Alaverdi
Encyclopedia
- In Georgian culture, the alaverdi is the person granted the right to speak right after the toastmaster, see TamadaTamadaA tamada is the toastmaster at a Georgian Supra or at a Russian wedding, corresponding to the symposiarch at the Greek symposion or the thyle at the Anglo-Saxon sumbel....
.
Alaverdi formerly Manes, is a city situated in the northeast of the Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
n province of Lori, not far from the border with Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
. This mining and industrial city with approximately 16,500 inhabitants -down from 26,300 of the 1989- situated at the bottom of the Debed
Debed
The Debed or Debeda is a river in Armenia and Georgia. It also serves as a natural boundary between Armenia and Georgia at the village Sadakhlo, Georgia....
river gorge, is one of the commercial and industrial centres of the district. It is situated at the only direct rail link between Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
and Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
.
History
Historically, the area of Manes-Alaverdi was part of Dzoropor canton of GugarkGugark
Gugark was the 13th province of Greater Armenia. It now comprises parts of northern Armenia, northeast Turkey, and southwest Georgia.-History:...
province of Greater Armenia. The region was historically known as Manes or Manasgomer. Starting from the 17th century, the settlement became to be known as Alaverdi which is derived from the name of a 17th century Turkic tribe leader called Allahverdi Mollaoghlu Tarkhan.
When the area was annexed to the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
at the end of the 18th century, the Argoutinski-Dolgoruki family "imported" many Greek
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
miners to start exploiting the copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
mines in the area. Soon after, around a quarter of all Russian copper was mined in Alaverdi. At the end of the 19th century, the concession to exploit the mine was sold to a French firm. During the Soviet rule in the 20th century, the city acquired today's typical socialist industrial appearance. The mine and metallurgical complex are now privatised and serve as a major employer for the city and its surroundings.
Alaverdi has a medieval 12th century bridge, however many important cultural monuments are situated in the vicinity of the town, including the monasteries of Sanahin
Sanahin
Sanahin is a village in the northern province of Lori in Armenia, now considered part of the city of Alaverdi...
, Haghpat
Haghpat
Haghpat is a village in the Northern Lori province of Armenia, close to the city of Alaverdi and the state border with Georgia.It is notable for Haghpat Monastery, a religious complex founded in the 10th century and included in the UNESCO World Heritage List along with monasteries in nearby Sanahin...
, Kobayr, Akhtala
Akhtala monastery
Akhtala is a 10th-century fortified Armenian Apostolic Church monastery located in the town of Akhtala in the marz of Lori, north of Yerevan. The monastery is currently inactive. The fortress played a major role in protecting the north-western regions of Armenia and is among the most well...
, Khorakert, Khuchap, Ardvi
Ardvi
Ardvi is a town in the Lori Province of Armenia....
and a basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
in Odzun
Odzun
Odzun ; is a historical town in the Armenian province of Lori. It is situated on a plateau above the left bank of the Debed river gorge, a few kilometres south of the town of Alaverdi. It is famous for the 5-7th century Odzun Church, one of the finest Armenian basilicas with a cupola....
.
It was reported that the city will be renamed "Lalvar" after the nearby mountain, in an effort to re-establish the old Armenian name of the region.
Industry
During the Georgian rule over Alaverdi region, the Alaverdi Copper Smelter was founded in 1770, by the order of Georgian king Erekle IIErekle II
Erekle II was a Georgian monarch of the Bagrationi Dynasty, reigning as the king of Kakheti from 1744 to 1762, and of Kartli and Kakheti from 1762 until 1798. In the contemporary Persian sources he is referred to as Erekli Khan, while Russians knew him as Irakli...
. At the end of the 19th century, the region was flourished even more through the new Russian and French investments in metallurgical business. In 1903, the amount of copper produced in Alaverdi region made around 13% of the total copper production in the Russian Empire
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
.
By the end of 1909, the hydropower plant of Debed river was inaugurated in order to provide the developing metallurgical plants with sufficient energy.
During the Soviet rule, massive construction works were carried on in Alaverdi, including the surrounding areas of Sanahin
Sanahin
Sanahin is a village in the northern province of Lori in Armenia, now considered part of the city of Alaverdi...
and other villages. The Soviets made significant steps for the enlargement of the metallurgical industry in the region, which has turned Alaverdi from a small industrial settlement to a modern town within Soviet Armenia.
Recently, new plans were introduced for the expansion of copper production in Alaverdi Smelter and the development of new copper mines within the project "Armenian Copper".
Currently, 500 workers and administrative staff are employed in the copper factory.
Education
The first educational centre in the area of Alaverdi was the University of Sanahin, which was opened in 966 AD by the efforts of the BagratuniBagratuni Dynasty
The Bagratuni, Bagratid or alternatively Pakradouni royal dynasty of Armenia was a royal family whose branches formerly ruled many regional polities, including the Armenian lands of Sper|presently Ispir in Tayk Province of the Armenian Kingdom, Bagrevand in Ayrarat Province of the Armenian...
queen Khosrovanush.
Currently, Alaverdi is considered an important educational centre for the region. As of 2009, 10 public education schools are operating in the town with nearly 2,000 students, and 6 nursery schools with more than 400 kids.
The State College of Alaverdi offers an opportunity in pedagogical
Pedagogy
Pedagogy is the study of being a teacher or the process of teaching. The term generally refers to strategies of instruction, or a style of instruction....
studies with a duration of two years while the Tumanynan branch of the Northern University, offers studyings in Nursing and Dental prosthesis
Prosthesis
In medicine, a prosthesis, prosthetic, or prosthetic limb is an artificial device extension that replaces a missing body part. It is part of the field of biomechatronics, the science of using mechanical devices with human muscle, skeleton, and nervous systems to assist or enhance motor control...
