Vardenis

Vardenis Վարդենիս
Vardenis in February 2009
Vardenis Վարդենիս
Coordinates: 40°10′50″N 45°43′12″E / 40.18056°N 45.72000°E / 40.18056; 45.72000
Country	Armenia
Marz	Gegharkunik
Founded	1830
Government
• Mayor	Volodya Khloyan
Area
• Total	10 km2 (4 sq mi)
Elevation	1,943 m (6,375 ft)
Population (2011 census)
• Total	12,685
• Density	1,300/km2 (3,300/sq mi)
Time zone	GMT+4
Area code(s)	+374 (269)
Sources: Population

Coordinates: 40°10′50″N 45°43′12″E / 40.18056°N 45.72000°E / 40.18056; 45.72000 Vardenis (Armenian: Վարդենիս), is a town at the southeastern part of the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia. It is located in the valley of the Masrik River, on the territory of the Masrik artesian basin at 1,943 metres (6,375 feet) above sea level. It is 170 kilometres (110 miles) from the capital Yerevan, and 75 kilometres (47 mi) from the provincial centre Gavar. The administrative territory of Vardenis comprises 3,006 hectares (7,430 acres), of which 736 hectares (1,820 acres) is occupied by the town itself. Vardenis got its status as an urban settlement in 1995.

As of the 2011 census, the population of the town was 12,685. However, as per the 2016 official estimate, the population of Vardenis is 12,600.

The current territory of Vardenis was formerly known as Vasakashen, Voskeshen, and later Basargechar until 1969, when it was renamed Vardenis.

The current territory of Vardenis (formerly named Vasakashen, Voskeshen, Basargechar) occupies part of the historic Sotk canton of Syunik Province. According to legends, the settlement was founded by Gegham, the grandson of the legendary Hayk and named Geghamabak. According to the historian Ghevond Alishan, Gaburn Vasak, the prince of Syunik, founded a settlement on this territory in the 9th century AD. which was known as Vasakashen until the 17th century. After the fall of the Arshakuni dynasty, the county of Sotk was transferred to the dynasty of Smbatyan, prince of Vaykunk (Tsar) in the county of Artsakh. In the 19th century, many Armenians from the area migrated to Georgia. In 1829–1830, the settlement was re-inhabited by Armenian migrants from Diadin (Tateon) in Western Armenia. From 1930 to 1995 it was an administrative centre. Until 1969, the town was officially called Basargechar. The first general urban plan of Vardenis was applied in 1952. The updated plan of the town, including the community lands, was developed by the requirement of the Ministry of Urban Planning of the Republic of Armenia in 2004.