The name of the province is derived fromTavush; a variant of the original name of the Tuchkatak canton of the historicalUtik province ofAncient Armenia. It first appeared during the 9th century as the name of the 9th-century Bagratid fortress near modern-dayBerd.
Tavush has an area of 2,704 km2 (9% of total area of Armenia). It occupies the northeastern part of Armenia. It is bordered by Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to the east. Domestically, it is bordered by theGegharkunik Province from the south,Kotayk Province from the southwest andLori Province from west. The territory is mainly mountainous and rocky hillsides covered with a green carpet ofAlpine meadows. Tavush is sometimes referred to as a little ArmenianSwitzerland. The average height of the region is around 900 meters above sea level.
Based on the historical divisions ofAncient Armenia, the current territory of the province occupies parts of the Varazhnunik canton ofAyrarat province, the Dzorapor and Koghbapor cantons ofGugark province, and the Aghve and Tuchkatak (Tavush) cantons ofUtik province.
The province entirely lies among the mountains of theLesser Caucasus. It is surrounded by the Miapor mountains from the east, the Somkheti mountains from the north, the Gugark mountains from the east and the Kenats mountains from the south. The highest point of Tavush is the Miapor peak with a height of 2993 meters, while the lowest point is located at a height of 380 meters in theDebed river valley near the village ofDebedavan.
The province is a major source of water in Armenia. The main source isAghstev river with its tributariesGetik, Voskepar and Sarnajur. Minor rivers include Akhum, Tavush and Khndzorut.
Tavush is also rich for its mountain springs, mineral water and small lakes such as theLake Parz andLake Gosh.
Most of the Tavush territory is covered with thick forests, mainly around the towns of Dilijan, Ijevan and Berd. The province has a number of protected forests including theDilijan National Park, Akhnabad Taxus Grove Sanctuary, Arjatkhelni Hazel Sanctuary, Gandzakar Sanctuary, Ijevan Sanctuary and Zikatar Sanctuary.
The territories of present-dayLori and Tavush along with the neighboringGeorgia, became part of theRussian Empire in 1800–01. The territories became an official region of Russia as per theTreaty of Gulistan signed between Imperial Russia andQajar Persia in October 1813, following theRusso-Persian War of 1804–13.[6] In 1840, theElizavetpol uezd was formed and most of the territories of Tavush were included in this new administrative division of the Russian Empire. Later in 1868, theElisabethpol Governorate was established and Tavush became part of the newly formedKazakh uezd of the governorate.
According to the1989 Soviet census, the Tavush Province (then part of theShamshadin,Noyemberyan, andIjevan districts in 1930–1995)[8] had a population of 144,583. 49,114 or 33.97% of which was urban, distributed into the cities of Dilijan (30,433) and Ijevan (18,681), and 95,469 or 66.03% were rural, distributed into the districts of Shamshadin (34,559), Noyemberyan (33,973), and Ijevan (26,937).[9]
Tavush is the second least populated province in Armenia. According to the 2011 official census, Tavush has a population of 128,609 (62,083 men and 66,526 women), forming around 4.3% of the entire population of Armenia. The urban population is 54,186 (42.1%) and the rural is 74,423 (57.9%). The province has 5 urban and 55 rural communities. The largest urban community is the provincial center of Ijevan, with a population of 21,081. The other urban centres Dilijan, Berd, Noyemberyan and Ayrum.
With a population of 4,420, the village ofKoghb is the largest rural municipality of Tavush.
The majority of the Tavush Province population are ethnic Armenians who belong to theArmenian Apostolic Church. The regulating body of the church is theDiocese of Tavush, headed by Bishop Bagrat Galstanyan. The Surp Nerses Cathedral inIjevan is the seat of the diocese.
The town ofBerd is home to around 200Udis who also belong to the Armenian Church.
