Draft:Goris District

The Goris Raion (District) (Armenian: Գորիսի շրջան) (Russian: Горисский район), was a subdivision and a administrative territorial unit first in Soviet Armenia, then briefly for 4 years in the Republic of Armenia. It was created on September 9, 1930. It had an area of 752 km². The marzkentron (Province capital) was the city of Goris.

Natural Conditions and Geographic Location
The Goris district is located in the southeastern part of the Armenian SSR, bordering the Azerbaijani SSR in the ancient Zangezur region, on the Syunik volcanic plateau and the northern slopes of the Bargushat mountain range. The relief is a complex combination of sharply cut volcanic mountain ranges, mountains, folded rock landscapes, steep gorges and valleys. In the north-west lies the Ishkhanasar massif, composed of upper Pliocene andesite-basalts and dacites, in the extreme part of which are the Mets Ishkhanasar extinct volcano, the highest point of the region (3548 meters) and Zagedzor (3232 m), whose slopes are steep and widespread. the accumulations of boulders, is dominated by cold winds. To the south, at an altitude of 1,500-2,100 meters, there is the Yerablur Plateau, composed of Upper Pliocene and Anthropogenic lava (basalts, andesite-basalts) covers and flows, with a hilly, undulating surface, smooth in some places, with slag cones of relative height of 40-250 meters. Saravand is cut in the south by the Vorotan gorge (600-800 m), where Satan's bridge (A geographic formation over the Vorotan river) is located. The sloping peninsula of Goris, which is spread east of the Tribulus, is composed of Pliocene volcanic-debris sediments (Goris thicket), has a general slope to the southeast and, gradually lowering, merges with the low-mountainous peninsula of Hagaru. It is divided by the 200-300-meter-deep valleys of the Goris, Zorashen, Khndzoresk , Aghsu, Tegh, Khoznavar , and Khnatsakh rivers, as well as smaller, temporary watercourses, on the steep slopes of which there are many pyramidal rocks, caves, hollows. The basin of the right bank of Vorotan is occupied by the folded, erosion-denudation, deeply fragmented forested slopes of the Bargushat mountain range (Svarantsi, Kapani). The highest peak of Bargushat is Aramazd (3392 meters). The mountain range gradually lowers to 1500-1400 meters to the east, the slopes are steep (20°-30° and more), especially in North Armenia, and the watershed sections descending to the Vorotan River are ancient, leveled surfaces with a slight slope, in some places even flat.

Climate
The Goris districts has a climatic diversity, characterized by distinct vertical zonation. A succession of climates, marked by mild winters transitioning to moderately warm and, in some instances, severe prolonged winters, unfolds progressively from the Var upwards. In January, the mean air temperature varies from -2 °C in the lowlands to -10 °C at the summit of Ishkhanasar. In July, the temperature range spans from 22 °C to 10 °C, respectively. The annual precipitation level ranges from 500 to 800 millimeters, with the peak occurring in May and June.

The topography of the Goris district is intricately composed, featuring a multitude of vertical natural zones. These include dry steppes, moderately wet and humid steppes, as well as forests and forest steppes, predominantly in the southern sector. Subalpine and alpine meadows adorn the slopes of lofty mountains. Volcanic plateaus, rising up to 2200 meters, have given rise to steppe landscapes, characterized by carbonate and decalcified black soils. Towards the northern slopes of the Bargushat mountain range and the Vorotan valley, one encounters forest and forest-steppe landscapes, dominated by brown forest soils. Limited patches of forests endure in the midstream of the Goris River.

The valleys of Teghi Saravand host dry sparse forests, featuring tsak, honey, blackberry bushes, and walnut groves. Sub-alpine meadows extend up to 2900 meters in the volcanic area, while on the slopes of Bargushat, they reach up to 2800 meters, beyond which alpine meadows prevail.

River Network
The river network mainly belongs to the Vorotan basin, and only a few rivers of the Goris peninsula belong to the Hagaru basin. The main river of the district is Vorotan, on which the hydropower plants and the irrigation system have had a great impact on its economy. Goris and Tatev rivers are among the main tributaries. The region of Goris is rich in cool, fresh waters. The city of Goris uses the water of the oldest spring, Akner. There are mineral springs, "acid waters" ( Tatev, Karashen , Goris ), the most famous is the mineral water of Satan's Bridge. which has been used in folk medicine since ancient times. The largest of the lakes is Lake Sev. The forests are dominated by beech, oak, and there are also maple, wild cherry, hawthorn, pine, cypress, and rose bushes. Apples, pears, cherries, mulberries, cherries, plums, walnuts, grapes, pomegranates and figs grow in low river valleys. Rose and jasmine are common. Among the useful minerals, Svarants iron, Goris andesite-basalts, and Yerablur slags are of industrial importance.

