Gyumri (Armenian: Գյումրի) is the second largest city in Armenia and the capital of the Shirak Province in the northwestern part of the country. It is around 126 km north of the capital Yerevan. As of the 2011 official estimate, the city had a population of 146,100, down from 150,917 reported at the 2001 official census. Its name has been changed several times. It was first originally as Kumayri, then Alexandropol (Russian: Александрополь; Armenian: Ալեքսանդրապոլ) between 1837 and 1924, then Leninakan (Armenian: Լենինական; Russian: Ленинакан) between 1924 and 1990, then as Gyumri. History Ancient history Old Alexandropol with the Holy Saviour Church (1859-1873) The region of Gyumri is mentioned as Kumayri in the historic Urartian inscriptions dating back to the 8th century BC.[2] The first settlement at the location of modern-day Gyumri is believed to have been founded during the 5th century BC, ca. 401 BC, by Greek colonists.[3] An alternative theory suggests that the city was founded by the Cimmerians, based on the fact that Cimmerians conquered the region in 720 BC and that the original name of the city was Kumayri, which bears phonetic resemblance to the word used by ancient Armenian in reference to Cimmerians.[4] Historians believe that Xenophon passed through Gyumri during his return to the Black Sea, a journey immortalized in his Anabasis.[3] During the Middle Ages, Kumayri was known as a large and important settlement.[2] According to the Armenian scholar Ghevond the Historian, the town was a centre of Armenian rebellion led by Artavazd Mamikonian against the Islamic Arab Caliphate, between 733 and 755. Being controlled by several Turkic tribes and Persian dynasties, the town had lost its significance during the following centuries, until the beginning of the 19th century. 19th century Surp Nshan Church of 1870 Gyumri and the surrounding territories became part of the Russian Empire after the Russo-Persian War (1804-1813). The Russians controlled over the town on 12 June 1804, around 25 years earlier than the rest of Eastern Armenia. During the period of the Russian rule, Gyumri became one of the developing cities in the Transcaucasus. In 1829, in the aftermath of the Russo-Turkish War, there was a big influx of Armenian population, as around 3,000 families who had migrated from territories in the Ottoman Empire -in particular from the towns of Kars, Erzurum, and Doğubeyazıt- settled in and around Gyumri. The Russian poet Alexander Pushkin visited Gyumri during his journey to Erzurum in 1829. In 1837 Russian Tsar Nicholas I arrived in Gyumri and changed the name into Alexandropol. The name was chosen in honour of Tsar Nicholas Is wife, Princess Charlotte of Prussia, who had changed her name to Alexandra Fyodorovna after converting to Orthodox Christianity. A major Russian fortress was built on the site in 1837. Alexandropol was finally formed as a town in 1840 to become the centre of the newly established Alexandropol Uyezd, experiencing rapid growth during its first decade. In 1849, the Alexandropol Uyezd became part of the Erivan Governorate. The town was an important outpost for the Imperial Russian armed forces in the Transcaucasus where their military barracks were established (e.g., at Poligons, Severski, Kazachi Post). Alexandropol became one of the major centres of the Russian troops during the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–78. After the establishment of the railway station in Alexandropol in 1899, the town witnessed a significant growth, becoming the largest city in Eastern Armenia. By the end of the 19th century, Alexandropol was home to 430 shopping stores as well as several workshops and cultural institutions. The city was famous with its churches and gusans. 