Dashgala

Dashgala is a village in the Alexandropol uezd of the former Iravan governorate, later in the former Aghin (Ani) district, and currently in the Shirak province. It lies at a 32 km distance from the town of Gumru, and at a height of 1900 m above sea level. The village was initially inhabited by Azerbaijanis who gradually left it after Armenians had been settled in the region.

The toponym was coined by combining the word “dash” used in Azerbaijani in the sense of “a rock, mountain” and the word “gala” used in the sense of “a strong defence construction, fortress”. It is an orotoponym.

By decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR dated 3 February 1947, the village was renamed “Karaberd”. According to the law “On the administrative-territorial division of the Republic of Armenia” dated 7 November 1995, it was integrated into the administrative area of the Shirak province.

Geographic coordinates: latitude: 40°54′ N., longitude: 43°82′ E.