Yerevan

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Yerevan Երեվան
Flag Seal
Yerevan Երեվան Location of Yerevan in Armenia
Coordinates: 40°10′11.99″N 44°31′12″E / 40.1699972, 44.52
Country	Armenia
Established	782 BC
Government
- Mayor	Yervand Zakharyan
Area
- Total	227 km² (87.6 sq mi)
Elevation	989.4 m (3,246 ft)
Population (2007)[1]
- Total	1,107,800
- Density	5,196.4/km² (13,458.6/sq mi)
Time zone	GMT+4 (UTC+4)
- Summer (DST)	GMT+5 (UTC+5)
Website: www.yerevan.am

Yerevan (pronounced /ˌjɛrəˈvɑːn/, Armenian: Երևան or Երեւան), sometimes written as Erevan, former names include Erebuni, Revan, and Erivan - is the capital and largest city of Armenia. It is situated on the Hrazdan River, and is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country. It has been the capital of Armenia since 1918 and the twelfth in the history of Armenia.

The history of Yerevan dates back to the 8th century BC, with the founding of the Urartian fortress of Erebuni in 782 BC at the western extremity of the Ararat plain.^[2] After World War I, Yerevan became the capital of the Democratic Republic of Armenia as thousands of survivors of the Armenian Genocide settled in the area. The city expanded rapidly during the 20th century when Armenia became one of the fifteen republics in the Soviet Union. In fifty years, Yerevan was transformed from a town of a few thousand residents during the first republic to the principal cultural, artistic and industrial center as well as becoming the seat of the political institutions of the country.

With the growth of the economy of the country, Yerevan has been undergoing a major transformation as construction sites have appeared all over the city since the early 2000s. Today, the appearance of new buildings, roads, restaurants, boutiques, quarters etc. have started to erase the traces of 70 years of Soviet dominance.

In 2007, the population of Yerevan was estimated to be 1,107,800 people with the agglomeration around the city regrouping 1,245,700 people (official estimation^[3]), more than 42% of the population of Armenia.

Contents 1 Etymology and symbols 2 History 2.1 Early history 2.2 Foreign (Persian and Ottoman) rule 2.3 Foreign (Russian) rule 2.4 Brief independence (1917–1920) 2.5 Soviet Yerevan 2.6 Post-USSR independence 3 Geography 3.1 Topography and Location 3.2 Climate 4 Government and politics 4.1 Capital 4.2 Municipalities 4.3 Districts 5 Culture 5.1 Museums and Libraries 5.2 Cinemas, Theatres, Opera and Concert Halls 5.3 Amusement Parks and Zoo 5.4 Tourism 6 Transportation 6.1 Air 6.2 Bus and Tramway 6.3 Metro 6.4 Train 7 Economy 7.1 Industry 7.2 Construction 8 Monuments, movie theaters and other buildings 9 Sister cities 10 Education 10.1 Universities 11 Sports 12 Notable people 13 Gallery 13.1 Yerevan 13.2 Historical photographs of Yerevan under Imperial Russia 14 See also 15 Footnotes 16 References 17 External links

[edit] Etymology and symbols

According to Armenian tradition, the name of Yerevan is derived from an expression exclaimed by Noah in Armenian while looking in the direction of Yerevan, after the ark had landed on Mount Ararat and after the flood waters had receded: "Yerevants!" ("it appeared!").^[4] The more plausible theory on the origin of the name is that the city was named after the Armenian king, Yervand the Third (the Last), the last leader of the Orontid Dynasty and founder of the city of Yervandashat.^[4]

An Urartian military fortress called Erebuni (Էրեբունի), founded on the territory of modern-day Yerevan in the 8th century BC, had its name in time transformed into Yerevan; Margarit Israelyan noted these changes when comparing the inscriptions found on two cuneiform tablets:

The transcription of the second cuneiform bu [original emphasis] of the word was very essential in our interpretation as it is the Urartaean b that has been shifted to the Armenian v (b > v). The original writing of the inscription read «er-bu-ni»; therefore the prominent Armenianologist-orientalist Prof. G. A. Ghapantsian justly objected, remarking that the Urartu b changed to v at the beginning of the word (Biani > Van) or between two vowels (ebani > avan, Zabaha > Javakhk)....In other words b was placed between two vowels. The true pronunciation of the fortress-city was apparently Erebuny.^[5]