Settlements
The administrative center of the Goris District was Goris. It had 25 Village Councils.


 * Azatashen - Abandoned Village
 * Aghbulagh
 * Aygedzor - Abandoned Village
 * Arevis
 * Arzumani Dzor - Ruins
 * Bardzravan (Eritsatumb until 1969)
 * Akner
 * Khnatsakh
 * Khndzoresk
 * Khot
 * Khoznavar
 * Kornidzor
 * Halidzor
 * Hartashen
 * Harzhis (Yayji until 1968)
 * Shahverdlar - Unpopulated after 1959
 * Shinuhayr
 * Shurnukh
 * Pasharajur - Abandoned after 1959
 * Svarants
 * Vaghatur (Bayandur until 1969)
 * Vanand (Ghurdughulagh until 2006)
 * Verishen
 * Tandzatap
 * Tatev
 * Tegh
 * Dzorak
 * Dzorashen - Abandoned Village
 * Qashuni (Maldash until 1992)
 * Karahunj


 * Karashen

History
The current area of ​​Goris District, which almost coincides with the medieval Haband, then Bun Zangezur, has been inhabited since time immemorial, the river valleys and mountain valleys with a mild climate, rich in good things for existence, attracted people as early as 4-5 millennia ago. Later, when the Armenian statehood was formed, the territory of Goris region was a constituent part of Syunik, a vast world spread on the eastern side of the Armenian plateau. During the Marzpan period, and then during the Arab rule, he persisted in preserving the national language and culture. And when in the 10th century, the Bagratunyats kingdom was established and the Syunyats government entered its political sphere, a number of residential centers of Bun Zangezur acquired an important position. Tatev Monastery was built in 896-906. In the 10th-11th centuries, Bgheno-Noravank and Shnher monasteries were built. The Seljuks, who invaded Zangezur in the 11th century in the 1970s, gave a big blow to the economic and cultural rise. In the 12th century, the princely Orbelian dynasty, defeated in the inter-dynastic struggle, found refuge in Zangezur, which assimilated into the local princely houses and assumed a leading role. The princes of Syunik, the Orbelians and Proshyans, with the help of the Zakaryans, managed to free the region from the Seljuks and establish their rule. In the 13th and 14th centuries, new raids took place, marching from the distant Mongolian-Turkestan steppe, the hungry Mongolian, Turko-Tatar hordes invaded the country, which forced a significant part of the population of Syunik to leave the plains and take shelter in the difficult heights of the mountain valleys. However, even Lenktemur found himself powerless to exterminate the Armenians who relied on the highlands for thousands of years. Armenian princely houses and church communities were preserved in Sisakan-Zangezur, and in 1345, Tatev University was established based on Gladzor University.

