Gugark (village)

Gugark Գուգարք
Gugark
Coordinates: 40°48′26″N 44°32′17″E
Country	Armenia
Marz (Province)	Lori
Elevation	1,325 m (4,347 ft)
Population  (2011)
• Total	4,278
Time zone	UTC+4 ( )

Gugark (Armenian: Գուգարք), formerly known as Meghrut, is a major village in the Lori Province of Armenia, named for the province of Gugark in Greater Armenia. It borders with Vanadzor, being 2 km south-east, and is situated along the Debed River. The village is 1,325 meters above sea level. It was renamed from Meghrut to Gugark on May 25, 1983.

Gugark was the centre of the Gugark District of Armenia SSR during the USSR, which became the site of an anti-Azerbaijani pogrom in 1988.

Demographics

Rural residents of the village have immigrated to Gugark from villages in the Nagorno-Karabakh and Tavush regions.

Years	1831	1873	1897	1919	1926	1926	1939	1959	1970	1979	2001	2004
Pop.	105	643	1125	1360	1507	1600	1943	1901	2236	3206	5665	5594

Economy

Gugark occupies an area of 2158 hectares, of which 195 ha is used as arable land, 240 hectares of meadows, 700 hectares of pasture and 20 hectares of fruit gardens.

The population produces wheat, barley, potatoes, cabbage, melons and gourds. Livestock owners produce milk, meat, wool, eggs, and honey.

Historical Sites

The town is home to St. Sarkis Church, built in the 19th century.

NGOs

In 2013, the village had one kindergartens which is attended by 35 children, and two high schools, with 842 students.

Gugark also has a House of Culture, with a sports school and a music school. There is a library, which has 23 books.

Gallery

• 
  Entrance to Gugark
• 
  A view of Gugark town

See also

• Gugark pogrom

References

• Gugark (village) at GEOnet Names Server
• World Gazeteer: Armenia – World-Gazetteer.com
• Report of the results of the 2001 Armenian Census, Statistical Committee of Armenia