20th century and beyond[edit] October cinema hall Nané Hotel In 1902, the first bank in the city was opened. Until the sovietization of Armenia in 1920, Alexandropol had 31 manufacturing centres including beer, soap, textile, etc. After the October Revolution of 1917 and the Russian withdrawal from the South Caucasus, the Ottoman forces launched a new offensive capturing the city of Alexandropol on 11 May 1918, during the Caucasus Campaign in World War I. However, the Ottomans withdrew from the city on 24 December 1918, as a result of the Armistice of Mudros. On 10 May 1920, the local Bolshevik Armenians aided by the Musilim population, attempted a coup détat in Alexandropol against the Dashnak government of Armenia. The uprising was suppressed by the Armenian government on May 14 and its leaders were executed. However, during the Turkish-Armenian War, Turkey attacked Alexandropol and occupied the city on 7 November 1920, as a result of the Battle of Alexandropol. After the battle, the Turkish forces were headquartered in Alexandropol. Turks presented the Republic of Armenia with an ultimatum that Armenians were forced to accept, otherwise Turkey would have invaded the capital Yerevan from their headquarters in Alexandropol. Armenia was forced to sign the Treaty of Alexandropol to stop the Turkish advance towards Yerevan, to put an end to the Turkish-Armenian War. However, the Turkish forces withdrew from Alexandropol after the Treaty of Kars in October 1921.[4] Being under the Soviet rule, the name of the city was changed in 1924 to Leninakan after the deceased Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin. The city suffered an earthquake in 1926, when many of its significant buildings were destroyed including the Greek church of Saint George. Leninakan became a major industrial centre in the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic and its second-largest city, after the capital Yerevan. The city suffered major damage during the 1988 Spitak earthquake, which devastated many parts of the country. The earthquake occurred along a known thrust fault with a length of 60 kilometers (37 mi). Its strike was parallel to the Caucasus range and dipped to the north-northeast. Bruce Bolt, a seismologist and a professor of earth and planetary science at the University of California, Berkeley, walked the fault scarp in 1992 and found that the vertical displacement measured 1 m (3 ft 3 in) along most of the length with the southwest end reaching 1.6 m (5 ft 3 in).[5] The earthquake had a disastrous impact on the city, as many buildings are still not recovered. According to Armenian government sources, around 3,500 residents of Gyumri remain homeless. At the time of the breakup of the Soviet Union, the city was renamed Kumayri between in 1990 until 1992 when it was finally given the name Gyumri. The Russian 102nd Military Base is located in the city. Gyumri was celebrated as the Capital of Culture of the Commonwealth of Independent States for 2013. Major events took place in the city on 30 June 2013. Geography and climate[edit] Gyumri landscape Gyumri is 126 km north of the capital Yerevan at the central part of the Shirak plateau. It has an approximate height of 1550 metres above sea level. The Akhurian River passes through the western suburbs. The Shirak plateau is surrounded with the Pambak Mountains from the east and Aragats volcanic range from the south. The city of Gyumri is 196 km away from the Black Sea. The surrounding lands of the city are reach with tuff, basalt and clay. Gyumri has a semi-arid continental climate, characterized with cold and snowy winter where the minimum temperature could fall down to −41 °C (−42 °F). On the other hand, summer in Gyumri is relatively hot with temperatures could reach up to 36 °C (97 °F). The annual precipitation averages 500 millimetres (20 in). Climate of Gyumri is generally close to Minnesota and North Dakota. [hide]Climate data for Gyumri Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Record high °C (°F) 9.2 (48.6) 13.9 (57) 20.6 (69.1) 26.2 (79.2) 29.1 (84.4) 33.1 (91.6) 38.0 (100.4) 36.2 (97.2) 34.0 (93.2) 27.9 (82.2) 20.6 (69.1) 14.0 (57.2) 38 (100.4) Average high °C (°F) −3.7 (25.3) −1.7 (28.9) 4.1 (39.4) 13.1 (55.6) 18.3 (64.9) 22.4 (72.3) 26.3 (79.3) 26.8 (80.2) 23.1 (73.6) 