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Kotayk (, ), is a province ( marz) of Armenia. It is located at the central part of the country. Its capital is Hrazdan and the largest city is Abovyan. It is named after the Kotayk canton of the historic Ayrarat province of Ancient Armenia.
Kotayk is bordered by Lori Province from the northwest, Tavush Province from the north, Gegharkunik Province from the north, Aragatsotn Province from the southwest, and Ararat Province from the southwest and the capital Yerevan from the west. Kotayk is the only province in Armenia that has no borders with foreign countries.
The province is home to many ancient landmarks and tourist attractions in Armenia including the 1st-century Garni Temple, the medieval Bjni Fortress, 11th-century Kecharis Monastery and the 13th-century monastery of Geghard. Kotayk is also home to the popular winter sports resort and the spa-town of Tsaghkadzor and the mountain resort of Aghveran.
Kotayk was first mentioned as an Armenian region by Ptolemy as Kotakene (Κοτακηνή in Greek language). According to Movses Khorenatsi, the name Kotayk is derived from an ancient nearby settlement called Kutis.
The symbol of Kotayk is the lion of Geghard depicted on the coat of arms of the province, standing on a traditional Armenian sundial from Kecharis Monastery, surround by a bunch of Armenian from both sides. The decorative statue of the lion of Geghard was erected in 1958 among the mountains of Kotayk, on the way to the 4th-century Geghard monastery. It is derived from the decorative lions carved on the walls of the monastery. The 1st-century pagan Temple of Garni is also depicted on the coat of arms of Kotayk.
Historically, the current territory of the province mainly occupies parts of the Aragatsotn, Kotayk, Varazhnunik and Mazaz cantons of Ayrarat province of Ancient Armenia.
Kotayk occupies the northeastern part of the Ararat plain. The Kotayk plain located between Hrazdan and Azat rivers has a height of above sea level. It is dominated by the Gegham mountains from the northeast including the mountains of Azhdahak, Hatis and Gutanasar. The province approximates the Pambak mountains at the north, while the Tsaghkunyats mountains lie at the west, and the Voghjaberd mountains at the southwest of Kotayk.
Affected by the Gegham volcanoes, the land relief of Kotayk is covered with lava and tufa.
Hrazdan River, Getar River and Azat River are the three major rivers of the province. Lake Akna located at a height of , is the only lake in the province.
The climate of the province is quite diversified. It ranges between arid and semi-arid climate at the south, and snowy climate at the centre and the north. Annual precipitation levels are less than at the dry areas, while it ranges between 400 and at the heights in the centre and the north of the province.
By the end of the 9th century, the region became part of the newly established Bagratid Armenia. Between the 11th and 15th centuries, the region suffered from the Seljuk, Mongol, Ag Qoyunlu and Kara Koyunlu invasions, respectively.
At the beginning of the 16th century, the territory of modern-day Kotayk became part of the Erivan Beglarbegi within the Safavid dynasty. During the first half of the 18th century, the territory became part of the Erivan Khanate under the rule of the Afsharid dynasty and later under the Qajar dynasty of Persia. It remained under the Persian rule until 1827–1828, when Eastern Armenia was ceded to the Russian Empire as a result of the Russo-Persian War of 1826–28 and the signing of the Treaty of Turkmenchay. With the fall of the Russian Empire and after the decisive Armenian victories over the Turks in the battles of Sardarabad, Abaran, and Gharakilisa, the region became part of the independent Armenia in May 1918.
After 2 years of brief independence, Armenia became part of the Soviet Union in December 1920. After the World War II, Kotayk witnessed major growth and development under the soviet rule. Many new urban settlements and industrial centres were established in the region, including the towns of Byureghavan (1945), Charentsavan (1947), Nor Hachn (1953), Hrazdan (1959) and Abovyan (1963). Thus Kotayk had gradually become a major industrial region within the Armenian SSR.
Between 1930 and 1995, modern-day Kotayk was divided into 3 : Kotayk raion, Nairi raion, and Hrazdan raion. With the territorial administration reform of 1995, the 3 raions were merged to form the Kotayk Province.
