Vayots Dzor Վայոց Ձոր |
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Province | |
Coordinates: 39°45′N 45°30′E / 39.750°N 45.500°ECoordinates: 39°45′N 45°30′E / 39.750°N 45.500°E | |
Country | Armenia |
Capital and largest city |
Yeghegnadzor |
Government | |
• Governor | Edgar Ghazaryan |
Area | |
• Total | 2,308 km2 (891 sq mi) |
Area rank | 7th |
Population (2011) | |
• Total | 52,324 |
• Rank | 11th |
Time zone | AMT (UTC+04) |
Postal code | 3601–3810 |
ISO 3166 code | AM-VD |
FIPS 10-4 | AM10 |
Website | Official website |
Vayots Dzor (Armenian: , Armenian pronunciation: [vɑjˌɔt͡sʰ ˈd͡zɔɾ]), is a province of Armenia. It lies at the southeastern end of the country, bordering the Nakhichevan exclave of Azerbaijan form the west and the Shahumyan Region of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic from the east. It covers an area of 2,308 km². With a population of only 53,230 (2002 census), it is the most sparsely populated province in the country. The capital and largest city of the province is the town of Yeghegnadzor.
The province is home to many ancient landmarks and tourist attractions in Armenia including the Areni-1 cave complex and Areni-1 winery of the Chalcolithic period, the 8th-century Tanahat Monastery, the 10th-century Smbataberd fortress, and the 13th-century Noravank monastery. Vayots Dzor is also home to the popular spa-town of Jermuk.
The village of Gladzor in Vayots Dzor was home to the 13th and 14th-century University of Gladzor.
Literally meaning "the valley of sorrows", it is named after the Vayots Dzor canton of the historic Syunik province of Ancient Armenia, ruled by the Siunia dynasty.