What One Can See in Armenia

Armenia occupies a territory of 2977thousand square kilometers. The average altitude of the territory is 1,800 meters above the sea level, the highest peak has an altitude of 4,090 meters and the lowest point is ravine of Debet with an altitude of 380 meters.
Armenia occupies a part of in the chain of the mountains which is called the Armenian Plateau. It is situated within the Alps-Himalayas mountain system and can be called "an island of mountains"
While flying in a plane over the Armenian Plateau you will see an endless chain of mountains, lakes hidden in the heights, mountain torrents and waterfalls, valleys, isolated highlands. Among all these Lake Sevan unveils Itself with constantly changing colors - either matching the sky in a harmony or contrasting itself to the sky blue. It is almost a sin to be in Armenia and not to see Lake Sevan or swim in it or wander around it. Sevan is a lake of mysteries. It is located ed at an altitude of 1,900 meters above the sea level, the maximum depth is 99 meters, there is a peninsula which was an island some decades ago, 28 rivers merge in it while only one - Hrazdan flows out of it.
On the territory of Armenia there are 10 natural lakes, 15 swift rivers, 5 canyons which form a common lacework of high and low peaks.
Come to this Promised Land where you can see man-made miracles next to the natural wonders. The embroidery of crosses carved in the cliffs continues the natural genesis. Or have a look at the monastery of Geghard located in a dark ravine. For centuries the artisans struggled against the stones and created a monument carved in the cliffs as if no human hand has ever touched it. In most picturesque places in the mountains chiseled by thick forests or deep ravines you can find scattered but interconnected by some inner logic architectural master- pieces like ensemble of Haghartsin monastery (X-XIII A.D.), Goshavank (X-XIII A.D.), Kecharis (XI-XX A.D.), the complexes of Sanahin and Haghpat (X-XX A.D.), Odzun (VI-VII A.D.), Marmashen (IX-XIII A.D.), fortress of Lori and its inner
town (II millennium B.C. -XVII A.D.), Hnevank (XII-XIII A.D.). If you wish to walk
and have adventurous sensations you can go down a canyon and then raise your head. You will see a chain of inaccessible fortresses dipped in sunrays which are like have grown out of cliffs and are hung in the air. You can climb through the
paths to fortresses Amberd (VII-XV A.D.), Halidzor (XVII A.D.), Baghaberd (V
A.D.), Garni (I B.C.) and you will feel the spirit of centuries, the flight of human thought and the power of its domination over the nature.
This country of lakes, rivers and springs is also rich of mineral waters. In Jermuk, Bjni, Dilijan and other resorts you can treat different diseases by taking a bath in mineral waters. The waterfall of Shaki is one of the aquatic beauties of Armenia, which, splitting the chest of cliffs, falls from an altitude of 18 meters into the ravine and flows into the river Vorotan which passes through Siunik and joins the river Araks.
Step into the virgin forests of Armenia where you can see different animals and birds. You can go hunting, just try and probably you will not be disappointed.
Armenia is beautiful not only in summer but also in winter when the mountains and valleys are covered with snow. In Tsakhkadzor town by an aerial cable way you can go up to the top of Mount Teghenis, contemplate the magnificence of the highland, have a cup of oriental coffee prepared on hot sand and ski down the mountains. The Shirak valley can also offer you winter sport opportunities.
In valleys and particularly on the shore of Sevan or on the banks of Araks you can watch the transmigration of birds in spring and fall, enjoy the singing of flamingos and storks of different species and colors.
Walk the streets of Armenian towns that are full of greenery. Each of them is like a garden where you can extend your hand and pick up a mulberry or a cherry, a peach or an apricot. Each town has its own legend and history, its date of establishment. This is not an exaggeration; some of the trees in the streets are fruit-trees. For instance, Yerevan' 13th capital of Armenia - will become 2780 years old in 1998, it is even older than Cartagena. Yerevan is nice with its old and new buildings, broad streets, large and small museums and exhibitions. If you wish to see the whole of Yerevan you have to go up to Victory park and the whole city will be seen spread at the foot of gorgeous Ararat. If you strain your imagination just a little you will notice the Noah's Ark in the snows of Ararat. Humankind was reborn here, populated this valley and on the territory of Armenia Christianity was adopted as a state religion for the first time.

ARMENIA’s TOURISM DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE
2001-2003

Ani Plaza Hotel
19 Sayat Nova St.
Phone: 52-39-61
www.anihotel.com

Ararat Hotel
7 Griogor Lusavorich St.
Phone: 51-00-00
www.ararathotel.am

Arma Hotel
Nork Ajg 275
Phone: 52-27-79, 58-18-43
www.arma.am

Hotel Armenia
1 Amiryan St. (Republic Square)
Phone: 52-53-83/58-99-61
armhotel@moon.yerphi.am
View the website 4

Hotel Armenia II
(behind hotel Armenia)
Phone: 56-08-44/59-91-19

Hotel Astafian
5 Abovian St.
Tel: 52-11-11
Fax: 56-45-72
http://www.astafian.com

Avan Villa Yerevan
Nork-Marash 13th Street, bldg. 7/1
Tel: 54-34-22, 54-78-77, 54-31-22
Fax: 54-78-88
http://www.tufenkian.am

Aviatrans Hotel
4 Abovian St.
Phone: 56-72-28/56-72-26
Fax: 58-24-22
http://www.aviatrans.am

Hotel Bass
3 Aigedzor St.
Phone: 26-10-80/26-27-51/22-26-38
www.bass.am

Congress Hotel
8 Khorenatsi St.
Phone: 58-00-95
www.hotelyerevan.am

Hotel Dvin
40 Paronyan St.
Phone: 53-63-43, Fax: 15-15-28

Hotel Erebuni
1 Nalbandian (Republic Square)
Phone: 56-49-93

Hotel Europe
32-38 Hanrapetutian St.
Phone: [Hotel Under construction]

Foreign Students Guest House
52 Mashdots Ave.
Phone: 56-00-03, 56-00-04, 56-24-15
Fax: 56-24-16
pr-int@ysu.am
Note: Actually open to anyone, these well remodeled rooms start at about $20/person.

Hotel Hrazdan
72 Dzorap St.
Phone: 53-53-32, 52-34-73

Metropol Hotel
2/2 Mashtots Ave.
Phone: 54-37-01
www.metropol.am

Hotel Olympia
Phone: 27-74-24, 27-18-50
www.olympia.am

Hotel Petak
Arshagunyants St.
Phone: 44-56-30, 44-38-31
Note: $8/night with fan or A/C. $20/night room with shower. Decent hotel if you ignore the working girls. 20 minute walk from Republic Square.

Hotel Shirak
13a Khorenatsi St.
Phone: 52-99-15
www.shirak-hotel.am

Hotel Sil
Tigran Mets 20
Phone: 54-07-08, 54-07-09
www.sil.am

Hotel Yerevan
14 Abovian St.
Phone: 58-94-00 / Fax: 52-82-91
www.hotelyerevan.com

Hy-Business Suites
8 Hanrapetutian St.
Phone: 56-75-67, 58-04-22
hybus@arminco.com

Youth Palace Hotel
Abovian St.
58-30-14, 53-03-02, 56-83-41
Note: In very bad condition. Currently under renovation. Large suite $24 with hot water. Room with only cold water 8,000 dram. All rooms have TV and fridge.