |- |[[Tashir Municipality]] |Urban | |21,472 |[[Tashir]] |[[Blagodarnoye, Armenia|Blagodarnoye]], [[Dashtadem, Lori|Dashtadem]], [[Getavan, Armenia|Getavan]], [[Katnarat, Lori|Katnarat]], [[Kruglaya Shishka]], [[Lernahovit, Lori|Lernahovit]], [[Medovka]], [[Meghvahovit]], [[Noramut]], [[Novoseltsovo]], [[Saratovka, Armenia|Saratovka]] |- |[[Tumanyan Municipality]] |Urban | |5,611 |[[Tumanyan, Armenia|Tumanyan]] |[[Kober kayaran]], [[Shamut]], [[Lorut]], [[Ahnidzor]], [[Atan, Armenia|Atan]], [[Marts, Armenia|Marts]], [[Karinj]] |- |Vanadzor Municipality |Urban |32 |84,552 |[[Vanadzor]] | |- |Antaramut Municipality |Rural | | |[[Antaramut]] | |- |Antarashen Municipality |Rural | | |[[Antarashen]] | |- |Arevashogh Municipality |Rural | | |[[Arevashogh]] | |- |[[Arjut Municipality]] |Rural | | |[[Arjut]] |[[Arjut kayaranin kits]] |- |Aznvadzor Municipality |Rural | | |[[Aznvadzor]] | |- |Bazum Municipality |Rural | | |[[Bazum]] | |- |Chkalov Municipality |Rural | | |[[Chkalov, Armenia|Chkalov]] | |- |Darpas Municipality |Rural | | |[[Darpas]] | |- |Debet Municipality |Rural | | |[[Debet, Armenia|Debet]] | |- |Dsegh Municipality |Rural | | |[[Dsegh]] | |- |Dzoraget Municipality |Rural | | |[[Dzoraget]] |- |Dzoragyugh Municipality |Rural | | |[[Dzoragyugh, Lori|Dzoragyugh]] | |- |Fioletovo Municipality |Rural | |1,205 |[[Fioletovo]] | |- |Geghasar Municipality |Rural | | |[[Geghasar]] | |- |Ghursali Municipality |Rural | | |[[Ghursali]] | |- |Gogaran Municipality |Rural | | |[[Gogaran]] | |- |Gugark Municipality |Rural | | |[[Gugark (village)|Gugark]] | |- |[[Gyulagarak Municipality]] |Rural | |7,613 |[[Gyulagarak]] |[[Amrakits]], [[Gargar, Armenia|Gargar]], [[Hobardzi]], [[Kurtan]], [[Pushkino, Armenia|Pushkino]], [[Vardablur, Lori|Vardablur]] |- |[[Halavar Municipality]] |Rural | | |[[Halavar]] |[[Haydarli, Lori|Haydarli]], [[Kilisa]] |- |Hartagyugh Municipality |Rural | | |[[Hartagyugh]] | |- |Jrashen Municipality |Rural | | |[[Jrashen, Lori|Jrashen]] | |- |Karaberd Municipality |Rural | | |[[Karaberd, Lori|Karaberd]] | |- |Karadzor Municipality |Rural | | |[[Karadzor]] | |- |Katnajur Municipality |Rural | | |[[Katnajur]] | |- |Khnkoyan Municipality |Rural | | |[[Khnkoyan]] | |- |Lermontovo Municipality |Rural | |911 |[[Lermontovo, Armenia|Lermontovo]] | |- |Lernantsk Municipality |Rural | | |[[Lernantsk]] | |- |Lernapat Municipality |Rural | | |[[Lernapat]] | |- |Lernavan Municipality |Rural | | |[[Lernavan]] | |- |[[Lori Berd Municipality]] |Rural | |5,044 |[[Lori Berd]] |[[Agarak, Lori|Agarak]], [[Bovadzor]], [[Hovnanadzor]], [[Koghes]], [[Lejan]], [[Sverdlov, Armenia|Sverdlov]], [[Urut]], [[Yaghdan]] |- |Lusaghbyur Municipality |Rural | | |[[Lusaghbyur, Lori|Lusaghbyur]] | |- |Margahovit Municipality |Rural | | |[[Margahovit]] | |- |Mets Parni Municipality |Rural | | |[[Mets Parni]] | |- |[[Metsavan Municipality]] |Rural | | |[[Metsavan]] |[[Dzyunashogh]], [[Mikhayelovka]], [[Paghaghbyur]] |- |Nor Khachakap Municipality |Rural | | |[[Nor Khachakap]] | |- |Norashen Municipality |Rural | | |[[Norashen, Lori|Norashen]] | |- |[[Odzun Municipality]] |Rural | | |[[Odzun]] |[[Amoj]], [[Ardvi]], [[Arevatsag]], [[Aygehat]], [[Hagvi]], [[Karmir Aghek]], [[Mghart]], [[Tsater]] |- |[[Pambak Municipality]] |Rural | |12,112 |[[Pambak, Lori|Pambak]] |[[Pambak kayaranin kits]] |- |Sarahart Municipality |Rural | | |[[Sarahart]] | |- |Saralanj Municipality |Rural | | |[[Saralanj, Lori|Saralanj]] | |- |Saramej Municipality |Rural | | |[[Saramej]] | |- |[[Sarchapet Municipality]] |Rural | | |[[Sarchapet]] |[[Apaven]], [[Artsni]], [[Dzoramut]], [[Gogavan]], [[Petrovka, Armenia|Petrovka]], [[Privolnoye, Armenia|Privolnoye]] |- |Shahumyan Municipality |Rural | | |[[Shahumyan, Lori|Shahumyan]] | |- |Shenavan Municipality |Rural | | |[[Shenavan, Lori|Shenavan]] | |- |Shirakamut Municipality |Rural | | |[[Shirakamut]] | |- |[[Shnogh Municipality]] |Rural | | |[[Shnogh]] |[[Karkop]], [[Teghut, Lori|Teghut]] |- |Tsaghkaber Municipality |Rural | | |[[Tsaghkaber]] | |- |Vahagnadzor Municipality |Rural | | |[[Vahagnadzor]] | |- |Vahagni Municipality |Rural | | |[[Vahagni]] | |- |Yeghegnut Municipality |Rural | | |[[Yeghegnut, Lori|Yeghegnut]] | |}

