Territory: 4506 km²
Agricultural land: 187792 ha
Including arable land: 46757 ha
Population: 139,400 (as of 2016)
The marz of Syunik is considered to be the southern gates of Armenia, surrounded by mountain-chain of Zangezour, Meghri and Syunik highland. The highest point of the marz is the peak of Mets Ishkhanasar (3552 m.) and the lowest point is the valley of Araks river (400 m).
The marz center is Kapan. Situated at 750m above seal level, Kapan is the mining center of Armenia, famous for its copper and molybdenum.
Goris is a town-orchard, a lovely resort place on the bank of Vararak river. Pictures carved on the rocks in V-IV millenniums B.C. testify to the fact that people lived here from time immemorial. You can find the whole spectrum of Armenian fauna in these pictures. The Zorats stones date back to the II millennium B.C. According to the scientists, they were meant for astronomical observations. Khndzoresk village looks almost vertical multi-story rocky amphitheater. Nothing can be compared with the Monastery compex of Tatev (IX-XIII cc.), that dominates over Syunik from height. The tour to Tatev is arranged on the longest aerial tramway, built in 2010.
Medieval Syunik was rich with fortresses. Baghaberd (IV c.) is the biggest defense construction in Armenia, It is followed by Vorotavank (V c.), fortress of Meghri (XVII c.), a unique example of Armenian fortification technique. The last fortress of this chain is the fortress of Halidzor (XVII c.).
The marz is rich in cool, sweet springs and numerous mineral waters. There are monuments and inscriptions upon each spring that testifies that the population of the marz is spring worshipper.