.
A music academy named after Romanos Melikian
Romanos Melikian
Romanos Melikian was an Armenian composer.He finished the Rostov Musical College, then the classes of M. Ippolitov-Ivanov and B. Yavorsky. In 1914 he graduated from Saint Petersburg Conservatory...
and 3 schools of art are functioning in Alaverdi, with a total number of 600 students (2009).
The Alaverdi cultural complex was founded in 1997. It consists of a large theatre hall and a big public library.
In 2001, the church of Surb Grigor of Narek was opened in Alaverdi by the efforts of its citizens.
The house-museum of Hovhannes Tumanyan
Hovhannes Tumanyan
Hovhannes Tumanyan , is considered to be one of the greatest Armenian poets and writers. His work was mostly written in tragic form, often centering on the harsh lives of villagers in the Lori region.-Biography:...
is located in Dsegh
Dsegh
Dsegh is a town in the Lori Province of Armenia. The town was renamed in honor of writer Hovhannes Tumanyan, a native of the town.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
village near Alaverdi.
Sports
In 1936, Alaverdi's Metalurg football team participated in the first ever USSR football championship, representing the Armenian SSR, but with no any memorable achievements. After the independent, the club Debed AlaverdiDebed Alaverdi
Debed Alaverdi was an Armenian football club from Alaverdi. The club dissolved in early 1993 and is currently inactive from professional football.-League Record :...
participated in the Armenian Premier League
Armenian Premier League
The Armenian Premier League is the top football competition in Armenia. From 1936 to 1991, the competition was held as a regional tournament within the USSR. After independence, the Football Federation of Armenia has been the unit in charge. The seasons run from spring to fall...
for the 1992 season. Unfortunately the club dissolved in 1993 and is currently inactive from professional football.
In Soviet years the town was famous in the Armenian SSR for its strong handball
Team handball
Handball is a team sport in which two teams of seven players each pass a ball to throw it into the goal of the other team...
players. Nowadays, a training academy named after USSR's handball star of the 1960s; Oleg Gorbunov, is still operating in the town since 1962. The school also has young basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
teams with more than 100 kids.
In 2006 the town celebrated the inauguration of chess and boxing training schools.
In general, the sport organisations in Alaverdi are very poor but some steps are being taken by the Football Federation of Armenia
Football Federation of Armenia
The Football Federation of Armenia is the governing body of football in Armenia. It organizes the football league, Armenian Premier League, Armenian national football team, and the Armenia women's national football team. It is based in Yerevan....
towards the promotion of the game in the region of Lori
Lori
Lori may refer to:*Lori *Lori Province, Armenia*Lori , a nomadic community found in Balochistan region of Pakistan and Iran*Luri language , spoken by the Lur people Lorestān, Iran...
, therefore the town's only stadium; the Alaverdi City Stadium
Alaverdi City Stadium
Alaverdi City Stadium is an all-seater stadium in Alaverdi, Armenia. It is the only stadium in the city and is currently used for youth football teams in the region of Lori. It has a capacity of 1,000 seats....
, which is located deep in the forests, was recently turned into an all seater stadium with a capacity of 1,000 seats to serve some young football teams and sport-schools.
The Dzissen Kempo Federation of Armenia has an active branch in the town.
Nearby Attractions
The area of Alaverdi city and the surrounding region is rich in historical monuments and gorgeous nature. The city itself is built in the valley of Debed river, surrounded with high mountains and green forests. Plenty of samples of Armenian architectural heritage are located near the city of Alaverdi:- Odzun ChurchOdzun ChurchOdzun Church is an Armenian basilica constructed around the 5th-7th century in the Odzun village of the Lori Province of Armenia.- History :...
of the 5th century - Horomayr Monastery of the 7th century near OdzunOdzunOdzun ; is a historical town in the Armenian province of Lori. It is situated on a plateau above the left bank of the Debed river gorge, a few kilometres south of the town of Alaverdi. It is famous for the 5-7th century Odzun Church, one of the finest Armenian basilicas with a cupola....
village - Surb Hovhannes church of ArdviArdviArdvi is a town in the Lori Province of Armenia....
(8th century) - Kaytson Castle of the 9th century located near the shores of Debed river
- Sanahin MonasterySanahin MonasterySanahin Monastery is an Armenian monastery founded in the 10th century in the Lori Province of Armenia.The name Sanahin literally translates from Armenian as "this one is older than that one", presumably representing a claim to having an older monastery than the neighbouring Haghpat Monastery...
founded in the 10th century - Haghpat MonasteryHaghpat MonasteryHaghpat Monastery, also known as Haghpatavank , is a medieval Armenian monastery complex in Haghpat, Armenia....
of the 10th century - Church of the Forty Martyrs (11th century)
- The medieval bridge of Sanahin (near Alaverdi), built in 1195
- Kayan Berd, a black fortress built in 1233 near Alaverdi
Demographics
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1916 | 1,185 |
| 1939 | 10,000 |
| 1959 | 16,805 |
| 1965 | 24,600 |
| 2008 | 13,225 |
Sister cities
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Kobuleti is a town in Georgia's southwestern region of Ajaria. It is situated on the eastern coast of the Black Sea. Kobuleti is a sea resort, visited annually by Georgians and many former Soviet Union residents. From the 17th century into the 19th, Kobuleti was a fiefdom of the Tavdgiridze...
, Georgia
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Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
, since 28 May 2007. Agios Ioannis Rentis
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Agios Ioannis Rentis is a suburb in the northern part of Piraeus, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Nikaia-Agios Ioannis Rentis, of which it is a municipal unit.-Geography:...
, (municipality in Athens
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Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
), Greece
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Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, since 1 October 2007.