Ashotavan

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Ashotavan (Armenian: Աշոտավան; formerly, Aghk’end, T’azak’end, Khnok, and Kirakosik) is a village n Syunik Province of Armenia, 8 km from Sisian town. Located on the left bank of the Sisian River at the lower stream of the Vorotan River in the lower stream of the Kamjak River, 109 km northwest of the regional center, 1680 m above sea level. o The Statistical Committee of Armenia reported its population as 647 in 2010, up from 623 at the 2001 census. It was formerly called Old Kirakosik, and Turkish shepherds call it Akkend (White Settlement) because of its white roofs. At the suggestion of Soviet Marshal Hovhannes Baghramyan, in 1948 it was renamed Ashotavan in memory of Colonel Ashot Sargsyan. The ancient village that has existed for centuries remains under the Tolors reservoir, built between 1971-1972. Due to fluctuations in water levels, from time to time some buildings in the village, particularly the church, are beginning to appear. New Ashotavan was built in 1970-1971, just above the old village.For this reason, locals call it, Kashi (below, below). The new Ashotavan church was built by the efforts of the residents in the 21st century. After Turkmenchay Treaty (which was signed in 1828-1829), several Armenian families came to Ashotavan from the Armenian provinces of Khoy and Salmast in Persia, whose descendants make up the majority of the village's population. As of 2011, the village has about 700 inhabitants. The residents of Ashotavan are engaged in cattle breeding, cultivation of cereals and vegetables, gardening, fishing and poultry farming. The village has a church built in 1903, the ruins of which stand in the waters of the Tolors reservoir.
The ruins of the old "Kirakosik" and "Khnok" can be seen in the suburbs. Due to the construction of the Tolors reservoir, the village was moved about 500 meters away.
The village has 120 residential houses, a school, a kindergarten. It is provided with water and gas.