During the recent years, many rural settlements in Lori became abandoned, including the villages of [[Gyulludara]], [[Kizilshafak]] and [[Kizkala]].

Between the 11th and 13th centuries, the monasteries of [[Haghpat Monastery|Haghpat]], [[Sanahin Monastery|Sanahin]], [[Kobayr monastery|Kobayr]] and [[Bardzrakash Monastery|Bardzrakash]] in [[Dsegh]] served as centers of Armenian culture, theology and science. Scholars such as [[Hovhannes Imastaser]], Grigor Tuteordi, Davit Kobayretsi, [[Grigor Magistros]] worked in these monasteries.<ref name="Matevossian"/> The House-museum of [[Hovhannes Tumanyan]] in [[Dsegh]] is among the notable cultural structures in Lori.

===Fortresses and archaeological sites=== * Kaytson Castle of the 10th century * [[Kayan Berd|Kayan Fortress]] of the 10th century * Akhtala Fortress of the 10th century * [[Lori Fortress]] of the 11th century * Sanahin Bridge of 1195 * Yaghdan Bridge of the 13th century * Sedvi Fortress of the 13th century

===Churches and monasteries=== * [[Odzun Church]] of the 5th century. * [[St. George Church, Sverdlov|Saint George Church]] of Sverdlov of the 6th century * [[Horomayr Monastery]] of the 7th century near [[Odzun]] * Saint Gregory the Illuminator's Church of [[Dsegh]], 7th century * [[Hnevank]] Monastery, 7th–12th centuries * Surp Hovhannes Monastery of Ardvi, 8th–13th centuries * [[Sanahin Monastery]] of the 10th century * [[Haghpat Monastery]] of the 10th century * Church of the Forty Martyrs of the 11th century * Khorakert Monastery of 1251 in [[Jiliza]] * Surp Nshan Monastery of Sedvi near [[Kachachkut]] of the 13th century * [[Church of the Holy Mother of God, Vanadzor|Church of the Holy Mother of God]] of Vanadzor, opened in 1831 * Saint Nikolai the Wonderworker Russian Church of [[Amrakits]], opened in 1848 * Gyulagarak church of 1876. * Russian Church of the Nativity of Blessed Virgin Mary of Vanadzor, opened in 1895

==Transportation== Lori is connected to other parts of Armenia through a railway, national highways and a network of regional roads. The M-3 and M-6 highways passing through the province, connect the capital Yerevan with the Georgian capital [[Tbilisi]]. The M-8 highway connects Lori with Tavush Province to the east

