Which country does Armenia belong to? Soviet Armenia. Official language of Armenia

Small Armenia connects Europe with Asia. Once upon a time, Armenia was one of the largest states in the Middle East and Transcaucasia, which competed with the Parthian kingdom and Ancient Rome. Now Armenia is a modern country with hospitable people, ancient history, a huge number of historical monuments, rich culture, delicious food, and beautiful nature. In addition, there are several ski and balneological resorts in Armenia.

Geography of Armenia

Armenia is located in Transcaucasia. In the west, Armenia borders with Turkey, in the east with Azerbaijan and Karabakh, in the north with Georgia, and in the south with Iran. The total area of this country is 29,743 square meters. km., and the total length of the state border is 1,254 km. Armenia has no access to the sea.

Armenia occupies part of the territory of the Armenian Highlands. We can safely say that Armenia is a mountainous country. The highest peak in Armenia is Mount Aragats, whose height reaches 4,095 meters. Previously, Mount Ararat belonged to Armenia, but now this peak is located in Turkey. The most beautiful mountains of Armenia are adjacent to numerous valleys. The largest of them is the Ararat Valley.

There are more than 9 thousand rivers in Armenia, of course, most of them are small. But the largest river in Transcaucasia, the Araks, flows through the territory of Armenia.

Svan Lake is a 2-hour drive from Yerevan. This lake is the pride of every Armenian.

Capital

Since ancient times, the capital of Armenia has been Yerevan, which is now home to about 1.2 million people. Archaeologists claim that people lived on the territory of modern Yerevan already in the 8th century BC.

Official language of Armenia

The official language in Armenia is Armenian, which belongs to the Indo-European language family.

Religion

Most of the population of Armenia are Orthodox Christians (they belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church).

State structure of Armenia

According to the current Constitution of 1995, Armenia is a parliamentary republic. Its head is the President, elected for 5 years.

In Armenia, the local unicameral Parliament is called the National Assembly (131 deputies). Members of the National Assembly are elected by popular vote for a 5-year term.

The main political parties in Armenia are the Republican Party of Armenia, Prosperous Armenia, the Armenian National Congress, and the Land of Law.

Climate and weather

Almost the entire territory of Armenia is located in a continental, high-mountain climate. Only in the south of Armenia the climate is subtropical. In the mountains, in summer the average air temperature ranges from +10C to +22C, and in winter – from +2C to -14C. On the plains in January the average air temperature is -5C, and in July - +25C.

The amount of precipitation depends on the altitude of a particular region of Armenia. On average, annual precipitation falls from 200 to 800 mm in Armenia.

The best time to visit Armenia is from May to October.

Rivers and lakes of Armenia

More than 9 thousand rivers flow through the territory of Armenia. Most of them are small. The largest river in Armenia is the Araks, which is considered the largest in the entire Transcaucasus.

Relatively close to Yerevan, about a 2-hour drive, is Lake Svan. Every Armenian is proud of this lake, almost as proud as Mount Ararat, although it now belongs to Turkey.

History of Armenia

People on the territory of modern Armenia already lived in the Bronze Age. In the VIII-VI centuries BC. e. On the territory of modern Armenia there was the state of Urartu.

In the II century. BC e. Several Armenian states were formed - Sophene, as well as Greater Armenia and Lesser Armenia.

In 301 BC. Christianity became the state religion of Armenia. In the early Middle Ages, Armenia was part of the Arab Caliphate.

In the 9th-11th centuries, several states existed on the territory of modern Armenia - the Ani kingdom, the Vaspurakan kingdom, the Kars kingdom, the Syunik kingdom, and the Tashir-Dzoraget kingdom.

In the 11th-16th centuries, Armenia was part of the empire of the Seljuk Turks, the Georgian kingdom, and the Oghuz tribal union. In the 16th-19th centuries, the territory of Armenia was divided between Iran and the Ottoman Empire.

According to the Turkmanchay Peace Treaty of 1828, most of Armenia was included in the Russian Empire. Only in 1918 was the independent Republic of Armenia formed, which then became part of the Transcaucasian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. In 1922, Armenia became part of the USSR.

At the end of the 1980s, sentiments about secession from the USSR became strong in Armenia. As a result, in September 1991, Armenia declared its independence.

In 1992, Armenia became a member of the UN.

Culture

Armenia only became an independent country in 1991. Before that, for many centuries it was part of the USSR, the Russian Empire, the Ottoman Empire, Iran, the Georgian Kingdom, and the Empire of the Seljuk Turks. All these states tried to “blur” Armenian culture and impose their cultural traditions on the residents of Armenia. However, despite this, the Armenians managed to preserve their identity, their customs and traditions.

Every winter, Armenians celebrate the Valentine's Day Trndez. On this day, in order to be happy, Armenians need to jump over the fire.

