Yengija

Yengija is a village in the Iravan uezd of the former Iravan governorate, later in the former Zangibasar (Masis) district, and currently in the Ararat province. The provincial centre is located 25 km to the northwest of the town of Gamarli and at a height of 855 m above sea level. It was noted as Yenija in “The Iravan Province Comprehensive Data Book” and marked as Yengija on the five-verst map of the Caucasus. It had been within the Gamarli (Ashtarak) district until the establishment of the Zangibasar district.

The village was inhabited by 27 Azerbaijanis in 1897, 75 in 1908, 90 in 1914, and 46 Azerbaijanis in 1916. In 1918 the Azerbaijanis were exposed to the aggression of Armenian armed units and deported, and the Armenians from Türkiye were removed and settled in the village. After the establishment of Soviet power in the territory of present-day Armenia, the Azerbaijanis who survived were able to return to their homes. Along with the Armenians, 20 Azerbaijanis lived in the village in 1922, and they were deported from the village in 1924–1925 again. At present, the village is inhabited by Armenians only.

The toponym was coined by adding the augmentative suffix “-ja” to the word “yengi”.

By the decree of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Armenian SSR dated 25 January 1978, the village was renamed “Norabats”. According to the law “On the Administrative-Territorial Division of Armenia” dated 7 November 1995, it was integrated into the administrative area of the Ararat province.

Geographic coordinates: latitude 40°06’ N., longitude 44°25’E