Backpacking Information on Armenia

ARMENIAGeorgians, Greeks, Kurds and Ukrainians. In
Population: 3 million (UN, 2005)relation to the homogenous demographic,
Capital: YerevanARMENIAN, an especially unique language, is the
Area: 29,743 sq km (11,484 sq miles)single official language with RUSSIAN also widely
Major languages: Armenian, Russianspoken conversationally by the vast majority
Major religion: Christianity(75.8%) and, thus, is the de facto second
Life expectancy: 68 years (men), 75 yearslanguage. ENGLISH is acknowledged significantly as
(women) (UN)a global language and attempts are made to
Monetary unit: 1 dram = 100 lumasimprove on the language but one thing is for
Barev dzez! Welcome to the Republic of Armeniacertain and that is Yeravan, as a developed capital
- the home of sluvaki, the special kebab. She's acity, English is widely spoken.
tough cookie to write about, owing to the longerRELIGION
air time infamous, not-so-young Hollywood,It is of immense significance to say that the
Armenian Kim Kardashian has than Armenia'sArmenians are beautiful people on the inside and
actual current affairs. Scratching the surface,out. As a people with big hearts, besides past
there is indeed more to Armenia everybodytragedies and traumas, they are openly proud of
should know as it is its ancient cultures 3 milleniatheir most prized trait- hospitality. They are ever
hence that bred the start of the modernsince, and to this day a kind-hearted Christian
Armenian civilization. This is a place of inspiration,nation with 94.7% as Armenian Apostolic
appreciation and tasty kebabs. They say, "BehindChristians, and other forms of Christianity such as
every great man is a woman," and she better beBaptists and Presbyterians form 4%, while around
Armenian, because Armenians are good at1 % practice a certain monotheism with nature
providing that essential inspiration. You would beworship elements.
surprised at how rich a culture is to be unveiled ofATTRACTIONS
this marvellous country. Cognac, anyone? ThisAnd as the world's first Christian nation, rich
Armenian-style brandy or Ararat was behindculture and heritage retains evidence in the places
Winston Churchill 400 times (or bottles) a year.of worship, the monasteries spotted on the
Genats!countryside, that are, at present, neither svelte
Or perhaps Da Vinci's shows this great Armeniannor sinuous as whence it first stood. While most
inspiration in his painting of the Last Supper moreof the culture and legacy of among the first
than the world cares to know or notice? Frombibles, Armenian bibles, and Christian manuscripts
travel to or studies of Armenia, Da Vinci'sare lost to the Armenian genocide, the traveller
amazement can't be directed to. After all,will be constantly reminded of Armenia's role in
Armenia has pioneered more than a thing or two,Christianity with the hundreds or thousands of
for it is, 1,700 years ago, the first to declareancient monasteries and classic churches, a lot of
herself as a Christian nation in 301 AD. Andwhich were torn down by USSR. This is called
although they may have been ousted and"monastery-hopping." As one of the Burger
slaughtered in the Armenian genocide of 1915, oneKing-free countries, Armenia retains immense
of the first modern genocides, for possibly thisexoticism, just as it is in Debed Canyon where
reason or the theorized cause of preservation ofhistory and culture is more packed than any other
Turkish national unity, Armenians remain to be asplace here. This is one of the best places to start
homogenous and united in their faith as ever. It isthe traveller's Armenian adventure, the feel and
a fact that the Turks did destroy all Armenianpicturesque of the place best achieved at night-
bibles and manuscripts, Armenia's most valuablethe only Saturday night fun in these parts. Most
cultural inheritance. Armenia was a former Sovietsuggestive is the Sacred Stones of Armenia or
republic but now possesses its own identity andPietre Sacre d'Armenia, the epitome of Armenia's
absolute independence.ancient Christian architecture. Surely is one of the
GEOGRAPHYmany places here where artists come and
Armenia (40 00 N, 45 00 E) is a landlocked nationdevelop a new inspiration and appreciation for the
in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, 29,743world, like this one.
km2-small, northeast of the Armenian Highlands.Sanahin and Haghpat are UNESCO World Heritage
Highlands is definitely a suitable name as the regionSites, but the trees are long gone, and the
is, to a greater part, mountainous and volcanic.monasteries scarce and dilapidated. The history
The lowest point in the country stands at annonetheless remains and continues to tell the
astounding 400 metres above sea level, thestory. When all that silent and remorseful
Debed River, which is way out of comparison torecollection is done, time has come to enjoy
Maldives' 2.4-metre summit. This little but noArmenia's winter sports galore such as skiing
lesser nation however has BIG things to boastdown Tsakhkadzor Hills, 30 minutes outside the
such the Sevana Lich, the largest lake in thehustle and bustle of main man, Yerevan. Other
mountain range, as well as the second largest infun activities include camping and hiking, rock
high-altitude lake in the world, and the colossal Mt.climbing, and wind surfing, and among the best
Aragats or Aragats Lerrnagagat, the tallestplaces to do these in are Lake Sevan, Mt. Ararat,
elevation of the range at 4,090 metres aboveEchmiadzin, Geghard, Garni, Hripsime, Sardarapat,
sea level. There is significantly little forest coverSurp, Virab, Xor, and Zvartnoc. What a mouthful!
but arable soil in the Aras River Valley. Some fastAnd shopping is best only at Vernissage, a
running rivers are crucial water sources, but as itweekend flea market near the Republic Square.
is landlocked, to add to the high demands ofAs much of Armenia's history and legacy has
water from the vital Sevana Lich for hydropower,been deleted and gone forever, its story remains
insufficient drinking water source is problem onwith the modern Armenians, the new generation
some occasions.who bears the trauma as well as the future. Here
CLIMATEis where that adage holds true, that it's not just
The climate in Armenia is a wonderful highlandthe places you go, but the people you meet.
continental with the landscape and location offeringFOOD
a different kind of cool or heat whatever theThere's only one venue where ties with new
guest prefers like tropical rain forests,Armenian friends are iron-bound- the dinner table,
snowy-white mountains, hot summers and thingsof course! This is the place to enjoy endless and
and places in between. Summers are warm andbottomless konjac, as well as the freshest and
sunny and lw in humidity from June throughtastiest vegetables and grilled meat kebabs.
September with temperatures of 22-36°C, whileArmenia is the home of a certain sluvaki, kebab,
winters are extremely cold with almost intolerableor khorovats-the most redeeming feature of
cold temperatures between -10 and -5°C.Armenia. This is normally served with Armenian
PEOPLEbread, tomatoes, eggplants, and bell peppers too.
The Armenian population has boomed from lastHowever it's called, no place in the world makes a
year to early 2010 with a high count of 3,215,800better kebab-licious barbecue. Khash, dolma or
early this year 2010. As one of the moststuffed grape leaves, and borscht or beetroot
ethnically homogenous countries in the world,soup are among the traditional Armenian dishes.
98% of the population are Armenians, and theArmenia soil gives off that special and unique
remainder percentages are Yezidi or Kurds,fresh taste in their fruits and to die for are the
Russian, and others are Assyrians, Belarusians,peaches, grapes, apricot, and pomegranate.