NAGORNO KARABAKH REPUBLIC (ARTSAKH)     

              The history of Artsakh-Karabakh originates from time immemorial. Ancient tools and osteological material discovered in the caves of Vorvan (Azokh), Tstsakhach (Metz Taghlar), Gyunut (Karintak), Khoradzor (Tartar river valley) testify that Artsakh-Karabakh was part of the natural, historical and cultural domain where the process of formation of mankind was going on. Excavations of the territory`s settlements and eneolithic burials, as well as those of the Bronze and the Iron Ages led the scientists to a conclusion that the ancient culture of Artsakh carries a great number of parallels with the monuments of the Armenian Plateau belonging to the same period and in essence they were the local variation of a uniform culture. The first evidences of the ancient history date back to the Early Paleolithic period - 500-100 thousand years before. These are ancient tools and petrified remains found in Vorvan-Azokh, Tstsakhach, Hunot, and Khoradzor.
       During different periods of history primary sources referred to this land differently: Urtekhe, Urtekhini, Orkhistena, Artsakh, Khachen, Karabakh.
Some ten thousand historical and architectural monuments, including dozens of monastic complexes and hundreds of churches are registered in the territory of the country.
       One of the most celebrated monasteries is Amaras (IVcent.) which, according to ancient Armenian sources, was founded by Gregory the Illuminator. Here the first Armenian school was established. 
       Another well-known Armenian cultural monument is the Dadivank Monastery (IV-XIII centuries) in the north of Martakert region of NKR. The etymology of the word “Dadi” is related to a legend according to which Dadi or Dado, one of the disciples of Thaddeus the Apostle, was martyrized in Artsakh for preaching Christianity. It is known that the first preachers of Christianity in Armenia appeared in the 1st century AD, and the first monastic sanctuary-martyrium was built in the early Middle Ages over the tomb of preacher Dadi who became a martyr in the 1st century. Today Dadivank is being rebuilt. Numerous tourists from different countries of the world visit the monastery.                                                                                                                             Gandzasar Monastery (XIII cent.) proudly sits atop a green hill on the left bank of the Khachen River. A. Jacobson, an expert on the history of Armenian architecture called Gandzasar “a pearl of Armenian architecture”. According to the scientist, the complex is not only “original and absolute in its perfection, but also exclusive: we cannot specify another such monument on the land of Armenia”. Professor Charles Diehl of Sorbonne, a prominent French art historian and specialist of Byzantium, called Gandzasar the third most important artifact of Armenian monastic architecture that is on the list of world architectural masterpieces. 
       Ghazanchetsots Cathedral (XVIII cent.) is one of the most impressive religious monuments of Artsakh and Armenia. The pride of Shushi represents an example of а harmonious merge of a monument with the environment. Following the declaration of independence of Nagorno Karabakh the church was restored and today is one of the most visited temples.
        A marvel of Artsakh-Karabakh is possibly the huge plane tree (sycamore) towering in one of the tracts of the village of Skhtorashen in the Martuni region of Nagorno Karabakh, which during Soviet time was officially certified as the oldest (2000 years) and the tallest tree in the USSR. The hollow of the tree trunk has an area of 44 m2. More than a hundred people can be easily placed there. The perimeter of the trunk at the bottom makes up 27 meters; and it`s over 54 meters tall. The giant-tree casts a shade on an area of 1400 m2.
         А monument called “We and our Mountains” (commonly known as “Papik-Tatik”) (by Sargis Baghdasarian, a People`s Artist of the Armenian SSR) towers atop a hill at the entrance to Stepanakert, the capital city of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic. Despite not having an ancient history it became the symbol of the country within a short period of time. It personifies the longevity and the fidelity of the Artsakhians to their native land.

MAIN INFORMATION

Location: In the Southwest of Caucasus: borders the Republic of Armenia in the west, the Islamic Republic of Iran in the south, and the   Republic of Azerbaijan in the north and east.   

Official name: Nagorno Karabakh Republic (Artsakh). Capital city is Stepanakert (population - 58 000 as of 2005 

Population: 146 000, 98% Armenians. City population 40% as of 2005.

Climate and geography: Subtropical climate, marked with dry summer and mild winter, dominates within the considerable part of the   country. 40% of the territory is covered with forests.  Time zone: GMT +4.

Territory: 5 200 km² according to the Declaration of Independence of 1991; 12 800 km² following the establishment of the ceasefire in  1994. The Shahumian region, the part of the Martakert and Martuni regions are currently occupied by Azerbaijan.

Official language: Armenian, majority of the population  has a good command of Russian. Local Karabakhi dialect of the Armenian  Ianguage is used in informal speech. People engaged in tourism are fluent in English.

Faith:  Christianity.