Another interesting Armenian festival is the summer “water festival” Vardavar. On this day, Armenians splash water on each other; it is believed that in this way girls and boys attract each other’s attention (i.e. it is a holiday for lovers). The origins of the Vardavar holiday go back to the times when Armenia was not a Christian country.

Kitchen

Armenians are very proud of their cuisine, and it should be noted that it is deservedly so. The main food products are meat, vegetables, dairy products (especially salted cheese), fish, fruits, and lavash bread. In Armenian cuisine, much attention is paid to spices.

When Armenians have nowhere to rush, they take a very long time to have lunch. The main reason for this tradition is table conversation.

In Armenia, we definitely recommend that tourists (along with shish kebab) try the following dishes:

- “Tolma” - lamb in grape leaf;
- “Putuk” - lamb soup;
- “Khash” - beef soup;
- “Kufta” - meat balls;
- “Basturma” - dried beef meat.

In addition, in Armenia they cook very tasty trout from Lake Svan - try it. In general, fish dishes in Armenia are all very tasty.

Very tasty fruits and berries are grown in Armenia - peaches, plums, apples, pears, cherry plums, cherries, dogwoods, grapes.

Traditional soft drinks in Armenia are “Tarragon”, fruit juices, mineral water, dairy drinks (kefir, yogurt).

Excellent wines and cognacs are made in Armenia. Try it and you will see for yourself.

Sights of Armenia

According to official data, there are now about 26 thousand historical and architectural monuments in Armenia. Since 2005, a national program for the restoration of architectural and historical monuments has been implemented in Armenia. Thus, in 2012 alone, in Armenia, at the expense of the state budget, 9 medieval monuments were restored (for example, the Church of St. Hovhannes and the Kobayravank Monastery of the 12th century were restored). In our opinion, the Top 10 best Armenian attractions may include the following:

Etchmiadzin Monastery
Ruins of Zvartnots Temple
Kecharis Monastery near Tsaghkadzor
Garni fortress in Abovyan region
Amberd fortress of the princes of Pahlavuni
Harichavan monastery complex near Gyumri
Shatinvank Monastery in southeast Armenia
St. Katoghik Church in Yerevan
Ruins of the Avan Temple in Yerevan
Sisavan Church in Zangezur

Cities and resorts

The largest Armenian cities are Gyumri, Vanadzor, and, of course, Yerevan.

There are a lot of mineral springs in Armenia, and, as a result, balneological resorts. The most popular of them is Arzni, located 10 kilometers from Yerevan. Among other balneological and mountain climatic resorts in Armenia, Hankavan, Vanadzor, Arevik, Jermuk, Arevik, Tsaghkadzor, and Dilijan should be noted.

Since Armenia is a mountainous country, it is not surprising that it has several ski resorts. Thus, 40 kilometers from Yerevan is the Tsaghkadzor ski resort, which has 12 kilometers of ski slopes. By the way, the ski season at the Tsaghkadzor ski resort lasts from mid-November to mid-April.

Souvenirs/shopping

Tourists from Armenia usually bring folk art products, Armenian musical instruments (zurna, tar, shvi, dool, duduk), Armenian headdresses, wine horn, backgammon (for example, walnut backgammon), and, of course, Armenian cognac, as well as wine.

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ARMENIA (in Armenian Hayastan), Republic of Armenia (official self-name - Hayastani Hanrapetutyun), a state in western Asia, in Transcaucasia. Area 29.8 thousand square meters. km. It borders on the north with Georgia, on the east and southeast on Azerbaijan, on the south on Iran, on the west and southwest on Turkey.

ARMENIA (in Armenian Hayastan), Republic of Armenia (official self-name - Hayastani Hanrapetutyun), a state in western Asia, in Transcaucasia. Area 29.8 thousand square meters. km. It borders on the north with Georgia, on the east and southeast on Azerbaijan, on the south on Iran, on the west and southwest on Turkey.

The Independent Republic of Armenia was created in Transcaucasia in May 1918. In 1920, Soviet power was established on its territory. In 1922, Armenia, along with Georgia and Azerbaijan, became part of the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (TSFSR), which joined the USSR. In 1936, the federation was abolished, and Armenia became a union republic within the USSR. After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the Republic of Armenia was restored. On December 21, 1991, it became a member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