The principal symbol of Yerevan is Mount Ararat which is visible from any area in the capital. The seal of the city is symbolized by a crowned lion on a pedestal with the inscription "Yerevan" with the head turned back and holding a scepter with the right front leg, which is the attribute of power and royalty. The symbol of eternity is on the breast of the lion with a picture of the Ararat in its upper part. The emblem has a form of a rectangular shield with the blue border line.^[6]

Since September 27, 2004, Yerevan has adopted a hymn, Erebuni-Yerevan, written by Paruyr Sevak and composed by Edgar Hovhanissian. It was selected in a competition for a new hymn and flag that would best represent the city. The chosen flag has a white background with the seal in the middle surrounded by twelve small red triangles that symbolize the twelve historic capitals of Armenia. The flag shows the three colours of the Armenian National flag on itself. The lion is on the orange background with blue edging.^[7]

[edit] History

[edit] Early history

The territory of Yerevan was settled in the fourth millennium BC, fortified settlements from the Bronze Age include Shengavit, Tsitsernakaberd, Karmir Blur, Arin Berd, Karmir Berd and Berdadzor. Archaeological evidence, such as a cuneiform inscription^[8], indicates that an Urartian military fortress called Erebuni (Էրեբունի) was founded in 782 BC by the orders of King Argishti I at the site of current-day Yerevan, to serve as a fort and citadel guarding against attacks from the north Caucasus.^[4] Yerevan is thus one of the most ancient cities in the world.

Between the sixth and fourth centuries BC, Yerevan was one of the main centers of the Armenian satrapy of the Achaemenid Empire. During the height of Urartian power, irrigation canals and an artificial reservoir were built on Yerevan's territory. In 585 BC, the fortress of Teishebaini (Karmir Blur), thirty miles to the north of Yerevan, was destroyed by an alliance of Medes and the Scythians.

Due to the absence of historical data, the timespan between fourth century BC and third century AD is known as the "Yerevan Dark Ages." The first church in Yerevan, the church of St. Peter and Paul, was built in the fifth century (it was demolished in 1931 and a cinema built on its site).

[edit] Foreign (Persian and Ottoman) rule

In 658 AD, Yerevan was conquered, during the height of Arab invasions. Since then the site has been strategically important as a crossroads for the caravan routes passing between Europe and India. It has been known as "Yerevan" since at least the seventh century AD. Between the ninth and eleventh centuries, Yerevan was a secure part of the Armenian Bagratuni Kingdom, before being overrun by Seljuks. The city was seized and pillaged by Tamerlane in 1387 and subsequently became an administrative center of the Ilkhanate. Due to its strategic significance, Yerevan was constantly fought over and passed back and forth between the dominion of Persia and the Ottomans.

At the height of the Turkish-Persian wars, the city changed hands fourteen times between 1513 and 1737. In 1604, under the order of Shah Abbas I, tens of thousands of Armenians (including citizens of Yerevan) were deported to Persia. As a consequence, Erivan khanate population became 80 percent Muslim (Persians, Turco-Mongols, Kurds) and 20 percent Armenian. Muslims were either sedentary, semi-sedentary, or nomadic. Armenians lived in Erevan or the villages. The Armenians dominated the various professions and trade in the area and were of great economic significance to the Persian administration.^[9] The Ottomans, Safavids and Ilkhanids all maintained a mint in Yerevan. During the 1670s, the Frenchman Jean Chardin visited Yerevan and gave a description of the city in his Travels of Cavalier Chardin in Transcaucasia in 1672-1673. On June 7, 1679, a devastating earthquake razed the city to the ground. During the Safavid Dynasty rule, Yerevan and adjacent territories were part of the Chukhursaad (Irevan) Beglerbekate. Starting from 1747, it was part of the Erivan khanate, a Muslim principality under the dominion of the Persian Empire. This lasted until 1828 when the region was incorporated into Russian Empire.

[edit] Foreign (Russian) rule

During the second Russian-Persian war, Yerevan was captured ^[4][10][11] by Russian troops under general Ivan Paskevich on 1 October, 1827. It was formally ceded by the Persians in 1828, following the Treaty of Turkmenchay. Tsarist Russia sponsored Armenian resettlement from Persia and Turkey; by the turn of the twentieth century, Yerevan's population was over 29,000, of which 49% were Muslim (mostly Azerbaijanis), 48% Christian Armenian and 2% Russian.^[12] It served as the seat of the newly-formed Armenian Oblast and subsequently the Erivan Governorate.

