More About Armenia
Basic Facts and Stats
Brief History of ArmeniaPopulation and Ethnic Groups |
3,500 million. 96% are Armenian. Minorities: Russsians, Ezidis, Kurds, Assyrians, Greeks, Ukrainians, Jews, etc. |
Capital City |
Yerevan . The city was founded by King Argishti of Urartu in 782 BC and it is one of the oldest city in the world. It is the most important city of Armenia and the economic, politic, commercial and scientific center of the country. Its population is about 1.500 million and has a continental climate with a hot summer and a mild and sunny Autumn. It is a modern city and the country cultural center with its museum, art galleries, concert hall and theatres. It is a vibrant city with rich nightlife with its nice restaurants, bars, cafe, pubs, disco. |
Economy and Industry |
The main industry are chemicals, food, mechanical, engineering, steel, electronics. Infrastructure developments and an increase in investments have seen a GDP growth increase to |
Communications |
International and mobile telephone calls are available in the country provided by Armentel and Karabagh Telecom. Internet access is available in most of the hotels and in the Internet points which is plentiful around town. Prepaid phone cards are available at the most convenient prices. |
Airport and Public Transportation |
The international Yerevan Airport is Zvarnots, about twenty kilometers from City Center . An entry visa is required which you can be obtained at the Airport for about USD 30. From some country, an invitation document is required so please visit our VISA page for further details. A money change booth is available on arrival. In Yerevan there is a good subway system stretching from the north to the south of the city. Bus and Tramway route cross the city in major directions and taxi are very cheap. |
| Currency Exchange and Credit Cards |
Armenian money is called DRAM (AMD) Please visit our -currency exchange- page for information on the exchange rate. The major foreign currency can be exchanged through several exchange offices and at the hotels in Yerevan . The banks offers money exchange as well as cash point dispenser. Most accepted credit cards are American Express, VISA and Mastercard. |
Time difference |
GMT+4 hours |
Voltage |
220V, 50Hz |
Holidays and Memorial Days |
From 31 December until 6 January Christmas Holidays from which non-working days are 31 December, 1, 2 January - New Year and 6 January - Epiphany (Twelfth-day) |
Map of Armenia |
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Traditional Cuisine |
The food in Armenia is an authentic experience. Each region has its own unique cuisine with its own specialties. The great varieties of dishes will surprise the most demanding gourmands. |
Brief History of Armenia
One of the world's oldest civilizations, Armenia once included Mount Ararat, which biblical tradition identifies as the mountain that Noah's ark rested on after the flood. It was the first country in the world to officially embrace Christianity as its religion (c. 300).
In the 6th century B.C.E., Armenians settled in the kingdom of Urartu (the Assyrian name for Ararat), which was in decline. Under Tigrane the Great (fl. 95-55 B.C.E.) the Armenian Empire reached its height and became one of the most powerful in Asia, starching from the Caspian to the Mediterranean Seas. Throughout most of its long history, however, Armenia has been invaded by a succession of empires. Under constant threat of domination by foreign forces, Armenians became both cosmopolitan as well as fierce protectors of their culture and tradition.
Over the centuries, Armenia was conquered by Greeks, Romans, Persians, Byzantines, Mongols, Arabs, Ottoman Turks, and Russians. From the 16th century through World War I major portions of Armenia were controlled by their most brutal invader, the Ottoman Turks, under whom they experienced discrimination, religious persecution, heavy taxation, and armed attacks. In response to Armenian nationalist stirrings, the Turks massacred thousands of Armenians in 1894 and 1896. The most horrific massacre took place in April 1915 during World War I, when the Turks ordered the deportation of the Armenian population to the deserts of Syria and Mesopotamia. According to the majority of historians, between 600,000 and 1.5 million Armenians were murdered or died of starvation. The Armenian massacre is considered the first genocide in the 20th century. Turkey denies that a genocide took place, and claims that a much smaller number died in a civil war.
After the Turkish defeat in World War I, the independent Republic of Armenia was established on May 28, 1918, but survived only until November 29, 1920, when it was annexed by the Soviet Army. On March 12, 1922, the Soviets joined Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan to form the Transcaucasian Soviet Socialist Republic, which became part of the U.S.S.R. In 1936, after a reorganization, Armenia became a separate constituent republic of the U.S.S.R. Since 1988, Armenia has been involved in a territorial dispute with Azerbaijan over the enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh, to which both lay claim. Also in 1988, a devastating earthquake killed thousands and wreaked economic havoc.
Armenia declared its independence from the collapsing Soviet Union on September 23, 1991. In the years that followed, Armenia successfully fought Azerbaijan for control of Nagorno-Karabakh. The majority population of the enclave are Armenian Christians who want to secede from Azerbaijan and join Armenia. A cease-fire agreement was reached between the two countries in 1994, but the fate of Nagorno-Karabakh remains unresolved. Azerbaijan has offered broad autonomy to the enclave in exchange for withdrawal of Armenian troops from Azeri lands. But the enclave wants either full independence or annexation to Armenia.
An Armenian diaspora has existed throughout the nation's history, and Armenian emigration has been particularly heavy since independence from the Soviet Union. An estimated 60% of the total eight million Armenians worldwide live outside the country, with one million each in the U.S. and Russia. Significant Armenian communities are located in Georgia, France, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Argentina, and Canada.