Khndzoresk

Khndzoresk Խնձորեսկ
community
The caves of Khndzoresk
Khndzoresk
Coordinates: 39°30′44″N 46°26′01″E / 39.51222°N 46.43361°E / 39.51222; 46.43361Coordinates: 39°30′44″N 46°26′01″E / 39.51222°N 46.43361°E / 39.51222; 46.43361
Country	Armenia
Marz (Province)	Syunik
Area
• Total	67.86 km2 (26.20 sq mi)
Population (2011)
• Total	2,070
• Density	31/km2 (79/sq mi)
Time zone	(UTC+4)
Khndzoresk at GEOnet Names Server

Khndzoresk (Armenian: Խնձորեսկ, pronounced [χəndzɔˈɾɛsk]) is a village and rural community (municipality) in the South-East of Armenia, in the province (marz) of Syunik. The village is located to the right of Goris - Stepanakert highway, on the steep slopes of Khor Dzor (Deep Gorge), from which, according to tradition, it got its name. Crossing the bridge at the entrance of the village, the road continues towards the towns of Lachin and Stepanakert. New Khndzoresk (the current inhabited area) was built in the 1950s. The village is located at 1580m above sea level and occupies 6772,8ha. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia (ARMSTAT) reported its population as 2,260 in 2010, up from 1,992 at the 2001 census.

As of 2009, the population of Khndzoresk comprises 2256, of which 1126 women and 1130 men. There are 516 households in total. About 90% of the population is involved in agriculture (animal husbandry and gardening). There is a small milk processing enterprise, employing 8 people. The community has a number of administrative and public institutions, such as community council, secondary school (with 370 pupils), musical school, kindergarten, library, museum, culture club.

In the end of the 19th century Old Khndzoresk was the biggest village of Eastern Armenia. In the beginning of the 20th century the community had 8300 inhabitants (1800 households). In 1913 there were 27 shops, 3 dye-houses, tanneries, 7 schools. The village is famous for taking part in the liberation movement of David Bek. The fortress of Khndzoresk served as a military base for Mkhitar Sparapet in 1728-1730. In 1735 the village was visited by Catholicos (Head of Armenian Apostolic Church) Abraham Kretatsi who gave a thorough description of the community in his chronicles. During the 1980s, an additional village sprouted 7km from Khndzoresk due resizing and political unrest. This village, considerably smaller than Khndzoresk, is called lower Khndzoresk, or Nerkin Khndzoresk.