The city began to grow economically and politically, with old buildings torn down and new buildings in European style erected in their place. In 1829, Armenian repatriates from Persia were resettled in the city and a new quarter was built. By the time of Nicholas I's visit in 1837, Yerevan had become a uyezd.

The first general plan of the city was made in 1854, during which time the women's colleges of St. Hripsime and St. Gayane were opened and the English Garden built. In 1874, Zacharia Gevorkian opened Yerevan's first printing house and in 1879 the first theatre, sited near the church of St. Peter and Paul, was established. Two years into the twentieth century, a railway line linked Yerevan with Alexandropol, Tiflis and Julfa, the same year Yerevan's first public library opened. In 1913, a telephone line with eighty subscribers became operational.

[edit] Brief independence (1917–1920)

At the start of the 20th century, Yerevan was a small town with a population of 30,000.^[13] In 1917, the Russian Empire ended with the October Revolution. In the aftermath, Armenian, Georgian and Muslim leaders of Transcaucasia united to form the Transcaucasian Federation and proclaimed Transcaucasia's secession.

The Federation, however, was short-lived and on May 28, 1918, Yerevan became the capital of the newly-independent Democratic Republic of Armenia and therefore became the center of independent Armenia. On November 29, 1920, the Bolshevik 11th Red Army occupied Yerevan during the Russian Civil War. Although nationalist forces managed to retake the city in February 1921, the city once again fell to Soviet forces on April 2, 1921.

[edit] Soviet Yerevan

Yerevan became the capital of the newly formed Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic, one of the fifteen republics of the Soviet Union. The Soviet era transformed the city into a modern industrial metropolis of over a million people, developed according to the prominent Armenian architect Alexander Tamanian's designs. Yerevan also became a significant scientific and cultural center.

Tamanian incorporated national traditions with contemporary urban construction. His design presented a radial-circular arrangement that overlaid the existing city. As a result, many historic buildings were demolished, including churches, mosques, the Persian fortress, baths, bazaars and caravanserais. Many of the surrounding districts around Yerevan were named after former Armenian communities that were decimated by the Ottoman Turks during the Armenian Genocide. The districts of Arabkir, Malatya-Sebastia and Nork Marash, for example, were named after the towns Arabkir, Malatya, Sebastia, and Marash, respectively. Following the end of the Second World War, German POWs were used to help in the construction of new buildings and structures, such as the Kievyan Bridge.

In 1965, during the commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Yerevan was the center of a 24-hour mass anti-Soviet protest, the first such demonstration in the Soviet Union, to demand recognition of the Genocide by the Soviet authorities.^[14] In 1968, the city's 2,750th anniversary was commemorated.

Yerevan played a key role in the Armenian national democratic movement that emerged during the Gorbachev era of the 1980s. The reforms of Glasnost and Perestroika opened questions on issues such as the status of Nagorno-Karabakh, the environment, Russification, corruption, democracy, and eventually independence. At the beginning of 1988, nearly one million Yerevantsis engaged in demonstrations concerning these subjects, centered on Theater Square.^[15]

[edit] Post-USSR independence

Following the end of the Soviet Union, Yerevan became the capital of the Republic of Armenia on September 21, 1991. Maintaining supplies of gas and electricity proved difficult; constant electricity was not restored until 1996. Also in the last five years, central Yerevan has been transformed into a vast construction site, with cranes seemingly outnumbering trees. Officially, the scores of multi-storied buildings are part of large-scale urban planning projects. Roughly $1.8 billion was spent on such construction in 2006, according to the national statistical service. Prices for downtown apartments have increased by about ten times over the last decade, realtors say. However, some experts have voiced their opinions, and have asserted that many of the new edifices violate urban planning and earthquake safety requirements.

Political demonstrations still occur in Yerevan, usually as a result of disputed election results. Recently, unrest in the capital between the authorities and opposition demonstrators led by ex-President Levon Ter-Petrossian occurred after the 2008 Armenian presidential election. The events resulted in ten deaths^[16] and a subsequent 20-day state of emergency declared by President Robert Kocharian.^[17]

[edit] Geography

[edit] Topography and Location

• Altitude: average 990 m - minimum 865 m - maximum 1,390 m.^[18]
• Location: to the edge of the Hrazdan river, north-east of the Ararat plain.

