Shirak Province

Shirak (Armenie: Շիրակ) is a province (marz) o Armenie. It is in the north-wast o the kintra, borderin Turkey in the wast an Georgie in the north. Its caipital is Gyumri. Shirak is kent as the hameland of khash. It is as muckle semi-desert as it is muntain meadow or heich alpine. In the sooth, the heich steppes crash intae muntain terrain, verdant green in the spring, hues o reddish broun in the simmer. Shirak is served bi Shirak Internaitional Airport near Gyumri.

Shirak Շիրակ
Province
Location o Shirak athin Armenie
Coordinates: 40°50′N 43°55′E
Kintra	Armenie
Caipital	Gyumri
Govrenment
• Govrenor	Karen Sarukhanyan
Area
• Total	2681 km2 (1,035 sq mi)
Area rank	6t
Population  (2002)
• Total	257,242
• Rank	2nt
• Density	96/km2 (250/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+04
• Summer (DST)	UTC+05
Postal code	2601-3126
ISO 3166 code	AM-SH
FIPS 10-4	AM07
Website	www.shirakinfo.am

History

The auncient history o Shirak is similar tae its cousin the Ararat Glen, steeped in legend tae some, but foond bi archaeologists tae hae been inhabitit 250,000 year ago, wi settlements poppin up alang the Akhurian Valley beginnin aroond 9000 BC. Agriculturally based, the region haes few o the metallurgical centers foond Sooth, but still haed sophisticatit dounsets.

Shirak borders the follaein marzer:

• Lori - east
• Aragatsotn - sooth

Commonties

The province o Shirak consists o the follaein 119 commonties (hamaynkner), o which 3 (bauld in the table) are considered urban an 116 are considered landwart. The diveesion below is bi raion, the admeenistrative subdiveesions o Armenie afore 1995.

Gyumri	Artik	Maralik	Ashotsk	Amasia
Akhurik Akhuryan Arapi Arevik Aygebats Azatan Basen Bayandur Beniamin Getk Gharibjanyan Gyumri Hatsik Haykavan Hovit Hovuni Jajur Jajur kayaranin kits Jrarat Kamo Kaps Karmrakar Karnut Keti Krashen Lernut Marmashen Mayisyan Mets Sariar Pokrashen Shirak Vahramaberd Voskehask Yerazgavors	Anushavan Arevshat Artik Geghanist Getap Harich Haykasar Hayrenyats Horom Hovtashen Lernakert Lusakert Meghrashen Mets Mantash Nahapetavan Nor Kyank Panik Pemzashen Pokr Mantash Saralanj Saratak Spandaryan Tufashen Vardakar	Aghin Aniavan Anipemza Bagravan Dzithankov Dzorakap Gusanagyugh Haykadzor Isahakyan Jrapi Karaberd Lanjik Lusaghbyur Maralik Sarakap Sarnaghbyur Shirakavan	Arpeni Ashotsk Bashgyugh Bavra Dzorashen Ghazanchi Goghovit Hartashen Kakavasar Karmravan Krasar Lernagyugh Mets Sepasar Musayelyan Pokr Sariar Pokr Sepasar Salut Saragyugh Sarapat Sizavet Tavshut Torosgyugh Tsoghamarg Vardaghbyur Zuygaghbyur	Aghvorik Alvar Amasia Ardenis Aregnadem Bandivan Berdashen Byurakn Garnarich Gtashen Hoghmik Hovtun Jradzor Meghrashat Shaghik Tsaghkut Voghji Zarishat Zorakert