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For the town in Aragatsotn province, see Vardenis, Aragatsotn.

Vardenis Վարդենիս
Country	Armenia
Marz	Gegharkunik
Established	1830
Population
• Total	12,363
Time zone	GMT+4
Area code	+374 (269)

40°10′50″N 45°43′12″E / 40.18056°N 45.72000°E / 40.18056; 45.72000 Vardenis (Template:Lang-hy; anciently, Vasakashen; until 1969 Basargechar). The town of Vardenis occupies the S-E of Gegharkunik province (marz) of the Republic of Armenia. The town is located in the valley of Masrik river, on the territory of Masrik artesian basin. Vardenis is located 170 km away from the capital of Yerevan, 75 km away from the province center of Gavar. The administrative territory of Vardenis comprises 3006ha, of which 736ha is occupied by the town itself. Vardenis got its urban status in 1995.

Geography

Topography

Vardenis is located on the slopes of 82 km range of Vardenis mountains. The highest peak, also named Vardenis, is 3522m. To the N-E, W and S-E of the town there are numerous roads to different parts of Armenia, e.g. to the serpentines of Sotk. The town is also bordered by the range of Sevan mountains.Vardenis is 5 km aways from Lake Sevan and it is directly affected by its proximity.

Geology

The town of Vardenis is situated on the Masrik plain, in the valley of Masrik river. In N it is bordered by Lake Sevan, in E - by Zangezour range, in S-E by Vardenis range. From morphological point of view, Masrik represents an intermontane area filled with fluvial-lacustrian deposits. The major part of the city, i.e. alluvial-proluvial-accumulative plain, is presented by claysands, clays, sands, several subsoils. The S-E part of the town sits on erosion-denudational slopes, presented by slightly eroded, poriferous basalt. On the whole territory of Vardenis there is no active tectonic rifts. The earthquake acceleration vary between 0.28-0.32g. In the city center the acceleration is 0.32g (8.5 magnitude), in the S and S-E parts the magnitude reaches 8.25-8.5.

Mineral Resources

The area of Vardenis is rich in metal and non-metal resources. Gold mine of Sotk is active. There are numerous types of rock used in construction, as well as mines of semi-precious stones. The Zangezur range is comprised of paleogenic granitoids, vulcanic and sedimentary deposits. In general, Syunik region is rich in mineral resources, including stones and metals.

The mineral resources of Vardenis can be classified as follows:

Water Resources

Gegharkunik marz is rich in water resources (surface, ground fresh and mineral waters). Water resources of the whole marz comprise 692.29 thousand m3/day. Water resources of Vardenis area are 247.804 m3/day, of which 114.640 m3/day are subject to use.

To the N of Vardenis there is Masrik river. The whole town is located in the artesian basin of Masrik. The horizon of the ground waters of this artesian basin lies 1.5-5m deep, which together with the horizon of weak pressured waters creates a joint water-bearing horizon. The fluctuations in the water level are between 0.24m and 0.57m, max. in January and July-August, min. in spring and autumn.

Water in Vardenis is supplied by “Akunk”, “Shat Jrer” and “Akner” water-pipe systems. The pipes of inner system and captation are currently in quite poor technical and sanitation condition.

Climate

Vardenis is located 2006m above sea level. The summer is mild, whereas the winter is quite cold, the average winter temperature is – 6C. The winter actually lasts for 6 months, the number of days with temperatures below zero prevail. The winds are weak. The snow falls in November and melts in mid-April. Vardenis is known for high insolation, 2500-2700 hours annually. Precipitation comprises 400-500 mm. Number of blizzard days is 30, of which 13 in January. The summer is short and mild, sunny, relatively humid, with minimal precipitation. Average temperature in July-August is 16C, max. is 31-35C. Max. wind speed detected was 2.5-3.2 m/s. Wind direction in Vardenis and the whole region is stable, Eastern direction prevails during the whole year. The autumn is mild, first half is moderately cloudy, the second half is unstable.Meteorological observations of the town (air temperature, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, relative humidity, absolute humidity, wind direction and speed etc) are implemented by Vardenis-Masrik meteorological stations, established in the 1940s on 1842.7m above sea level.

Nature

Vardenis is situated in the proximity of Sevan National Park, which is very rich in biodiversity.

Historical and Cultural Heritage

Current territory of Vardenis (formerly named Vasakashen, Voskeshen, Basargechar) occupies part of the historic Sotk county of Syunik province. According to the legends, the settlement was founded by Gegham, the grandson of the forefather Hayk and named Geghamabak. According to the historian Ghevond Alishan, Gaburn Vasak, the prince of Syunik, founded a settlement on this territory in IXc AD. which was known as Vasakashen till XVIIc AD. After the fall of the Arshakuni dynasty, the county of Sotk was transferred under protection of the dynasti of Smbatyan, prince of Vaykunk (Tsar) county of Artsakh. During the raids of different nomadic tribes, the settlement was renamed to Basargechar (meaning 'trodden and passed', or related to name Basar, presumably of one of the leaders). In the XIXc. there were migrations to Georgia. In 1829—1830, the settlement was re-inhabited by the immigrants from Diadin (Tateon) in Western Armenia. In 1930-1995 it became an administrative center. In 1969 was renamed from Basargeshar to Vardenis. The first general urban plan of Vardenis was made in 1952. The updated plan of the town, including the community lands, was developed by the requirement of the Ministry of Urban Planning of the Republic of Armenia in 2004.

Vardenis is one of the oldest settlements in Armenia. The town and its vicinities are rich in cultural heritage, there are 568 recorded monuments. The most interesting are Makenats monastery, basilica in Sotk, chapels of Ayrk, Karchaghbyur, as well as numerous other chapels, tombs of 3-1 millenia BC, Cyclopean masonry, khachkars. In the center of Vardenis, there is church of Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mary), built in 1905, where Armenian historian Hovhannes Tsaretsi worked. The church is surrounded with numerous khachkars, dating to XIV-XVII AD. All the monuments are in need of proper restoration and conservation.

Population

According to the 2001 census, the population of Vardenis comprises 13.700. 47.42% of the total population are men, 52.57% are women. Deterioration of economic potential, difficult financial situation, high unemployment rates and other problems resulted in decrease of the population. In comparison to 1996, the population has decreased by 2250 people, mainly due to youth migration and consequently, low birth rates.

The population is mainly engaged in agriculture, trade and service.

Sports

• Sipan Vardenis - football club

References

• Vardenis at GEOnet Names Server
• REC Caucasus. 2009. Report on the Status of Environmental Situation in Vardenis.
• World Gazeteer: Armenia – World-Gazetteer.com
• Report of the results of the 2001 Armenian Census, Statistical Committee of Armenia
• Kiesling, Brady (June 2000). Rediscovering Armenia: An Archaeological/Touristic Gazetteer and Map Set for the Historical Monuments of Armenia (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 6 November 2021.
• Հայկական սովետական հանրագիտարան. Armenian Soviet Encyclopedia

• Cities, towns and villages in Gegharkunik