LORI REGION /MARZ/ REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA GENERAL INFO Total area: 3799 km2 (It comprises 12.7 % of the territory of RA and is the largest region among the northern regions) Number of communities: 56 Urban communities: 8 Rural communities: 48 Settlements: 130 Lori region is bordered by Georgia in the north (110 km) Population: 217.400 (the 4th region in Armenia) Urban: 128800 people Rural: 88600 people The center of the Region: Vanadzor (the third largest city in the RA) Geography Dzoraget River Lori region is the third largest region in the country (comprises 12.7% of the area) with a territory of 3799 sq km. It is the northern gate of the country bordering the Republic of Georgia. (the length of the border is 110 km.).It is bordered by Tavush Province from the east, Kotayk Province from the southeast, Aragatsotn Province from the southwest and Shirak Province from the west. The region includes former Gugark, Stepanavan, Spitak, Tumanyan, Tashir districts. Lori Region covers the Debed River Basin. It has a completely flat terrain, with about 80% of the area occupied by mountain ranges and large mountains. Lori is a mountainous region, dominated by the ranges of Javakheti, Bazum, Pambak, Gugark, Halab, Virahayoc and Somkheti River Debed flows through the region having 3 tributaries –Dzoraget, Marcaget and Pambak. Agro- climatically lies in the intensive irrigation zone. It is rich in mineral water springs. The settlements are located at an altitude of 520 to 1800 meters above sea level. Climate The region has relatively humid climate. Winters are accompanied with a permanent snow cover: Summers are warm and relatively humid. The average air temperature is between -4 ° C in winter to + 18 ° C in summer. Precipitation is quite high here, with annual precipitation of 600-700 mm.: In the foothill zone, the climate is subtropical, with moderately hot and dry summers and mild winters. FLORA AND FAUNA The region is rich in forests, mountains and heaths as well as in subalpine meadows. The state forest fund is 101205 hectares, of which 86000 are covered by forests. The forest fund makes up about 27% of the territory of the province and 30% of the country's forest cover. The main tree species are beech, oak, hornbeam and pine, while the subsidiary species are linden , birch tree , elm tree , and ash-tree.The forested areas include Tumanyan, Stepanavan and Gugark regions. There are 3 sanctuaries in the region (Gyulagarak, Margahovit, Rhododendron caucasicum) with a total area of 17 576 hectares, 1 botanic garden and 2 arboretums and 9 natural monuments with total area of 165 hectares . Land resources Agricultural lands of Lori region comprise 251 052.7 hectares (66% of the region's territory and 12.3% of the country's agricultural lands), of which 42,059.4 hectares are the arable lands (16.8%), 420,7 hectares are perennial plantations(0,2%),35 110.4 hectares of hey fields (14%), 1456550,0 ha of grasslands(58%) and 27781,6 ha of other land types. Irrigated lands in the region comprise 9 612.1 ha (22.8%), which are mainly located in Spitak, Stepanavan and Tumanyan regions. MIneral resources The region is rich in different types of mineral resources and is the second in the country. The mineral resources include facing stones, sandstone mixture, basalt. Metals include copper,molybdenum and gold. About 35 companies are doing mining in the territory of the region ,4 of which are doing metal mining ( Shamlugh copper mine, Teghout copper and molybdenum mine, Mghart and Armanis gold and polymettalic mines). Currently, 4 geological exploration permits are issued for the extraction of minerals in the territory of the province: 3 metallic and 1 non-metallic. Urban communities Vanadzor. Green City Vanadzor is the administrative, cultural and educational center of Lori region of the Republic of Armenia. The third largest city of the country, the second industrial city of the republic during the years of the USSR. Occupies 2 599.33 hectares. The city is located in the valley of the Pambak and Bazum Mountains of the province, 1 353 m above sea level. The Maymech Peak (3081 m) is on the outskirts of the city. The rivers Pambak, Tandzut and Vanadzor flow through the city. The climate is mild. The number of resident population is 82.2 thousand people (as of January 1, 2016).The distance from Yerevan is 125 km , Yerevan-Tbilisi railway is passing through the city. Vanadzor Dendropark State Institution is located in the city of Vanadzor. Formerly a city with a strong chemical, machine-building and equipment producing economy, there are currently two large and about 60 manufacturing SMEs, more than 2000 service companies and retailers. Vanadzor is a problematic area in terms of industry, with