Martuni

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Martuni (originally, Mets Kznut, from 1830-1922, Karanlug, Nerkin Karanlukh, Nerkin Gharanlugh, and Russified as Nizhniy-Karanlug) is a city located in the Gegharkunik Province (marz) of Armenia. It is near Lake Sevan which is a largest lake in the Caucasus. Its population is estimated to be 11,987 as of 2008. In ancient times it was known as Mets Kznut, but from 1830-1922 it was called Nerkin Gharanlugh and in 1926 it was changed to Martuni in honor of the first Soviet premier of Armenia, Aleksandr Myasnikyan, whose nom de guerre was "Martuni". Martuni was the former capital of Gegharkunik Province. Martuni has a church called Astvatsatsin church which was rebuilt in 1886. There is also an Iron Age fort excavated in 1997 by an Armenian-Italian team.