AUTHOR'S PREFACE
Armenia is a very old land. Her culture goes back over two thousand years, and traces and monuments of it may still be found in the valleys, gorges and ravines of the country.
Armenia is a very young land, young in her socialist culture which is no more than thirty-two years old, and young in the happiness of her people. Armenia became a Soviet Republic in November 1920, and in the thirty-two years that have elapsed since more has been accomplished for the good of the people than in the previous two thousand-odd years taken together. In speaking of this country, Joseph Stalin pointed out that Soviet rule "has brought Armenia peace and the possibility of national renovation." And, indeed, from a long-suffering national minority the Armenians, now shaping their own destiny, have grown into a prosperous and happy nation.
Progress in the Soviet Union is so rapid that it is difficult to keep abreast of all the new events and developments. Figures and facts of yesterday are old today and dreams of the future become reality before you know it. Hence much of what is said in these pages may well become outdated by the time it goes into print.
This book is divided into two parts. The first part gives general information about Armenia, her climate, physical features, industries, the history of her people, the part they played in the Great October Revolution, their defence of the Motherland during the Great Patriotic War, the socialist building up of Armenia and the country's road to prosperity. In the second part I have endeavoured as best I could to give a detailed picture of Armenia's major towns and rural districts, their historical and geographical background and the economic and cultural life they now lead.
CONTENTS
Author's Preface.................. 7
ARMENIA
Scenery, Climate, History, Building Soviet Armenia .... 9
ZANGEZUR
Railways.................... 91
Kafan, City of Copper................ 91
Kajaran..................... 94
The Bridie-Path to Goris.............. 94
Collective-Farm Members Make Merry......... 99
HAYOTS DZOR
Across the Vorotan Pass to Jermuk.......... 107
"Mi Lich Ka"................... 109
Mikoyan, the Heart of Hayots Dzor.......... 112
Areni, Its Past and Present............. 116
By Rail to Megri................. 120
ARARAT VALLEY
Heart of Ancient Armenia.........,..... 125
EREVAN, ARMENIA'S CAPITAL
A Balcony View..................
A Stroll Through the City. Erevan's Science Section..... 141
Erevan's Uptown Section—A Manuscript Repository .... 148
Stalin District................... 152
Roses . ................... 1B9
ASHTARAK. ECHMIADZIN
Armenian Countryside Did Its Bit for the War...... 105
Excursions to Echmiadzin and Aparan......... 172
LAKE SEVAN
"A Blue Bowl".................. 183
Martuni and Nor Bayazet.............. 186
Dilijan—Ijevan—Shamshadin............. 191
LENINAKAN
Back on the Train. A Look at Ani........... 199
Leninakan, a Fine Modern City............ 200
LORI
Further North to Alaverdi.............. 205
Agtipat—Sanahin................. 207
Kolageran and Adieu Armenia!............ 210