The provincial centre Vanadzor has a railway station with a [[South Caucasus Railway]] express service that connects the city with [[Yerevan]] via [[Gyumri]], and [[Tbilisi]] via [[Ayrum]]. In April 2012, a replacement bridge over the Zamarlu gorge just west of [[Vahagnadzor]] was opened in order to secure the safe ongoing use of the line to Ayrum,<ref>[http://president.am/en/domestic-visits/item/2012/04/21/news-395/ President Serzh Sargsyan conducted a working visit to Lori and Tavush Marzes] president.am</ref> but not before the all station service between Gyumri and Ayrum was discontinued leaving the likes of [[Spitak]] and [[Alaverdi, Armenia|Alaverdi]] without a passenger service. A new railway link between Vanadzor and [[Fioletovo]] (west of [[Dilijan]]) has also been proposed.<ref>[[:ru:Ванадзор (станция)|Vanadzor (station) 'construction prospects']] ru.wikipedia.org</ref>

[[Stepanavan Airport]], located {{convert|44|km|0|abbr=on}} north of Vanadzor, is the nearest airport to the city.

==Economy==

===Agriculture=== [[File:Fioletovo1 (6 sept 2008).jpg|thumb|Farmlands in Lori]]

The agriculture of Lori forms around 7.5% of the annual total agricultural product of Armenia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.armstat.am/file/RegStat/marz/MARZ_06.pdf|title=Armstat: Lori}}</ref> Approximately, 40% of the population in Lori are involved in agricultural activities, including farming and cattle-breeding. Almost 66.3% (2,511.5 km2) of the total area of the province are [[arable land]]s, out of which 17% (421 km2) are ploughed. The main crops of the province are grains, followed by potato and vegetables.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mtaes.am/files/docs/554.pdf |title= |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125162959/http://www.mtaes.am/files/docs/554.pdf |archive-date=25 November 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

There is a large poultry farm in the town of Spitak.

===Industry=== [[File:Teghut Mine 2014.jpg|thumb|[[Teghut Mine]]]] [[File:Usine abandonnee.jpg|thumb|Industry in Vanadzor]] As of 2016, the province has a contribution of around 6% in the annual total industrial product of Armenia. Lori is a major centre for metallurgical business, building materials production, as well as dairy products.

* The Alaverdi copper smelter owned the "Armenian Copper Programme" company is the only smelter in Lori that is still in operation since the Soviet days. The largest copper mines are located in Alaverdi, Akhtala, Shamlugh and [[Teghut, Lori|Teghut]]. * The city of Vanadzor is the main industrial centre of the province. The industry of the city is quite diversified with many firms specialized in garment manufacturing, chemical products, building materials, and dairy products. The largest garment manufacturers of the city are the "Dav-Gar" garment factory founded in 1962, the Darbbag's Sewing Factory founded in 1977 (privatized in 1996), the "Sarton" Sewing Factory founded in 1990, "Ruz-Dan" garment factory founded in 2000. The largest chemical plants of Vanadzor include the "Vanadzor ChimProm" founded in 1929, the "Gipk" enterprise for polymeric materials founded in 1967, and the "Gary Group" for polymeric materials founded in 1998. The "Beton" enterprise founded in 1988, the "Bionik" plant founded in 2004, and the "Karaberd" plant are specialized in building materials. The "DIET LLC", the "K&K" factory, and the "Katnagorts" plant are specialized in dairy products. Other major industrial plants of Vanadzor include the "Ardvin" electromechanical plant founded in 1956, the "Gems De Luxe" precious stone processing enterprise founded in 1996, and the "Jerutsogh" factory for heating equipments. The Vanadzor Thermal Power Plant is operating since 1961. * The town of Spitak is home to the "Spitak-1" organization for construction and building materials founded in 1985, the "Sev Kakach" cooperative for bakery production founded in 1987, the "Bee Art" plant for honey, and the "Vanuhi" garment factory. * Lori is famous for its cheese and other dairy products. The town Tashir is home to many firms for dairy products including the "Daughter Melania" cheese factory (since 1996, the "Dumikyan Brothers" cheese factory), the "Kalinino Kat" plant, and the "Tashir Kat" plant. * Other notable industrial plants in Lori include the "Bhez-Plazma" Electrical Products Manufacturing Enterprise founded in 1960 in Stepanavan, the "Titanyan Brothers" plant for building materials founded in 1964 in Alaverdi, the "INSI-NTK" plant for cosmetics and perfumes founded in 2006 in [[Hobardz]], the "Katnarat Dairy Factory" founded in 2009 in [[Katnarat, Lori|Katnarat]], the "Tutyan" linseed oil manufacturing enterprise founded in 2010 in [[Hartagyugh]], the "Grig Stone" mining and stone-processing plant in Stepanavan, the "Hoosh" stone-processing plant in Tashir, and the "Sanasar Janjughazyan" plant for carbonated soft drinks in [[Vardablur, Lori|Vardablur]].