16.1 (61) 8.0 (46.4) 0.0 (32) 12.73 (54.91) Daily mean °C (°F) −9.5 (14.9) −7.5 (18.5) −1.5 (29.3) 6.5 (43.7) 11.7 (53.1) 15.6 (60.1) 19.5 (67.1) 19.5 (67.1) 15.0 (59) 8.5 (47.3) 1.8 (35.2) −5.3 (22.5) 6.2 (43.2) Average low °C (°F) −14.8 (5.4) −12.9 (8.8) −6.8 (19.8) 0.4 (32.7) 5.3 (41.5) 8.6 (47.5) 12.7 (54.9) 12.6 (54.7) 7.6 (45.7) 1.5 (34.7) −3.5 (25.7) −9.9 (14.2) 0.07 (32.13) Record low °C (°F) −41.0 (−41.8) −35.0 (−31) −30.1 (−22.2) −16.0 (3.2) −7.6 (18.3) −3.6 (25.5) 1.4 (34.5) −1.1 (30) −4.1 (24.6) −14.6 (5.7) −23.8 (−10.8) −31.2 (−24.2) −41.0 (−41.8) Precipitation mm (inches) 23.7 (0.933) 26.7 (1.051) 28.2 (1.11) 54.5 (2.146) 84.6 (3.331) 73.9 (2.909) 43.2 (1.701) 35.7 (1.406) 26.0 (1.024) 38.5 (1.516) 28.2 (1.11) 22.8 (0.898) 486 (19.135) Source: Climatebase.ru [6] Main sites[edit] Araks Hotel at the Kumayri historic district Poloz Mukuch beerhouse Church of the Holy Saviour being reconstructed after the 1988 earthquake Saint Arsenije Russian church Garegin Nzhdeh Square As an old town, Gyumri has a rich history and a unique style of architecture. Unfortunately, the city lost many of its historical and cultural buildings after the disastrous earthquake in December 1988. Throughout the centuries Gyumri was labelled as the city of trades and arts, famous for its schools, theaters, and gusans. In 1912, Gyumri was home to the first opera show ever staged in Armenia. It is also home to the first Armenian opera theatre opened in 1923.[7] Kumayri historic district[edit] With more than a thousand buildings dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, the historic district of Kumayri represents the old part of Gyumri. The district is one of few places in the Republic of Armenia with an authentic historical urban Armenian architecture. Almost all the structures of the Kumayri district have survived two major earthquakes, in 1926 and 1988. The historic district of Kumayri occupies the central part of modern-day Gyumri. The archaeological excavations during the 20th century have shown that the area has been populated since at least the third millennium BC. Many graveyards and dwellings have been found. The first recorded mention of Kumayri is from 773 and describes the revolt against Arab domination led by prince Artavazd Mamikonian that resulted in the revival of Armenian statehood one century later. During the reign of the Bagratuni kings of Armenia in the 10th century, Kumayri has developed into a well-built modern town to become a centre of trade for the entire region. Sev Berd Fortress[edit] Sev Berd (meaning Black Sentry) is a Russian fortress in Gyumri dating to the 1830s. It is built on a hill, heavily armed and, in case of a siege, the site could accommodate 15,000 soldiers and officers. The monumental statue of Mother Armenia stands on an adjacent hill. The 102nd military division of the Russian Federation is stationed near another old Russian fortress known as Red Fort. Churches[edit] Marmashen Monastery of the 10th century: located 6 km northwest of Gyumri. Church of the Holy Saviour or Surp Amenaprkich, constructed between 1859-1873: designed to resemble the Cathedral of Ani. The church was heavily damaged by the 1988 Spitak earthquake and is currently under reconstruction. Cathedral of the Holy Mother of God: also known as Seven Wounds of the Holy Mother of God, constructed between 1873-1884. Currently, it is the seat of the Diocese of Shirak of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Surp Nshan or Holy Sign Church: built in 1870. Saint Nikolai the Wondeworker Russian Orthodox Church, also known as Plplan Zham (the Shimmering Chapel), built in 1879-1880. Saint Arsenije Russian Church of 1910, commonly known as the church of Kazachi Post. Saint Gregory the Illuminators Church of Gyumri. Saint Jacob of Nisibis Church: or Surp Hakob Mtsbinetsi Church built in 2005. Cathedral of the Holy Cross of the Catholic Armenians (under construction).
Posted on: Mon, 19 Jan 2015 18:37:32 +0000
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