According to the 2022 official census, Kotayk has a population of 269,883 (128,793 men and 141,090 women), forming around 9.2% of the entire population of Armenia. The urban population is 146,273 (54.2%) and the rural is 123,610 (45.8%). The province has 7 urban and 60 rural communities. The largest urban community is the town of Abovyan, with a population of 46,434. The other urban centres are Hrazdan, Charentsavan, Yeghvard, Byureghavan, Nor Hachn, and Tsaghkadzor.
With a population of 7,198, the village of Jrvezh is the largest rural municipality of Kotayk.
However, small communities of Yazdis in Zovuni, Bjni, Getamej, and Dzoraghbyur.
Zovuni and Alapars have a significant number of Russians .
Hankavan has a majority of Greeks, while the village of Arzni is predominantly populated by Assyrians.
Minor communities of Russian Molokans, Yazidis, Kurds, Assyrians and Greeks are also found in Abovyan and Byureghavan. Byureghavan
| Abovyan Municipality | Urban | 11 | 72,949 | Abovyan | |
| Byureghavan Municipality | Urban | 36 | 11,378 | Byureghavan | Jraber, Nurnus |
| Charentsavan Municipality | Urban | 245 | 31,297 | Charentsavan | Alapars, Aghveran, Arzakan, Bjni, Fantan, Karenis |
| Hrazdan Municipality | Urban | 15 | 52,283 | Hrazdan | |
| Nor Hachn Municipality | Urban | 1 | 28,095 | Nor Hachn | |
| Tsaghkadzor Municipality | Urban | 4 | 5,893 | Tsaghkadzor | |
| Yeghvard | Urban | 206 | 34,600 | Yeghvard | Aragyugh, Buzhakan, Saralanj, Zoravan, Zovuni |
| Akunk Municipality | Rural | 8,485 | Akunk | Hatis, Kaputan, Kotayk, Nor Gyugh, Sevaberd, Zar, Zovashen | |
| Aramus Municipality | Rural | Aramus | |||
| Arinj Municipality | Rural | Arinj | |||
| Arzni Municipality | Rural | 2,912 | Arzni | ||
| Argel Municipality | Rural | Argel | |||
| Balahovit Municipality | Rural | Balahovit | |||
| Garni Municipality | Rural | 12,311 | Garni | ||
| Geghadir Municipality | Rural | Geghadir | |||
| Geghard Municipality | Rural | Geghard | |||
| Geghashen Municipality | Rural | Geghashen | |||
| Goght Municipality | Rural | Goght | |||
| Getamej Municipality | Rural | Getamej | |||
| Getargel Municipality | Rural | Getargel | |||
| Hatsavan Municipality | Rural | Hatsavan | |||
| Jrarat Municipality | Rural | Jrarat | |||
| Jrvezh Municipality | Rural | 9,680 | Jrvezh | Dzoraghbyur, Zovk | |
| Kaghsi Municipality | Rural | Kaghsi | |||
| Kamaris Municipality | Rural | Kamaris | |||
| Kanakeravan Municipality | Rural | Kanakeravan | |||
| Karashamb Municipality | Rural | Karashamb | |||
| Kasagh Municipality | Rural | Kasagh | |||
| Katnaghbyur Municipality | Rural | Katnaghbyur | |||
| Lernanist Municipality | Rural | Lernanist | |||
| Mayakovski Municipality | Rural | Mayakovski | |||
| Meghradzor | Rural | Meghradzor | Aghavnadzor, Artavaz, Gorgoch, Hankavan, Marmarik, Pyunik | ||
| Mrgashen Municipality | Rural | Mrgashen | |||
| Nor Artamet Municipality | Rural | Nor Artamet | |||
| Nor Geghi Municipality | Rural | Nor Geghi | |||
| Nor Yerznka Municipality | Rural | Nor Yerznka | |||
| Proshyan Municipality | Rural | Proshyan | |||
| Ptghni Municipality | Rural | Ptghni | |||
| Solak Municipality | Rural | Solak | |||
| Teghenik Municipality | Rural | Teghenik | |||
| Verin Ptghni Municipality | Rural | Verin Ptghni | |||
| Voghjaberd Municipality | Rural | Voghjaberd |
During the recent years, many rural settlements in Kotayk became abandoned, including the village of Saranist.
