About Armenia

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About AUA ::: About Armenia ::: About Yerevan

AUA is located in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia, considered to be one of the oldest cities in the world, founded around 782 B.C. as the fortress city of Erebuni.  Today, Yerevan is an urban metropolitan center that is home to about 1.3 million residents.  It covers some 300 square kilometers. Yerevan lies at an altitude of between 950 and 1200 meters above sea level and is surrounded by beautiful hills and mountains.  Mount Ararat is visible from many parts of the city.  The climate is generally temperate.  Winter can be harsh, particularly in the mountainous regions.  Spring is short-lived.  Summer lasts four months.  Autumn is mild and sunny.

The city, like many other cities, is built around a central downtown area.  It has many squares and open spaces offering travelers a chance to explore it by walking along parks, fountains and numerous monuments.  During the winter, spring, and fall, one can enjoy concerts, exhibitions and plays.  During the Soviet era, Yerevan became an industrial and scientific center with research and development in high technology and defense, thus enjoying a relatively high standard of living.  The city has many scientific and educational institutes that provide a pool of highly technical talent.  Yerevan is also renowned for its active cultural and artistic life with annual opera, ballet, symphony and theater seasons.  It is home to approximately 20 museums ranging from modern art to history and culture.  In addition, Yerevan houses extensive public libraries, including libraries exclusively designed to meet the needs of Armenia’s children.  Most notably however, Yerevan is home to the ancient manuscript library, the Matenadaran, which includes about 30 000 Armenian illuminated manuscripts, some dating back to the fifth century A.D.

Outside Yerevan, Armenia offers many tourist attractions.  Geographically, the country occupies an area of approximately 30 000 square kilometers with the majority of its territory lying at an altitude of  1,000-2,500 meters above sea level.  Mt. Aragats, the highest peak in Armenia, reaches an altitude of 4,000 meters.  Having declared Christianity as its state religion in 301 A.D., Armenia is an open-air museum with hundreds of churches, historic temples, and fortifications, some dating as far back as the first century A.D.  While most Armenians belong to the Armenian Apostolic Church, a small percentage of the population adheres to the Catholic, Protestant, Jewish, and Moslem faiths.

The official language of Armenia is Armenian; a language that belongs to the Indo-European family with an alphabet of its own invented by Mesrop Mashtots in 404 A.D.  Most people know Russian, and English is fast becoming a commonly used foreign language.  Armenians are known for their warmth and open hospitality, making the stay of every visitor a very special experience.

A recommended website for Armenia is http://www.virtualarmenia.am