Shirak region

Shirak Province, Armenia
Area: 2,681 sq. km
Administrative Center: Gyumri
Distance from Yerevan to Gyumri: 115 km

Shirak, Armenia’s northwestern province, borders both Georgia and Turkey, sitting higher in elevation than most other regions of the country. Its altitude ranges from 1,800 to 2,200 meters, which gives it a colder, harsher climate. Winter temperatures can plunge to –46°C. Yet despite the cold, Shirak enjoys remarkably clear and sunny weather. Its landscapes are shaped by mountain steppes and alpine meadows, where wind sculpts the grasses and silence rolls over the high plains.

The province’s main river, the Akhurian, rises from Lake Arpi and marks the natural boundary with Turkey. Along its banks lies Armenia’s largest reservoir—the Akhurian Reservoir. The terrain is a mosaic of volcanic ridges, quiet rivers, mountain lakes, and broad green fields, all wrapped in crisp highland air that carries both stillness and vitality. Though little known to travelers, Shirak holds deep historical roots and a wealth of ancient monuments waiting to be discovered.

Shirak takes its name from the Shirak canton of the ancient Ayrarat province. The land preserves remnants of Urartian cuneiform, fortress ruins, traces of old bridges, and other antiquities. Just across the border, within modern Turkey, lie the ruins of Ani, once the capital of medieval Armenia under the Bagratuni dynasty. On the left bank of the Akhurian stands the Marmarashen Monastery complex, dating from 988–1025—a stone witness to Shirak’s religious and cultural legacy.

Gyumri, the second-largest city in Armenia, rests on the Shirak Plateau, where several gorges cut through the otherwise level land. The city lies just below the northern flanks of Mount Aragats. Rich in mineral deposits, Gyumri’s southern neighborhoods sit atop an artesian basin that has long nourished life and industry.

Once a modest settlement of 600 people in 1840, today Gyumri is home to more than 146,000 residents. In antiquity, the site was known as Kumayri—a name that still echoes in local memory. The city’s history is written in its layered streets, its resilience marked by earthquakes and wars, and its character shaped by both hardship and artistry. Shirak may not boast Armenia’s most visited landmarks, but its history runs deep—and Gyumri stands as its beating heart.