Shvanidzor
Encyclopedia
Shvanidzor is a village and rural community (municipality) in the South-East of Armenia
in Syunik
province (marz
). It borders with Islamic Republic of Iran
. Distance between the community and Yerevan – 410 km, between the community and Kapan
regional center – 102 km, between the community and the main highway- 17 km. The distance between the community and newly built Tsav-Shikahogh highway (which is alternative way to Iran) is 700m. Community lands stretch from 450 to 2864m, on the southern slopes of Meghri mountain range (Tsav-Shvanidzor pass), whereas the settlement itself is located in the forestry area at the bottom, at 630-760m above the sea level, in Astghadzor (Astazor) gorge.
The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia
(ARMSTAT) reported its population was 306 in 2010, down from 330 at the 2001 census.. Main occupations are gardening, animal husbandry, bee-keeping.
The community is especially famous for its kahrezes. Kahrez is the system of underground water channels and intake facilities- kahrezes (also known as qanat
). These deep channels are located by 50-60m from each other. There are 5 kahrezes in Shvanidzor. Four of them were constructed in XII-XIVc, even before the village was founded. The fifth kahrez was constructed in 2005. Potable water runs through I, II and V kahrezs. Kahrez III and IV are in quite poor condition. In summer, especially in July and August, the amount of water reaches its minimum, creating critical situation in the water supply system.
Having a long history, Shvanidzor has preserved several specific traditions and rituals. The most celebrated holidays were Easter
, Palm Sunday
, Wine Blessing etc. Pilgrimage was also quite spread among the inhabitants. For many centuries Shvanidzor has been a residence of meliks, which is reflected in many legends and traditions.
The community members were traditionally engaged in hunting, fishing, animal husbandry, gardening, winery. Part of the community were skillful craftsmen, especially smiths, tailors, carpenters, masons, mat weavers etc.
, wild fig
and numerous other plants. The majority of the plants are xerophile, represented by xeromorphous shrubs. Green leafy plants are represented by araxian (Quercus araxina) and oriental oak
(Q. macranthera), Georgian maple
(Acer ibericum), as well as plane-tree, ash-tree, beech
etc.
Shvanidzor and its vicinities are the only places in the South Caucasus, where 2 types of European redbud (Judas tree)- Cercis griffithii Boiss. and С. siliquastrum L. Dry alpine meadows are covered with scarce shrubs and remind of desert. However, there are numerous wild herbs, including officinal, edible as well as wild relatives of cultivated plants.
(Ursus arctos syriacus), Bezoarian goat (Capra aegagrus aegagrus), Armenian mouflon
(Ovis orientalis gmelinii), Persian leopard
(Panthera pardus tullianus), as well as badger
, lynx
, wild boar
, roe deer
, which are listed in the Red Book. Apart from that there are also long-eared hedgehog
and 3 types of bat
s that are listed as endangered.
Hunting and poaching still causes harm to these species, though from mammals, it is only allowed to hunt fox
and hare
.
Out of 66 species of birds listed in the Red Book
, 15 can be met in Shvanidzor, which are Acciper Brevipes, Circaetus gallicus gallicus, Aquila rapax orientalis, Aquila chrysaetos fulva, Gypaetus barbatus aereus, Gyps fulvus fulvus, Merops superciliosus persicus, Sylvia hortensis crassirostris, Oenanthe xanthoprimna chrysopygia, Monticola saxalitis saxalitis, Luscinia svecica occidentalis, Remiz pendulinus menzbieri, Parus lugubris.
7 types of reptiles from the 11 in the Red Book
can be met in Shvanidzor: Testudo graeca, Eumeces schneideri
, Mabuya aurata, Rhynchocalamus melanocephalus, Telescopus fallax ibericus, Elaphe (Zamenis) hohenackeri, Vipera raddei
.
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
in Syunik
Syunik
Syunik is the southernmost province of Armenia. It borders the Vayots Dzor marz to the north, Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave to the west, Karabakh to the east, and Iran to the south. Its capital is Kapan. Other important cities and towns include Goris, Sisian, Meghri, Agarak, and Dastakert...
province (marz
Administrative divisions of Armenia
Armenia is subdivided into eleven administrative divisions. Of these, ten are provinces, known as marzer or in the singular form marz in Armenian....