ANCIENT HISTORY

The first information about the Armenian Highlands dates back to the 14th century. BC. There were Nairi states in the lake basin. Van and the states of Hayasa and Alzi in the nearby mountains. In the 9th century BC. a union was formed with the self-name Biaynili, or Biaynele (the Assyrians called it Urartu, and the ancient Jews called it Ararat). The first Armenian state arose as a result of the collapse of the Urartu union of states immediately after the fall of the Assyrian Empire in 612 BC. At first, Armenia was under the rule of the Medes, and in 550 BC. became part of the Persian Achaemenid Empire. After the conquest of Persia by Alexander the Great, Armenia was ruled by representatives of the Orontid dynasty (Armenian Ervanduni). After Alexander's death in 323 BC. Armenia found itself in vassal dependence on the Syrian Seleucids. When the latter were defeated by the Romans in the battle of Magnesia (190 BC), three Armenian states arose - Lesser Armenia west of the Euphrates, Sophene east of this river and Greater Armenia with its center in the Ararat Plain. Under the rule of the Artashesid dynasty, Greater Armenia expanded its territory all the way to the Caspian Sea. Later, Tigranes II the Great (95–56 BC) conquered Sophene and, taking advantage of the protracted war between Rome and Parthia, created a huge but short-lived empire that stretched from the Lesser Caucasus to the borders of Palestine.

The rapid expansion of Armenia under Tigran the Great clearly showed how great the strategic importance of the Armenian Highlands was. For this reason, in later eras, Armenia became a bone of contention in the struggle between neighboring states and empires (Rome and Parthia, Rome and Persia, Byzantium and Persia, Byzantium and the Arabs, Byzantium and the Seljuk Turks, Ayyubids and Georgia, the Ottoman Empire and Persia, Persia and Russia, Russia and the Ottoman Empire). In 387 AD Rome and Persia divided Greater Armenia between themselves. Internal self-government was preserved on the territory of Persian Armenia. The Arabs who appeared here in 640 defeated the Persian Empire and turned Armenia into a vassal kingdom with an Arab governor.

MIDDLE AGES

With the weakening of Arab rule in Armenia, several local kingdoms arose (9th–11th centuries). The largest of them was the kingdom of the Bagratids (Bagratuni) with its capital in Ani (884–1045), but it soon disintegrated, and two more kingdoms were formed on its lands: one west of Mount Ararat with a center in Kars (962–1064), and the other – in the north of Armenia, in Lori (982–1090). At the same time, the independent Vaspurakan kingdom arose in the lake basin. Wang. The Syunids formed a kingdom in Syunik (modern Zangezur) south of Lake. Sevan (970–1166). Several principalities arose at the same time. Despite numerous wars, the economy and culture flourished at this time. However, then the Byzantines invaded the country, followed by the Seljuk Turks. In the valleys of Cilicia in the northeastern Mediterranean, where many Armenians, mainly farmers, had previously resettled, “Armenia in exile” was formed. At first it was a principality, and later (from 1090) - a kingdom (the Cilician Armenian state), led by the Ruben and Lusinian dynasties. It existed until it was conquered by the Egyptian Mamelukes in 1375. The territory of Armenia itself was partly under the control of Georgia, and partly under the control of the Mongols (13th century). In the 14th century Armenia was conquered and devastated by the hordes of Tamerlane. Over the next two centuries, it became the object of bitter struggle, first between Turkmen tribes and later between the Ottoman Empire and Persia.

THE AGE OF NATIONAL REVIVAL

Divided in 1639 between the Ottoman Empire (Western Armenia) and Persia (Eastern Armenia), Armenia remained a relatively stable country until the fall of the Safavid dynasty in 1722. As a result of the Russian-Iranian wars, according to the Gulistan Peace Treaty of 1813, Russia annexed the Karabakh region, and according to the Turkmanchay Treaty of 1828, the Yerevan and Nakhichevan Khanates. As a result of the Russian-Turkish War of 1877–1878, Russia liberated the northern part of Turkish Armenia.

Soon after the outbreak of World War I, the Turks began to resolve the “Armenian Question” by forcibly expelling all Armenians from Asia Minor. Armenian soldiers who served in the Turkish army were demobilized and shot, women, children and the elderly were forcibly resettled in the deserts of Syria. At the same time, from 600 thousand to 1 million people died. Many of those Armenians who survived thanks to the help of the Turks and Kurds fled to Russian Armenia or other countries in the Middle East. On May 28, 1918, Russian Armenia was proclaimed an independent republic. In September 1920, Türkiye launched a war against Armenia and captured two-thirds of its territory. In November, units of the Red Army entered Armenia, and on November 29, 1920, the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic was proclaimed.

SOVIET ARMENIA

On March 12, 1922, Armenia concluded an agreement with Azerbaijan and Georgia, according to which they formed the Federative Union of Socialist Soviet Republics of Transcaucasia, transformed on December 13, 1922 into the Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic (TSFSR). At the same time, each republic retained its independence. On December 30, the federation became part of the USSR.

5Under Stalin, a dictatorship was established in the country, accompanied by the collectivization of agriculture, industrialization (with an emphasis on heavy industry and the military industry), urbanization, brutal persecution of religion and the establishment of an official "party line" in all areas of life.

