Shvanidzor

Infobox Settlement
official_name =Shvanidzor
Շվանիձոր
native_name =


|image_caption = Community houses
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mapsize =150px
subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = Armenia
subdivision_type1 = Marz (Province)
subdivision_name1 =Syunik
leader_title =
leader_name =
established_title =
established_date =
area_total_km2 =
area_footnotes =
population_as_of = 2001
population_total =330
population_density_km2 =
timezone =
utc_offset = +4
timezone_DST =
utc_offset_DST = +5
latd=38 |latm=56 |lats=34 |latNS=N
longd=46|longm=22 |longs=37 |longEW=E
elevation_m =
area_code =
website =

Shvanidzor (pronEng|ˌʃvɑːniːdzɔr,Armenian:Շվանիձոր; also, Astazur and Shvandor) is a village community in the South-East of Armenia in Syunik province ("marz"). It borders with Islamic Republic of Iran. Distance between the community and Yerevan – 410km, 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.

As of 2007, community has 358 residents ("de facto" 296). Number of families- 110. 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). 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 a 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, 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.

Nature

Shvanidzor is located 10km away from Shikahogh State Preserve.

Flora

Shvanidzor is located in dry tropics. The indicators of tropics are wild pomegranate, 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 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 bear ("Ursus arctos syriacus"), Bezoarian goat ("Capra aegagrus aegagrus"), Armenian mufflon ("Ovis orientalis gmelinii"), Persian leopard ("Panthera pardus tullianus"), as well as badger, lynx, wild boar, roe, which are listed in the Red Book. Apart from that there are also long-eared hedgehog and 3 types of bats 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."

The 7 types of snakes from the 11 in the Red Book can be met in Shvanidzor: "estudo graeca, umeces schnederi, Mabuya aurata , Rhynchocalamus melanocephalus, elescopus fallax ibericus, Elaphe hohenackeri , Vipera raddei".

References

*REC Caucasus. 2008. "Sustainable Development of Mountain Communities in the Caucasus. Local Agenda 21." Report.
*GEOnet2|32FA881E6A073774E0440003BA962ED3
*ArmenianCensus|210

Related links

* [http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Rediscovering_Armenia_Guidebook-_Syunik_Marz Syunik Marz]
* [http://www.armeniapedia.org/index.php?title=Shikahogh_State_Preserve Shikahogh State Preserve]
* [http://www.armeniandiaspora.com/archive/34564.html 'SOS! Shikahogh': the road to nowhere]