Nerqin Khndzoresk is a village and rural community (municipality) in the Syunik Province

Syunik

Syunik is the southernmost province of Armenia. It borders the Vayots Dzor marz to the north, Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan exclave to the west, Karabakh to the east, and Iran to the south. Its capital is Kapan. Other important cities and towns include Goris, Sisian, Meghri, Agarak, and Dastakert...

 of Armenia

Armenia

Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...

. The National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia

National Statistical Service of the Republic of Armenia

National Statistical Service of Republic of Armenia is the national statistical agency of Armenia.The statistical institution started its main activity from January 7, 1922 and was called Statistical Department of Soviet Socialist Republic of Armenia...

 (ARMSTAT) reported its population was 321 in 2010, up from 184 at the 2001 census.

Overview

Nerqin Khndzoresk, a border village in South-East Armenia

Armenia

Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...

, lies in Armenia’s Syunik Marz region. The small village is located 21 km from Goris

Goris

Goris is a city in the Syunik Marz of Armenia. Located in the valley of river Goris , it is about 240 km away from the Armenian capital Yerevan and 70 km from the Syunik Marz center Kapan. Goris forms an urban community...

 off the Stepanakert

Stepanakert

Stepanakert is the largest city and capital of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, a de facto independent republic, though is internationally recognized as a part of Azerbaijan...

 highway. The village lies 7 km from the upper Khndzoresk

Khndzoresk

Khndzoresk is a village and rural community in the South-East of Armenia, in the province of Syunik. The village is located to the right of Goris - Stepanavan highway, on the steep slopes of Khor Dzor , from which, according to tradition, it got its name...

 village connected by farm fields and one bumpy dirt road. The remote village is positioned below the larger village and surrounded by rolling hills, gorges, and scenic mountains.

Population and infrastructure

The village of Nerqin Khndzoresk has approximately 320 people. The majority of the population is of Armenian descent, while the minority is Azerbaijian refugees who settled in the area after fleeing Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...

 during the war. The citizens are Armenian Apostolic Christians speaking Armenian and often Russian. The area is impoverished with little employment outside of self-sufficient farming and gardening. Substance farming and animal breeding are the main sources of livelihood. Throughout the village the social relationships are harmonious and the area is not segregated by class or occupation.

History

The village was founded in 1983 as a result of resizing of the bigger village of Khndzoresk

Khndzoresk

Khndzoresk is a village and rural community in the South-East of Armenia, in the province of Syunik. The village is located to the right of Goris - Stepanavan highway, on the steep slopes of Khor Dzor , from which, according to tradition, it got its name...

. After the creation of Khndzoresk

Khndzoresk

Khndzoresk is a village and rural community in the South-East of Armenia, in the province of Syunik. The village is located to the right of Goris - Stepanavan highway, on the steep slopes of Khor Dzor , from which, according to tradition, it got its name...

, Nerqin was established to strengthen the southeastern borders of Armenia

Armenia

Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...

and was strategically placed below the larger village to prevent enemies from attacking. However, any expansion and maintenance of the area ceased after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Education

The village has one school and one kindergarten. Nerqin Khndzoresk Secondary School has approximately 50 students, small but quite beautiful. The school is surrounded by swaying, tall grass fields, sunflowers, and fruit bearing trees. The school was founded on March 10th, 1989. The classes began in small cottages and continued to be held in modest areas until the renovation of the school in 2004. The school contains all grades (forms) 1-12. The class sizes range from 1 student to 9 students. The following subjects are taught: Armenian, Armenian Literature, Russian, Russian Literature, English, History, Armenian History, Armenian Church History, Math, Algebra, Geometry, Strategy, Biology, Physical Education, Art, Music, Healthy Lifestyles, Law, and Geography. School begins September 1st and goes through May 25th. The school’s vacation schedule is consistent with that of the rest of Armenia:

• Autumn Break: Usually last week of October
• Winter Break: Usually end of December to mid-January
• Spring Break: Usually last week of March
• Summer Break: Usually end of May to end of August

The daily school schedule begins at 9am and ends at 3pm with 5 minute breaks between each class and one 15 minute break after the third lesson. There are generally up to 6 classes within a day. Classes are attended Monday through Saturday and Sunday off.

Climate

The village has four distinct seasons. The summertime is generally quite hot, dry, and relatively humid. The fall often brings thick fog and rain. The winters are mild. The spring is relatively warm with lots of rain.The weather allows for a plethora of fruits and vegetables to be grown throughout the community. Most citizens have large gardens containing the following, but not limited to: potatoes, cucumber, tomato, squash, green beans, garlic, onion, peppers, cabbage, greens, sunflowers, apples, grapes, pineapples, cherries, plums, figs, apricots, pears, peach, watermelon, melon.