The urban centres of Kotayk have their own cultural centres and public libraries.
The House-museum of Brothers Orbeli in Tsaghkadzor, is dedicated to the Armenian scientists Ruben, Leon Orbeli and Joseph Orbeli Orbeli.
The town of Yeghvard has a number of historic structures dating back to classical antiquity and the medieval period, including the "Seghanasar" ancient settlement from the 2nd millennium BC, the ruins of a 4th-century church surrounded with more than 30 khachkars dating back to the 12th century, the ruins of the 5th to 6th-centuries Katoghike Church, and the well-preserved Holy Mother of God Church of 1301.
Being very close to the capital Yerevan, the towns of Kotayk are regularly connected with the capital city through mini bus trips operating throughout the day.
The agricultural products of the province are divided as follows: 40% provided by cattle-breeding 40%, 14% by tobacco processing, 10% by fruits, 8% by vegetables, 28% by other products including grains and dry grains. The orchards mainly produce grapes, apricot, peach and apple.
Around 40% of the farmlands are irrigated, mainly through the Kanaker Hydroelectric Power Station canal and the Kotayk canal of Sevan–Hrazdan Cascade.
Kotayk has the three largest poultry farms in Armenia including the farms of Lusakert (in Nor Geghi), Arzni and Getamej.
Other major industrial firms located in the villages of Kotayk include: Chanakh dairy factory founded in 1991 in Zovk, Glanzh Alco Winery for cognac and wine founded in 2003 in Aramus, Nicola International Armenia for canned food in Aramus (since 2003), Ptghni Gold Winery for wine and liquor founded in 1996 in Ptghni, Bacon factory for meet products founded in 1995 in Arzni, Multi Aquamarine for spring water since 2003 in Akunk, Aquastone spring water manufacturers in Bjni since 2012, Rukar Group for vodka and calvados since 2010 in Verin Ptghni, Helias Vineyards for wine production since 2013 in Dzoraghbyur, and Pacific Home for spring water production founded in 2014 in Akunk.
The villages of Hankavan, Pyunik, Agveran, Bjni and Arzni are popular summer resorts and major destinations for medical tourism.
The monastery of Geghard located at the south of province is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, designated as the Monastery of Geghard and the Upper Azat Valley. The pagan Temple of Garni and the medieval Kecharis Monastery are also among the attractive monuments of the province.
The province has three nature protected areas: the Arzakan-Meghradzor Sanctuary, the Banks' Pine Grove Sanctuary, and the Hankavan Hydrological Sanctuary.
Kotayk has many spa and mountain resorts that attract tourists, including:
Two major science institutions and research centres are located in Abovyan: the Republican Hospital of tuberculosis and the Institute of Biological Microbes of the Armenian National Academy of Sciences.
The Armenak Khanperyants Military Aviation University is located near the town of Nor Hachn.
As of the 2015-16 educational year, Kotayk has 103 public schools as well as 1 private school. The number of state pre-school kindergartens is 54.
FC Kotayk founded in 1955, is one of the oldest football clubs in Armenia. Like many other football teams in the country, the club was forced to default from the Armenian football league and consequently from professional football since 2005, due to financial crisis. The short-lived King Delux FC of Abovyan played a single season in the Armenian First League of 2012–13. Other defunct football teams of Kotayk include FC Moush Charentsavan, Hachn FC, FC Shinarar, FC Yeghvard, FC Dinamo Yeghvard and FC Moush Kasagh.
Abovyan City Stadium is the largest sports venue in the province. Stadiums with minor capacities are also found in Hrazdan, Nor Hachn, Charentsavan and Kasagh.
The town of Tsaghkadzor is a major centre for sports in general, mainly winter sports. It has a large sports complex as well as a ski resort.
The Zepyur Football Training Camp is located in the village of Pyunik at the north of Kotayk. The Dzoraghbyur Training Centre owned by FC Ararat Yerevan is also located in Kotayk, in the Dzoraghbyur village.
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