Jermuk
Encyclopedia
Jermuk is a spa town
in the southern Armenian province
of Vayots Dzor
, 53 km east of Yeghegnadzor
, the capital of Vayots Dzor. It was a popular destination during the Soviet era and nowadays is still famous for its hot springs and its brand of mineral water that is bottled in the vicinity. The town is considered to be attractive for its huge waterfall, the natural bridge, the lake, its forests with the walking trails and mineral water pools. Jermuk is currently being redeveloped to become a modern centre of tourism and health services. The town is also being set up to become a sort of Chess centre, with numerous chess tournaments hosted or scheduled to be hosted. Finally, Jermuk is well-known among the Armenian people for its distinctively fresh air.
in his work about the "History of the Sisakan district". But the ruins of an ancient fortress and an 8th century basilica testify that the human settlement near the fountains of Jermuk has started long before the 13th century. The fortress of Jermuk was built during the rule of the Artaxiad Dynasty
.
In ancient times the mineral water of Jermuk was known for its curing features. The princes of Syunik
regarded the Jermuk sources and water as healing and built several pools filled with it, thereby making the little town their holiday destination.
During the 1830s, a Russian engineer-geologist called "Voskoboynikov" arrived in Armenia and began explorations on Jermuk's geographical depth as well as the contents and characteristics of Jermuk waters. His observations on Jermuk were published in the "Mountain Magazine" journal in 1831, and later in 1855, in the "Caucasian Calenda" magazine. Voskoboynikov’s works were the first scientific talks on Jermuk.
In 1860s, all the historic pools of Jermuk which were built by the Orbelian princes of Syunik, were renovated by "Gevorg Khanagyan", following a resolution by the Russian
government. Today, those baths which are called "Pristav Pools", are preserved as historical monuments.
The foundation of the modern town of Jermuk took place only in 1940, when the first sanatorium was opened to the public, thus setting for the fertile activity of the Jermuk health resort centre. Development programmes were implemented to turn Jermuk into a modern resort for all Soviet nationals. In 1980 the population of Jermuk reached 10,000. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and as a result of the economic crisis in Armenia during the 1990s, the population dropped to 7000 in the beginning of the 21st century. Recently however, the Armenian authorities took steps in order to further develop the Jermuk town-resort including the settlement of Kechut
. As a result of those new resolutions the town has experiencеd unprecedented success as a tourist destination.
, within the mountains of Vayots Dzor, among thick forests, on a plateau divided into two parts by the gorge of Arpa River
, 170 km south-east of Yerevan
. Surrounding mountains of Vayots Dzor, Vardenis and Syunik are all covered with forests and alpine meadows at a height of 2500–3000 meters.
The forests of Jermuk are rich with oak
and hornbeam
trees, as well as with dog rose, wild pear, plum
and juniper
plants. Animals like foxes, rabbits, badgers and bears could be found there.
Jermuk is full of natural hot springs (Geyser
s). The name itself is derived from this fact, as the word "jermuk" means "geyser" in the Armenian language
. The waterfall of Jermuk on Arpa river has a height of 70 meters.
The average temperature of Jermuk is +15.3C during summer and -9C in winter with a level of 800 mm (31.5 in) of annual precipitation.
The main water producers of Jermuk are the following companies:
Another key sector in the economy of Jermuk is tourism. The town is home to several high-quality health resorts and spas, and it is one of the main touristic destinations for those who visit Armenia. Visitors could enjoy the beautiful nature of Jermuk and the mountains of Vayots Dzor (3000 meters), the waterfalls, the curing water pools, hotels and health spas, sanatoriums, the ropeway
and alpine sports facilities. Annually, during the month of August to be precise, the town hosts the FIDE Grand Prix Jermuk chess tournament. One of the most attractive nearby destinations is the Gndevank
Monastery, located just 10 km west of Jermuk. This monastery is more than 1000 years old.
Spa town
A spa town is a town situated around a mineral spa . Patrons resorted to spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits. The word comes from the Belgian town Spa. In continental Europe a spa was known as a ville d'eau...
in the southern Armenian province
Administrative divisions of Armenia
Armenia is subdivided into eleven administrative divisions. Of these, ten are provinces, known as marzer or in the singular form marz in Armenian....
of Vayots Dzor
Vayots Dzor
Vayots Dzor is a province of Armenia. It lies in the south-east of the country, bordering the Nakhichevan exclave of Azerbaijan in the west and the Azerbaijan in the east. It covers an area of 2,308 km². With a population of only 53,230 , it is the most sparsely populated province in the country...
, 53 km east of Yeghegnadzor
Yeghegnadzor
Yeghegnadzor is the capital of the Armenian province of Vayots Dzor. The name of the city means "the valley of canes" in the Armenian language. During Joseph Stalin's time, the city was renamed after Soviet politician Anastas Mikoyan...
, the capital of Vayots Dzor. It was a popular destination during the Soviet era and nowadays is still famous for its hot springs and its brand of mineral water that is bottled in the vicinity. The town is considered to be attractive for its huge waterfall, the natural bridge, the lake, its forests with the walking trails and mineral water pools. Jermuk is currently being redeveloped to become a modern centre of tourism and health services. The town is also being set up to become a sort of Chess centre, with numerous chess tournaments hosted or scheduled to be hosted. Finally, Jermuk is well-known among the Armenian people for its distinctively fresh air.