Yerevan is located in Eastern Armenia to the center-west of the country in the north-eastern extremity of the Ararat Valley. The upper part of the city is surrounded by mountains on three sides while to the south it descends to the banks of the river Hrazdan, a tributary of the river Arax. The Hrazdan divides Yerevan in two within a picturesque canyon. The city's elevation ranges between 900 to 1,300 m (3,000 to 4,300 ft) above sea level.

As the capital of Armenia, Yerevan is not part of any marz ("province"). Instead, it borders the following marzer: Kotayk (north), Ararat (south), Armavir (southwest) and Aragatsotn (northwest).

[edit] Climate

Climate chart for Yerevan
J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
29   -2 -9	25   1 -8	28   10 -1	48   19 6	53   24 10	23   31 14	15   34 17	8   33 18	13   28 13	23   21 7	31   10 1	28   3 -3
temperatures in °C • precipitation totals in mm source: BBC Weather
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     1.1   28 16     1   34 18     1.1   50 30     1.9   66 43     2.1   75 50     0.9   88 57     0.6   93 63     0.3   91 64     0.5   82 55     0.9   70 45     1.2   50 34     1.1   37 27 temperatures in °F • precipitation totals in inches

The climate of Yerevan is relatively continental, with dry, hot summers and cold and short winters. This is attributed to the fact that Yerevan is located on a plain surrounded by mountains and to its distance to the sea and its effects. The summers are usually very hot with the temperature in August reaching up to 40 °C (104 °F), while winters generally carry snowfall and freezing temperates with January being often as cold as -15 °C (5 °F). The amount of precipitation is small, amounting annually to about 350 mm (14 in). The city has an annual period of sunshine of approximately 2,700 hours.^[18]

[edit] Government and politics

[edit] Capital

Yerevan has been the capital of Armenia since the independence of the First Republic in 1918. Situated in the Ararat plain, the historic lands of Armenia, it served as the best logical choice for capital of the young republic at the time.

When Armenia became a republic of the Soviet Union, Yerevan remained as capital and accommodated all the political institution of the republic. In 1991 with the independence of the Third Armenian republic, Yerevan remained the political center of the country and became the location of all the national institution: the Azgayin Zhoghov, ministries, the presidential palace, public organisms and judicial institutions.

[edit] Municipalities

See also: List of mayors of Yerevan

The Armenian Constitution, adopted on July 5, 1995, granted Yerevan the status of a marz (region).^[19] Therefore, Yerevan functions similarly to the other regions of the country with a few specificities.^[20]

The administrative authority of Yerevan is thus represented by:

• the mayor, appointed by the President (who can remove him at any moment) upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister,^[21] alongside a group of four deputy mayors heading eleven ministries (of which financial, transport, urban development etc.)^[22],
• the Yerevan Council, regrouping the Chiefs of neighborhood communities under the authority of the mayor^[23],
• twelve neighborhood communities (or twelve districts), with each having its own chief and their elected councils.^[24] Yerevan has a principal city hall and twelve deputy mayors of districts.

The last modification to the Constitution on November 27, 2005 turned the city into a "community"; since, the Constitution declares that this community has to be led by a mayor, elected directly or indirectly, and that the city needs to be governed by a specific law.^[25] This law is currently in preparation in the Armenian parliament that adopted its first draft in December 2007 and should do the same in the second draft in spring of 2008.^[26] The project on the law envisions an indirect election of the mayor.^[27]

Artashes Geghamyan was the last mayor of the Armenian SSR and Hambartsoum Galstyan, the first mayor of the Third Republic. Since 1991, there have been eight mayors of Yerevan. The current mayor is Yervand Zakharyan.^[28] In addition to the national police and road police, Yerevan has its own municipal police. All three bodies maintain law in the city by cooperating.

[edit] Districts

Yerevan is divided into twelve districts (Համայնք)^[29], each with an elected community leader. Each district is divided into neighborhoods (Թաղամաս). A district can have up to seven neighborhoods.

