Editing Aragatsotn Province (section)

==Economy==

===Agriculture===
[[File:Aragats mountain, Aragatsotn, Armenia.jpg|thumb|Cattle-breeding in Aragatsotn]]
The rural population of the province is 3 times bigger than the urban. Thus, the majority of the population is involved in agriculture, including farming and cattle breeding. Being a major agricultural region, Aragatsotn contributes 9.7% of the annual total agricultural product of Armenia.

Around 79% (2,178&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) of the total area of the province are [[arable land]]s, out of which 25% (542&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) are ploughed. With an approximate areա of {{convert|240|km²|0|abbr=on}} of farmlands are occupied by grains and dry seeds. Around 40% of the {{convert|47|km²|0|abbr=on}} of orchards in Aragatsotn are occupied by grapes. Potato farms occupy around {{convert|16|km²|0|abbr=on}}, while vegetables are spread over {{convert|10|km²|0|abbr=on}} of farms.<ref>[https://www.e-gov.am/u_files/file/decrees/kar/2014/12/14_1459.pdf Aragatsotn province development plan of 2015-2018]</ref>

Around the highlands of Mount Aragats, particularly in the regions of Aparan and Talin, cattle breeding is more common in rural communities. Beekeeping farms are also found in higher woodlands. The village of Voskehat is home to the "Ashtarak Dzu" poultry farm, while the Aragats village is home to the "Aragats Poultry farm".

===Industry===
Aragatsotn has a poor industrial structure compared to other provinces in Armenia. It has only a share of 2% of the annual total industrial product of Armenia. The existing industrial firms are mainly based on food processing, dairy products, production of alcoholic drinks, water bottling, and building materials production.

*Ashtarak is home to the "Ashtarak-Kat" company (founded in 1995), the leading ice-cream and dairy products manufacturer in Armenia. The town is also home to the "Gourmet Dourme" chocolate factory founded in 2007, the "P & D Group Armenia" for plastic containers founded in 2007, as well as the "Milen Art" plant, and the "Kharam Cooperative" for building materials production.
[[File:Գնթունիք հացամթերքի խանութում.jpg|thumb|"Gntunik" bakery in Aparan using the traditional [[tandoor]]]]
[[File:Գինի.jpg|thumb|"Golden Grape ArmAs" winery in [[Nor Yedesia]]]]
*Aparan is home to the "Nig" factory for electrical products founded in 1964, the "Aparan Cheese Factory" founded in 1982 (privatized in 1995), and the "Aparan Group LLC" for bottled water, soft drinks, and dairy products, founded in 2006, and the "Gntunik" plant for bakery and dairy products.
*Aragatsotn is a major centre for dairy products and dried fruits. Talin is home to the "Bonilat" factory for dairy products founded in 2005, based on the former Talin cheese factory.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bonilat.am/am/about.html |title=About Bonilat |access-date=2016-11-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161109215043/http://bonilat.am/am/about.html |archive-date=2016-11-09 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Other producers of dairy products include the "Gloria Cheeses" factory founded in 2005 in [[Aragatsavan]], the "Anulik" factory of [[Nigavan]], the "Mastarchedo" plant of [[Mastara]]. The "Tamara Fruit" plant of Karbi (founded in 1985), the "Gyughi Tatik" plant of Oshakan (founded in 2002), the "Astghunk" plant of Aghdzk, and the "Byurakan Chir" plant of Byurakan specialize in dried-fruits production. Other notable food-processing plants of Aragatsotn include the "Village House" meat-processing plant in Agarak, the "Meat Art" for meet products in Getap, the "Avetsiyan Aghek" plant for soft drinks in Talin, the "Aparani Lavash" for bakery products in Davtashen,
*Aragatsotn has many large industrial firms for alcoholic drinks production, including the [[Voskevaz Winery]] founded in 1932 in [[Voskevaz]] (privatized in 2004), the [[ArmAs Winery]] founded in 2007 in [[Nor Yedesia]], the Armenia Wine Winery founded in 2008 in [[Sasunik]], the "Hayasy Group" for brandy, vodka, beer and juices founded in 2011 in [[Voskevaz]], the Wine House Winery founded in 2011 in [[Aghdzk]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sarduriwines.com/%d5%b4%d5%a5%d6%80-%d5%b4%d5%a1%d5%bd%d5%ab%d5%b6?lang=hy|title=Մեր մասին – Sarduri Wines}}</ref> and the "Van Ardi Winery founded in 2013 in Sasunik.
*The province has many large firms for the production of building materials, including the "Aragats Perlite" plant for crushed stone founded in 1961 in Aragatsavan, the "Arus" company for stone structures in Parpi, and the "Levadan LLC" for building materials. Other notable firms within the province include the "SKIFF" enterprise for paintwork materials founded in 2008 in Sasunik and the "Diamotech" factory for gemstones in Talin.

===Tourism===
[[File:Kari Lake.jpg|thumb|left|[[Mount Aragats]] and [[Lake Kari]] at the Aragats Alpine Sanctuary]]
[[File:Byurakan.jpg|thumb|The Byurakan Observatory]]
Aragatsotn is a major centre for [[ecotourism]] and the lovers of [[extreme tourism]]. Aragats is the highest mountain in modern-day Armenia. It is a single extinct volcano consisting of 4 peaks: the northern (4090 m.), western (4080 m.), eastern (3916 m.), and southern (3879 m.) peaks. Thus, it frequently attracts [[hiking|hikers]] and [[adventure travel]]ers, with its [[Lake Kari|mountain lake of Kari]] situated at a height of 3250 meters.

The well-preserved ancient monasteries and medieval fortresses are also among the main attractions of the province.

Luxury hotels are found in [[Byurakan]], [[Aghtsk]] and [[Ashtarak]]. Byurakan is also home to the [[Byurakan Observatory]].

The [[Mount Aragats]] and [[Lake Kari]] are among the touristic destinations of the province. The government protects the area as a wildlife sanctuary named [[Aragats Alpine Sanctuary]].

The Abaran Battle Memorial and the Armenian Alphabet Park near Aparan are also among the most visited locations in Aragatsotn.