). It borders with Islamic Republic of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Distance between the community and Yerevan – 410 km, between the community and Kapan
Kapan
-Notable landmarks:*Vahanavank monastery*Baghaberd and Halidzor Fortresses.*Tatev Monastery - This monastery, situated northwest of Kapan was founded in the ninth century in the place of an ancient tabernacle well-known in ancient times...
regional center – 102 km, between the community and the main highway- 17 km. The distance between the community and newly built Tsav-Shikahogh highway (which is alternative way to Iran) is 700m. Community lands stretch from 450 to 2864m, on the southern slopes of Meghri mountain range (Tsav-Shvanidzor pass), whereas the settlement itself is located in the forestry area at the bottom, at 630-760m above the sea level, in Astghadzor (Astazor) gorge.
The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia
National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia
National Statistical Service of Republic of Armenia is the national statistical agency of Armenia.The statistical institution started its main activity from January 7, 1922 and was called Statistical Department of Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia...
(ARMSTAT) reported its population was 306 in 2010, down from 330 at the 2001 census.. Main occupations are gardening, animal husbandry, bee-keeping.
History
According to local historical sources, Shvanidzor community was founded in XIII c and counted more than 700 households, in the place of historic settlement of Areviq. The community lands were cultivated during 700 centuries, which resulted in the formation of agro-landscapes. Due to lack of irrigation and low land fertility the community was relocated several. Thus in the vicinity, there are numerous interesting landscapes, remnants of XVII-XVIII c dormitories as well as houses with carved wooden balconies.The community is especially famous for its kahrezes. Kahrez is the system of underground water channels and intake facilities- kahrezes (also known as qanat
Qanat
A qanāt is a water management system used to provide a reliable supply of water for human settlements and irrigation in hot, arid and semi-arid climates...
). These deep channels are located by 50-60m from each other. There are 5 kahrezes in Shvanidzor. Four of them were constructed in XII-XIVc, even before the village was founded. The fifth kahrez was constructed in 2005. Potable water runs through I, II and V kahrezs. Kahrez III and IV are in quite poor condition. In summer, especially in July and August, the amount of water reaches its minimum, creating critical situation in the water supply system.
Culture
Shvanidzor is famous for its historical monuments. Close to the community there is an old bridge (XVIIc), as well as Gyumerants, St. Stepanos (XVII-XIXc), Berdikar (XII-XIIIc) churches. There is also an aqueduct of XVIIc. This currently functioning aqueduct is the most important historical monument of such type remaining from the medieval times in Armenia.Having a long history, Shvanidzor has preserved several specific traditions and rituals. The most celebrated holidays were Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
, Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four Canonical Gospels. ....
, Wine Blessing etc. Pilgrimage was also quite spread among the inhabitants. For many centuries Shvanidzor has been a residence of meliks, which is reflected in many legends and traditions.
The community members were traditionally engaged in hunting, fishing, animal husbandry, gardening, winery. Part of the community were skillful craftsmen, especially smiths, tailors, carpenters, masons, mat weavers etc.
Flora
Shvanidzor is located in dry tropics. The indicators of tropics are wild pomegranatePomegranate
The pomegranate , Punica granatum, is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing between five and eight meters tall.Native to the area of modern day Iran, the pomegranate has been cultivated in the Caucasus since ancient times. From there it spread to Asian areas such as the Caucasus as...
, wild fig
Ficus
Ficus is a genus of about 850 species of woody trees, shrubs, vines, epiphytes, and hemiepiphyte in the family Moraceae. Collectively known as fig trees or figs, they are native throughout the tropics with a few species extending into the semi-warm temperate zone. The Common Fig Ficus is a genus of...
and numerous other plants. The majority of the plants are xerophile, represented by xeromorphous shrubs. Green leafy plants are represented by araxian (Quercus araxina) and oriental oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
(Q. macranthera), Georgian maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
(Acer ibericum), as well as plane-tree, ash-tree, beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
etc.
Shvanidzor and its vicinities are the only places in the South Caucasus, where 2 types of European redbud (Judas tree)- Cercis griffithii Boiss. and С. siliquastrum L. Dry alpine meadows are covered with scarce shrubs and remind of desert. However, there are numerous wild herbs, including officinal, edible as well as wild relatives of cultivated plants.