Districts and neighborhoods of Yerevan

Districts (Համայնք)	Population	Area	Neighborhood (Թաղամաս)
Ajapnyak Աջափնյակ	125 800	25 km²	Ajapnyak, Norashen, Nazarbekian, Silikian, Lukashin, Haghtanak, Vahakni
Arabkir Արաբկիր	150 200	12,35 km²	Nor Arabkir, Aygedzor
Avan Ավան	50 400	8,37 km²	Avan, Avan Aresh 1 and 2
Davtashen Դավթաշեն	50 500	6,71 km²	Davtashen, Narek
Erebuni Էրեբունի	126 200	48,41 km²	Erebuni, Nor Aresh, Sari Tagh, Vardashen, Mushavan, Verin Jrashen
Kanaker-Zeytun Քանաքեր-Զեյթուն	102 700	8,10 km²	Kanaker, Nor Zeytun
Kentron Կենտրոն	179 100	14,20 km²	Pokr Kentron, Noragyugh, Nor Kilikia, Aygestan, Kond
Malatia-Sebastia Մալաթիա-Սեբաստիա	158 700	25,80 km²	Nor Malatia, Nor Sebastia, Zoravar Andranik, Shahumian, Araratian
Nork-Marash Նորք-Մարաշ	14 600	4,60 km²	Nork, Nor Marash
Nor Nork Նոր Նորք	132 100	14,47 km²	Nor Nork
Nubarashen Նուբարաշեն	9 300	18,11 km²	Nubarashen
Shengavit Շենգավիթ	146 100	4,05 km²	Nerkin Shengavit, Verin Shengavit, Koghb, Nerkin Charbakh, Verin Charbakh, Noragavit

[edit] Culture

[edit] Museums and Libraries

Yerevan's principal museum is the National Gallery of Armenia that was constructed in 1921. It is integrated to the Armenia's History Museum. In addition to having a permanent exposition of works of painters such as Aivazovsky, Kandinsky, Chagall, Theodore Rousseau, Monticelli or Eugene Boudin^[30], it usually hosts temporary expositions such as Yann Arthus-Bertrand in 2005 or the one organized on the occasion of the Year of Armenia in France in October 2006.^[31]

The Armenian Genocide museum is found at the foot of Tsitsernakapert and features numerous eyewitness accounts, texts and photographs from the time. The Matenadaran is a library-museum regrouping 17 000 ancient manuscripts and several bibles from the Middle Ages. Its archives hold a rich collection of valuable ancient Armenian, Greek, Assyrian, Hebrew, Roman and Persian manuscripts. It is located in the center of the city on Mesrop Mashdots avenue.

Next to the Hrazdan river, the Parajanov museum that was completely renovated in 2002, has 250 works, documents and photos^[32] of the Armenian filmmaker and painter. Yerevan has several other museums like the museum of the Middle-East and the Museum of Yerevan.^[33]

[edit] Cinemas, Theatres, Opera and Concert Halls

The city of Yerevan possesses several cinema halls among them the famous Moskva cinema. Most of the world's hit movies are available to watch at the same time of their release elsewhere. Some of the movies that are shown in the cinemas are Russian.

Since 2004, Moskva hosts each year the Golden Apricot international fim festival. The last edition of the festival presided by Atom Egoyan was held from July 9 to July 14 2007 with the Golden Apricot going to the film Import/Export from Austrian filmmaker Ulrich Seidl.^[34]

The Opera Theatre of Yerevan hosts the Aram Khatchaturian concert hall, the national theatre of opera and the Alexander Spendiarian ballet. The numerous theatres have permitted attendance to a multitude of various pieces and the some spectacle rooms, of which the big one Hamalir, offer sometimes some concerts even if the temperate Armenian summers allows the organization of the bulk of the concerts to be held outside.

[edit] Amusement Parks and Zoo

The Yerevan Zoo was founded in 1940. After a period of difficulty during the 1990s, the zoo is in better economic shape today. The zoo hosts elephants, eagles, bears, camels and 260 other animal species.^[35]

Waterworld is a water park in Yerevan.^[36] It has several pools, toboggans, bars and restaurants. The park used to close from October to May but construction of an indoors section called Aquatek has permitted the water park to be open all year. The indoors section has jacuzzis, pools, hammams, fitness rooms, restaurants and a hotel.^[37]

On the road to Lake Sevan, there is an amusement parc called Play City that has a bowling arena, a cinema, paint-ball, karting and video-game rooms.^[38]

[edit] Tourism

Tourism in Armenia has been developping every year and the capital city of Yerevan is one of the major tourist destinations. The city has the majority of hotels, restaurants, bars and nightclubs in the country. Zvartnots airport has also conducted renovation projects with the growing number of tourists visiting the country. Two major tourist attractions are the Opera House, the ruins of an Urartu fortress and a Roman fortress. The Armenia Marriott Hotel is situated in the heart of the city at Republic Square (also known as Hraparak).