This section needs to beupdated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(February 2023)
As a result of the administrative reforms that took place on 15 December 2015, 17 June 2016, 16 July 2016 and 9 June 2017, Tavush is currently divided into 24 municipal communities (hamaynkner), of which 5 are urban, and 19 are rural:[10][11][12][13][14]
Tavush has a poor agricultural index with only 4.8% of share in the total annual agricultural product of Armenia. Around 41% (1,108 km2) of the total area of the province are arable lands, out of which 23% (256 km2) are ploughed. The population in many rural communities are mainly involved in farming, cattle-breeding and pig farming. The main crops are grains and grapes.[39]
Recently, bee-keeping farms were also opened in many communities.
Tavush has the poorest industrial index among the Armenian provinces with a share of 0.8% in the annual total industrial product of Armenia. The existing industry is mainly dominated by food-processing and the production of alcoholic drinks.
Ijevan is the economic centre of Tavush. During the Soviet period, the town had witnessed a remarkable industrial progress especially in the spheres of carpet manufacturing and wood processing. Many industrial plants of the Soviet days are still operating in Ijevan, including the "Ijevan Woodworking Enterprise" founded in 1936, the "Ijevan Wine-Brandy Factory" founded in 1951 (particularly famous for its pomegranate wine), the "Ijevan Mechanical Enterprise" founded in 1954, the "Jrashogh Ijevan Carpets" weaving mill founded in 1959, and the "Ijevan Bentonit Combine" for mining founded 1967. The Ijevan carpet weaving mill was the largest in theCaucasus and the 3rd-largest in the wholeSoviet Union. The town is also famous for its handmade rugs and carpets. After the independence of Armenia, many small industrial plants were founded, including the "Karart" stone processing plant (since 2003). In 2014, the "Vector" company for software development was opened in Ijevan.[40]
Other major industrial plants in the province include the "Berdavan Wine Factory" in the village ofBerdavan, the "Maga" food-processing factory inVaragavan and the "Vital Echogarden" food-processing factory inAygedzor, the "Tavush Textile" factory inChoratan, the "Bavagarm" meet-processing plant inTeghut, and the "Filishin" concrete manufacturing plant inHaghartsin.
Dilijan is famous for its mineral water, being processed and bottled by the "Dilijan Mineral Water Plant" founded in 1947. The town is also home to the "Aramara" company for fine woodworking founded in 1993,[41] and the "Dili" factory for dairy products founded in 2005.
The small town ofAyrum is home to the "Ayrum Cannery" (since 1937), and the "Ayrum Fruits" food-processing factory (since 2014).[42]
Tourism and related services are still developing in Tavush. The cultural heritage and the natural monuments of the region attract a large number of tourists.
The town ofDilijan is major touristic destination for locals and foreigners. It is also considered a financial centre as much of the Central Bank's operations was moved to Dilijan in 2013. The town is also famous with its sanatoriums and mineral water. Other touristic destinations include the villages ofAchajur,Gosh,Teghut andYenokavan.
Many forests of the province are listed among the protected areas of Armenia, including theDilijan National Park, the Akhnabad Taxus Grove Sanctuary, the Arjatkhelni Hazel Sanctuary, the Gandzakar Sanctuary, the Ijevan Sanctuary and the Zikatar Sanctuary.
Tavush has recently become a significant educational centre within Armenia. In 2014, theUnited World College Dilijan, a part of the global educational movementUnited World Colleges, was opened in the Dilijan.[43]
Between 2013 and 2015, the construction of the Dilijan Central School, a branch of theAyb Educational Foundation, was completed in Dilijan.[44] It was officially opened in fall 2015.
Dilijan City Stadium andArnar Stadium are the 2 largest sport venues of the province. Minor stadiums are also found in Noyemberyan and the village of Achajur.
Ijevan is the venue of the annualMultiForceoff-road racing international competition, that attracts participants from Armenia and the neighboring countries.
^(in Russian)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.
^Harutyunyan, Sargis; Danielyan, Emil."Armenia-Azerbaijan Border 'Calm' After Deadly Clashes".azatutyun.am.RFE/RL.Archived from the original on 5 August 2020. Retrieved5 August 2020....the border between Armenia's northern Tavush province and the Tovuz district in Azerbaijan, the scene of the clashes.
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