The [[Dzoraget Hydroelectric Power Station]] ({{langx|hy|Ձորագետի հիդրոէլեկտրակայան}}) is located in the [[Dzoraget]] village of Lori, on the shores of [[Debed River]]. It is in operation since on 15 November 1932 with the full installed capacity of 22.32 MW.<ref name="ecolur">{{cite web |url=http://ecolur.org/hy/news/energy/vdzoraget-5v-shpp-monitoring-results-photos/7875/ |script-title=hy:"Ձորագետ 5" փոքր ՀԷԿ' մոնիտորինգի արդյունքներ |access-date=11 December 2015 |language=hy |trans-title="Dzoraget 5" SHPP: Monitoring Results}}</ref> As of 1980, the plant uses three generators with an installed capacity of 26.2 MW.<ref name="hanragitaran">{{cite book |last=Armenian soviet encyclopedia |author-link=Editorial College |date=1980 |title=Ձորագետ Հիդրոէլեկտրակայան}}</ref> The Dzoraget Hydro Power Plant is considered to be small size power plant.<ref name="Sale of Armenia's Monopoly Electricity Distributor">{{cite web |url=http://www.jamestown.org/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=44482&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=7#.VmvV4Ep95D8 |title=Sale of Armenia's Monopoly Electricity Distributor Confirmed |last=Grigoryan |first=Armen |date=14 October 2015 |access-date=11 December 2015}}</ref>

===Tourism=== [[File:Avan Dzoraget.jpg|thumb|Avan Dzoraget Resort]] [[File:Stepanavan Dendropark 2011 2.jpg|thumb|[[Stepanavan Dendropark]]]]

The mountainous nature, the mild summer climate and the green forests of Lori attract a large number of visitors during the summer season. Many sanatoriums, hotels, resorts and spas serve the province, mainly around Vanadzor, Stepanavan, Alaverdi, Dsegh and along the rivers of Dzoraget and Deped.

The '''Monasteries of [[Haghpat Monastery|Haghpat]] and [[Sanahin Monastery|Sanahin]]''' are a [[UNESCO World Heritage Site]].

Lori has three nature protected areas, including the Gyulagarak Sanctuary, the Margahovit Sanctuary, and the Rhododendron caucasicum Sanctuary near Aghstev river.

The [[Stepanavan Dendropark]] as well as the Vanadzor Botanical Garden are major destinations for [[ecotourism]] lovers.

==Education== [[File:Վանաձորի մանկավարժական ինստիտուտ Vanadzor State Pedagogical University 07.jpg|thumb|[[Vanadzor State University]]]] [[File:SMART Campus.jpg|thumb|COAF SMART Center, Debed, Lori]]

[[Gugark]] was one of the major educational centres throughout the history. The historic University of Sanahin opened in 966 AD by the efforts of the Bagratuni queen Khosrovanush, was located in the area of modern-day [[Sanahin]].

Currently, Vanadzor has two universities: the [[Vanadzor State University]] named after Hovhannes Tumanyan, and Mkhitar Gosh Armenian-Russian International University. Branches of the [[Yerevan State University]] and [[National Polytechnic University of Armenia]] are also operating in the city.

The State College of Alaverdi offers an opportunity in pedagogical studies with a duration of two years, while the [[Tumanyan, Armenia|Tumanyan]] branch of the "Northern University" offers degrees in nursing and dental prosthesis.