Fauna
The mammals living in the area are quite known, such as Caucasian bearBear
Bears are mammals of the family Ursidae. Bears are classified as caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives. Although there are only eight living species of bear, they are widespread, appearing in a wide variety of habitats throughout the Northern...
(Ursus arctos syriacus), Bezoarian goat (Capra aegagrus aegagrus), Armenian mouflon
Mouflon
The mouflon is a subspecies group of the wild sheep Ovis aries. Populations of Ovis aries can be partitioned into the mouflons and urials or arkars...
(Ovis orientalis gmelinii), Persian leopard
Leopard
The leopard , Panthera pardus, is a member of the Felidae family and the smallest of the four "big cats" in the genus Panthera, the other three being the tiger, lion, and jaguar. The leopard was once distributed across eastern and southern Asia and Africa, from Siberia to South Africa, but its...
(Panthera pardus tullianus), as well as badger
Badger
Badgers are short-legged omnivores in the weasel family, Mustelidae. There are nine species of badger, in three subfamilies : Melinae , Mellivorinae , and Taxideinae...
, lynx
Lynx
A lynx is any of the four Lynx genus species of medium-sized wildcats. The name "lynx" originated in Middle English via Latin from Greek word "λύγξ", derived from the Indo-European root "*leuk-", meaning "light, brightness", in reference to the luminescence of its reflective eyes...
, wild boar
Boar
Wild boar, also wild pig, is a species of the pig genus Sus, part of the biological family Suidae. The species includes many subspecies. It is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig, an animal with which it freely hybridises...
, roe deer
Roe Deer
The European Roe Deer , also known as the Western Roe Deer, chevreuil or just Roe Deer, is a Eurasian species of deer. It is relatively small, reddish and grey-brown, and well-adapted to cold environments. Roe Deer are widespread in Western Europe, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, and from...
, which are listed in the Red Book. Apart from that there are also long-eared hedgehog
Hedgehog
A hedgehog is any of the spiny mammals of the subfamily Erinaceinae and the order Erinaceomorpha. There are 17 species of hedgehog in five genera, found through parts of Europe, Asia, Africa, and New Zealand . There are no hedgehogs native to Australia, and no living species native to the Americas...
and 3 types of bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
s that are listed as endangered.
Hunting and poaching still causes harm to these species, though from mammals, it is only allowed to hunt fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
and hare
Hare
Hares and jackrabbits are leporids belonging to the genus Lepus. Hares less than one year old are called leverets. Four species commonly known as types of hare are classified outside of Lepus: the hispid hare , and three species known as red rock hares .Hares are very fast-moving...
.
Out of 66 species of birds listed in the Red Book
Regional Red List
A Regional Red List is a report of the threatened status of species within a certain country or region. It is based on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, an inventory of the conservation status of species on a global scale...
, 15 can be met in Shvanidzor, which are Acciper Brevipes, Circaetus gallicus gallicus, Aquila rapax orientalis, Aquila chrysaetos fulva, Gypaetus barbatus aereus, Gyps fulvus fulvus, Merops superciliosus persicus, Sylvia hortensis crassirostris, Oenanthe xanthoprimna chrysopygia, Monticola saxalitis saxalitis, Luscinia svecica occidentalis, Remiz pendulinus menzbieri, Parus lugubris.
7 types of reptiles from the 11 in the Red Book
Regional Red List
A Regional Red List is a report of the threatened status of species within a certain country or region. It is based on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, an inventory of the conservation status of species on a global scale...
can be met in Shvanidzor: Testudo graeca, Eumeces schneideri
Eumeces schneideri
Schneider's Skink , Eumeces schneideri, is a species of skink found in central and west Asia and north Africa. It is named after the German zoologist, Johann Gottlob Schneider.-Description:Head moderate; snout short, obtuse...
, Mabuya aurata, Rhynchocalamus melanocephalus, Telescopus fallax ibericus, Elaphe (Zamenis) hohenackeri, Vipera raddei
Vipera raddei
Vipera raddei is a venomous viper species found in Turkey, Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and possibly also Iraq. No subspecies are currently recognized.-Description:Adult males grow to a maximum length of 99 cm...
.