In 1936 approx. 25 thousand Armenians who opposed the collectivization policy were deported to Central Asia. During the Stalinist purges, the first secretary of the Communist Party of Armenia Agasi Khanjyan, Catholicos Khoren Muradbekyan, a number of government ministers, prominent Armenian writers and poets (Yegishe Charents, Aksel Bakunts, etc.) were killed. In 1936, the TSFSR was abolished, and Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, which were part of it, were proclaimed independent union republics within the USSR.

At the end of the war, Stalin, taking into account that the Armenian diaspora abroad had large funds and highly qualified specialists, suggested that the Catholicos appeal to foreign Armenians for repatriation to Soviet Armenia. During the period from 1945 to 1948, approx. 150 thousand Armenians, mainly from the Middle East. Subsequently, many of them were subjected to repression. In July 1949, a mass deportation of the Armenian intelligentsia along with their families to Central Asia was carried out, where most of them died.

INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC

In May 1990, elections were held to the Supreme Council (SC) of Armenia, which included both communists and representatives of the opposition - the Armenian National Movement (ANM). In August, Chairman of the Board of the ANM Levon Ter-Petrosyan was elected Chairman of the Supreme Council. On August 23, 1990, at the first session of the Supreme Council, the “Declaration of Independence of Armenia” was adopted, according to which the Armenian SSR was abolished and the independent Republic of Armenia was proclaimed. On September 21, 1991, a national referendum was held on secession from the USSR. This proposal received approx. votes. 95% of citizens who took part in the referendum. On September 23, the Supreme Court approved the results of the referendum and declared the independence of the Republic of Armenia. L. Ter-Petrosyan was elected the first president of Armenia. On December 21, 1991, Armenia joined the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

On March 22, 1992, the Republic of Armenia was admitted to the UN. In the spring of 1992, Armenian paramilitary forces established control over Nagorno-Karabakh. In 1993, the armed forces of the Karabakh Armenians attacked the positions of the Azerbaijanis, from which the latter fired at Karabakh and the settlements of eastern Armenia. A civil war broke out in Azerbaijan itself. The armed forces of Nagorno-Karabakh captured a significant part of the Azerbaijani territory adjacent to the Karabakh enclave from the north and south, and cleared the Lachin corridor that separated Karabakh from Armenia. As a result of these actions, hundreds of thousands of Azerbaijanis were forced to leave their homes and became refugees. In May 1994, with the mediation of Russia, an agreement was concluded between Armenia and Azerbaijan to cease hostilities.

Against the backdrop of a worsening economic crisis and widespread corruption in the government, dissatisfaction with President Ter-Petrosyan and his ANM party began to grow in 1994. Despite the fact that Armenia has acquired a reputation as a state with successfully developing democratization processes, at the end of 1994 the government banned the activities of the Dashnaktsutyun party and the publication of several opposition newspapers. The following year, the results of a referendum on a new constitution and parliamentary elections were rigged. For the constitution, which provided for strengthening the power of the president by reducing the powers of parliament, 68% of the votes were cast (against - 28%), and for parliamentary elections - only 37% (against - 16%). Numerous violations were committed during the parliamentary elections. Foreign observers assessed them as free, but flawed. The Republican bloc led by the Armenian National Movement, the successor to the Karabakh movement, won a landslide victory.

On March 30, 1998, following the results of early elections, Robert Kocharyan, the former president of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, became the President of Armenia. As a result of the parliamentary elections held on May 30, 1999, the Miasnutyun (Unity) bloc received the largest number of seats in parliament. The Communist Party of Armenia, ARF Dashnaktsutyun, the “Iravunk ev Miabanutyun” (Law and Unity) bloc, the “Orinats Yerkir” (Country of Law) party, and the National Democratic Union overcame the 5% barrier.

The Government of Armenia was formed by representatives of the Miasnutyun bloc and the ARF Dashnaktsutyun.

RELIGION

The Armenians were converted to Christianity thanks to the work of Gregory I the Illuminator (Armenian: Grigor Lusavorich, later canonized) in 301, and Armenia became the first country in the world to adopt Christianity as a state religion. Although the Armenian Apostolic Church was initially independent, it maintained ties with other Christian churches until the Ecumenical Councils of Chalcedon (451) and Constantinople (553), and then retained close ties only with the Monophysite churches - Coptic (Egypt), Ethiopian and Jacobite (Syria) . The Armenian Apostolic Church is headed by the Catholicos of All Armenians, whose residence has been in Etchmiadzin since 1441. The Catholicosate of All Armenians includes four patriarchates (Etchmiadzin; Cilicia, from 1293 to 1930 with residence in the city of Sis, modern Kozan, in Turkey, and from 1930 - in Antilias, Lebanon; Jerusalem, founded in 1311; Constantinople, founded in the 16th century. ) and 36 dioceses (8 in Armenia, 1 in Nagorno-Karabakh, the rest in those countries of the world where there are Armenian communities).

