Alaverdi (granted with the city status since 1938) is situated on the bank of Debed, on the Sanahin plateau, at a height of 750-1400 meters above sea level.
The area of Alaverdi community is around 47,99 km². The city surrounds Madan, Sanahin, Anker and homonym railway station. Distance from provincial center Vanadzor is 47 km and 162 km from Yerevan.
The number of population is around 12,900 people (according to 2017 January 1st census). The city is also settled by Greeks, Russians, Georgians and Ukrainians.
The city has its contribution in the economy of province (25.6%) due to Alaverdi Copper Smelter.
Through the community it passes Tbilisi – Yerevan railway, and republic’s export and import Tbilisi-Alaverdi-Yerevan main highway.
There exist 10 public schools, music school named after Romanos Melikyan, art and 2 sport schools, community center for children and teenagers, college, Tumanyan branch of Northern University of Yerevan, National Gallery of Armenia’s branch in Alaverdi, municipal theatre. The house-museum of brothers Anastas and Artem Mikoyans is in the Sanahin block.
It is famous residence from II century BC. It was also popular with Manic, Manas, Manasgomer names. The city started its formation after construction of enterprise of Copper Smelter (1957). About the usage of copper ore was mentioned in the books of 13th century historians Kirakos Gandzaketsi and Vardan Areveltsi.
In the 18th century miners from Gyumushkhan built copper smelter enterprises in Alaverdi and Shamlugh. After joining Russia (1801) Alaverdi’s mines and enterprises were handed to tax-farmers by a contract.
In 1880s foreign and Russian investment to Armenia became more and more intensive especially Alaverdi’s copper industry. Tbilisi-Alexandrapol railway (1899) and Hydropower plant of Debed (1909) had its positive impact on development in manufacturing. In 1903 the amount of copper produced in Alaverdi made around 1/5 part of total copper production in the Russia. From 1919 January to 1921 February 16th Alaverdi was part of Lori’s neutral zone.
In Alaverdi you can see monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin which are listed as UNESCO’s World Heritage. There is also Sanahin’s historic bridge (stone made), Mamikonyan brother’s house-museum and other monuments. There is a ropeway which starts from central part of the city and goes to Sanahin block.
Translate by Tatevik Sahakyan
LORI
REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
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