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Air

Main articles: Zvartnots International Airport and Erebuni Airport

Yerevan is served by the Zvartnots International Airport, located 12 km west of the city center. It is the primary airport of the country and the hub of Armavia. Inaugurated in 1961 during the Soviet era, Zvartnots airport was renovated for the first time in 1985 and a second time in 2002 in order to adapt to international norms. It went through a facelift starting in 2004 with the construction of a new terminal. The first phase of the construction ended in September 2006 with the opening of the arrivals zone. A second section designated for departures was inaugurated in May 2007.^[39] The entire project cost more than $100 million USD.

The airport has flights to dozens of countries which include France, Russia, Germany, United Kingdom, Austria, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Ukraine, Israel, Lebanon, Turkey etc.^[40]

A second airport, Erebuni Airport, is located just south of the city. Since independence of the country in 1991, the airport is mainly used by the military or for private flights. The Armenian Air Force has equally installed its base there and there are several MiG-29s stationed on Erebuni's tarmac.

[edit] Bus and Tramway

Yerevan has 46 bus lines^[41] and 24 trolleybus lines.^[42] The trolleybuses have been operating in the streets of Yerevan since 1949. Old Soviet-era buses are slowly being replaced by new buses. Outside the bus lines that cover the city, some buses at the start of the central road train station located in the Nor Kilikia neighborhood serve practically all the cities of Armenia as well as of others abroad, notably Tbilisi in Georgia or Tabriz in Iran.

The tramway network that operated in Yerevan since 1906 was decommissioned in January 2004. Its use had a cost 2.4 times higher than the generated profits which pushed the municipality to shutdown the network^[43], despite a last ditch effort to save it towards the end of 2003. Since the closure, the rails have been dismantled and sold.

[edit] Metro

Main article: Yerevan Metro

The Yerevan Metro (Երեւանի մետրոպոլիտեն) is a rapid transit system that serves the capital city. It has one 13.4km (8.37 miles) line and currently services 10 active stations. Its interior resembles that of western former Soviet nations with chandeliers hanging from the corridors. The metro stations had most of their names changed after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the Independence of the Republic of Armenia.

A northeastern extension of the line with two new stations is currently being planned. The construction of the first station (Ajapnyak) and of the one kilometer tunnel linking it to the rest of the network will cost 18 million USD.^[44] The time of the end of the project has not yet been defined. Another long term project is the construction of two new lines but these have been suspended due to a deficit in the bugdet balance.

[edit] Train

Yerevan has a single central train station (several train stations of suburbs have been not been used since 1990) that is connected to the metro via the Sasuntsi Davit station. The train station is made in Soviet-style architecture with its long point on the building roof, representing the symbols of communism: red star, hammer and sickle. Due to the Turkish and Azerbaijani blockades of Armenia, there are only about four regional trains per day and one international train that passes by once every two days with neighboring Georgia being its destination. For example, for a sum of 9 000 to 18 000 dram, it is possible to take the night train to the Georgian capital, Tbilisi.^[45] This train the continues to its destination of Batumi, on the shores of the Black sea.

The only railway that goes to Iran to the south passes by the closed border of Nakhichevan. For this reason, there are no trains that go south from Yerevan. A construction project on a new railway line connecting Armenia and Iran directly is currently being studied.

[edit] Economy

[edit] Industry

In 2001, Yerevan's share of national industrial production was approximately 50%.^[46]. Yerevan's manufactures include chemicals, primary metals, machinery, rubber products, plastics, textiles, and processed food. Even though the economic crisis of the 90s ravaged the industry of the country, several factories remain always in service, notably in the petrochemical and the aluminium sectors. Not only is Yerevan the headquarters of major Armenian companies, but of international ones as well, as it's seen as an attractive outsourcing location for Western European, Russian and American multinationals. Yerevan is also the country's financial hub, home to the Armenian National Bank, the Armenian Stock Exchange, as well as some of the country's largest commercial banks.