From the 12th century a small part of Armenians began to recognize the supremacy of the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope. Supported by Dominican missionaries of the Order of Jesus (Jesuits), they united into the Armenian Catholic Church with the patriarchal seat in Beirut (Lebanon). The spread of Protestantism among Armenians was facilitated by American Congregational missionaries who arrived from Boston in 1830. Since then, there have been many Armenian Protestant congregations. Currently, the Armenian Catholic Church, the Armenian Evangelical Church, a synagogue, as well as churches and houses of worship of various religious minorities operate in Armenia.

CULTURE

From the 7th century AD Armenia was an outpost of Christianity in the surrounding Muslim world. The Armenian (Monophysite) church preserved the traditions of Eastern Christianity, which opposed both its western and eastern branches, from which it was isolated. After Armenia lost its independence (1375), it was the church that contributed to the survival of the Armenian people. Since the 17th century. Contacts are established with Italy, then with France and somewhat later with Russia, through which Western ideas also penetrated. For example, the famous Armenian writer and public figure Mikael Nalbandyan was an ally of such Russian “Westerners” as Herzen and Ogarev. Later, cultural ties between Armenia and the United States began.

Education.

Conductors of public education until the mid-19th century. Christian monasteries remained. In addition, the development of culture was greatly facilitated by the creation of Armenian schools in the Ottoman Empire by Armenian Catholic monks from the Mekhitarist order (established in the early 18th century in Constantinople by Mkhitar Sebastatsi to preserve the monuments of ancient Armenian writing), as well as the activities of American Congregationalist missionaries in the 1830s. e years. The organization of Armenian schools in areas where Armenians lived densely was helped by the Armenian Church and enlightened Armenians who were educated at universities in Western Europe and the USA. Armenian schools, founded in the 1820s and 1830s in Yerevan, Echmiadzin, Tiflis and Alexandropol (modern Gyumri), played a major role in the cultural life of the Armenians of the Russian Empire.

Many representatives of the Armenian people in the 19th–20th centuries. received their education in Russia, especially after the creation of an Armenian school in Moscow in 1815 by Joachim Lazaryan, which was transformed in 1827 into the Lazarev Institute of Oriental Languages. Many Armenian poets, writers, and statesmen emerged from its walls, including Count M. Loris-Melikov, who distinguished himself at the theater of military operations in the Caucasus (1877–1878) and as the Minister of Internal Affairs of Russia (1880–1881). The famous marine painter I.K. Aivazovsky was educated at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts.

The education system in Armenia was created during the years of Soviet power, modeled on the Russian one. Since 1998, it has been reformed in accordance with the World Bank program, for the implementation of which $15 million has been allocated. School curricula are being revised, hundreds of new textbooks are being printed. In Armenia there are incomplete secondary schools, complete secondary schools, gymnasiums, lyceums and higher educational institutions (colleges, universities and institutes), including 18 state universities and 7 colleges, with 26 thousand students, and 40 non-state universities with 14 thousand students. Up to 70% of students in secondary specialized educational institutions receive education on a commercial basis. Most universities are located in Yerevan. The most prestigious universities are Yerevan State University (founded in 1920), State Engineering University of Armenia, Yerevan State National Economic Institute, Armenian Agricultural Academy, Yerevan State Linguistic Institute named after. V.Ya.Bryusova, Yerevan State Medical University, Armenian State Pedagogical University, Yerevan State Architectural University, Yerevan State University of Architecture and Construction, Yerevan State Institute of Theater Arts and Cinematography, Yerevan State Academy of Arts, Yerevan State Conservatory. Higher educational institutions, including branches of some Yerevan universities and institutes, are located in cities such as Gyumri, Vanadzor, Dilijan, Ijevan, Goris, Kapan, Gavar. In 1991, with the support of the University of California in Yerevan, the American University of Armenia was founded. In 1999, the Russian-Armenian (Slavic) University was opened in Yerevan, where approx. 800 students, mostly Armenians (90%).

The leading scientific center is the Armenian Academy of Sciences, founded in 1943, with several dozen research institutes. The Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory (founded in 1946) is world famous. In 1990, more than 100 research institutes (including academic and other departmental affiliations) functioned on the territory of Armenia. During the period from 1990 to 1995, the number of scientific workers decreased by almost 4 times (from 20 thousand to 5.5 thousand). Currently, the state funds only priority scientific areas.

Customs and holidays.

Many traditional folk customs have been preserved in Armenia: for example, the blessing of the first harvest in August or the sacrifice of lambs during some religious holidays. A traditional holiday for Armenians is Vardanank (St. Vardan's Day), celebrated on February 15 in memory of the defeat of the Armenian troops led by Vardan Mamikonyan in the battle with the Persian army on the Avarayr field. In this war, the Persians intended to forcefully convert the Armenians to paganism, but having won a victory and suffered huge losses, they abandoned their intention. The Armenians preserved the Christian faith, defending it with arms in hand.

