Syunik Province

Sjunik ( [sjuˈnikʰ], Armenian Սյունիք, scientific transliteration Syunik' marz) is the southeasternmost province of Armenia. There are 119,873 people living on 4506 km² (as of 2011). The capital of the province is Kapan.

Zyunik is bordered to the northwest by the province of Vayoz Dzor, to the east by Azerbaijan under international law but de facto by the internationally unrecognized Republic of Arzakh, to the south by Iran, and to the west by the Azerbaijani exclave of the Autonomous Republic of Nakhichevan.

Along the border with Nakhichevan runs the highest part of the Armenian Highlands - with the exception of the Aragaz volcano - on the territory of Armenia, the Sangesur Ridge with its highest peak Kaputjugh (3905 m).

In addition to Kapan, other cities in the province of Zyunik include Goris, Kajaran, Meghri and Sissian, as well as the former urban-type settlements of Agarak and Dastakert, which were elevated to cities in the 1990s. In addition to these seven urban municipalities, there are 102 rural municipalities with a total of 127 villages; the largest villages (each with a population of over 1000) are Angeghakot, Brnakot, Chndsoresk, Karahundsh, Kornidsor, Shaki, Shinuhajr, Tegh and Werischen (as of 2011).

Since the only border crossing between Armenia and Iran is located in Zyunik near the small town of Agarak, and the borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan are closed, the province is of particular importance for Armenia's foreign trade.

The province was formed during the administrative reorganization in the framework of decentralization in 1995 from the rajons Goris, Meghri, Kapan (until 1990 Kafan) and Sissian, which had existed in the Armenian SSR of the Soviet Union since 1930, as well as the rajon-free cities of Goris and Kapan.