Yerevan's location on the shores of Hrazdan river has enabled the production of hydroelectricity. Two plants are established on the territory of the municipality.^[47] There is also a thermal central station, situated to the city's south, that furnishes equally a little electricity.

[edit] Construction

The construction sector has experienced strong growth since 2000.^[48] Recently, Yerevan has been undergoing an extensive and controversial redevelopment process in which Czarist and Soviet-period buildings have been demolished and replaced with new buildings. This urban renewal plan has been met with opposition^[49] and criticism from some residents. Coupled with the construction sector's growth has been the increase in real estate prices.^[50] Downtown houses deemed too small are more and more demolished and replaced by high-rise buildings. Jermaine Jackson has planned to build an entertainment complex in a new 5-star hotel which is being built in the city.

[edit] Monuments, movie theaters and other buildings

Main article: Monuments of Yerevan

Cascades	Massive white steps that ascend from downtown Yerevan towards Haghtanak Park (Victory Park).
Cossack Monument	A monument to the Cossacks killed during the Russian-Persian wars in 1826-1827.
Hamalir	Concert hall and sports complex.
Matenadaran	Institute of Ancient Manuscripts. One of the richest depositories of manuscripts and books in the world.
Moscow Cinema (Kino Moskva)	Famous movie theater.
Mother Armenia	A statue located in Haghtanak Park (Victory Park).
Nairi Cinema (Kino Nairi)	Famous movie theater.
Pantheon Cemetery	Cemetery where many famous Armenians are buried.
Sasuntsi Davit	A statue dedicated to a famous Armenian hero.
Statue of Hayk	Statue of a legendary patriarch and founder of the Armenian nation.
Tsitsernakaberd	Monument commemorating the victims of the Armenian Genocide.
Yerablur	Cemetery where Armenians that fought in the Nagorno-Karabakh War are buried.
Yerevan Zoo	Yerevan zoo.

[edit] Sister cities

Currently, Yerevan has twenty-six sister cities.^[51][52]

City	Country	Year
Carrera	Italy	From 1965
Podgorica	Montenegro	From 1974
Antananarivo	Madagascar	From 1981
Cambridge, MA	United States	From 1987
Marseille	France	From 1992
Athens	Greece	From 1993
Lyon	France	From 1993
Stavropol	Russia	From 1994
Ispahan	Iran	From 1995
Kiev	Ukraine	From 1995
Moscow	Russia	From 1995
Odessa	Ukraine	From 1995
Florence	Italy	From 1996
Tbilisi	Georgia	From 1996
Beirut	Lebanon	From 1997
Damascus	Syria	From 1997
Saint-Petersburg	Russia	From 1997
Montreal	Canada	From 1998
Paris	France	From 1998
Volgograd	Russia	From 1998
Bratislava	Slovakia	From 2001
Minsk	Belarus	From 2002
São Paulo	Brazil	From 2002
Chisinau	Moldova	From 2005
Rostov-on-Don	Russia	From 2005
Los Angeles	United States	From 2007

[edit] Education

As the capital of Armenia, Yerevan has the biggest number of educational institutions in the country. There are 27 colleges^[53] and twelve art schools^[54] that are administered by the Minister of Education of Armenia.

The biggest public and private universities of Armenia are located in Yerevan. They attract large numbers of foreign students, notably from India, because of competitive prices and education of health science in English.^[55]

[edit] Universities

Universities in Yerevan include:

Institute		Official website	Date established	Student population
American University of Armenia	AUA	http://www.aua.am	1991	268
Eurasia International University	EIU	http://eurasiaiu.com/en/eiu	1996	550
State Engineering University of Armenia	SEUA	http://www.seua.am	1933	10,000
Yerevan State University	YSU	http://www.ysu.am	May 16, 1919	10,450
Yerevan State Linguistic University	YSLU	http://www.brusov.am	February 4, 1935
Yerevan State Medical University	YSMU	http://www.ysmu.am	1930
Yerevan State Musical Conservatory	YSC	http://www.conservatory.am	1921
Yerevan State Pedagogical University	YSPU		1922
Russian-Armenian State University	RAU	http://www.rau.am	August 29, 1997	1,600

[edit] Sports

The most played and popular sport in Yerevan is football. Yerevan has seven active football clubs with five in the Armenian Premier League and two playing in the Armenian First League. The city's (and also the country's) most prestigious club, FC Pyunik, is 78th in the world rankings.^[56]

