[citation needed] It flows 92 km in the territory of Vayots Dzor, through the settlements of Jermuk, Vayk, Yeghegnadzor, and Areni, among others.

It originates in Vayots Dzor from the northwest part of the Syunik plateau at a height of 3260 meters, and flows into the Araks river.

A large project was completed during the Soviet period to transfer the water of Arpa river to Lake Sevan.

Thus, an underground water tunnel was opened in 1981 that starts from the basin of the Kechut reservoir to transfer the flow of the Arpa river into Kake Sevan.

Archaeological investigations have uncovered many sites and objects dating back to the Paleolithic Era and the Bronze Age, including carvings on cliffs depicting scenes of hunting and animals.

The Areni-1 cave complex—including the 6,100-year-old Areni-1 winery—discovered in archaeological excavations conducted between 2007 and 2011, revealed that the region was settled during the 5th millennium BC (Late Chalcolithic Age).

[11] As early as the 8th century BC, the area of modern-day Vayots Dzor was part of the Kingdom of Urartu.

Later, it became part of the Kingdom of Armenia forming the Vayots Dzor canton of the Syunik Province.

Many churches, monastic complexes, bridges and caravanserais were built between the 10th and 13th centuries, when Vayots Dzor was part of the Kingdom of Syunik under the rule of the Siunia dynasty.

Vayots Dzor was home to one of the earliest higher educational centres of medieval Armenia, the University of Gladzor; founded around 1280 by Nerses of Mush.

[citation needed] The region became a frequent battlefield between the invading troops of the Turkic and Iranian tribes.

During the first half of the 19th century, following the Russo-Persian War of 1826-28 and the resulting Treaty of Turkmenchay signed in 1828, Vayots Dzor passed from Iranian to Russian rule.

However, after falling to the Bolsheviks in July 1921, Vayots Dzor became part of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic.

After the independence of Armenia, the 2 raions were merged during the 1995 administrative reform to form the Vayots Dzor Province.

According to the 1989 Soviet census, the Vayots Dzor Province (then part of the Vayk and Yeghegnadzor districts in 1930–1995)[12] had a population of 60,357.

The regulating body of the church is the Diocese of Vayots Dzor, headed by Archbishop Abraham Mkrtchyan.

A percentage of the population in Vayots Dzor have their ancestors migrated from the Iranian towns of Salmas and Khoy in 1829 and 1830.

Locals from all villages take part in the parade on cars decorated with flowers, bringing their own crops, berries typical to their territories.

The town's public park is home to a vishapakar (dragon stone) dating back to the 2nd millennium BC.

Agricultural crops include apricot, cherry, pear, peach, apple, quince, plum, melon, walnut, grapes and berries.

Their vineyards grow a stone's throw away from the Areni-1 cave, the oldest known winery dating from over 6000 years ago.

Vayots Dzor was home to the medieval Armenian University of Gladzor that was established around 1280 by Nerses of Mush[36] and operated until 1340 and "left behind a rich intellectual heritage".