As of the 2015–16 educational year, Lori was home to 162 schools.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ktak.am/schoolslist/06_Pet_Lori.pdf |title=Lori Province schools |access-date=2015-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305022909/http://www.ktak.am/schoolslist/06_Pet_Lori.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-05 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Vanadzor Technological Center is operating since October 2016. It is intended to promote the business and technology environment in the entire region of Lori.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vtc.am/en/about-us/|title=About us – Vanadzor Technology Center}}</ref>

The [[Children of Armenia Fund]] (COAF), a [[Nonprofit organization|non-profit]] NGO that is focused on child-centered development of rural Armenia, opened the first COAF SMART Center in Debet village of Lori in May 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Aghalaryan|first=Kristina|date=27 May 2018|title=Educational SMART Center opens its doors in the Lori region of Armenia|work=News.am Online Portal|url=https://news.am/eng/news/453467.html}}</ref>

==Sport== [[File:Lori, Vanadzor ski resort.jpg|thumb|Vanadzor ski resort]]

[[Association football|Football]], [[handball]] and [[winter sport]]s are popular in Lori. There are football stadiums in Vanadzor, Alaverdi, Akhtala and Tumanyan.

[[Lori Vanadzor]], [[FC Vanadzor]], [[Debed FC]] and [[FC Akhtala]] had represented the province in the domestic football competitions. However, they were all dissolved due to financial difficulties.

The [[Football Federation of Armenia|FFA]] [[Vanadzor Football Academy]] opened its doors on 29 October 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ffa.am/hy/1446558505|title=ՀՖՖ նախագահն այցելեց Վանաձորի ֆուտբոլի ակադեմիա (լուսանկարներ)|website=www.ffa.am}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://armfootball.com/arm/news/81925/bacvec-vanadzori-futboli-akademian.html|title=Vanadzor Football Academy is open|access-date=2016-10-30|archive-date=2018-08-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818214410/https://armfootball.com/arm/news/81925/bacvec-vanadzori-futboli-akademian.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2017 the newly founded [[Lori FC]] made its debut in the [[Armenian First League]], representing the city of Vanadzor.

Vanadzor is one of the prominent centers for winter sports in Armenia with ski facilities near the city.

==Notable natives== * [[Suren Aghababyan]] (1922–1986), Soviet Armenian literary critic * [[Sergei Alifirenko]], Olympic gold-medalist pistol shooter * [[Nareh Arghamanyan]], Armenian pianist, winner of the 2008 [[Montreal International Musical Competition]] * [[Vic Darchinyan]], Armenian professional boxer, three-division world champion * [[Armen Gyulbudaghyants]], prominent footballer and football manager * [[Shavarsh Karapetyan]], Soviet Armenian fin-swimmer * [[Artem Mikoyan]], [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Armenians|Armenian]] [[aircraft]] designer, [[Mikoyan-Gurevich]] (MiG) * [[Anastas Mikoyan]], [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] revolutionary, [[Old Bolshevik]] and statesman * [[Roman Mitichyan]], Armenian-American professional [[mixed martial artist]], actor and stuntman * [[Gor Mkhitarian]], Armenian rock musician and singer * [[Eduard Nalbandyan]], Armenian politician * [[Artavazd Peleshyan]], director and filmmaker * [[Avetik Sahakyan]] (1863–1933), Armenian politician of the [[First Republic of Armenia]] * [[Sos Sargsyan]] (1929–2013), prominent actor, [[People's Artist of the USSR|People's Artist of the Soviet Union]] * [[Tigran Sargsyan]], Armenian politician * [[Stepan Sarkisyan]], [[freestyle wrestling]] Olympic silver-medalist * [[Mane Tandilyan]], Minister of Labour and Social Affairs of Armenia (2018) * [[Hovhannes Tumanyan]] (1869–1923), the national poet of Armenia * [[Stepan Zoryan]] (1889–1967), Armenian writer

==Gallery== <gallery heights="160" mode="packed"> File:Odzun-church-south.jpg|[[Odzun Church]] File:Axtala1.jpg|[[Akhtala monastery]] File:Pushkin Pass.jpg|Northern Lori as seen from the Pushkin mountain pass File:Lermontovo, Armenia.jpg|The village of [[Lermontovo, Armenia|Lermontovo]] File:Karmir Aghek.jpg|Somkheti mountains and [[Karmir Aghek]] village </gallery>

==See also== * [[Gomshavar]] * [[Kingdom of Tashir-Dzoraget]] * [[Lori Fortress]] * [[Manvo]]

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Lori Province}} * [https://travellori.am Visit Lori] * [https://armeniapedia.org/wiki/Rediscovering_Armenia_Guidebook-_Lori_Marz Rediscovering Armenia Guidebook- Lori Marz]

[[Category:Lori Province| ]] [[Category:Provinces of Armenia]]