Table of Contents
WELCOME TO ARMENIA
REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
LANGUAGE, POPULATION, CLIMATE
POLITICAL SYSTEM
RELIGION
FLORA AND FAUNA
YEREVAN
ARAGATSOTN REGION
ARARAT REGION
ARMAVIR REGION
GEGHARKUNIK REGION
KOTAYK REGION
LORI REGION
SHIRAK REGION
SYUNIK REGION
TAVUSH REGION
VAYOTS DZOR REGION
KARABAKH
WELCOME TO ARMENIA
We hope that this guide-book will be helpful for tourist agencies as well as tourists.
Visit this ancient and new Armenia.
Time makes the history. This rocky land with a history dating from the times of Ancient Babylon was classed among the superpowers of the world. Armenia was the first country to adopt Christianity in 301 as a state religion. As the first Christian country Armenia is a place of pilgrimage for all the Christians. People always remain loyal to their origin. And the historical origin of Christianity is rooted in Armenia. Owing to the adoption of Christianity as well as the creation of the alphabet in the 5th century by the great Armenian illuminator Mesrop Mashtots the state and the nation, outliving the turmoil of numerous wars, managed to survive and maintain the national identity and features.
The country having a rich present and past will present itself with its age-old customs and habits and will warm your hearts with its sincere hospitality.
The journeys and trips to various historical places of Armenia will give you unforgettable moments.
Come to see the cave dwellings, ancient churches, temples and the magnificent capital Yerevan and you will get a great aesthetic pleasure.
In the mountainous land of Armenia you can see a diverse fauna and flora, a mixturte of the national and the cntemporary.
REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA
Nowadays the official name of Armenia is the Republic of Armenia. The Republic of Armenia occupying the 1/10 part of the Armenian Highlands is situated in the South Caucasus. It lies in the eastern hemisphere south of the equator, at the juncture of the 45o meridian and the 40o parallel, in the northern zone of the subtropics. It borders on Georgia in the north and on Azerbaijan in the south-east. It neighbours on Turkey in the west and on Iran and the Autonomous Republic of Nakhijevan in the south-east. Armenia covers a territory of 29.740 sq2. The climate is continental. The capital is Yerevan. Armenia is the homeland of all the Armenians but only a small part of them live here while the greater part is spread all over the world. In 1991 Armenia regained independence after 70 years of Soviet regime. Now it is a democratic state with a presidential government. In 2001 Armenia become a full member of the European Council.
Today Armenia welcomes its guests offering a variety of new hotels, restaurants, museums, open-air cafes, parks, historical sights, concert halls, modem cinemas and other places of entertainment.
Visit Armenia and this ancient and new country will be a revelation for you.
Armenia is a pilgrimage of peace, diligence, mercy, goodwill, friendship, impartiality and solidarity for all the peoples. Everyone who has ever set foot on this land admired Armenian hospitality.
During the Flood forefather Noah's saving Ark landed on Mt. Ararat, thus the rebirth of mankind ascends to the Armenian mountains and Masis has become the second cradle of humanity. Even from afar but who would lose the chance to see Ararat on which after a 150-day drift landed Noah's legendary Ark. This converted both Ararat and Armenia into a sanctuary.
Visiting Armenia you will have a chance to get acquainted with its age-long history, architectural monuments and national cuisine.
The visitor will be presented with all the sighs of Armenia starting from the pagan temple of Garni and the monastic complex of Geghard to ancient caves, churches and thousands of khachkars, wich will make their trip more informative.
LANGUAGE, POPULATION, CLIMATE
Armenian is an ancient language. It a branch of the Indo-European family of languages. The Armenian alphabet was created in the 5th century by Mesrop Mashtots. The official language of the country is Armenian which is spoken by the whole population. Since formerly Armenia was a Soviet country some part of Armenians also speak Russian. English as well as French and German are also studied and spoken by Armenians who, by the way, have great abilities for languages.
The greatest part of Armenians living in Europe, East and the USA speak Western Armenian.
Armenia has a high mountain climate with constantly penetrating warm and cool air currents.
In winter the temperature may drop to 40oC below zero. The temperature in the mountain zones around Mt. Aragats is even lower while in Yerevan it doesn't drop over than 10oC below zero in winter.
In summer the temperature in the capital may sometimes reach 40oC above zero and in the mountain zones 20oC above zero. Summers are usually long and winters are snowy.
In hot Yeravan summers it is a pleasure to rest on the shores of lake Sevan.
The 1/3 part of the population of Armenia lives in Yerevan and the rest in other towns and villages.