Currently, the following holidays and memorial dates are officially celebrated in the Republic of Armenia: New Year - December 31 - January 1-2, Christmas - January 6, Motherhood and Beauty Holiday - April 7, Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Armenian Genocide - April 24 (1915), Victory and Peace Day - May 9, First Republic Day - May 28 (1918), Constitution Day - July 5, Independence Day - September 21. All these days are non-working days. December 7 is the Day of Remembrance for the victims of the Spitak earthquake.

Armenia is a state in the Transcaucasus, located in the north of the geographical region of Western Asia and the northeast of the Armenian Highlands. It has no access to the sea. It borders Azerbaijan and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic in the east. In the southwest with the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, which is part of Azerbaijan. With Iran in the south, Turkey in the west and Georgia in the north. Armenia controls part of the territory of Azerbaijan (enclaves of Karki, Barkhudarli, Sofulu, Upper Askipara), Azerbaijan controls part of the territory of Armenia (exclave of Artsvashen).

Official name of Armenia: Republic of Armenia.

Territory of Armenia: The total area of the state of the Republic of Armenia is 29,800 km².

Population of Armenia: The total population of Armenia is more than 3 million inhabitants (3,018,854 people).

Ethnic groups of Armenia: According to the 2001 population census, the national composition of the Republic of Armenia is as follows: Armenians - 97.89%, Yezidis - 1.26%, Russians - 0.46%, Assyrians - 0.11%, Ukrainians - 0.05%, Kurds - 0.047 %, Greeks - 0.036%, others - 0.14%.

Average life expectancy in Armenia: The average life expectancy in Armenia is 74.37 years.

Capital of Armenia: Yerevan.

Major cities of Armenia: Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor.

State language of Armenia: Armenian, Russian is also common.

Religion in Armenia: Armenia is one of the oldest states in the world and the first country to adopt Christianity as a state religion. Currently, there are 57 religious organizations in Armenia, a synagogue has been opened, as well as churches and houses of worship of various religious minorities. At the same time, the Armenian Apostolic Church is legally assigned the status of the national church of the Armenian people, and certain restrictions (for example, a ban on proselytism) are imposed on the religious freedom of representatives of other faiths.

Geographical location of Armenia: Armenia is a landlocked country in Transcaucasia. It is located in the north-west of the Armenian Highlands, called historical Armenia, between the Black and Caspian seas. From the north and east it is framed by the ridges of the Lesser Caucasus. It borders with Georgia, Azerbaijan, Iran and Turkey.

Despite the fact that Armenia is geographically located in Asia, it has close political and cultural ties with Europe. Armenia has always been at the crossroads connecting Europe and Asia, therefore it is considered as a transcontinental state.

The topography of Armenia is mostly mountainous, with fast rivers and few forests. Armenia covers an area of about 30,000 km², over 90% of which are located at an altitude of more than 1,000 m above sea level. The highest point, Mount Aragats, is 4095 m, and the lowest point is 400 m above sea level. The highest point of the region and the historical symbol of Armenia - Mount Ararat - has been located in Turkey since the 1920s.

Rivers of Armenia: Araks - 158 km on the territory of Armenia. (total length 1072 km), Akhuryan - on the territory of Armenia 186 km, Vorotan - on the territory of Armenia 119 km. (total length 179 km), Debed - 152 km on the territory of Armenia. (total length 178 km), Hrazdan - 141 km on the territory of Armenia, Aghstev - 99 km on the territory of Armenia. (total length 133 km.).

ARMENIA (in Armenian Hayastan), Republic of Armenia (official self-name - Hayastani Hanrapetutyun), a state in western Asia, in Transcaucasia. Area 29.8 thousand square meters. km. It borders on the north with Georgia, on the east and southeast on Azerbaijan, on the south on Iran, on the west and southwest on Turkey.

ANCIENT HISTORY

MIDDLE AGES

THE AGE OF NATIONAL REVIVAL

SOVIET ARMENIA

INDEPENDENT REPUBLIC

The Government of Armenia was formed by representatives of the Miasnutyun bloc and the ARF Dashnaktsutyun.

RELIGION

CULTURE

Education.

Customs and holidays.

Most of the iconic sights of Armenia can be divided into the following groups:

cultural objects;
monuments of ancient architecture;
natural sites (resorts, reserves, picturesque places).

It is better to get acquainted with the country’s past and look for the roots of the national mentality in the capital’s museums. For example, in the History Museum on Argishti Street, where the most ancient archaeological finds of Armenia are collected. Only here you will find an ax that is 100,000 years old and, thanks to miniature models, you will get an idea of the appearance of ancient Yerevan.

On Mesrop Mashtots Avenue there is another interesting establishment - Matenadaran. The depository of ancient manuscripts and early printed books contains about 17,000 valuable manuscripts and more than 100,000 important historical documents.

