Derechichak

Derechichak is an urban settlement in the Novo-Bayazid uezd of the former Iravan governorate, later in the former Akhta (Hrazdan) district, and currently in the Kotayk province. The provincial centre lies 6 km to the northwest of the town of Hrazdan, at a height of 1,710 m above sea level. It was marked in “The Iravan Province Review Book”, on the five-verst map of the Caucasus. Derechichak used to be the place of Iravan Khans’ summer houses.

Along with the Russians and Armenians, ten Azerbaijanis also lived there in 1897. In the early 20th century the Azerbaijanis were deported by armed Armenians, and only Armenians and Russians began to live there. Later, the Russians were also deported. Presently, only Armenians live in the village.

The toponym was coined by combining the word “dere” used in Azerbaijani in the meaning of “a deep valley between two mountains” and the word “chichak” meaning “a plant with blossoms”, “a flower”. As the settlement was located in a canyon with flowers and pleasant scenery, it was called “Derechichak”.

The village was renamed “Konstantinovka” in 1847. The name of the village was calqued as “Tsakhgadzor” in 1920. 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 Kotayk province.

Geographic coordinates: latitude: 40°31′ N., longitude: 44°43′ E.