Club	Stadium
FC Ararat Yerevan	Hrazdan Stadium
FC Banants	Banants Stadium
FC Kilikia Yerevan	Hrazdan Stadium
FC Uliss Yerevan	Hanrapetakan Stadium
FC MIKA	Mika Stadium
FC Pyunik	Nairi Stadium
Yerevan United FC	Hanrapetakan Stadium
FC Dinamo Yerevan
Erebuni Yerevan
Kanaz Yerevan
Lernayin Artsakh
Malatia Yerevan
Nairit Yerevan
Van Yerevan
Yerazank Yerevan
FC Yerevan

Yerevan has five major stadiums which are Nairi Stadium, Banants Stadium, Mika Stadium, Hanrapetakan Stadium and Hrazdan Stadium. Hrazdan is the main and biggest stadium which also houses a sports complex that is composed of boxing and karate training facilities and basket-ball and tennis courts.

Armenia has always excelled in chess with its players being very often among the highest ranked and decorated. The headquarters of the Armenian Chess Federation is located in the Kentron (central district) in Yerevan and there exists plenty of chess clubs in the city. In 1996, despite a severe economic crisis, Yerevan hosted the 32nd Chess Olympiad.^[57] In 2006, the four members from Yerevan of the Armenian chess team won the world championships in Turin. The Yerevan-born leader of this team, Levon Aronian, is currently one of the world's top chess players and is number six on the April 2008 FIDE rankings.

[edit] Notable people

Notable people who are from or have resided in Yerevan:

Khachatur Abovian, writer Vladimir Akopian, chess player Viktor Ambartsumian, astrophysicist Levon Aronian, chess player Alexander Arutiunian, composer Gokor Chivichyan, judoka Armen Dzhigarkhanyan, actor Gevorg Emin, poet Djivan Gasparyan, composer Silva Kaputikyan, poet Sergei Khachatryan, violinist Leonid Azgaldyan, commander of the freedom fighter troops Aram Khachaturian, composer Edgar Manucharyan, soccer player

Armen Movsessian, violinist Shavo Odadjian, bassist (S.O.A.D.) Sergei Parajanov, film director Karo Parisyan, UFC fighter Sargis Sargsian, tennis player Rafik Khachatryan, sculptor Misak Sargsian, physicist Gevorg Sargsyan, opera conductor Martiros Saryan, painter Alexander Shirvanzade, writer Levon Ter-Petrossian, first president of Republic of Armenia (1991-1998) Samvel Yervinyan, violinist Arax Mansourian, opera singer Tigran Mansurian,Grammy nominated composer

[edit] Gallery

[edit] Yerevan

Matenadaran archives	Mother Armenia	St. Gregory the Illuminator Cathedral	Hammer and sickle statue
Statue of David of Sasun	Water World entertainment park	The Baronian Musical Comedy Theater	Hrazdan Stadium
The Cascade	National Gallery, Republic Square, Yerevan	Fountains in front of the National Gallery, Republic Square, Yerevan	Tsitsernakaberd Armenian Genocide Memorial

[edit] Historical photographs of Yerevan under Imperial Russia

Yerevan in 1796

Yerevan's Russian Orthodox Church

Minaret of the Urban Mosque of Yerevan

The Gök-Jami ("Blue Mosque") in Yerevan.

[edit] See also

• Radio Yerevan
• Zvartnots Airport
• Yerevan Physics Institute
• Yerevan Metro
• Yerevan TV Tower
• Yerevan drive

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] References

• The capitals of Armenia, Sergey Vardanyan, Apolo 1995 , ISBN 5-8079-0778-7
• My Yerevan, G. Zakoyan, M. Sivaslian, V. Navasardian, Acnalis 2001, ISBN 99930-902-0-4

[edit] External links

• Yerevan Municipality webpage in Armenian, English and Russian
• Yerevan.ru The capital of Armenia online (Russian)
• About Yerevan
• Erebuni History and excavation description, edited by Rick Ney
• Online News From Armenia. Edited by John Hughes.
• Yerevan article on Armeniapedia
• Yerevan article on Cilicia.com
• Armenia Info Yerevan page
• Photos of Yerevan Sights
• The Yerevan Metro system
• Interactive CD - Yerevan Virtual
• 3d Models in Yerevan
• The Alan Hovhaness International Research Centre in Yerevan

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