In 1639, Syunik, including Bun Zangezur, was transferred to Persia by the treaty signed between Ottoman Turkey and Shah Persia. Zangezur made a great contribution to the liberation movement of the Armenian people in the 18th century In the 20s, it was developed in Syunik under the leadership of Davit Bek. Mkhitar Sparapet continued the case of Davit Bek. After the failure of the rebellion, the Persian and Ottoman tyrants intensified the oppression, accusing the Armenians of having invited the Russians, armed thugs to attack the villages, kill, destroy people, loot, raze the houses to the ground. As a result of this policy of annihilating the native population, the region was somewhat thinned out, and the foreign element gained dominance in some places. However, in general, the natives once again withstood the terrible disaster. During the reign of Persia, the current territory of Goris district was Tatev's mahal. In 1805, the rock pyramids were transferred to Russia as part of Zangezur. That historical act was strengthened by the Gulistan Treaty (1813). In 1823, the Karabakh province was formed and Zangezur became part of it. Tatev's mahal villages were: Shinuhayr (Shnher), Khot, Halidzor, Lor, Tandzatap, Goris(Kyuris), Khndzoresk, Alighulishen, Kornidzor, Yerishen (Gedisha), Tegh, Khnatsakh, Ghz'l-Ghelachi. Together had 2685 households. The emir of the palace was Poghos of the minbashi (thousand) Karapor apartment, from the Orbelian dynasty, the residence was Tatev. In 1841, Goris province was formed on the territory of the mahal, the center of which was the village of Goris. The Mahal kingdom was preserved until the administrative division of 1868, when Zangezur province of Elizavetpol province was created, which included Goris province. In 1870, the city of Goris, the center of Zangezur province, was founded. Joining Russia was of great progressive importance, favorable conditions for development were created. Before that, the Goris region's dominating economy was the natural economy, and the villagers paid various taxes. After the transition to Russia, some of them were abolished, and the other part took a relatively simple and definite form. Some clarity was introduced in terms of land ownership and land use. According to the law of December 6, 1846, along with khans, beys, and aghalars, all the lands that they possessed on the way to Russia were considered the property of the meliks. The peasant remained in his residence, assuming certain duties towards the landowner and, in fact, remaining dependent. The landowners often tried to seize the communal lands as well, demanding taxes for them from the peasants. In 1849, the residents of Tegh village rebelled against the landowners, whose speech was described by the governor of Shushi as a "rebellion against their agha". Even after the peasant reforms in the 1860s, the duties of the landless peasant towards the landowner were preserved in Zangezur, with the only difference that the right to control them was transferred from the landowners to the landlords and the court, and then to the landowners. The following forms of land ownership were established in the region: state (royal), private, communal, monastic. They were basically preserved throughout the pre-revolutionary period.In the 19th century, especially in the last two decades of the century, a certain shift was made in the economy. The Evlakh-Shushi-Goris-Nakhijevan highway, which connected distant Zangezur with the Tiflis (Tbilisi)-Baku railway, greatly contributed to this, stimulating the exchange of goods. The stratification of the village became stronger. With the disintegration of multi-member (sometimes even 50 or more people) families living a patriarchal life, landlessness became more acute, unemployment arose. The emigration from the province reached unprecedented proportions. Hoping to earn bread, people led a subsistence life far beyond its borders, reaching Baku and Grozny, Tiflis and Batum, the Central Asian cities.

The close connection with the industrial centers, above all with the proletarian Baku, was important for the development of the revolutionary movement in Zangezur, including the Goris District. Labor representatives of the Goris District fought for the victory of the socialist revolution in Baku, Yerevan, Alexandropol, Tiflis, Grozny, Ashgabat and elsewhere, actively participated in the defense of the Baku commune. In 1918, in the revolutionary liberation movement in the region of Goris, the communists from Zangezur, who returned to the region from the revolutionary centers, played a major role. A. Under the leadership of Gharagyozyan, an underground commissariat was created in Goris. In April 1919, the first initial communist party organization of the region was formed in Khndzoresk. Cells were created in Karahunj, Shinuhayr, Alighulishen, Tegh, Khot, Halidzor, Tatev, Kornidzor, and other villages. In 1918 - 1919, the workers of the region successfully fought against the Turks, who sought to seize the road leading from Karabakh to Turkey over Zangezur and Nakhijevan. They were in the first ranks of the militia (1918), when the Turks, crushed head on, threw the troops away from the borders of Zangezur. The struggle against the federal rule gained momentum especially in the spring of 1920 when the 11th Red Army entered Transcaucasia and Soviet order was established in Azerbaijan. Goris region was one of the important places of the May uprising in Armenia. 1920 At the end of June, the 11th Red Army detachment entered Zangezur, with the help of which the workers overthrew the power of the Dashnaks in Goris on July 5 and established Soviet order. A revolutionary government was created under the leadership of Hakob Kamaru (Bezhanyan), in which M. Mkrtchyan, K. Mkrtchyan, M. Mashuryan and others. The activities of the Heghkom were carried out under difficult conditions internally and externally. The Nationalists managed to re-establish themselves in Goris, to create the government of Nagorno-Armenia, which aimed to prevent the victory of the Soviet government in Zangezur with the support of foreign interventionists. At the end of June 1921, two groups of Soviet troops, Yerevan and Karabakh-Zangezur, north-west. and arl. attacked from different directions to liberate Zangezur. On July 2, they were already in Goris, on July 4, in Tatev. After the civil strife, the actions of the workers of Goris province were reflected in the 1st conference of the provincial organization of the Communist Party in January 1922. It was necessary to eliminate hunger, to create stocks of bread and food, to ensure their correct distribution. The Soviet state allocated grain seeds and agricultural tools to the peasants. the difficulties of economic recovery were gradually overcome, the sown areas increased, and the yield increased. In 1924, Axel Bakunts organized an agricultural herd in the village of Goris, which set out to improve the local breed of cattle. In 1925, the main economic indicators of the province exceeded the pre-war level, conditions were created for the development of agriculture. In 1928-1929, the collective farm movement spread in the region. On April 27, 1931, a strong earthquake caused great damage to the villages of the region. But thanks to the help of the state, it was possible to restore them quickly. In 1934, collective farms owned 9% of the cereal crop area. In 1935, Goris ITC was organized, then Shinuhayr. In comparison to 1925, in 1940, the sown areas almost doubled, and livestock was developing. In the pre-war period, some work was done to create industry. the brick factory (1931) and Bayandur (now Vanatur) cheese factory were put into operation.