History
Jermuk occupies an area which is historically considered as part of the Vayots Dzor district of the Syunik province (within Armenia Mayor). It was first mentioned in the 13th century by historian Stepanos OrbelianStepanos Orbelian
Stepanos Orbelian was a thirteenth century Armenian historian and the Metropolitan of the province of Syunik. He is known for writing his well-researched Patmut'yun Nahangin Sisakan, or History of the Province of Syunik.-Biography:...
in his work about the "History of the Sisakan district". But the ruins of an ancient fortress and an 8th century basilica testify that the human settlement near the fountains of Jermuk has started long before the 13th century. The fortress of Jermuk was built during the rule of the Artaxiad Dynasty
Artaxiad Dynasty
The Artaxiad Dynasty or Ardaxiad Dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Armenia from 189 BC until their overthrow by the Romans in AD 12. Their realm included Greater Armenia, Sophene and intermittently Lesser Armenia and parts of Mesopotamia...
.
In ancient times the mineral water of Jermuk was known for its curing features. The princes of Syunik
Sisak (eponym)
Sisak was the legendary ancestor of the Armenian princely house of Syuni, also called Siunids, Syunid and Syuni. The Armenian historian Movses Khorenatsi states that Sisak was the brother of Harmar who was known as Arma, son of Gegham and a descendant of the legendary patriarch of the Armenians,...
regarded the Jermuk sources and water as healing and built several pools filled with it, thereby making the little town their holiday destination.
During the 1830s, a Russian engineer-geologist called "Voskoboynikov" arrived in Armenia and began explorations on Jermuk's geographical depth as well as the contents and characteristics of Jermuk waters. His observations on Jermuk were published in the "Mountain Magazine" journal in 1831, and later in 1855, in the "Caucasian Calenda" magazine. Voskoboynikov’s works were the first scientific talks on Jermuk.
In 1860s, all the historic pools of Jermuk which were built by the Orbelian princes of Syunik, were renovated by "Gevorg Khanagyan", following a resolution by the Russian
Russian Empire
The Russian Empire was a state that existed from 1721 until the Russian Revolution of 1917. It was the successor to the Tsardom of Russia and the predecessor of the Soviet Union...
government. Today, those baths which are called "Pristav Pools", are preserved as historical monuments.
The foundation of the modern town of Jermuk took place only in 1940, when the first sanatorium was opened to the public, thus setting for the fertile activity of the Jermuk health resort centre. Development programmes were implemented to turn Jermuk into a modern resort for all Soviet nationals. In 1980 the population of Jermuk reached 10,000. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and as a result of the economic crisis in Armenia during the 1990s, the population dropped to 7000 in the beginning of the 21st century. Recently however, the Armenian authorities took steps in order to further develop the Jermuk town-resort including the settlement of Kechut
Kechut
Kechut is a town in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
. As a result of those new resolutions the town has experiencеd unprecedented success as a tourist destination.
Geography
The town is located at a height of 2080 meters above sea levelSea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
, within the mountains of Vayots Dzor, among thick forests, on a plateau divided into two parts by the gorge of Arpa River
Arpa River
The Arpa is a river that flows through Armenia and Azerbaijan's Nakhichevan exclave. It originates in the Vayots Dzor province of Armenia and serves as a left tributary of the Aras River...
, 170 km south-east of Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
. Surrounding mountains of Vayots Dzor, Vardenis and Syunik are all covered with forests and alpine meadows at a height of 2500–3000 meters.
The forests of Jermuk are rich with oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
and hornbeam
Hornbeam
Hornbeams are relatively small hardwood trees in the genus Carpinus . Though some botanists grouped them with the hazels and hop-hornbeams in a segregate family, Corylaceae, modern botanists place the hornbeams in the birch subfamily Coryloideae...
trees, as well as with dog rose, wild pear, plum
Plum
A plum or gage is a stone fruit tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera in the shoots having a terminal bud and solitary side buds , the flowers in groups of one to five together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove running down one...
and juniper
Juniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
plants. Animals like foxes, rabbits, badgers and bears could be found there.
Jermuk is full of natural hot springs (Geyser
Geyser
A geyser is a spring characterized by intermittent discharge of water ejected turbulently and accompanied by a vapour phase . The word geyser comes from Geysir, the name of an erupting spring at Haukadalur, Iceland; that name, in turn, comes from the Icelandic verb geysa, "to gush", the verb...
s). The name itself is derived from this fact, as the word "jermuk" means "geyser" in the Armenian language
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
. The waterfall of Jermuk on Arpa river has a height of 70 meters.
The average temperature of Jermuk is +15.3C during summer and -9C in winter with a level of 800 mm (31.5 in) of annual precipitation.
Economy and tourism
The natural water bottling industry has its deep roots in the town as the first factory was founded in 1951. Nowadays, Jermuk is home to many giant factories which produce bottled mineral water. The sparkling water of Jermuk is largely exported to markets around the world.The main water producers of Jermuk are the following companies:
- Jermuk Mineral Water FactoryJermuk Mineral Water FactoryJermuk Mineral Water Factory was founded in 1951 in the Republic of Armenia. In 1984, a new production line was added, which made it possible to produce 60 million bottles of mineral water a year, most of which was exported not only to the republics of the former Soviet Union, but also to the...
(Jermuk Mayr Gortsaran) founded in 1951 - Jermuk Group founded in 1999
- Jermuk Etalon
Another key sector in the economy of Jermuk is tourism. The town is home to several high-quality health resorts and spas, and it is one of the main touristic destinations for those who visit Armenia. Visitors could enjoy the beautiful nature of Jermuk and the mountains of Vayots Dzor (3000 meters), the waterfalls, the curing water pools, hotels and health spas, sanatoriums, the ropeway
and alpine sports facilities. Annually, during the month of August to be precise, the town hosts the FIDE Grand Prix Jermuk chess tournament. One of the most attractive nearby destinations is the Gndevank
Gndevank
Gndevank is a 10th-13th century Armenian monastery in the Vayots Dzor Province of Armenia, along the road to Jermuk.- External links :* *...
Monastery, located just 10 km west of Jermuk. This monastery is more than 1000 years old.