If you have time, you can drop by the Sergei Parajanov Museum on Dzogaryukh Street. By the way, the museum was opened by a close friend of the famous director. It’s also a good idea to look into the National Art Gallery, where, in addition to ancient frescoes, miniatures and examples of modern Armenian fine art, you can see paintings by the legendary marine painter Aivazovsky.

A tour of the Armenian Genocide Museum leaves a depressing impression. The interior of the object goes underground, symbolizing the entrance to the afterlife. It is never empty here, but the silence in the museum is piercing: it is not customary to talk loudly here, so as not to offend the memory of brutally tortured compatriots.

A diametrically opposite atmosphere reigns in the Megeryan Museum, located on Madoyan Street. Once in this kingdom of carpets and tapestries, it is impossible to resist exclamations of admiration. Invest in a full-fledged tour that will introduce you to the main stages of creating these beautiful products.

Armenia is a state that was one of the first to adopt Christianity, so if you are drawn to travel to holy places, consider that you are in the right place. In the vicinity of the town of Alaverdi there are two very interesting sites included in the UNESCO World Heritage List: the monasteries of Haghpat and Sanahin. Built in the 10th century, these massive stone buildings have withstood more than one earthquake.

Be sure to visit the singing fountains on Republic Square. Transparent water jets rise up and down under mesmerizing classical, pop and rock compositions, forming bizarre cascades. Each performance is accompanied by a light installation (in the dark) and ends with the legendary hit of Charles Aznavour “Eternal Love”.

There are only two outstanding monuments in Yerevan that can be considered symbols of the Armenian capital: the “Mother Armenia” monument, depicting a stern woman with a sword at the ready, and the sculpture of David Sasuntsi, a hero of the folk epic, an invincible hero. The latter is universally loved and for a long time was the official emblem of the Armeniafilm film studio. If traditional monuments seem too regular and boring, you can return to the Cascade and gaze at the avant-garde creation of Jaume Plensa - “The Man of Letters”. It is not difficult to visually determine the location of the monument: groups of tourists with photographic equipment always hang out near it. Right there, at the foot of the main staircase of Yerevan, there are other monuments full of expression. Some of them look somewhat shocking, which is why they attract attention.

All sights of Armenia

Traditions and national color

The people in Armenia are impulsive, sociable and responsive. Despite the fact that the official language in the country is Armenian, Russian is perfectly understood here, so if you need to clarify the route, you can safely contact the locals. It is possible that they will not only show you a more convenient path, but will also volunteer to guide you.

Smoking in public places is not encouraged in Armenia. And although in most local catering establishments they turn a blind eye to a lit cigarette (as a rule, in city cafes there are no areas for non-smoking visitors), if a tourist lights up while driving, he risks being fined.

The feeling of national pride is not alien to Armenians. They are excellent at criticizing other Caucasian peoples and highlighting their own importance. But the history of their nation is revered sacredly in Armenia.

And of course, what kind of Armenian would refuse the opportunity to slightly cheat an unlucky tourist. So, when going to local markets, do not hesitate to bargain: the more emotionally you do it, the more chances you have to win the favor of the seller.

But you shouldn’t abuse the sympathies of the locals: if in the capital some liberties are forgiven to a foreign guest, then in the provinces inappropriate actions can spark an unpleasant conflict. You should behave especially carefully in church and monastery premises. They also don’t like idle conversations on the topic of the Armenian genocide and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, so try not to delve into politics. And of course, under no circumstances sunbathe topless on local beaches if you do not want to provoke open condemnation from others: although Armenia looks towards Europe, at heart it continues to remain a purely Caucasian state.

Cuisine of Armenia

Nothing offends Armenians more than identifying their national dishes with their Georgian and Azerbaijani counterparts. Here, for example, they quite sincerely believe that dolma is an original Armenian invention, which other peoples of Transcaucasia shamelessly borrowed. What’s interesting: in addition to the traditional dolma stuffed with meat, onions and spices, in Armenia there is its Lenten analogue, which is stuffed with peas, beans or lentils. This dish is eaten on New Year's Eve.

Khorovats (kebab) is served here at every turn. The main feature of the local recipe is the daily marinating of meat before frying. For vegetarians, an excellent substitute for animal products will be “summer khorovats” - vegetables baked on the grill (peppers, potatoes, tomatoes). And don’t even think about arming yourself with a fork, keep it simple: real khorovats is eaten exclusively with the hands.

You can dilute the abundance of meat food in the stomach with spasom - a soup based on the fermented milk product matsoni with the addition of wheat grains, eggs and herbs. Those who like strong and satisfying broths should opt for khash, a soup made from beef or pork legs. The dish is symbolic, therefore, if your Armenian friends invited you to khash, you can consider the test for unconditional trust passed. The khash is eaten with crushed garlic, which is spread on crispy lavash. By the way, about lavash: flat cakes are baked in a tandoor and completely replace bread for Armenians. You can wrap whatever your heart desires in pita bread: barbecue, seasonal vegetables, chopped herbs.