During the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945, 4330 people from Goris region went to the front. 2559 of them died in the war, 2500 were awarded with USSR orders and medals. A number of famous commanders of the Soviet Army and political workers are from the Goris District, including Lieutenant-General B. Arushanyan, Major General S. Karapetyan, four-time laureate of the state award Major General K. Yolyan, Major General M. Minasyan, division commander, colonel N. Baloyan, division commissioner G. Safrazbekyan and others. The commander of the tank brigade, colonel G. Galstyan, lieutenant G. Arzumanyan, sergeants S. Arakelyan, Captain M. Jhangiryan, and A. Sargsyan. During the war, the workers of the region made a big contribution to strengthening the rear. They perpetuated the memory of compatriots who died in the Patriotic War with monuments in the city of Goris and in the villages of the region.

In the post-war period, a lot of work was done for the mechanization of labor-intensive agricultural processes, the increase of irrigated land areas, the irrigation of pastures, and the increase of yield and food yield. Instead of 28 collective farms in 1940, in 1975 there were 7 Soviet farms: Verisheni, Hartashen, Avangard, Shinuhayr, Harzhis, Tatev, Svarantsi, and 12 collective farms: Khoznavari, Vaghatur, Khnatsakhi, Arevis, Teghi, Kornidzor, Karashen, Khndzoresk, Karahunj, Garthavani, Agbulaghi, Ghurdughulaghi. Irrigated lands have expanded by more than 6 thousand km. The appearance of the villages in Timnov has changed. Until the 1950s and 1960s, most of them were located in deep canyons, the dwellings were overwhelmingly shacks dug into the rocks. In 10-15 years, Khndzoresk, Shinuhayr, Halidzor, Khot, Karashen, Tegh, Kornidzor came out of the valleys, new villages rose in the plains, were built with one or two-story houses, public and industrial buildings, and were greened with parks and gardens. Tatev, Karahunj, Verishen, Svarants, Barzhavan and other villages that remained in their places were also transformed. Three villages, Aygedzor (Maghanjugh), Zorashen (Kyoru) and Azatashen (Alighulishen), were united into one village, Hartashen. And Aparadzor, the most remote village of the region, was joined to the Soviet economy of Ghapan, Norashenik. The villages of Goris region were among the first in Armenia to be electrified. Back in 1931, Karahunj, Brun and Verishen received electric light, the following year, Azatashen, Zorashen, Khndzoresk, and soon Tegh, Kornidzor, Karashen, Arevis. Now electricity is used not only in everyday life, but also in production. The population of Goris region in 1975, without the city of Goris, was 20,450 people. In recent decades, hundreds of families from the Goris region have resettled in other places, especially in Yerevan. In 1975, there were 92 original communist party organizations in the Goris region with 2,150 communists. In the years 1922-1975, 31 regional party organization conferences were held. The first communist youth organization was created in 1922. In 1975, there were 99 original denominations with 6,815 members.

Historic and Cultural Monuments
Goris region is rich in monuments. Historically, culturally and ethnographically, the old villages of the settlements moved to the plains, along with the caves and rock formations, are of great importance. There are cave-apartments in Goris, Khndzoresk, Kornidzor, Khot, Shinuhayr, and other villages. Among the medieval monuments are Tatni Monastery, Bgheno-Noravank (1062), Tarants of Halidzor, Kusanats deserts of Shinuhayr, Teghi St. Gevorg church, Khndzoresk desert, with the grave of Mkhitar Sparapet.

