Alaverdi is a town in the Lori Province in northeastern Armenia. The region of Lori became part of the Russian Empire due to the Treaty of Gulistan in 1813. In 1918, the region became part of the newly formed Republic of Armenia, and it was fought over in a border war between Armenia and Georgia. The region became Lori Province following the independence of Armenia in 1991. Alaverdi is located at the bottom of the Debed River gorge, and the river runs through the center of the town. It is a commercial and industrial center, with a main industry being the Alaverdi copper smelter.