only 4.9% in the region’s economic output, though its population comprises 36.5% of the region’s population. In 2014, the Armenian government launched a project to make Vanadzor an information technology city. There was built a center called Vanadzor Technology Center adjacent the Armenian State Engineering University Vanadzor branch, in the north-eastern part of the city. It can serve as a basis for sustainable development and job creation for the region Alaverdi. It is one of the middle-sized cities of the Republic of Armenia, located in the northern part of the country. Its distance from the city of Vanadzor is 47 km and 162 km from the capital. Alaverdi community has total area of 47.99 thousand sq. m. It is located on the banks of river Debed. It borders the Republic of Georgia, which is an important advantage for exporting any product to a neighboring country. Tbilisi-Alaverdi-Erevan highway which has much importance for its import and export opportunities also runs through the region. The city has a significant share in the economy of the province (25.6%) at the expense of the existing copper mining company. Alaverdi houses the UNESCO World Heritage sights Sanahin and Haghpat Monasteries, the Sanahin Historical (Stone) Bridge, the Mikoyan Brothers Museum and other monuments. There is a ropeway from the central part of the city to the district called Sanahin . Spitak.The city is located at the intersection of Vanadzor-Gyumri and Vanadzor-Yerevan interstate highways, in the Pambak Valley, on the bank of the Pambak River, 1538 meters above sea level. The distance from the regional center is 20 km and from the capital is 95 km. The population is 13000 people (as of January 1, 2016). Currently "Agroholding Armenia", which is engaged in cattle breeding and milk production, Spitak poultry factory and a feed producing company operate there. The city of Stepanavan with its humid climate and cold springs has been known in the country as a summer town since it was founded. It is located on the right and left banks of the Dzoraget middle stream, on the Vanadzor-Tbilisi highway, 139 km from the capital Yerevan and 36 km from the regional center. It is located 1500-1600 meters above the sea level. The majority of the population is currently engaged in agriculture, trade and service. There are historical monuments, recreation zones ''Sochut'' arboretum ,6 sanatorium and recreation zones which are good impetus for tourism. Tashir: Located in the northern part of Armenia, in the Lori Plateau, it is 1,500 meters above sea level, the terrain is flat, humid, the average annual precipitation is 800 mm, the winters are frosty. The administrative territory of Tashir is 7 624.42 hectares, the distance from the regional center is 52 km, the distance from the capital is 156 km. The population is 7500 people (as of January 1, 2016). The Tashir River flows through the town, which is a tributary of the Debed River. Tashir is the second alternative for the region to leave for the Republic of Georgia. The population is mainly engaged in animal breeding and milk processing. Tashir has developed cheese production. There are large and small milk processing companies there. The administrative territory is 29.9 thousand ha. The population is 2000 people (as of 01.01.2016). It is located 62 km far from the regional center. The town is located on the left bank of the Debed River, at the foot of Mount Lalvar. It is 740 m above sea level. The climate of the community is subtropical. There are copper, lead, silver mines in the vicinity which are of industrial importance and are exploited. Akhtala monastery is also located there. Industry Teghout Mine The province has a contribution of around 6% in the annual total industrial product of Armenia. Lori is a major centre for metallurgical business, building materials production, as well as dairy products. • The Alaverdi copper smelter is the only smelter in Lori that is still in operation since the Soviet days. The largest copper mines are located in Alaverdi, Akhtala, Shamlugh and Teghout. Industry in Vanadzor The Dzoraget Hydroelectric Power Station is located in the Dzoraget village of Lori, on the shores of Debed River. It is in operation since 15 November 1932 with the full installed capacity of 22.32 MW. The Dzoraget Hydro Power Plant is considered to be small size power plant. There are about 500 industrial enterprises in the territory of the region. 70 per cent of the econmoic output is produced by large industrial companies. Industry is the leading branch of the region’s economy and its output comprised 4.6 per cent of the country’s total output( as for 2018). The main directions are mining and processing industry (machinery , equipment production , light and food industry ) .