Economy
The area of ​​Goris region is 74,657 hectares (ha), of which 52,187 ha are suitable for agriculture. In 1975, arable lands occupied 17,211 ha, grasslands - 2,614, pastures - 31,000, perennial plantations - 825 ha. Water areas were 2632 ha, arable land - 144 ha. Sowing areas were: grain: 8830, vegetables: 200, tobacco: 165, fodder: 6140 ha, gardens: 760 ha. Agriculture is multi-branched, but the main direction is animal husbandry, including cattle breeding. In 1976, there were 23,950 cattle, of which 9,650 were cows. The former Caucasian breed of cows bred in the region has been improved by the Schwitz breed. Currently, selection work is being carried out in order to strengthen and improve the best features of the mixed breed. There were 93,870 sheep. The Darabaghian coarse-wool breed of sheep bred in the past has been crossed with elegant, and in recent years, with North-Caucasian semi-elegant breeds. Sowing areas occupy large masses in the Yerablur, Khndzoresk and Tegh-Kornidzor plains. Vaults created on the eastern slopes of the mountains are also used. The high degree of mechanization of field work is characteristic, especially in the plains. In 1976, the region's farms had 296 tractors, 52 grain harvesters, 695 trucks, hundreds of balers, silage harvesters, potato harvesters and potato harvesters. Organic and mineral fertilizers, chemical agents against plant pests are widely used. The high-yielding domestic variety has taken root in the cereal fields. Until recently, gardens were common only in the valleys of rivers and streams. Canals were built centuries ago in Khndzoresk, Goris village, Karahunj, Shinuhayr, Tatev, and other villages, which, starting from the higher part of the valley, pass through the slopes of the mountains at a sharp angle to the river, sometimes through tunnels dug there, and come out hanging over the valley at a height of 200-300 meters. the closets where the garden is laid. With the construction of the Orotan irrigation system, it was possible to turn considerable areas of Teghi Saravand into a garden. Walnut plantations are being established in some parts of Karahunj and Khndzoresk mountain slopes. With the further specialization of agriculture, tobacco farming, dairy farming, and beekeeping occupy a certain place in individual villages. The industrial enterprises of Goris have established branches in some villages (Shinuhayr, Tegh, Kornidzor, Harzhis, Vorotan). Goris region is connected with Yerevan, the capital of the Armenian SSR, as well as Ghapan and Stepanakert by highways. The roads leading from the city of Goris to the villages are being reconstructed and asphalted. Bus traffic has been established between the regional center and the villages. Goris region has an air connection with Yerevan, Jermuk, Sisian, Ghapan, Stepanakert.

Healthcare and Medicinal Practices
Malaria, pneumonia, smallpox, typhus, trachoma and other diseases were widespread in the pre-revolutionary Goris region. Epidemics broke out regularly. There was no medical service at all, treatment was carried out almost exclusively by healers endowed with the hereditary monopoly of artisans, who sometimes took the secrets of folk medicine with them to the grave. In 1920, the only medical institution in the region was the Goris hospital with 25 beds. During the years of Soviet power, a network of modern medical institutions was created, diseases that were once widespread disappeared, medical care of the population, preventive measures of diseases became a state affair. In 1976, Goris region had 32 medical institutions with 618 medical workers. Medical care also included the village, where there are 7 hospitals, 22 medical centers, 3 rural maternity hospitals, 14 nurseries, and 3 pharmacies. There are hospitals in Shinuhayr, Khnatzakham, Tegh, Tatev. In total, they have 370 beds.

Culture
In the Middle Ages, after the upsurge of culture that began during the activity of the Tatev University was interrupted by foreign invaders, there were no schools in the current area of ​​Goris region for a long time. They studied literacy in monasteries and deserts. The first schools were opened in the last quarter of the 19th century in Goris, Khndzoresk, Tatev, Tegh. According to the data of "Khosq" newspaper, in 1914 only half of the population was literate. The only cultural center of the district was the library of the city of Goris. In the first year of Soviet rule, 6 new schools were opened. In 1923, 16 schools (34 teachers) were already operating. Teacher training courses were organized in Goris. During the years of the Cultural Revolution, the illiteracy of the population was eliminated, compulsory education was developed, the network of school education covered the village, secondary schools were opened, secondary vocational schools were created, and in Goris, a center of higher education was also created. In the 1975-1976 academic year, the region had 31 schools, including 20 secondary schools. 9092 students studied in mass schools, 681 teachers worked. There were 30 club institutions, 68 libraries (book fund: 405,000), folk theater (since 1956). In 1976, 495 specialists with secondary professional education and 920 specialists with higher education worked in various branches of the national economy, including 102 agriculturalists and 175 engineers. "Zangezur" newspaper, the organ of the Goris district committee of the Workers' Deputies and the Goris District Soviet of Workers' Deputies, is published.