In the fall, all of Armenia gorges itself on khapama, which is a pumpkin stuffed with rice, almonds and dried fruits. For dessert, you can take gata - a hybrid of a bun and a layer cake filled with sugar and butter. Each region of the country adheres to its own recipes, so do not be surprised that Yerevan and Karaklis gata can differ significantly in taste characteristics.

For incorrigible sweet tooths, there is sujukh (sharots), which the ignorant often confuse with churchkhela. Sausages made from grape juice stuffed with nut kernels differ from the Georgian version of the sweet in the rich taste of spices and soft consistency. Popular types of Armenian delicacies are traditionally nut-fruit: peaches drizzled with honey and stuffed with nuts, dried apricots, candied almonds.

As for drinks, there is plenty to choose from. Even ordinary tap water in Armenia is cleaner and tastier than anywhere else. Connoisseurs of strong alcohol should not leave without trying Yerevan cognac, which has been produced here for more than 125 years. Excellent quality and local wine products. It is better to buy it in stores, since it is incredibly difficult to come across a fake in them. On occasion, you can knock over a glass of apricot or mulberry vodka.

Tourists who do not like alcoholic drinks should turn their attention to fermented milk products: tana and matsoni. Tea is not very popular in Armenia; it is replaced everywhere by aromatic, strong coffee, which people here are experts in.

Transport

You can travel between regions of the country either by bus or by train. True, there is no point in claiming a high level of comfort: vehicles in Armenia, as a rule, are well-worn and not tied to such benefits of civilization as air conditioners. Most buses going to major cities (Vanadzor, Gyumri, Sevan) depart from Yerevan Central Station. From here you can go on an exciting shopping tour around Georgia or Turkey. To get to Ararat, Yeraskhavan and Atashat, you must first get to the Sasuntsi David station, from where the above routes depart.

The option of traveling by train usually turns out to be more comfortable because the drivers strictly adhere to the schedule (unlike the drivers of Yerevan buses).

Traditional public transport in the capital is the metro, buses, minibuses and taxis. The first does not cover all areas of the city, so locals prefer to use land transport. By the way, instead of conductors and turnstiles, payment “from hand to hand” is still in use here.

If you come to Yerevan for the first time and don’t know where to go first, take a taxi, not forgetting to hint to the driver about your own ignorance. In 99 cases out of 100, you will find a fascinating tour of the capital's streets, interspersed with emotional stories from the taxi driver.

Renting a car in Armenia is not the cheapest pleasure, but if you desperately want to drive, a Russian license is quite suitable here. And don’t forget that in situations on the road the notorious Caucasian hospitality does not work. They love to cut off, overtake and break all existing rules. By the way, parking in Yerevan is mostly paid.

Money

Yerevan shops accept the only currency – the Armenian dram (AMD). 1 dram is equal to 0.14 rubles.

There are a sufficient number of exchange points in the capital, but if desired, money can also be exchanged with private individuals (shop owners, street vendors). They usually offer exchange at a better rate than the bank. The most unfavorable option for exchanging money is the capital's airport. Large chain stores accept payment by card, and in any city in Armenia you will definitely find an ATM for cashing out funds.

Shopping

Tourists who like to bring home purchases with an indispensable national flavor from their travels have plenty of places to roam in Armenia. The best place to look for souvenirs and handicrafts is at Vernissage, an open market. Silver jewelry, folk musical instruments, pottery, stone and wood crafts, handmade carpets - the selection of national attributes here is like at an oriental bazaar from the fairy tales “1000 and One Nights.” It’s better to come to Vernissage on weekends, as all the tents and stalls are open on these days.

Flea market "Vernisage" in Yerevan

Representatives of the fair half of humanity should raid cosmetics stores in search of products from the local organic brand Nairian. Cosmetics are not cheap, but how can you resist the promising “natural product” label?

Be sure to stock up on local delicacies: cheese, honey, coffee (it is much better here than what is sold in our coffee boutiques), sujukh, chocolates produced by the Yerevan confectionery factory Grand Candy. And of course, take with you a bag of spices and at least a bottle of Armenian cognac.

If your passion is national jewelry, do not hesitate to look into the jewelry departments. Prices for jewelry in Armenia are quite reasonable. Leather is also produced well here, so you can often find decent leather goods in the markets.

Which country does Armenia belong to? Soviet Armenia. Official language of Armenia

Geography of Armenia

Capital

Official language of Armenia

Religion

State structure of Armenia

Climate and weather

Rivers and lakes of Armenia

History of Armenia

Culture

Kitchen

Sights of Armenia

Cities and resorts

Souvenirs/shopping

Office hours

Traditions and national color

Cuisine of Armenia

Transport

Money

Shopping

Tourist information