CAPITAL YEREVAN - POPULATION 3 MILLION - AREA 29,800 SQ KM -OFFICIAL LANGUAGE ARMENIAN
Yerevan celebrated its 2790th birthday in 2008 (making it older than Rome), which gives you an idea of the history harbored in this almost-Asian outpost of rocky highlands and ancient forests. Tourist numbers rose 34 % in 2007, with most visitors heading to must-sees such as ethereal Lake Sevan and the 12th-century monastery of Noravank (though canyon-poised Tatev Monastery is possibly more spectacular). Less encouraging is the country’s ongoing quarrel with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. Early 2008 saw an escalation of violence over the disputed region, which has an Armenian majority but is stranded inside Azeri borders; a resolution does not appear to be in sight. |
